Kid Vette

I was looking through some old magazines tonight and came across some interesting pics. The first set from the Car & Driver article that I quoted awhile back in this thread: What were the best years for the C3?.

I used this quote from the article, "It was about mid-summer, just when Detroit's new models were being shown to the press, that he called C/D's New York office. There was enthusiasm in his voice. He wanted us to know about his new Corvette. No, it wasn't to be the mid-engine car that was widely rumored for 1973 introduction, the Corvette Duntov has been measuring in his mind for at least 10 years. The bumper and safety laws have delayed that model. Instead, Duntov's new car would look much like last year's...but it would be improved. . . Duntov was pleased. He reckoned that the new Corvette was the best ever and if we wanted to test one, or several, he would help in any way we asked."
Car & Driver, December 1972

I thought it indicated that the '73s were Duntov's favorite year. Some here disagreed. Anyway, here's some pics from the article.







OK, I also was looking at Vette magazine from April, 1980. It was an article about how Zora had been working as a consultant for Holley since he retired from Chevrolet in 1976. It had some pictures of the Holley manifold test and evaluation cars Zora was using for the R&D work on induction systems he was doing. Guess what, his test cars were a couple of '73s. Check it out!





Remember this was in 1980 and Zora still was sticking with his favorite - the '73!

zwede

Zora was very excited about the 73 switch to rubber body mounts as that let him stiffen the suspension without sacrificing ride quality. I have another article from 1973 where he said the best Corvette ever was the 74 w/ 454. I think our Zora had a little salesman in him. Next years Vette was always "the best ever".

Steve COSD

See who's in my avatar.

early shark

The 1973 model was Larry Shinodas favorite as well.

Ganey

In an article after he retired, Duntov mentioned 2 favorites- the 65 FI, which had all that he had worked so hard for- 4 wheel discs., I.R.S, & FI. He was disappointed that it lasted only 1 year. (He preferred the SB for handling.)
The other favorite he mentioned was the 74 454 w/ a high axle ratio for high speed touring.

While it's interesting what years were Duntov's favorites - what difference does it make what is someone else's favorite year.
It's better to know the differences & pick your own favorite!

Easy Mike

With all due respect, you can probably find a record of Zora having said every model year was his favorite given the time of the interview, BUT he retired with a '74 big block coupe.

Kid Vette

Zora was also quoted in the C&D article saying "that compared to a non-ducted hood, it (the new for '73 ducted hood) cuts 0-60 mph times by a full second in the standard engine Corvette." You think maybe he was fudging the truth a bit there also?

OK seriously, I hope everybody is reading this thread in the spirit that it was written - just some good natured kidding. Although I'm partial to the '73s, I like all years of Corvettes and I'm guessing Zora did too. Any Vette is only as good as you make it.

A 1975 L-48 and a 1969 L-88 probably share 90% of their parts. Its pretty easy for anybody to make their year of Vette into whatever they want.

jr9170

Great pics..

73, Dark Blue 454

Good stuff,..like me some 73 also!...but I'm a huge C3 fan in general.

Not that it matters, but I keep hearing that Zora had said other model years were his favorite, but nobody is able to produce any documentation or comfirming quotes. Yet there's about 4-5 sources of verification that 73 was his favorite.

Pony up non-73 owners!

But I agree with KidVette,..they're all great and more alike than different.

Easy Mike

Anyone notice these '73s have the big wheels? Those got recalled and weren't availabe after production started. Unless I miss my guess, these cars are pilot line cars prepared for the '73 model year long lead press review.

Mark_Milner

Check out the pants on that one guy!

I always liked the clean looks of the '73 front end. It was doing at the factory what others were doing on the street, removing the chrome bumper and 'glassing it smooth. Yes, I know it was rubber and separate, but from a distance, it wasn't noticable.

Still, I remember the late '70s and the '73 was down on price big time once it was used. You could buy them cheaper than the '70-'72 and this was before all the collector stuff went nuts.

JungleCat

Neat pics, regardless of Zora's favorite year.

Roscoe

BlueL36

Kid Vette

Actually this picture you show in your post was probably taken in late 1979. I'm guessing he added some later model alloy wheels.

However, the first 3 pictures that I posted were taken in the summer of '72 so that proves there were at least 4 '73s made with the alloy wheels. I wonder what happened to them?

Kid Vette

I now also have conclusive and irrefutable proof that Herb Adams, the legendary GM engineer and handling and suspension guru preferred the '73 Corvette. As you may recall he was the father of the Pontiac Trans Am and developer of the Super Duty 455.

When he wrote "Corvette Handling - A Performance Workbook", he used a '73 for all the illustrations. The picture below shows him putting it through its paces.



This next picture shows it tricked out with some Epsilon wheels.



Looks pretty good doesn't it?

Mikeceli

Anyone have unposties of that slim with Zora?

Mikeceli

Just Kidding, I'm visiting from C5 general.