Our incessant scouring of internet Corvettes for sale recently turned up this unique 1973 coupe for being offered in Pennsylvania. Why are we featuring a 1973 Corvette you ask? Because this one is reported to have been painted Tuxedo Black by the factory. Why is that a big deal you ask? Because Tuxedo Black wasn’t a regular production option in 1973.
Now, we all know that special “non-typical” Corvettes went out the door each year. We’ve shared many COPO Corvettes on the site here before. This special 1973 L82, 4-speed coupe is being offered by Classic Auto Mall. According to the listing it’s one of 3 black L82, 4-speeds built and the only one left. Our knowledge of the black 1973’s is slightly different with 30-50 of them having been built mainly with L82’s or LS5 454’s. We did actually see another black L82, 4-speed Black coupe at the 2019 NCRS National Convention last year so we think the description could be a bit off here. Reference this thread from last year on the NCRS forum. Any way you slice it, we’re still looking at a very rare car from one Corvette’s more overlooked model years.
We do know that the black ’73’s came through Hory Chevrolet and this is one no different. Check out the dealer emblem still mounted out back. We know they were all built in late 1972. This one has C24 on the Trim Tag which is the 24th day of the 3rd month of production. That same Trim Tag also shows “SPEC” in the PAINT section as is common with non-typical exterior colors. We’ve seen other cars with “SPECIAL” in the PAINT section as well.
According to the listing, the original engine was removed and replaced with a 1970 LT1 which was later r replaced by the original motor. The ad goes on to tell us that most of the original paint is still present and that it and many other exterior components are in “excellent condition”.
Judging by the photos, someone has spent some considerable dollars restoring this car. The seller states the tires are the “the factory redline tires that were delivered with the car”, but we know redlines were last offered in 1969 and not offered on 1973 Corvettes. We also see the Hory Chevrolet badge on the tail panel, which is where the black 1973 Corvettes came from.
The interior shows some light wear but appears to be in factory stock condition. It features the deluxe interior with thick cut pile carpet on the floors and lower doors plus wood grain on the upper doors and center console.
The engine compartment also looks to be neat and tidy and restored to as-new condition. The matching-numbers L82 is backed to the M21 4-speed with a 3.36:1 rear end out back. The underside is in near new condition and consistent with the rest of the car.
The transparent ad states the car performs “as expected” including the A/C while noting that “… I found the passenger window to be inoperable, and I could not get the hidden headlights to lift for me.”
The listing wraps up by talking about “copious amounts” of documentation including the build sheet, a conversation with Hory Chevrolet salesman Bill Kolb, and a photo of racing legend Emerson Fittipaldi riding shotgun while the car navigated around the Famous Watkins Glen raceway in 1972.
Darth Vader’s 1973 Corvette is being offered at $425,000. Is that a good price? In that rarified price stratosphere, you’ve got C3 L88’s, ZR2’s, 1963 Z06s, even 1957 airbox fuelies. Which would you rather have for $425k? We’d also like to think that a $425k car would have 2 working windows and functional headlights. Like we always say with any Corvette for sale, do you homework before parting with your hard-earned money on your next dream ride. For more information on this C3 head on over to the Classic Auto Mall site.
Source:
Classic Auto Mall
Related:
Corvettes for Sale: 1963 Corvette Grand Sport Continuation Offered at Auburn Auction
Corvettes on Craigslist: Garden Variety 1977 Corvette Field Car for $3,000
Corvettes for Sale: This 1996 Corvette Grand Sport is Offered by MDY Motorcars
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![[VIDEO] Dennis Collins Checks the Numbers on a 1970 Corvette LT1 Before Taking It Home](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/uploads/2024/04/041724_1-218x150.jpg "[VIDEO] Dennis Collins Checks the Numbers on a 1970 Corvette LT-1 Before Taking It Home")
I would expect a COPO colour to increase the market value of an older Corvette by a bit, but certainly not by a factor of 10!
I agree with DougR , it is definitely overpriced by quite a bit. But a beautiful C3. I had a COPO, it was a ’75 Chevy G10 van, I wanted it Black, that wasnt a standard color for 1975.
My Father purchased a 1971 Corvette special order in Black it was a convertible with black interior and black vinyl hard top with LS 5, A/C, auto trans, tilt wheel, shoulder belt, alarm system. It was painted at the factory and delivered to Joe Holland Chevrolet in South Charleston, WV.
I can think of a lot of different cars I could buy for 425K, I just have never got into the numbers matching thing, that drives the prices up so high , I have a 1969 coupe with the first “dealer built” LT-1 engine, with a Tremec 5-speed It suits my needs.
Why doesn’t it have L-82 emblems on the hood bulge?
The L-82 emblems started in ’75, but they didn’t all come with them that year.
Price is nuts. That’s L88 money……
“1973 Corvette is being offered at $425,000”, wow someone is dreaming. People need to stop watching these auctions on TV, because they give people an unreal idea what these cars are worth.
Good luck with that!
Must be a typeo. It might be that the owner listed it as $42.5K, meaning $42,500.00 or this individual is on some kind of hallucinogenic.
umm yeah I think that was a typo more like 42K with no working window and lights yet
jeez some people are totally disconnected with reality
ridic price has to be error
Dan Grote – Thanks for the info. I never knew that the L-82 emblems didn’t start until 75. I’ve seen a 73 with L-82 emblems but now I know they were owner installed. The 73 is one of my all time favorite Corvettes.
Me too on the ’73. The one C3 you can’t mix up with any other…!
@ Robert, yep, no L-82 emblems but yet the 454 cars had them, I wonder why that is ? The 1973 Corvettes are high on my list of favorite Corvettes too.
Anyone who’s a fan of the ’73 needs to go to C3 general page one on the forum & ck out “’73 Corvette Stingray TV commercial”
It isn’t really, but you’ll never know it!
http://www.corvetteforum.com
Thanks for the heads up on the “commercial”. That dude must have a lot of time on his hands to create an excellent fantasy commercial like that. In 73 I was just a Corvette obsessed kid dreaming of one day owning a Corvette.
The 4 and the $ are the same key. Must be a typo, as $25,000.00 is more in line, even given the special paint, and all the stuff that doesn’t work..
Mike Waal
8TY4SPD & MNL13GS
Nope. This is for real.
This Vette first showed up on the forum back in June in the C3s for sale section.
Not by the dealer, just a member in shock!
Needless to say it’s brought a lot of comments….
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