Car Model History

Third generation · C3 "Stingray" · 1968–1982

1974Chevrolet 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"

1974 Chevrolet Corvette, C3 third generation — blue convertible, front three-quarter view

Photo: NutzerAusBerlin / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.

The 1974 model year

Overview

The 1974 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. 1974 factory powertrain and body-style range rather than borrowing a nearby model year's specification.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • For a 1974 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 1974 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 1974 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
12
Scheduled topics
11
Applicability stated
12
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 — change; oil filter — replaceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil — change; oil filter — replace

    Sourced interval available

    Replace the filter at the first oil change and every second oil change thereafter.

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

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

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

  • Chassis — lubricate; fluid levels and air-conditioning system — checkView intervals, applicability and sources

    Chassis — lubricate; fluid levels and air-conditioning system — check

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

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

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

  • Rear-axle lubricant — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Rear-axle lubricant — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

    Published interval: 12,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

  • Cooling system — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Cooling system — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

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

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

  • Wheel bearings, manual steering gear, and clutch cross-shaft — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Wheel bearings, manual steering gear, and clutch cross-shaft — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

    Wheel bearings

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

    Published interval: 24,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

    Manual steering gear and clutch cross-shaft

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

    Published interval: 36,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

  • Automatic transmission — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Automatic transmission — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1974 · Automatic · United States

    Published interval: 24,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

  • Tires, wheels, exhaust, suspension, steering, brakes, power steering, and drive belts — inspectView intervals, applicability and sources

    Tires, wheels, exhaust, suspension, steering, brakes, power steering, and drive belts — inspect

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

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

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

  • Air-cleaner system — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Air-cleaner system — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

    Thermostatically controlled air cleaner — inspect

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

    Published interval: 12,000 mi / 12 months · After the initial 6,000-mile/4-month service; whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

    Air-cleaner element — replace

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

    Published interval: 24,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

  • Fuel and evaporative-emissions systems — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Fuel and evaporative-emissions systems — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

    Carburetor fuel-inlet filter and related emissions controls

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

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

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

    Evaporative-control system; fuel cap, tank, and lines

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

    Published interval: 24,000 mi / 24 months · Whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

  • PCV system — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    PCV system — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

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

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

  • Spark plugs and ignition-coil wires — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Spark plugs and ignition-coil wires — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

    Vehicles using leaded fuel — spark plugs

    Applies to: 1974 · United States · Vehicles using leaded fuel.

    Published interval: 6,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · checked

    All vehicles — plugs and ignition-coil wires

    Applies to: 1974 · United States

    Published interval: 12,000 mi / 12 months · After the initial 24,000-mile/24-month service; whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1974 Passenger Car Service Manual complete maintenance schedule · General Information and Lubrication, Complete Vehicle Maintenance Schedule, page 0-16 · 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: 1974 · United States · Baldwin's exact 1974 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 769, Chevrolet 1974 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 — 1974 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 1974 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

Browse by tag

← All Chevrolet Corvette years