1974 Corvette – Vette-net

Pricing: $6,001.50 (Coupe), $5,765.50 (Convertible)

Engine options: 350ci – 195HP Engine (standard), 350ci – 250HP Engine, 454ci – 270HP Engine

Transmission: 4-speed manual (standard), 4-speed manual (optional), 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic (optional)

Top speed: 125mph

Units Produced: 37,502

Available Colors: Classic White, Silver Mist, Corvette Gray, Corvette Medium Blue, Dark Green, Bright Yellow, Dark Brown, Medium Red, Mille Miglia Red, Corvette Orange

Highlights of the year:

Cosmetically, the 1974 Corvette received a new body-color rear-end treatment that was made to comply with a new, Federally imposed five-mile-per-hour impact standard. Sheathed in urethane like the 1973‘s front-bumper revision, the skin actually covered an aluminum impact bar that was mounted to the Corvette’s chassis by two telescopic brackets.

Turning to the interior, the 1974 Corvette received only minor enhancements. Perhaps the most notable improvement over the previous models was that the 1974 Coupe now featured an integrated shoulder belt/lap belt assembly for the first time. Shoulder belts remained optional in the convertible models, and if they were so equipped, continued to be a separate assembly from the lap belts. The locking mechanisms in the shoulder restraints also changed design from a pull-rate type (which would catch based on the amount of force applied to the belt) to a swinging-weight type that was activated by the car’s deceleration.

Mechanically, a handful of improvements were made to the car. The standard RPO ZQ3 engine’s output increased slightly from the previous model year to 195 horsepower.

The market’s growing preference for performance automatic transmissions resulted in a more durable Turbo Hydra-Matic. Designated by RPO M40, the transmission was a no-cost upgrade to consumers and was installed in nearly two-thirds of all the Corvettes built that year.

The radiator was redesigned for more efficient cooling at low speeds. The power steering pump was made more durable via the use of magnets, which were installed to attract (and capture) debris in the power steering fluid.

Given the performance constraints placed before it by Federal Emission Regulations, oil embargos, and a struggling economy, the 1974 Corvette still presented drivers with a respectable level of acceleration and performance.

When equipped with the 250 brake horsepower L82 engine, the ’74 Corvette could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in approximately 7.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 125 miles per hour while still averaging about 14-15 miles per gallon. Moreover, what it lacked in outright performance it made up for in luxury.

The 1974 Corvette would become widely recognized as a very refined, grand touring car with plenty of creature comforts. The 1974 Corvette defined industry standards by having a near-record sales year. In total, 37,502 Corvettes were sold – 32,028 coupes at a base price of $6,001.50, and a mere 5,474 convertibles at a base price of $5,765.50.

Photos of the 1974 Corvette: