WARLORDS
MARLBOROUGH MUSCLE CARS & BIKES MUSEUM
1973 Chevrolet C4 Corvette Coupe
The 1973 Corvette, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Corvette's introduction by Harley Earl in 1953 was the first re-design of the C3 since its introduction in 1968.
Changes to the 1973 Corvette, when compared to earlier C3 models, were obvious. For 1973, the Corvette received a new nose on both coupe and convertible models. The front chrome bumper was replaced with the federally mandated "5mph standard" light-weight front bumper system. A steel bumper was covered by deformable urethane plastic colour matched to the car's paintwork. This was the only year a plastic front bumper and chrome rear bumper were used.
Not as notable as the new front end were other design and safety enhancements. The rear window, removable on earlier C3 models, was now fixed as it had been decided taking out the window with the t-tops off caused too much turbulence in the cabin. 1973 saw the introduction of steel belted radial tyres. Radial tyres gave longer tread wear, better wet-weather grip, and added stability when driving the Corvette at speed.
The '73 Corvette base engine was the ZQ3 350ci small-block with an 8.5:1 compression ratio and 190bhp output, down 10bhp on the 1972 ZQ3 while the optional LT82 350ci small-block with a 9.0:1 compression ratio developed 250bhp, down 5bhp on the 1972 LT1. The '73 model came also with a 454ci big-block option, the LS4 with an 8.5:1 compression ratio and 275bhp output.
In total 30 464 Corvettes built during the 1973 model year - 25 521 were coupes.
Changes to the 1973 Corvette, when compared to earlier C3 models, were obvious. For 1973, the Corvette received a new nose on both coupe and convertible models. The front chrome bumper was replaced with the federally mandated "5mph standard" light-weight front bumper system. A steel bumper was covered by deformable urethane plastic colour matched to the car's paintwork. This was the only year a plastic front bumper and chrome rear bumper were used.
Not as notable as the new front end were other design and safety enhancements. The rear window, removable on earlier C3 models, was now fixed as it had been decided taking out the window with the t-tops off caused too much turbulence in the cabin. 1973 saw the introduction of steel belted radial tyres. Radial tyres gave longer tread wear, better wet-weather grip, and added stability when driving the Corvette at speed.
The '73 Corvette base engine was the ZQ3 350ci small-block with an 8.5:1 compression ratio and 190bhp output, down 10bhp on the 1972 ZQ3 while the optional LT82 350ci small-block with a 9.0:1 compression ratio developed 250bhp, down 5bhp on the 1972 LT1. The '73 model came also with a 454ci big-block option, the LS4 with an 8.5:1 compression ratio and 275bhp output.
In total 30 464 Corvettes built during the 1973 model year - 25 521 were coupes.
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Marlborough Muscle Cars & Bikes Museum
47 Main Street
Blenheim
47 Main Street
Blenheim
www.easternstatesspeedway.co.nz
Warlords Racing Team Marlborough
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