What Year C3 is This Corvette?

[Paul P.]

Doing a project where I am researching engine specifications plate. Took the attached photos of a C3 and it's plate.

The Corvette is a 70 thru 72 judging by the chrome bumpers and the egg crate grill. But the engine specifications plate looks to be a later model C3. Maybe a '76 or '77?

Until what year are engine specifications plates part of the Corvette story? Somehow 1977 comes to mind. At some point they ceased to include horsepower ratings.

Thanks for any input and opinions!

~paul

[Patrick H.]

Re: What Year C3 is This Corvette?

Someone swapped a $4 data plate on a 1972 Corvette. If that's the least of the sins committed in maintaining the car consider yourself lucky.
Check the VIN next time - as well as other clues - if you want to know the year for sure.

[Michael F.]

Re: What Year C3 is This Corvette?

could be a late 71

[Joe L.]

Re: What Year C3 is This Corvette?

Doing a project where I am researching engine specifications plate. Took the attached photos of a C3 and it's plate.

The Corvette is a 70 thru 72 judging by the chrome bumpers and the egg crate grill. But the engine specifications plate looks to be a later model C3. Maybe a '76 or '77?

Until what year are engine specifications plates part of the Corvette story? Somehow 1977 comes to mind. At some point they ceased to include horsepower ratings.

Thanks for any input and opinions!

~paul

Paul------


This looks to be a 1975-76 data plate. I believe 1976 was the last year for the use of these plates. Horsepower ratings were dropped for 1972 and later.

[Mike E.]

Re: What Year C3 is This Corvette?

could be a late 71

I believe it is only a myth that late 71's didn't have fiberoptics. I have documented too many very late 71's with fiberoptics to accept the myth. I am with Patrick on it being a 72 with a replaced tag.

[Dave S.]

Re: What Year C3 is This Corvette?

I believe it is only a myth that late 71's didn't have fiberoptics. I have documented too many very late 71's with fiberoptics to accept the myth. I am with Patrick on it being a 72 with a replaced tag.

My 71 #21467 which was built in the last week of production has fiber optics. I'm with you. I believe all 71's had that feature.

[Patrick H.]

Re: What Year C3 is This Corvette?

My 71 #21467 which was built in the last week of production has fiber optics. I'm with you. I believe all 71's had that feature.

Same here.
I convinced Mike Antonick to change the wording in the Black Book for 1971s many years ago, though it's still not entirely removed if you read it.

[Paul P.]

Re: What Year C3 is This Corvette?

Thanks all for your responses. My thought is the car is a '70 or '71 and the engine was blown up at one time. A '76 or '77 engine was installed and, to keep things consistent, the owner spent the extra $4 for a later data plate. But then my friends have always said I'm an overly positive and trusting person.

I had not heard of the debate regarding late '71s not having fiber optic systems, interesting.

~paul

[Joe L.]

Re: What Year C3 is This Corvette?

Thanks all for your responses. My thought is the car is a '70 or '71 and the engine was blown up at one time. A '76 or '77 engine was installed and, to keep things consistent, the owner spent the extra $4 for a later data plate. But then my friends have always said I'm an overly positive and trusting person.

I had not heard of the debate regarding late '71s not having fiber optic systems, interesting.

~paul

Paul------


AS others have mentioned, there need be no mystery as to what year this car is. It's coded into the VIN number. Simply report what the VIN number is and we'll be able to tell you exactly what year it is.

[Paul P.]

Re: What Year C3 is This Corvette?

Joe:

True. Unfortunately at the time it didn't occur to me to look at the VIN. My project is an article for my local club about Corvette data plates and I found this one in my archives.

Although I have a lot of photos of early data plates, this is one of the few I have of the later data plates, hence the question.

Thank you!

~paul

[Joe L.]

Re: What Year C3 is This Corvette?

Joe:

True. Unfortunately at the time it didn't occur to me to look at the VIN. My project is an article for my local club about Corvette data plates and I found this one in my archives.

Although I have a lot of photos of early data plates, this is one of the few I have of the later data plates, hence the question.

Thank you!

~paul

Paul-------


Well, given the fact that the parking lamp lenses are amber, I'd say it's a pretty safe bet this car is a 1972.

[Patrick H.]

Re: What Year C3 is This Corvette?

Thanks all for your responses. My thought is the car is a '70 or '71 and the engine was blown up at one time.

Front turn signals are 72. (I see Joe and I were typing at the same time).

AssUming that the engine was swapped just because the data plate was swapped seems mighty far-fetched to me. Having the plate fall off, and then buying the only one the Chevy dealer had on hand, sounds a lot more likely.

[Jim T.]

Re: What Year C3 is This Corvette?

Looking at the screws in the front grilles I believe the car is a 1970.

[Patrick H.]

Re: What Year C3 is This Corvette?

Looking at the screws in the front grilles I believe the car is a 1970.

70 did not have the screws on the lower edge, and this one does.

[Jim T.]

Re: What Year C3 is This Corvette?

My original owner 1970 had screws on the lower edge.