Car Model History

Third generation · C3 "Stingray" · 1968–1982

1973Chevrolet Corvette

The Coke-bottle 'shark' body — the longest-running Corvette generation. Big-block muscle early, then detuned through the 1970s emissions era; the original ZR1 option appeared 1970–1972.

Third generation · C3 "Stingray"

1973 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, C3 third generation — blue coupe with body-color nose, front three-quarter view

Photo: Alf van Beem / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.

The 1973 model year

Overview

The 1973 Chevrolet Corvette was the C3 Stingray model-year specification for the U.S. market. Its documented factory range comprised 350 cu in small-block V8, 454 cu in big-block V8 with 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic or 4-speed manual.

Specifications

Engines
  • 350 cu in small-block V8
  • 454 cu in big-block V8
Transmissions
3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic, 4-speed manual
Body styles
Coupe with removable roof panels, Convertible

Year over year

What changed

  • The Corvette offered 350 small-block and 454 big-block V8 families.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • This page records the U.S. 1973 factory powertrain and body-style range rather than borrowing a nearby model year's specification.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • For a 1973 Corvette, verify the VIN, installed powertrain and service history against the exact-year GM document; age, modifications and deferred maintenance are more useful evidence than generation-wide reputation.
  • Check the NHTSA VIN lookup for unrepaired safety recalls before purchase or road use.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1973 Corvette on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1973 Chevrolet Corvette. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
9
Scheduled topics
8
Applicability stated
9
Exact references
1

Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil — changeView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil — change

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

    Normal service

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Published interval: 6,000 mi / 4 months · Whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

    Severe service

    Applies to: 1973 · United States · Dust, trailer pulling, extended idling, or repeated short trips in freezing weather.

    Published interval: 3,000 mi / 2 months · Whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

  • Manual-transmission lubricant level — checkView intervals, applicability and sources

    Manual-transmission lubricant level — check

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1973 · Manual · United States

    Published interval: 6,000 mi / 4 months · Whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

  • Rear-axle lubricant level — checkView intervals, applicability and sources

    Rear-axle lubricant level — check

    Sourced interval available

    Positraction axles receive an initial drain and refill at 12,000 miles, then use the standard-axle level-check schedule.

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Published interval: 6,000 mi / 4 months · Whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

  • Fuel filters — replaceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Fuel filters — replace

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

    Carburetor-inlet filter

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Published interval: 12,000 mi / 12 months · Whichever occurs first; if an in-line filter is also fitted, use the 24,000-mile interval.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

    In-line fuel filter

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Published interval: 24,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

    Evaporative-control canister filter — replace and canister — inspect

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Published interval: 24,000 mi / 24 months · Whichever occurs first; more often in dusty conditions.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

  • V8 oil-wetted paper air-cleaner element — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    V8 oil-wetted paper air-cleaner element — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

    Inspect and rotate element

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Published interval: 12,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

    Replace element

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Published interval: 24,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

  • Crankcase-ventilation system and filter — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Crankcase-ventilation system and filter — service

    Sourced interval available

    Inspect at every oil change; replace the filter sooner in dusty use.

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Published interval: 24,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

  • Air-injection-reactor drive belt — inspectView intervals, applicability and sources

    Air-injection-reactor drive belt — inspect

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Published interval: 12,000 mi / 12 months · Whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

  • Distributor cam lubricator — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Distributor cam lubricator — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

    Rotate cam lubricator one-half turn

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Published interval: 12,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

    Replace cam lubricator

    Applies to: 1973 · United States

    Published interval: 24,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1973 Corvette official heritage service information · General Information and Lubrication, pages 0-1 through 0-13 · checked

  • Engine oil filter — catalog fitmentView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil filter — catalog fitment

    Exact reference available

    Baldwin B27

    This manufacturer application record establishes replacement-filter fitment only; the service interval comes from the separately cited Chevrolet schedule.

    Applies to: 1973 · United States · Baldwin's exact 1973 Corvette application rows assign B27 to every cataloged engine family; confirm the installed engine and filter before ordering.

    Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 770, Chevrolet 1973 Corvette 350- and 454-cu-in V8 rows — Lube — B27 · checked

    Verified ordering references

Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Sources

  1. General Motors Heritage Archive — 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Vehicle Information Kit
  2. NHTSA — VIN recall lookup

Other Third generation years

Explore the C3 "Stingray" generation →All Third generation · C3 "Stingray" years →

Documented lineup

Find your exact 1973 Corvette

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

8factory configurations
Exact factory pairings documentedHow this lineup was verified

These source-backed records identify published body, engine, and transmission combinations. Exact pairings do not by themselves assert that every factory option or special edition is represented.

8versions shown
Browse 8 documented records — use the filters above to narrow the list
Coupe with removable roof panels

Corvette Stingray 350 Coupe with removable roof panels — 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic

Body
Coupe with removable roof panels
Engine
350 cu in small-block V8
Gearbox
3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Coupe with removable roof panels

Corvette Stingray 350 Coupe with removable roof panels — 4-speed manual

Body
Coupe with removable roof panels
Engine
350 cu in small-block V8
Gearbox
4-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Convertible

Corvette Stingray 350 Convertible — 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic

Body
Convertible
Engine
350 cu in small-block V8
Gearbox
3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Convertible

Corvette Stingray 350 Convertible — 4-speed manual

Body
Convertible
Engine
350 cu in small-block V8
Gearbox
4-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Coupe with removable roof panels

Corvette Stingray 454 Coupe with removable roof panels — 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic

Body
Coupe with removable roof panels
Engine
454 cu in big-block V8
Gearbox
3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Coupe with removable roof panels

Corvette Stingray 454 Coupe with removable roof panels — 4-speed manual

Body
Coupe with removable roof panels
Engine
454 cu in big-block V8
Gearbox
4-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Convertible

Corvette Stingray 454 Convertible — 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic

Body
Convertible
Engine
454 cu in big-block V8
Gearbox
3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Convertible

Corvette Stingray 454 Convertible — 4-speed manual

Body
Convertible
Engine
454 cu in big-block V8
Gearbox
4-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

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