Chevrolet : Corvette Convertible

An exceptional 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible. now for auction on eBay!

The Dentist's Favorite Toy: 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible!

Often called "America's Only True Sports Car. Chevrolet's Corvette has captured the hearts and minds of millions of enthusiasts since its introduction back in 1953. almost 62 years ago. Has it really been that long?

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Presently in its 7th generation. the Corvette has now irreversibly morphed into a high-tech supercar. angular. admittedly very fast. but a far cry from the red-blooded American icon of the olden days.
Which proud American wants their country's sports car icon to imitate the efficiency of a product from the Far East or the nimbleness of an European design?
Not us. thank you very much . . .

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Back in the fall of 1967. when the second major re-design of the Corvette. now commonly called C3. was launched. the excitement was boundless. Chief designer Bill Mitchell's masterpiece. looking every bit like his 1965 Mako Shark dream car. the C3 Corvette is still one of the most sensational shapes ever devised for a production automobile.

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The 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible prominently featured here. VIN *1Z67J3S415111*. is special in more ways than one. For starters. as a transitional model. it features a one-year-only body. with flex nose yet chrome rear bumpers. Secondly. it's a convertible. one of just 4. 43 manufactured. less than 17% of total 1973 Corvette production. Finally. the car was owned by our very own dentist. who pampered it like a favorite child and always attended to its needs with an open checkbook. It's one of the finest Corvettes of its kind we've ever seen.

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Originally purchased on March 2nd. 1973 in Omaha. Neb. . the Corvette subsequently headed West. to Orange County. Calif. with its original Lady owner. who passed away in 2000. Our dentist became the car's second owner in 2001. paying $18. 00. 00 for the car. which had been driven just 80. 00 miles in 28 years.
He subsequently invested another $21. 87. 45 to refurbish and update the car. A thick folder containing more than two dozen chronologically ordered receipts for maintenance and repairs documents every single expense.
Also included with the sale are the original owner's manual. 1973 Chevrolet new vehicle warranty booklet. passenger car maintenance schedule. consumer information brochure. emission control systems warranty. a 1973 Corvette assembly manual. and three full sets of keys.

Let's now inspect this fabulous Vette in more detail. starting with the undercarriage.
If you've seen Corvettes' bellies before. you'll appreciate how insanely clean this one is. Front and rear brakes have been totally redone. and a new rear leaf spring was installed. along with new front end bushings.

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Above photos show the undercarriage in more detail. Check out that beautiful aluminized dual exhaust system. fabricated by Jerry Glover of Higgins Muffler and Brake in Santa Barbara. featuring a set of Doug's custom headers and Borla mufflers.

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Four decades after it was made. you'll be hard pressed to find a fiberglass body that hasn't developed any stress cracks. and Corvettes of the '50s to '70s are notorious for this. Hence. you'll really appreciate that this particular car's body is crack free and accident free.

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The brand new white pinpoint vinyl convertible top was lovingly installed by Hector Larios of Canoga Park.

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What would be a better color for a dentist's car than white?
Having been refinished in its original Classic White color (paint code 910) back in 2013. the Corvette's coachwork looks stunning. There are no scratches. chips. tears. bubbles. or other imperfections that would cause even a fussy Corvette collector sleepless nights. The car's brightwork and weatherstripping is in excellent condition as well.

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Looking sharp: chromed Corvette C3 aluminum wheels. shod with the iconic B. F. Goodrich Radial T/A tires. Incidentally. 1973 was the first year Corvettes came factory-equipped with radial tires.

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Engine compartment appears toothbrush clean. In 2002. Street Machines in Hemet installed a brand new 350 H. O. ZZ4 crate engine ahead of the bullet-proof TH400 auto tranny.

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In the 12 years since. the 'Vette was driven just 15. 00 miles; in 2013. Corvette wizard Helmut Haupt -- crew chief of our Bonneville racing team. with 17 land speed records under his belt -- installed an Edelbrock Performer manifold. 850cfm Holley carb. and fresh air induction. then fine-tuned the engine on the Westech Performance chassis dyno in Mira Loma. The dyno sheets are included with the purchase. Needless to day. the end result is one seriously quick and fast '73. a far cry from its initial. emissions-strangled 190 factory hp.

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This particular Corvette came from the factory fairly loaded. with the optional A/C (yes. it works!). tilt and telescopic steering column. power brakes. power steering. power windows. and AM/FM stereo.

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Hallmark of a prime survivor -- always garaged. away from harmful UV radiation -- the car's interior remains in an outstanding state of preservation. There is not a single hairline crack on the original dash!

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Gauges and Console look flawless. Stereo has been tastefully upgraded. without disturbing the console's integrity.

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Dark Red cockpit beautifully complements the white exterior. Every last detail remains in superb condition.

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Nicely carpeted cargo space behind the seats. Note 6-disc CD changer.

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Let's go for a drive!

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Wednesday. November 26th. turned out to be another fabulous autumn day here on the Pacific Coast. With mild temperatures in the 70s. the open-air Corvette was just what the doctor ordered.

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Stingray starts promptly with one turn of the key. In city traffic. it's loafing along. almost at idle. propelled solely by its generous 323ft. -lbs. of torque. No rattling or shaking diminishes the pleasure; the steering is precise. the front suspension tight. Transmission shifts almost imperceptibly. 4-wheel disc brakes anchor the car with the authority of a CanAm racer.

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Acceleration is brisk. to put it mildly. however. the car is very docile. with no ill manners at all. no smoke. no oil leaks. no overheating. For peace of mind. the radiator. heater core. and all hoses and belts have been replaced. It's truly a fun-to-drive vintage sports car.

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Returning home. we have nothing but highest praise for this convertible. It starts. runs. drives. handles. and brakes absolutely perfect and effortless. and is so phenomenally well-sorted that we would not hesitate to jump in and drive it across the continent. smiling all the way.

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Rarely. if ever. will you find another '73 Corvette convertible that's as attractive as this pampered. 2-owner example. Not a barn find. project. or mere "driver. this car has always been maintained to the highest standards. regardless of cost. Cosmetically as well as mechanically. it remains in outstanding condition.

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If you are seriously in the market for a C3 convertible. you might want to consider aquiring the dentist's pride and joy. This rare. one-year-only model is the most enjoyable Corvette we've ever driven!

You are most welcome and encouraged to view this fine automobile in Ventura. by appointment. during the auction. or have someone inspect it for you. Please. perform your due diligence before you bid.
Please. note that this car is currently advertised on our Web site and on display in our Showroom. We reserve the right to accept a satisfactory offer and close this auction at any time. Feel free to contact us via e-mail at bill@californiaclassix. com or call us at (805) 653-5551.

TERMS OF THIS SALE By bidding in this auction. you declare that you have read and accept the Terms of this Sale as outlined below. If you have any questions. please ask them before you bid. After the auction has ended. the sale is final. Please. only bid on this car if you are serious about owning it and have the necessary funds readily available!
We require a $1. 00 deposit to be paid via PayPal within 24 hours of the end of the auction and the balance to be paid via bank wire transfer (or in cash) within 5 business days. unless other arrangements have been agreed upon during the auction. The car comes with a clear California Certificate of Title. It is smog exempt and sold "as is. where is" with no warranty stated or implied. Mileage stated is the current odometer reading. License plates shown for photographic purposes only. You fully understand that you are not bidding on an "option to buy" this vehicle. You bid to own! There are no contingencies. We ship worldwide.

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