1973 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

What you see here is a 1973 Corvette Stingray with the L82 370bhp small block V8. Little is known of its time in the USA but it was imported into the UK and first registered here in February 1992. In 2006 it was resprayed from its original bronze colour to the eye-catching bright red you see today.

The Stingray has had a total of 8 owners this side of the pond including our vendor; a Devon restaurateur who bought the car early last autumn. He drove it home from London to Torquay the day he picked it up and has taken it on a few local trips around the south west, where it turned many heads.

He’s now had his own head turned by something else bright red, but Italian. So the Corvette has to make way.

The bright red, beautifully-styled bodywork certainly grabs your attention as you approach the car, there are some age related marks to the paintwork. Please have a look at the gallery below. There are swirls and light scratches in the coating on a number of panels, as well as blistering, stone chips and a few cracks around the nose and the odd chip on exposed edges.

Whilst the panel gaps around the bonnet and pop-up headlamps look good, shutlines between the doors and the front fenders are a little uneven, suggesting that the doors may have dropped slightly on the hinges.

Elsewhere, the chrome brightwork on the sills, mirrors, window trims and rear bumper looks in good order, with just a little pitting on the door handles and mirror backs. The badges look generally OK, although the crossed-flags motif on the nose is a little tarnished.

The Corvette sits on distinctive, period-correct 15-inch Rallye-style steel wheels with “Chevrolet Motor Division” hubcap spinners and trim rings accented in red. The paint on the wheels is starting to flake but the chrome appears in reasonably good condition. All are fitted with tyres showing good tread.

Inside the car, the seats and centre armrest are upholstered in black leather, which looks original and carries an authentic patina of use, but no apparent damage.

The deep-dished, three-spoke steering wheel gives a sporty look and in addition to the main instrument cluster, the centre console is filled with an array of auxiliary gauges for checking on the fuel, oil, water, battery and the time. There’s also an original Corvette-branded Pioneer radio cassette player sitting beneath, although a more modern stereo is hidden behind the seats.

Whilst the speedometer works correctly, the odometer doesn’t clock up the miles (and hasn’t done for a while judging by the online MOT history) and the tachometer doesn’t work either.

The red carpets look original but seem undamaged and the black vinyl lining on the undersides of the T-bar and roof panels appears in good order. The panels and switchgear on the dash and centre console look a little worn here and there, but this is a 50-year old car with what seems to be an incredibly original interior.

Open the front-hinged bonnet and all looks well cared for, with signs of renewal to perishable items like hoses. There are also some nice touches of chrome on the rocker covers and airbox, although the plating is starting to blister a little. When the engine fires up, it sounds amazing - “all thunder and lightning” in the words of the vendor.

The undersides of the car appear to have received a liberal coat of underseal in relatively recent years, although there are a few places where surface rust is showing through. Nothing appears to be damaged or of great concern, although there are a few small moist patches underneath - as there are on most classics, to be fair. The exhaust looks in good order and appears to be a stainless system from the downpipes rearwards.

The C3 Corvette doesn’t have a boot as such; the majority of the rear end of the car is taken up by the fuel tank and the underslung spare wheel. However, behind the seats there are compartments in which to stow a few items (like a more modern stereo in this case) and a small luggage space where two speakers have been mounted.

The Corvette has a current MOT valid until September 2023, which it passed with no advisories, just as it did each year back to 2017. Assuming that the odometer is working, this perfect pass record is unsurprising given that the car added very little mileage between 2009 and 2022 - during which time we understand it was in storage.

As an historic vehicle, the Corvette is of course exempt from annual testing but we always like to see classics coming to be auctioned with an independent assessment of roadworthiness.

There is next-to-nothing by way of a history file, save for the V5C, HPI report and the most recent MOT.

A narrative history suggests that in previous ownership, the car was given a new steering column, brake refurbishment front and back, an engine overhaul, and a suspension refresh with new dampers all round. We also understand that the car was serviced last summer.

We noticed a coolant leak on its arrival at our HQ.

This V8-powered, bright-red, Coke-bottle of a muscle car isn’t one for drivers who like to go unnoticed - this belter is guaranteed to turn heads. Whilst the pre-facelift chrome-fronted C3s might attract even more attention, the iconic design and classic looks of what is widely referred to as “America’s Sports Car” have long been desirable and collectable, especially here in the UK.

This 1973 Corvette Stingray runs very well and sounds utterly amazing, and although the exterior condition has room for improvement, the interior looks unmolested and carries the patina of originality. We think it will sell for between £20,000 and £30,000.

Despite being named for a small warship and a flat shark-like fish, the Corvette Stingray is more a favourite of pilots and astronauts than of mariners. But whoever owns this beauty next, will certainly have plenty of “the right stuff”.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.