1974 Corvette Convertible 4 speed 454

[JRSully]

Looks like the guy traded in a 72 442

[Stefano]

Yes he did with a 455ci, which was not common in 1972.

Got the A/C charged and working just fine. Ready for a new home.

[Lynn]

I am having flashbacks. I put headers and side pipes on a 74 454 four speed with AC back in 79.

Good luck with the sale.

[SBR]

Very nice car with great paperwork and a great original engine stamp!

[Stefano]

Thanks guys.

Lynn sounds like you need this time capsule to bring you back to 1979.

Offers / Trades?

[njsteve]

What a beautiful car. I love the color. I see the GR70x15 tires on the paperwork. That meant it would have originally come with the infamous Firestone 500 exploding radials! Have you checked to see what's in the spare tire well, in case it still have one in there?

[Stefano]

Interesting.....I have not checked the spare or the top of the tank, yet.

[njsteve]

Give it a looksie, Stefano. There are some scary Vette stories of those Firestone 500 spare tires simply grenading in 1973-75 Corvette spare tire wells even with no air pressure in them. One recent one ripped the rear quarters and deck open. Eventually the defective belts give way and come apart like a giant ball of rubber bands snapping, only these are steel cable not rayon.

I don't mean to hijack, but go here and see one of my NOS tires ripping apart with no air in it three months ago.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...pics/539528/26

and here's one from a Corvette forum:

http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/...-recalled.html

[Jmcdonald]

Interesting car, interesting history... taking me back 40 years. I sold Chevrolets next door to Marengo, in Rockford 1971-1974... was president of Northern Illinois Corvette Club one year... had friends with Corvettes from Marengo... ordered my girlfriend's 71 Camaro from that dealership in Marengo... bought a new Corvette in 1973 (with a 350)... and recently owned a 73 454 4 speed convertible. One of the reasons I bought it was because I realized how rare it was. Did the calculations of convertible, 454 and 4 speed for mine, and it was probably one of about 80 made in 73. We sold a lot of Corvettes at Lou Bachrodt, but I don't think I even saw one in our inventory with a 454 during that period. No one wanted a convertible, or a 4 speed, and especially not a 454. We were in the middle of an oil embargo. People were lined up at gas stations to get gas that was rationed. I moved from Illinois to Phoenix in March of 74... took me 3 days to make that trip because gas stations were only open limited hours during the day. Hard to imagine that anyone would have ever ordered that car... particularly with all the toys. That's probably one of the most expensive I ever saw in 73-74.

[Pusher_Man]

I get the 454 not being popular due to the reasons stated, but don't understand why the 4 speed and convertible would have fallen into that category as well. Anyone care to enlighten me?