1973 CORVETTE
Production: 25,521 coupe, 4,943 convertible, 30,464 total.

• During May, 4,000 vehicle identification numbers were not used.

Abbreviations: ac=air conditioning, at=automatic transmission, ce=california emissions, ci--cubic inch, hp=horsepower, mt=manual transmission.

• A350ci, 190hpengine, 4-speedwide-ratio manual transmission, softtop (convertible) or T-tops (coupe), and vinyl interior trim were included in the base price.
• The Z07 package was available only with L82 or LS4 engines, and required J50 and M21. It included special front and rear suspension and heavy-duty power front and rear brakes. It was not available with C60.
• YJ8 cast aluminum wheels were offered, but sales records show only four sets sold. Early in production, Chevrolet rejected the wheels for porosity problems and recalled the wheels that had been released. Rumors place the number of wheels produced at 800 sets. Some wheels are definitely in private hands, but the actual number remaining is unknown.
• Custom interior included leatherseat trim, wood-grain accents and lower carpet trim on interior door panels, wood-grain accents on console, and special cut-pile carpeting.
• M40 was no cost with base engine, but cost $97 with LS4 or L82.

• Suggested interiors shown. Other combinations were possible.

1973 FACTS

• In the 1973 model year, 4,000 serial numbers were never built. The last 1973 Corvette's serial number ends with 34,464, but production totaled 30,464. The unused VIN numbers were 24,001 through 28,000.
• Rear 1973 bumpers were essentially unchanged from 1972, but fronts were redesigned to meet federal 5-mph standards. The front body-color bumper system added thirty-five pounds of weight and could withstand 5mph impacts without damage to lights or safety equipment.
• A new coolant recovery system routed high temperature over flow coolant into a holding reservoir for return to the radiator after cooling.
• Material was sprayed on several inner panels for sound deadening, and a new sound-absorbing pad was installed on the inner-hood surface.
• New chassis mounts were used in 1973 to better isolate road chatter and vibration. The mounts are rubber with steel sleeves. The rubber provides vertical cushioning while the steel maintains stability.
• The lifting windshield wiper panel was deleted from 1973 models, but a new hood with rear cold air induction was introduced.
• Doors have interior beams for improved side impact protection.
• Radial tires were first used with Corvettes in 1973.
• Rear windows weren't removable in 1973, but luggage space height increased two inches due to removal of the window storage shelf.