what year Corvette C3 stingray

late 60's or 70's

 

70, 71, or 72 by the side vents.

Perhaps an insane diehard Corvette restoration expert, and there are too many, could tell exactly what year via the paint daubs on the side of the frame.

Does the guy want to race you for pinks or something?

JM

 

Judging by the paint daubs on the bottom door panels, I'd say that is a 1970. That, along with the side vents.

 

My first thought is that is a 70, and I only remeber that because I like the 69 vents the best, but how do you tell the difference between 70, 71, and 72 side vents? I am just curious.

More then you ever wanted to know about "paint daubs" on Corvettes.

jay

 

68 and 69 had shark gills. The 70,71,72 had " egg crate" side vents. I still have a hard time telling those years apart.

Darrell.

 

The link says 1970. 1970 was the first year the fender louvers replaced the 4 vetical slots. 1970 and 1971 Vettes are virtually indistingiashable. A labor problem in 1969 caused the 1970 production to carry over into 1971. There was a slight difference for 1972 (whch was the last year of the chrome rear bumber).
I love 'Vettes (I even have Zora's autograph right befor he died)
KS
Orchard Park, NY
1980 Vette - owned since 1987

 

Also for 70 they went to the ice cube tray grilles in the front the seats are changed as well for 1970 iirc. In 1972 they did away with the quirky yet cool lighting system to tell you that your bulbs were working. These are neat cars, and back in these days they used to change little things each year!! I mean heck in 1973 when they went to the poly front bumper the car doesn't even look the same! The mako shark body style reminds me so much of a present day viper I would love a 1969 L88 . The cool thing is that the back window on the early mako cars can be removed along with the t tops giving you a truely open feel like you just have a roll bar almost. Alright later, but if I were to guess I would say 1970.
Erik

 

Here's a little know fact; 1972 was the only year that the Lt-1 motor could be combined with air conditioning. rumored to be around 200 cars made.
Also, if you are at the beach and try to open a beer can with your key, and your key breaks off in the can, you are screwed because there was only one key for the door and ignition. (ask me how I know!)
Kevin S.
Orchard Park, NY

 

You mean '72 was the last year for the chrome front bumper?

 

Yes, in 1973 the front chrome bumber was removed. The rear remained chrome for this year. In 1974 they went to soft bumpers front and rear.
Kevin S.
Orchard Park, NY

 

Webby, that '72 is a nice car. I like the '60 that you have on your site as well.

Check out the Corvette News blog I've just started. There's an issue with the header that I have to sort out.

http://www.anamericanclassic.com/blog

-Dean

 

Sorry, but the "Cargar" mags never did it for me on Vettes.....(except C-1, now that I think about it) They look nice on other cars, but not the C-3 Corvette.

70-72 are hard to tell from the exterior. Due to the "gas crunch" most of the improvements were interior cosmetic changes, slight engine changes, options, etc.

BTW, I thought in 73 they changed both the front/rear bumpers to poly...did the 73 really have chrome rears with poly front??

 

Are those the rims on the black one? If so I agree, they look good on other muscle cars not the Vette[/QUOTE]

Yes.. in general they are known as "Cragar" mags. I wasn't around "in-the-day", but as far as I know (AFAIK), originally they were produced/built/named/offered by, or through....... "Cragar".

American racing offers a current wheel that replicates them. That style wheel has also gone by the name of "torque thrust"............ whether it's a brand/name/model I don't know......??

 

73 was indeed the transition year for the corvette for the poly bumpers. Poly front with chrome rears. Otherwise looked very much like a 72.


Darrell.

 

Right, '74 was the first year for poly front and rear. The way to tell a '74 from a '75 is to look for the seam in the center of the rear panel - '74's had a seam, '75 didn't, although many of the orignal '74 rear panels have been replaced. Also, '74 was the last year for the big block.

One other thing came to mind - '70-71 had clear front turn signal lenses with an amber bulb, '72 had amber front turn signal lenses, so that's a way to tell those apart.

 

If you look at the front turn signal i the 70 had an Amber colored lense and the 71 had a clear colored lens.

 

If anyone is interested in seeing my dads 69 vette visit my myspace.....

www.myspace.com/1992f40lm

 

No, '72 had amber lenses.