1974 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

San Rafael, California

$19,900

Vehicle Details

Make

Chevrolet

Model

Corvette Stingray

Year

1974

Drivetrain

RWD

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Condition

Excellent

Description

# 1974 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray T-Top

This 1974 Corvette T-Top represents the sweet spot of Corvette ownership: a genuinely low-mileage original with approximately 69,000 all-California miles and a clean accident-free history. The car has been comprehensively refreshed mechanically, with a new gas tank, fuel lines, and polyurethane bushings throughout, while the underside remains showroom-clean and completely rust-free. The suspension has been upgraded for improved cornering and ride quality, making this Stingray equally at home cruising on sunny California roads or commanding attention in any collection.

Everything you see is original where it counts, backed by proper mechanical attention to ensure reliability. Whether you're looking for a weekend driver or a garage centerpiece, this is a well-sorted example ready for immediate enjoyment.

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Tom Ramirez

Corvette

1963–1976

~4 min read

Updated Apr 2026

The Corvette Stingray — C2 Sting Ray (1963–1967) and C3 Stingray (1968–1976) — represents the most dramatic and collectible Corvette of the classic era, with the 1963 split-window coupe and the 1969–1972 big-block cars standing as the definitive American sports cars of their generation.

This guide covers

✓ 8-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 4 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Corvette Stingray Buyer's Guide

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Market Overview

Based on 14 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$58,191

Avg. Asking Price

1963–1981

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Below Average

This car: $19,900

Low: $4,000 High: $165,500

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 21%

Manual 50%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 43% ◄

Good 29%

Fair 7%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 14 listings →

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Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Buyer's Guide

Tom Ramirez here. I've spent two decades cataloguing Corvettes, and when people ask me which generation matters most, I always say the same thing: if you understand the Sting Ray, you understand what the Corvette was trying to be. Bill Mitchell's 1963 Sting Ray coupe — the one with the split rear window that Zora Duntov hated because it blocked rearward vision — is the most beautiful American sports car ever made. I don't say that lightly. That design is fifty years ahead of everything around it.

Two generations carry the Stingray name. The C2 Sting Ray (two words, 1963–1967) is the smaller, lighter, more sophisticated sports car. The C3 Stingray (one word, 1968–1976) is the wider, lower, more dramatic car that carried the Corvette through the muscle car era. Both deserve serious collector attention; both have specific years that represent peak value.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

VIN & Build Sheet — Cross-reference VIN against NCRS database and any available build sheet — especially for performance variants.

✓

Split Window Authenticity (1963) — On 1963 coupes, verify the original split rear window — conversions from single-window cars exist.

✓

Engine Date Codes — Verify engine casting date falls before the car's production date — an out-of-period engine reduces value.

✓

C2 Frame Rails — Inspect for accident damage and corrosion at rear suspension mounting points — C2s were hard-driven.

✓

T-Top Seals (C3) — Check T-top panels and seals — leaks are common and cause structural sill rust and interior water damage.

✓

Fiberglass Stress Cracks — Inspect door corners and T-top openings for fiberglass stress cracking — indicates hard use or flex.

✓

Fuel Injection Unit (L84) — On FI-equipped C2 cars, verify the Rochester unit is original and functioning — complex to restore.

✓

Battery Compartment — Check the battery area for acid damage to fiberglass — a common issue on all C2/C3 Corvettes.

Common Issues

Documentation fraud on high-value C2 variants — always verify against NCRS records. C2 frame corrosion at the rear suspension mounting points. C3 T-top water leaks causing sill rust and interior damage — extremely common. Fiberglass body stress cracks at door corners and T-top openings. C2 327ci fuel-injected (L84) Rochester unit failures — complex and expensive to restore correctly. Big-block cars: overheating from inadequate cooling system maintenance. Battery acid damage to the fiberglass underhood area. Early C3 (1968) wiper and ventilation system specific-part sourcing.

What to Look For

VIN and documentation verification is the first priority on any C2 or C3 Sting Ray purchase — particularly for claimed high-performance variants (L88, L71, L89 on C2; L88, ZL1, LS6, LS7 on C3). Cross-reference the VIN against the NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society) database and any available build sheet or tank sticker. On C2 cars, verify the frame rails are straight and uncompromised — C2s were hard-driven and accident histories are common. On C3 cars, inspect the T-top roof seals and the sill areas for water damage from T-top leaks. Fiberglass body condition: check for stress cracks at door corners and around the T-top openings. Verify the rear suspension (C2 IRS) pivot points for corrosion and wear.

Price Guide

C2 327ci roadster: $45,000–$85,000. C2 327ci coupe (non-split window): $55,000–$95,000. 1963 Sting Ray split-window coupe (documented): $80,000–$150,000+. C2 427ci big-block: $75,000–$130,000. C2 L88 (verified): $350,000–$600,000+. C3 Stingray 427ci (1969–1971): $40,000–$80,000. C3 350ci (1971–1976): $22,000–$45,000. NCRS Top Flight or Bloomington Gold certified cars command 20–35% premium.

Did You Know?

The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was the first Corvette offered as a coupe — all previous Corvettes (1953–1962) had been convertibles only. The independent rear suspension was also a first for the Corvette in 1963. Bill Mitchell named the car "Sting Ray" after the fish he kept in an aquarium in his design studio. The 1963 split-window coupe is the only year the feature appeared in production — Duntov's visibility objection won the argument for every subsequent year.