Vehicle Description
1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe
GM uses the term COPO (Central Office Production Orders) mainly for
fleet sales. Thanks to a bit of manipulation of "da rules," they
used a definition of purpose. In other words, some reason (true or
otherwise) needed to be conjured up for this office to grant your
request. Read on to see the request!
When a dealership salesman you may have heard of named Bill Kolb
(look him up!) from a dealership in Larchmont, New York was asked
to see if they could get a black 1973 Corvette Coupe (unavailable
in this color), they contacted the necessary authorities, worked
the channels, and behold the St. Louis assembly plant granted their
wish. The plant built 3 Black 1973 L82 4-speed Corvettes, and 1 tan
one. The build plates were all labeled SPEC for the color, and on
the actual build sheet, the person spraying the car wrote in
handwriting Tuxedo Black. 2 Of the 3 black ones were long ago
wrecked, engines salvaged, and bodies crushed. So that leaves 1,
the ONLY documented actual BLACK Corvette from 1973, built
specially at the St Louis plant at the request of this very well
known salesman who is still alive today and has a Subaru Dealership
in New Jersey. The original engine was taken out to put an LT1
engine in from 1970, but then the current consigner took that
engine out and put the original back in, which came with the
car.
Exterior
Save for some touchup areas (seen in photos) the car is still
sporting its original paint, as consigner states likely 85% of the
car is original paint. Hidden headlights, a stainless rocker,
integrated front polyethylene crash bumper, and rear dual chromed
bumpers in excellent condition. The removable "T" top is dual
panels in shiny steel and opens the cockpit up for some fresh air.
Window surrounds are very nice, and it has the larger flying
buttress B pillars which frame an inserted rear glass that is
nearly perfectly vertical in the cove created. Iconic round
taillights, and built in rectangular exhaust, framed above by each
bumper are seen. Chevrolet rally wheels are deep dish chrome with a
central hub and are wrapped by the factory red line tires that were
delivered with the car. Note the Hory Dealership badge in the
center of the rear, which is where Bill Kolb elevated his status in
the sports car world.
Interior
A swing of the highly styled curved doors, and we see black molded
vinyl with chromed surround trimmings and a wood applique panel
behind the door pull. Inside the high back buckets in well
preserved black leather flank a center console with the parking
brake lever, and wood and chrome applique gear shift panel,
complete with ashtray and lighter, and heater and fan control
wheels. Moving forward a central vertical panel houses the AM/FM
radio, a cluster of 5 round gauges some warning lights, and wiper
switch. Deep rounded coves house the tach and speedo gauges and are
fronted by the pristine original tilt and telescoping steering
wheel. Black carpet floods the clean floors, and shiny trimmed
rubber covered pedals float above on the driver's side.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is the original numbers matching L82 350 CI engine
showing just beautifully in screaming red engine block and heads,
aluminum valve covers and a 4-barrel Rochester Quadrajet carburetor
underneath a shiny black air cleaner cover. The Muncie M21 4-speed,
numbers matching transmission, is on back and the original rear and
axle (3.36:1) are on this car.
Undercarriage
Factory in a word, as any part that has grease on it was replaced
with GM certified parts, and all surfaces present as a low mileage
car. Super shiny exhaust in dual form, shiny molded floor pans, and
like new suspension (independent front, upper and lower A arms,
tubular hydraulic shocks, and anti roll bar... for the rear
independent leaf springs, struts, U joint half shafts, trailing
arms, and tubular hydraulic shock absorbers.)
Drive-Ability
I slipped inside and anxiously fired it right up. It was off to the
test track, where it performed excellent as expected. Fantastic
acceleration, great handling, smooth straight stopping, and the
steering was nice and tight. The A/C blows cold, and I found the
passenger window to be inoperable, and I could not get the hidden
headlights to lift for me.
Color: SPEC...check! Original engine and drive train...check!,
Original interior....check! Copious amounts of documentation have
been provided by the consigner, photos with Emerson Fittipaldi
riding in the passenger side at one point at the 1972 Watkins Glen
Grand Prix, and original build sheet, along with lots of stories as
to how this car came about, verified by an actual conversation with
Bill Kolb. One 1 left, low mileage, factory COPO car direct from St
Louis.
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
