1974 Chevrolet Corvette

1974 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible Red on Red, 350 V8, Numbers-Correct Survivor


Why This Car Is Special

The 1974 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray holds a unique place in C3 history. It was the last model year to wear the Stingray name on both the coupe and convertible, and it was also the final year of the classic twin-nostril chrome front bumper on the Corvette a detail that distinguishes it immediately from the restyled 1975 models that followed. For buyers who want a true open-air, mid-1970s Corvette experience with the original long-hood, short-deck proportions that Bill Mitchell's design team created, the 1974 is the sweet spot.

Chevrolet produced 37,502 Corvettes for the 1974 model year. Of those, 5,474 were convertibles just under 15 percent of total production. That convertible figure was already in decline; Chevrolet would drop the open-top Corvette entirely after 1975, not bringing it back until 1986. So the 1974 Corvette Stingray convertible represents one of the last chances buyers had to get a factory-built open Corvette for more than a decade.

The VIN on this car decodes to confirm it is a genuine 1974 Corvette convertible (body code 67), powered by the 350 cubic inch V8 (engine code J), and paired with the Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission (transmission code 4). The engine code J corresponds to the base L48 350, rated at 195 horsepower under the then-new SAE net measurement standard. That rating was conservative by design emissions equipment and a lower compression ratio of 8.5:1 kept output modest on paper, but the 270 lb-ft of torque the engine produced made it a capable and tractable street driver. You can actually see that spec plate on the center console of this car: 350 cubic inches, 270 lb-ft torque, 8.5:1 compression ratio.

What makes this particular 1974 Corvette Stingray stand out among the field is the combination of its color, its convertible body, and the condition of the car underneath. Red exterior over a matching red vinyl interior is a classic pairing, and the undercarriage photographs tell a story that's hard to find on a 50-year-old sports car. The floorpans are solid, the frame rails are straight, and the framing is coated and intact without the patchwork or bubbling that commonly plagues C3 Corvettes that have spent time in the rust belt. This car presents as a driver-quality example that has been maintained and kept honest.


Features List

- 350ci 5.7L V8 (L48), 195 hp / 270 lb-ft torque, 8.5:1 compression ratio
- Turbo-Hydramatic 3-speed automatic transmission
- Power steering
- 4-wheel disc brakes (standard on all 1974 Corvettes)
- Factory air conditioning
- AM/FM radio
- Dual exhaust
- Tilt-telescopic steering column
- White convertible top
- Stingray badges
- Factory gauges and tachometer
- Center console with engine data plate
- Bucket seats, red vinyl
- Corvette Rally wheels
- White letter radial tires
- Body-color rear bumper
- Chrome rocker moldings
- Chrome exterior mirrors
- Independent rear suspension
- Clean undercarriage


Mechanical

The 350 cubic inch small block in this 1974 Corvette Stingray is the L48, the standard engine for the model year. It displaces 5.7 liters, runs an 8.5:1 compression ratio, and was factory-rated at 195 net horsepower with 270 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with GM's Turbo-Hydramatic 3-speed automatic, which by 1974 had become the transmission of choice for the majority of Corvette buyers. The shift toward automatics reflected both buyer preference and the realities of emissions-era tuning, which tended to favor broader torque curves over peak horsepower.

The engine bay on this car is tidy. The block is finished in the correct GM orange, the chrome valve covers and air cleaner are present and intact, and the Frigidaire air conditioning compressor a factory option is visible on the driver's side.