FS: 1973 454 Top Flight/Bloomington Gold
08-02-2013, 12:19 AM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
FS: 1973 454 Top Flight/Bloomington Gold
SOLD to a new home in Florida
Thanks, Jon!
One of the best 1973 big blocks in the country is being offered for sale to make room for the C7 I've ordered. You will not find another one like it when it comes to the combination of originality, condition, documentation and desirability of options. This is a tremendous opportunity to own a prime example of the last year of the chrome bumper big blocks!
The car has done it all:
NCRS Top Flight Chapter, Regional and National
Bloomington Gold
NCRS Gallery IX display at Corvettes at Carlisle
Featured in Corvette Magazine
Pictured extensively in Corvette 1968-1982 Restoration Guide 2nd Edition
57K documented original miles
All original paperwork and owner history
Original Dark Blue Metallic lacquer paint (one year only paint color)
Original Black Leather interior and glass
Original 454 ci LS4 engine (highest displacement in the history of Corvette and one of only 4,412 big blocks built out of total production of 30,464)
Original Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission
Fully restored chassis
Highly optioned
A31 Power Windows
C50 Rear Window Defogger
C60 4-Season Air Conditioning
J50 Power Brakes
Ls4 Turbo-Jet 454-4 BBL. V8 Engine
M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic Transmission
N37 Tilt-Telescopic Steering Wheel
N40 Power Steering
UF1 Map Lamp
U58 AM/FM Stereo
QRM GR70 x 15 Steel Belt Radials W/S
404 Black Custom Interior
927 27-27 Dark Blue Metallic
I'm very fortunate to have developed a friendship with Eric, the original owner of the car and we've spoken extensively about his Corvette's early history. The car was ordered from John Falb Chevrolet in the small town of West Union, Iowa on February 2, 1973. It was built on April 3, 1973 and was delivered on May 5, 1973, Eric's 23rd birthday - it was his first new car! Eric sent me four Polaroid pictures from when the car was new.
Eric babied the car for the next 11 years, only putting on about 1,700 miles. He kept all the original paperwork.
He didn't just keep the letter the dealer sent him thanking him for his purchase, he even kept the envelope it came in.
Greater details of the story are contained in the September 2011 issue of Corvette Magazine.
The car had three more owners (two of which I've spoken to) and ended up in New Jersey, where I bought it in 2008 and had it transported back to Long Island.
All restoration and maintenance has been performed by Corvette Repair in Valley Stream, NY, widely considered the best Corvette shop in the country. All the difficult/ one year only 1973 parts are there, the fingertip fan, the coolant tank with the notch, the extra air dam extension for LS4 w/AC, the hens teeth emissions equipment, etc. Anything that needed replacing was done with NOS parts with no expense spared.
The most intense judging a vintage Corvette faces is at a NCRS National Convention. Every bolt head marking, date code, part # and finish is scrutinized by the highest level judges. This car earned a Top Flight with a very impressive 98.3%. Perfect on Operations, meaning everything functions as new.
The car did equally as well in judging at Bloomington, receiving Gold
The '73 was also chosen for display in the NCRS Gallery at Corvettes at Carlisle. Only the best cars in their respective judging class are given this honor.
Richard Prince, the author of Corvette 1968-1982 Restoration Guide 2nd Edition, used the car throughout the 1973-1977 section as a benchmark in originality. There are over 40 pictures of the exterior, interior and engine compartment.
Check out the original job # and code still preserved underneath
The car runs fantastic and needs nothing, I've done it all. The frame is perfect - I coated it inside with Eastwood's internal frame coating and painted the outside with Chassis Black. Even added the proper frame stencil.
Every effort has been made to preserve and restore this Corvette to the way it left the factory. Even duplicating the blackout on the new exhaust system.
I feel like I've barely scratched the surface with this description!
Located on Long Island. Asking $36,900 or best offer.
Bill (516)456-6939
Thanks, Jon!
One of the best 1973 big blocks in the country is being offered for sale to make room for the C7 I've ordered. You will not find another one like it when it comes to the combination of originality, condition, documentation and desirability of options. This is a tremendous opportunity to own a prime example of the last year of the chrome bumper big blocks!
The car has done it all:
NCRS Top Flight Chapter, Regional and National
Bloomington Gold
NCRS Gallery IX display at Corvettes at Carlisle
Featured in Corvette Magazine
Pictured extensively in Corvette 1968-1982 Restoration Guide 2nd Edition
57K documented original miles
All original paperwork and owner history
Original Dark Blue Metallic lacquer paint (one year only paint color)
Original Black Leather interior and glass
Original 454 ci LS4 engine (highest displacement in the history of Corvette and one of only 4,412 big blocks built out of total production of 30,464)
Original Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission
Fully restored chassis
Highly optioned
A31 Power Windows
C50 Rear Window Defogger
C60 4-Season Air Conditioning
J50 Power Brakes
Ls4 Turbo-Jet 454-4 BBL. V8 Engine
M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic Transmission
N37 Tilt-Telescopic Steering Wheel
N40 Power Steering
UF1 Map Lamp
U58 AM/FM Stereo
QRM GR70 x 15 Steel Belt Radials W/S
404 Black Custom Interior
927 27-27 Dark Blue Metallic
I'm very fortunate to have developed a friendship with Eric, the original owner of the car and we've spoken extensively about his Corvette's early history. The car was ordered from John Falb Chevrolet in the small town of West Union, Iowa on February 2, 1973. It was built on April 3, 1973 and was delivered on May 5, 1973, Eric's 23rd birthday - it was his first new car! Eric sent me four Polaroid pictures from when the car was new.
Eric babied the car for the next 11 years, only putting on about 1,700 miles. He kept all the original paperwork.
He didn't just keep the letter the dealer sent him thanking him for his purchase, he even kept the envelope it came in.
Greater details of the story are contained in the September 2011 issue of Corvette Magazine.
The car had three more owners (two of which I've spoken to) and ended up in New Jersey, where I bought it in 2008 and had it transported back to Long Island.
All restoration and maintenance has been performed by Corvette Repair in Valley Stream, NY, widely considered the best Corvette shop in the country. All the difficult/ one year only 1973 parts are there, the fingertip fan, the coolant tank with the notch, the extra air dam extension for LS4 w/AC, the hens teeth emissions equipment, etc. Anything that needed replacing was done with NOS parts with no expense spared.
The most intense judging a vintage Corvette faces is at a NCRS National Convention. Every bolt head marking, date code, part # and finish is scrutinized by the highest level judges. This car earned a Top Flight with a very impressive 98.3%. Perfect on Operations, meaning everything functions as new.
The car did equally as well in judging at Bloomington, receiving Gold
The '73 was also chosen for display in the NCRS Gallery at Corvettes at Carlisle. Only the best cars in their respective judging class are given this honor.
Richard Prince, the author of Corvette 1968-1982 Restoration Guide 2nd Edition, used the car throughout the 1973-1977 section as a benchmark in originality. There are over 40 pictures of the exterior, interior and engine compartment.
Check out the original job # and code still preserved underneath
The car runs fantastic and needs nothing, I've done it all. The frame is perfect - I coated it inside with Eastwood's internal frame coating and painted the outside with Chassis Black. Even added the proper frame stencil.
Every effort has been made to preserve and restore this Corvette to the way it left the factory. Even duplicating the blackout on the new exhaust system.
I feel like I've barely scratched the surface with this description!
Located on Long Island. Asking $36,900 or best offer.
Bill (516)456-6939
Last edited by C7GrandSport; 08-23-2013 at 06:02 PM.
Amazingingly beautiful 
08-04-2013, 11:53 PM
#10
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Larry Shinoda, the designer, thought so too. He felt the '73 was the purest expression of the shark design. It lost the busy chrome ornamentation of the nose and side gills from the previous years, while retaining the sharp kamm tail.
08-05-2013, 04:04 PM
#11
08-05-2013, 11:10 PM
#13
Safety Car
Thread Starter
I really appreciate all the comments. No, I don't really want to sell it, but budget and space dictate that something has to go. See, it shares a two car garage with my '63 split window. And there's a C7 that's going to be needing a parking space very soon.
I've had a lot of fun with this car having it judged at different levels, displaying it at car shows, gaining magazine coverage, and having it used as a reference piece for Richard Prince's book. But I feel like I've done everything I wanted and it's time to move on.
So, who's next?
I've had a lot of fun with this car having it judged at different levels, displaying it at car shows, gaining magazine coverage, and having it used as a reference piece for Richard Prince's book. But I feel like I've done everything I wanted and it's time to move on.
So, who's next?
08-07-2013, 11:02 PM
#15
Safety Car
Thread Starter
: I thought that this spectacular car, at the price stated, would be gone within days...
08-12-2013, 04:20 PM
#20
Safety Car
Thread Starter
The forum may not be the avenue for this type of car. I'll probably end up taking it to Corvettes @ Carlisle if no one wakes up on here over the next week. Would prefer to avoid that hassle / expense, so if anyone is serious, let's talk.
