This immaculate 52-year-old Corvette looks like it rolled straight out of a showroom.
That’s no surprise once you learn its history. The original owner tucked away this Corvette Orange 1974 Stingray for decades, driving it just 1,900 miles before his passing. Now the car is being offered on Bring a Trailer, where the seller confidently calls it the finest ’74 Corvette in existence.
A bold claim — but one that’s hard to argue after watching the walk around video and scrolling through the gallery.
My first instinct was to check the bumpers. The 1974 model year was the first to feature polyurethane front and rear caps, and over time they’re notorious for mismatched paint and even crumbling. This seller addressed that issue head on, replacing both bumpers and having them refinished to match the body perfectly. He’s upfront about the work and encourages bidders to ask questions throughout the auction.
He also notes that while the original owner drove the car periodically to keep it mechanically sound, it eventually sat for an extended period — likely due to age or health. To ensure the Corvette is roadworthy today, the seller handled the essentials: fluids, brakes, and other maintenance items. In the listing video, the car fires up instantly and settles into a smooth idle, sounding every bit as healthy as its mileage suggests.
One of the most appealing features is the four speed manual transmission. The original owner couldn’t have known manuals would disappear from modern Corvettes, but he made the right call in 1974. Only about 10,000 of the 37,502 Corvettes built that year were ordered with either the wide ratio or close ratio four speed. Most buyers — more than 25,000 — chose the Turbo Hydra Matic automatic. Both were no cost options.
This car pairs the manual gearbox with the base L48 350 ci V8, rated at 195 horsepower. While the optional L82 or LS4 engines would have delivered more punch, the L48’s modest output likely contributed to this car’s remarkable preservation.
Other equipment includes removable T tops, power steering and brakes, Gymkhana suspension, tilt telescopic steering wheel, power windows, pop up headlights, heater, and AM/FM stereo radio.
The sale also includes a treasure trove of documentation: tool kit, window sticker showing delivery to Stratton Chevrolet in Beloit, Ohio, the build sheet, original purchase paperwork, owner’s manual, and a clean Pennsylvania title.
Bidding has already surpassed $20,000, nearly triple the original MSRP of $6,937 — with seven days still remaining.
We’ve all seen low mileage Corvettes that look great on paper but fall apart under close inspection, especially ’78 Pace Cars that weren’t stored properly. This time, though, the odometer tells the truth. This ’74 appears to be the rare exception: a low mile Corvette preserved the right way.
Source:
Bring a Trailer
Related:
Get Your Bids Ready for These Stellar Corvettes at GAA Classic Cars’ February Auction
Corvettes for Sale: 35-Years-Owned 1965 Corvette Project Offered on Bring a Trailer
Corvettes for Sale: 8K-Mile 2015 Corvette Z06 with Manual 7-Speed on Craigslist
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How do I bid on that 1974 Orange Corvette
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