What is distinctive and unique to the 1973 Corvette Stingray? This one year only.

Edited August 28, 200519 yr by HarleyEarl

Chrome rear/plastic front, I just learned that recently here at C&G from one of our regular posters on automotive styling ;-) What was the last year of the roof sails and gorgous rear panel ? You know before they ruined that generation Corvette.

BTW , these cars in yellow give me feaver.

'77 was the last year for the sail panels.

Was that also the same year they raked the tailight panel at a forward angle and destroyed that awsome natural spoiler. Then latter in regrets put a plastic TransAm type of spoiler and still were just so backwards. Styling is supposed to change or at least improve not take a great styling design and mutilate it. Kinda like the 1970 Riviera. Kinda like the 75 Camaro too, that wrap around rear glass just wasnt the styling ticket.

Razoredge, you are right, the '73 was the only year with plastic front bumper and chrome rear ones. They changed the rear to plastic for the '74 model year. I owned one of those '73 Stingrays in white with black leather interior...one of my favorite cars. It had a feature that some cars are just getting now. Tilt AND telescoping steering wheel. It also had a factory theft alarm system. And you are so right, I always liked those sail panels. Some years of this body style, you could remove the rear window.

My 64 Sunbeam Alpine had telescoping steering wheel. Turn the center knob and adjust your desired reach, tighten knob and go. You gave me this answer months ago Harley, I remember the stuff I read. You are so fortunate to have owned such a nice car, I bet you miss it, it was the best styling the Corvette ever had, long live the Shark.

I constantly regret selling it. It wasn't for the meek...people stared constantly....I kept it in perfectly clean...blackest tires....it was a very nice car.

I'd even take the uglier 74 or 75 and up Vettes. I love the C3.

But I have to try so hard to like them 6T8, I just cant get over removing the sails and tails, unforgivable, they should have done a total new shell, hell it was say an average of 7 years old. I guess you had to be there, it was kinda like watching the 70 Mustang go to the 71-73 which was bad enough but then it became the Mustang II and it was all over between me and Ford. I call it styling regression.