Loaded 9,664 Actual Mile Corvette Coupe L82 350 V8

Every once in a while a wide-eyed guest will stare at one of our concours restored, investment grade Corvettes and then turn to us and say: “That's nice, but Corvettes were made to be driven”. And while we love ANY Corvette, no matter what the owner's intentions, we can't help but agree. The only way to fully appreciate a spectacular sports car is to drive it! That's why we're always happy to see cars like this all original C3 survivor roll into our showroom. Born in 1974, still decked in Bright Yellow lacquer and still churning the same numbers matching L-82 drivetrain that it drove out of the showroom with, this fully sorted two owner time capsule is the kind of car that you can buy, enjoy and build equity in. If you're one of those enthusiasts who likes to live the classic car life to the fullest, this exceptionally priced C3 is just the summer cruiser you've been looking for!

Here's how the VIN breaks down:

* 1 – Chevrolet
* Z – Corvette
* 37 – Coupe
* T – L82 350 cubic inch V8
* 4 – 1974 model year
* S – Assembled in St. Louis, Missouri
* 417097 – Sequence number

Assembled at GM's storied St. Louis, Missouri manufacturing facility in February of 1974, this garage fresh survivor C3 still displays an excellent looking coat of original GM code 56 Bright Yellow lacquer. Under that retina searing paint the cars sinuous fiberglass body presents factory correct alignment and has never been completely disassembled or received any major modifications. This Corvette is a true 38 year time capsule which remained in the impeccable care of one family for the first 36 of those 38 years and has never been damaged or abused in any way. Not surprisingly, that high level of dedication has resulted in a smooth, old school sports car which has more personality per square inch than any sterile, white glove trailer queen, and possesses twice as much character as most cars that are half its age!

By the mid-70s GM was beginning to streamline the Corvette into the world class sports car it is today. And this 1974 C3s monochromatic paint scheme and minimalist bright work highlight a substantial design that had been continuously tweaked into the taut and tailored appearance you see here. At the front of the car, an original, but still pliable, urethane bumper cover incorporates clear original parking lights into crack-free black plastic grilles. Below that bumper, a subtle black chin spoiler follows the tumblehome of the car's front fenders; and above that bumper, perfectly functioning vacuum actuated headlights flank an original red Corvette emblem. At the sides of the car, exaggerated front fenders, which rise above a traditional peaked hood, hang chrome “Stingray” scripts above clean and simplistic air extractors and clear square marker lights. And dent-free stainless rocker trim rides below flush stainless door handles and an original chrome driver's side mirror. At the top of the car, well-maintained brightwork bridges the gap between like-new glass and body-matched T-tops. And a pristine chrome luggage rack fits perfectly between traditional, swept B-pillars. At the back of the car, two more exaggerated fenders frame two more clear marker lights above character lines which perfectly balance out the cars angled front bumper. And a new for 1974 two-piece urethane rear valence, which is the only part of the body to ever see new paint, centers a chrome “Corvette” script between traditional deep set and chrome trimmed tail lights.

Tilt the car's fiberglass hood forward and you'll find an original 350 cubic inch L-82 V8 which wears a correct 3970010 casting number, a January (A) 29th (29) of 1974 (4) casting date, a correct “CLD” suffix stamp and a correct 417097 partial VIN. Introduced as a modern successor to Chevrolet's hot small block LT-1, the L-82 utilizes a forged steel crank, special connecting rods, impact extruded pistons, a high lift cam and special heads to turn stout 9 to 1 compression into a solid 250 horsepower. At the top of the engine, a pristine, satin black dual snorkel air cleaner funnels air into an original Rochester Quadrajet 4-barrel carburetor. Below that carburetor, a Chevy Orange intake is bolted to a Chevy Orange engine block which wears a slick set of correct finned aluminum valve covers. Fire is supplied by a chrome covered points distributor which sends spark from a new AC coil to standard, chrome shielded plug wires. Cooling is provided by an original radiator which comes complete with its original fan shroud. And exhaust is handled by original cast iron manifolds which send burnt fossils into a factory replacement true dual exhaust system that is devoid of any power robbing smog components. At the front of the engine, road ready V-belts spin a correct fan between a modern alternator and an original Frigidaire AC compressor; and at the back of the engine, a fresh master cylinder is bolted to a completely original, satin black firewall. The throaty 350 fires up instantly, idles quietly and unlike many survivors, is actually clean enough to be displayed at shows. And all of its original parts are clean, completely reliable and ready to hit the road.

An essential part of keeping a true survivor in tip-top condition is keeping all of its parts moving. And if you're like me, you know the best part of owning a cool classic car is taking it out for weekend drives. Whoever was in charge of maintaining this awesome yellow Corvette obviously struck a great balance between low mileage and sunny day cruising, because one look at the chassis and floorpans provides a detailed story of excellent maintenance. Behind the engine you'll find an original Turbo-Hydramatic 400 3-speed automatic transmission which wears a correct 417097 partial VIN. At the front of the car, you'll find an original double A-arm suspension which is complete with its factory sway bar. At the back of the car, you'll find and original transverse leaf suspension which has been equipped with a new leaf spring. And at the corners of the car, upgraded power disc brakes ensure rapid stops and great handling. All that fully sorted hardware is bolted to clean floors which, based on appearance, lived in a nice, dry garage and were only taken down the road during the summer months. And the car retains its handsome 15 inch GM Rally wheels, which spin fresh 225/70 Goodyear Eagle STs around great looking stainless trim rings and chrome Chevrolet center caps.

Open this Corvette's solid closing doors and you'll find an all original GM code 416 Medium Saddle interior which presents exceptionally well even after roughly four decades of use. With cars of this age, seats are a common point of fatigue, but the great looking leather buckets in this Corvette feel comfortable and show virtually no wear at all. Below those seats, original tan carpet, which runs from under the dash to the back of the cargo hold, is protected by heavy duty rubber floor mats. In front of those seats, a Medium Saddle dash props a warp-free pad above a correct passenger's side map pocket, large round gauges and a tilt and telescoping steering column which spins a pristine satin spoked steering wheel. Between those seats, gauges for the cars vitals sit above a correct AM/FM Delco stereo, slider controls for the cars freshly converted 134A HVAC system and switches for the cars optional power windows. And at the sides of those seats, great looking door panels frame correct twist style door locks and correct chrome door handles with small, fully detailed C3 Corvette emblems in spotless stainless trim and fade-free wood applique.

Included with the sale of this spectacular C3 survivor is contact information for all of the cars previous owners.

With its Bright Yellow paint and high performance powertrain, this 1974 Corvette is a fantastic sports car which has a ton of eyeball appeal and provides plenty of enjoyment on the open road. Better still, as an all original survivor it'll gain value and exclusivity by the year! If you're looking for a fun summertime cruiser that you can enjoy immediately without worries, your Corvette is waiting!