THE 1975 CORVETTE

 

 

Thank you for joining us again here at Hobby Car Corvettes, located in Martinsburg PA, as we continue the exciting series, C3 Vette Rundown. In each post of the series, we will highlight the upgrades and additions, redesigns and removals for each year of the third generation of Corvettes. We started with the launch of the third generation in 1968, and today we bring you a thorough rundown of the 1975 Chevrolet Corvette. Wasting no more time, let’s get right to the developments of 1975.

 

SO LONG ZORA ARKUS-DUNTOV

 

On January 1, 1975, Chevrolet said goodbye to a major player in the world of Corvettes, Zora Arkus-Duntov. On this day, Duntov retired after having devoted 21 years and 7 months to General Motors. Often referred to as the “Father of the Corvette”, Duntov had felt personally compelled to contribute to the project when he saw the original Harley Earl Corvette prototype in New York. Zora was so inspired following this event, he wrote a personal letter to the president of GM, Ed Cole, detailing his insights about the Corvette.

 

Once employed by Chevrolet, he passionately worked “on the side” on the Corvette design, despite not being specifically assigned to the Corvette project. It was not until 1968, the first year of the third generation of Corvettes, that Duntov would be assigned as Corvette’s Chief Engineer.

 

1975 CORVETTE AESTHETICS

 

Nearly identical to the 1974 Corvette, the 1975 Corvette revealed very few notable aesthetic changes. The one design change worth noting, was made for safety and protection. On the front and rear bumper, a padding was added for extra protection for varying impacts.

 

Another notable change, was the rear bumper fascia. If you read our post for the 1974 Corvette, you will recall that the rear bumper fascia was made of two separate pieces, making for a noticeable seam down the center. We pointed out that this made the 1974 Corvette very easy to pinpoint. In 1975, the rear bumper was redesigned to be one, seamless, whole piece.

 

We continue to mention, that just as notable as the additions, are the removals. 1975 would be the last year of the third generation Corvettes to offer the convertible as an option. If you haven’t noticed in the option codes, production and pricing chart following this post, the numbers for convertibles ordered have been dramatically declining. This year, of the impressive 38,465 Corvettes produced and ordered, only 4,629 were convertibles. This means that the 1975 Convertible Corvettes just barely counted for 12% of the Corvettes ordered.

 

While the declining of the orders was the original argument for cutting the convertible, the pending legislation banning fully open model cars was the catalyst. When this talk began, Chevrolet made the decision to cut convertibles for future models. Seeing as how we have convertibles today, it almost doesn’t need to be pointed out, that the talk of this radical change never came to fruition. Convertibles would eventually return to the Corvette assembly line, but they would never be more affordable than they had been before the decade long hiatus to come.

 

1975 CORVETTE MECHANICS

 

Engine options were limited in 1974, but even moreso for 1975 Corvettes. The only Chevrolet Corvette engines that would be offered in 1975 included the stock, 165 horsepower, 350 cubic inch engine, and the optional RPO L82 205 horsepower, 350 cubic engines. This being said, there were few mechanical changes, just as there were few aesthetic changes. With no larger engine available, L82 hood emblems adorned cars so equipped.

 

This was the year, however, that catalytic convertors were introduced. Catalytic convertors were designed and introduced to convert toxic byproducts produced by internal combustion engines into a less toxic substance via catalysed chemical reactions. The introduction of the catalytic convertor also eliminated the option of the dual exhaust. The dual exhaust pipes were routed to a single convertor, then split again leading to dual mufflers and tailpipes.

 

 

With the removal of lead fuel, and the introduction of the catalytic convertor, the 1975 Corvette was described as

 

“a more efficient Corvette“

 

A couple more small changes included Tachometers began to be driven by electrical impulses, as opposed to mechanical and drivers would now see their kilometers per hour in subtext below the miles per hour.  

 

DID YOU KNOW

• 1975 would be the last year in the third generation Corvettes to include a convertible option.

• The catalytic convertor was introduced to the world of automobiles in 1975.

 

CONCLUSION

 

Another hot year for Corvette, despite few changes being made. With a total of 38,465 Corvettes being sold this year, 1975 was within 300 units of the 1969 sales numbers, which still held the title for Corvettes’ best selling year at this point.

 

As always, whether extravagant changes or notable removals, we continue to respect each year of the third generation of Corvettes. Every year, every model, is a necessary piece in the process.

 

We hope these posts have been helping you to either expand your Corvette knowledge, or determine what year is best for you to add to or begin your Corvette collection. No matter your goal in visiting us here at Hobby Car Corvettes, we are always here to offer guidance or talk shop. We love connecting with Corvette enthusiasts all over the world. If you are looking to buy, please feel free to check out the 1975 Corvettes we currently have for sale, listed below. We will see you again next week, for the rundown of the 1976 Corvette!

 

 

We currently have the following 1975 corvettes for sale:

 

 

SPECS

 

MODEL	1975 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
GENERATION	C3
BODY STYLE	Two-door convertible/coupe, front engine, rear wheel drive
MANUFACTURING LOCATION	St. Louis, Missouri
Original Price	$6,810.10 (Coupe), $6,550.10 (Convertible)
Units Produced	38,465
EXTERIOR COLORS	Classic White, Silver, Bright Blue, Steel Blue, Bright Green, Bright Yellow, Medium Saddlet, Orange Flame, Dark Red, Mille Miglia
INTERIOR COLORS	Black, Silver, Dark Red, Saddle, Dark Blue, Neutral
CONSTRUCTION	Uniconstruction: fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP or “fiberglass”) body, backboned by a steel cage outlining the passenger compartment. Principal members – underbody, front and rear end assemblies, dash panel and hinge pillars are bonded, riveted, or bolted together and to each other. Hood is plastic with bonded plastic reinforcement. Coupe: two removable roof panels and removable rear window. Frame: all welded, full length, ladder construction with 5 crossmembers. Side Rails and intermediate crossmembers box section; front crossmember box girder section. Eight body-mounting points.
VEHICLE NUMBERS (VIN)	1Z37J5S400001 – 1Z37J5S438465
ENGINE SUFFIX	CHA: 350 CUBIC INCH, 165 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL CHB: 350 CUBIC INCH, 165 HORSEPOWER, AUTOMATIC CHC: 350 CUBIC INCH, 205 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL CHR: 350 CUBIC INCH, 205 HORSEPOWER, AUTOMATIC, CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS CHU: 350 CUBIC INCH, 165 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL CHZ: 350 CUBIC INCH, 165 HORSEPOWER, AUTOMATIC, CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS CKC: 350 CUBIC INCH, 205 HORSEPOWER, AUTOMATIC CRJ: 350 CUBIC INCH, 165 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL CRK: 350 CUBIC INCH, 165 HORSEPOWER, AUTOMATIC CRL: 350 CUBIC INCH, 205 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL CRM: 350 CUBIC INCH, 205 HORSEPOWER, AUTOMATIC CUA: 350 CUBIC INCH, 165 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL CUB: 350 CUBIC INCH, 165 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL CUD: 350 CUBIC INCH, 205 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL CUB: 350 CUBIC INCH, 205 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL
ENGINE BLOCK NUMBER	3970010: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180 HP, 210HP
HEAD NUMBER	333882: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180HP, 210HP
CARBURETOR NUMBERS	ROCHESTER Q-jet #17056206: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180HP, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ROCHESTER Q-jet #17056207: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180HP, MANUAL TRANSMISSION ROCHESTER Q-jet #17056210: 350 CUBIC INCH, 210HP, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ROCHESTER Q-jet #17056211: 350 CUBIC INCH, 210HP, MANUAL TRANSMISSION ROCHESTER Q-jet #17056226: 350 CUBIC INCH, 210HP, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ROCHESTER Q-jet #17056506: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180HP, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ROCHESTER Q-jet #17056507: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180HP, MANUAL TRANSMISSION
DISTRIBUTOR NUMBER	1103200: 350 CUBIC INCH, 210HP, MANUAL 1112888: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180HP 1112905: 350 CUBIC INCH, 180HP, AUTOMATIC, CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS 1112979: 350 CUBIC INCH, 210HP, AUTOMATIC
ALTERNATOR NUMBER	1102474: 350 CUBIC INCH, AIR CONDITIONING 1102484: 350 CUBIC INCH, WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING
AXLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER	AA: 3.55:1 RATIO AB: 3.70:1 RATIO AC: 4.11:1 RATIO AY: 2.73:1 RATIO AW: 3.08:1 RATIO AX: 3.36:1 RATIO LR: 3.36:1 RATIO
PRODUCTION ENDING VEHICLE	OCT., 1974: 402385, FEB., 1975: 417112, JUN., 1975: 433474, NOV.. 1974: 406180, MAR., 1975: 420856, JUL, 1975: 438465, DEC., 1974: 409190, APR., 1975: 425228, JAN., 1975: 413159, MAY, 1975: 429379

 

Options Codes, Production, & Pricing

 

CODES	DESCRIPTION	QUANTITY	RETAIL PRICE
1YZ37	Base Corvette Sport Coupe	33,836	$6,810.10
1YZ67	Base Corvette Convertible	4629	$6,550.10
–	Custom Interior Trim	–	$154.00
A31	Power Windows	28,745	$93.00
A85	Custom Shoulder Belts (std with coupe)	646	$41.00
C07	Auxiliary Hardtop (for convertible)	2,407	$267.00
C08	Vinyl Covered Auxiliary Hardtop	279	$350.00
C50	Rear Window Defogger	13,760	$46.00
C60	Air Conditioning	31,914	$490.00
FE7	Gymkhana Suspension	3,194	$7.00
–	Optional Rear Axle Ratio	1,969	$12.00
J50	Power Brakes	35,842	$50.00
L82	350ci, 205hp Engine	2,372	$336.00
M21	4-Speed Manual Transmission, close-ratio	1,057	$0.00
M40	Turbo-Hydro-matic Automatic Transmission	28,473	$0.00
N37	Tilt-Telescopic Steering Column	31,830	$82.00
N41	Power Steering	37,591	$129.00
QRM	White Stripe Steel Belted Tires, GR70x15	5,233	$35.00
QRZ	White Letter Steel Belted Tires, GR70x15	30,407	$48.00
U05	Dual Horns	22,011	$4.00
U58	AM-FM Radio, Stereo	24,701	$284.00
U69	AM-FM Radio	12,902	$178.00
UA1	Heavy Duty Battery	16,778	$15.00
UF1	Map Light (on rearview mirror)	21,676	$5.00
YF5	California Emission Test	3,037	$20.00
Z07	Off Road Suspension and Brake Package	144	$400.00

 

TRANSMISSION CODES

 

CODE	TRANSMISSION
W	Warner 4-Speed, Heavy-Duty Aluminum Case
CK	Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 with 350 L-48 Engine
CZ	Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 with 350 L-82 Engine