1973 Chevrolet Corvette coupe, L48 350 automatic, no reserve with a $3,000 opening bid

Why we picked it

This 1973 Corvette coupe runs the base L48 350 with a Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic and wears white paint over a tan vinyl interior. The seller says they refinished it white before buying it in 2014, and lists a steady run of work since then: heater core and hoses, valve seals and springs, brake calipers, pads and lines, a fuel pump, starter and battery, plus new T-top latches and dash vents. It carries a clean Florida title in the seller's name and is offered at no reserve.

Why we picked it: driver-quality 1973 coupes have sold for $12,000 to $16,500 this year, and the bid stands at $3,000 with the auction running until November 9. Bids usually climb a lot in the last days, so treat today's number as a starting point. The seller lists a cracked front nose, paint blemishes, a dead A/C system and a custom six-light rear panel, so price those fixes in before you bid.

The value check

When we found it, the bid was $8,025. Comparable cars in the same condition have sold for $12,000–$16,500, so the middle of the market is about $14,250. That put this car 44% under.

Driver-grade 1973 L48 coupes (1Z37J VINs) sold for $12,000 to $16,500 between May and August 2026 (Hagerty $12,000 and $15,000, Mecum $15,950, BaT $16,500); cleaner cars reached $26,000-$27,000. The $3,000 opening bid is about 79% under the $14,250 midpoint, and it will climb well before the November 9 close.

Where the numbers come from:

• 1973 Corvette coupe, BaT, sold $16,500 (Aug 2026)
• 1973 Corvette coupe, Hagerty, sold $15,000 (Aug 2026)
• 1973 Corvette coupe, Mecum Harrisburg, sold $15,950 (Jul 2026)
• 1973 Corvette coupe, Hagerty, sold $12,000 (May 2026)
• 1973 C3 Corvette sold results (classic.com)

What to check

• Seller lists a crack in the front valance/nose, paint blemishes on the right front fender and driver door, inoperable A/C and a dead washer tank
• The custom six-taillight rear panel is non-original; budget for a stock rear bumper cover if you want a factory look
• Check the birdcage (windshield frame and rocker steel under the fiberglass) and the frame kick-ups ahead of the rear wheels for rust
• Mileage is listed as 17,700 TMU, so the true mileage is unknown
• Look at the T-top weatherstrips and the rear window and hatch area for water leaks

Making it drive like new

A 1973 coupe is a good base for a mild pro-touring build: a VanSteel or similar front coilover kit and a rear composite leaf, a 700R4 or 4L60E overdrive automatic, and an EFI system on the 350. Add a modern Vintage Air A/C to replace the dead factory unit, then braided brake lines and upgraded calipers to finish the job.

8 builders make a complete chassis for the 1968–82 C3 Corvette. Compare them side by side, along with what it takes to stiffen the factory frame.

How it ended

It sold for $15,515 on Nov 9, 2026, against a market value of about $14,250 when we found it.