Corvette sales went up again in 1974, despite the convertible and the coupe selling for big bucks. The convertible could be had for $5,765, while the coupe carried a price tag of over $6,000.
This didn’t mean that customers no longer found the car compelling. They did, and sales surpassed 37,500 units, with the coupe accounting for over 32,000 units. Only 5,474 Corvettes that rolled off the assembly lines this year used a convertible body style.
The base Vette could be had with a 350ci engine developing 195 horsepower, but customers who wanted more power had multiple options in the 1974 lineup. The first stop was the L72, which developed 250 horsepower but cost $299 extra. The 454 continued to be available, albeit its power remained modest at only 270 horsepower.
The Corvette in these photos is all kinds of mysterious, as the car landed on eBay with only a few specifics and without asking the big questions.
It needs a complete restoration, and you don’t have to be a Chevrolet Corvette connoisseur to determine this, but the car is a project missing all the juicy details that would make it more desirable for people interested in a new challenge.
Based on the photos shared by eBay seller brinkleysgifts, I’d say this Corvette has been parked for a while, but without an in-person or third-party inspection, it’s impossible to tell if it’s still original and whether all items are in place. I admit that this Corvette is an intriguing project, but it’s hard to believe that many people would risk buying it if their long-term goal is to turn it into a collectible.
However, it could be a great candidate for a restomod or a custom build, as turning it into a daily driver is totally doable. The owner says it no longer runs – the engine under the hood is a 350, but it’s unknown whether it turns over. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the engine already locked up from the long sleep, but again, the only way to get a clearer picture is to go check it out live before committing to a purchase.
The good news is that this Corvette is not selling for big bucks, and this could be a sign that the car requires more work than you’d be tempted to believe at first glance. The Corvette can be yours for only $3,000, and the auction site indicates that seven people have already added the listing to their watchlist, possibly as they started the talks with the owner.
You can too ask more questions before committing to a purchase, and if you want to see it live, you must travel to Indianapolis, Indiana. You’ll need transportation to take it home, considering the non-working engine under the hood.