'65-'74 Big Block Production.for Corvettes Ten year run, how many?

[George H.]

[Justin S.]

Re: '65-'74 Big Block Production.for Corvettes Ten year run, how many?

George,
I would think that the 3% figure doesn't compute as the availability of a big block ended in the '74 production.
It would be like factoring in the number of drum brake cars after they weren't even an option.

[Joe L.]

Re: '65-'74 Big Block Production.for Corvettes Ten year run, how many?

Having some fun with numbers.

Over a 10-year span of 1965 to 1974, GM records show it manufactured 275,637 Corvettes. During these years, only three variations of a big-block engines were offered. The 396, 427, and the 454. It’s somewhat trivia, but, only 12% of all Corvettes between 65-74 came with a big-block engine. That total number, according to my digging into it, is 33,390. Here are the numbers; the 396 at 2,157, 427 at 9,656, and 454 at 21,577. In total today, Corvette production, 1953-2023, is over 1 million. The percentage of big-blocks in Corvettes now drops to below 3%. It would be an interesting chart for Corvettes having a big-block engine (with hp variations) showing other options, i.e., coupe versus convertible, automatic versus manual, power brakes, steering, AC, trim and color, etc. Maybe that summary has already been done. How rare are the Corvette muscle car giants getting? I was taken back by finding out that not very many came with the M21 close ratio 4-speed. Within that 10 year run, I also found out that in some years, GM only offered an automatic when buying a Corvette with a big-block. How about that.

Georeg Hunt
Florida NCRS Chapter
Yes, I have a big block 73 Corvette LS4/M21 coupe. One of the 33,380 big boys.

George------

I'm not aware of any model year for which a big block was not offered with a 4 speed manual transmission choice.

[Larry E.]

Re: '65-'74 Big Block Production.for Corvettes Ten year run, how many?

One wonders if the percentages would be the same for the other Chevrolet Models? eg. Full Size/Chevelles??Larry

[George H.]

Re: '65-'74 Big Block Production.for Corvettes Ten year run, how many?

Thanks Joe for correcting me. I must have been thinking about the 1982 corvettes that only came with a 4-speed automatic. No big blocks that year.

I'm not sure you can buy a new Corvette with a manual transmission? Do they all come with an 8-speed automatic now?

[Terry M.]

Re: '65-'74 Big Block Production.for Corvettes Ten year run, how many?

Thanks Joe for correcting me. I must have been thinking about the 1982 corvettes that only came with a 4-speed automatic. No big blocks that year.

I'm not sure you can buy a new Corvette with a manual transmission? Do they all come with an 8-speed automatic now?

No automatic transmission is available from Bowling Green beginning in 2020 (the beginning of the C8). A study of the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) will reveal that any relation to the automatic transmissions of our youth is soley in the lack of a third pedal.

[George H.]

Re: '65-'74 Big Block Production.for Corvettes Ten year run, how many?

Appreciate your comment Terry.
I'm old school. Having that 3rd pedal gives me that old sports car feeling. Push in the clutch, step on the gas, and lesten to that big block engine rev ep is music to my ears. Shifting down from 4th to 3rd at 50, then down to 2nd at 30, and then into 1st, To me, that's fun. As you commented, starting in 2020 that fun is a thing of the past. Just let the computer do it all.

George

[Patrick H.]

Re: '65-'74 Big Block Production.for Corvettes Ten year run, how many?

A friend was interested in a possible big block a few years ago and did a lot of looking.

His theory was that with the L-79 and LT-1 only available with a 4-speed it left the 454 as the only optional or performance engine for at least 70-72 if you "had to" have an automatic, thus skewing the numbers of automatics mated to big blocks.

I thought it was a reasonable theory, and continue to note as well that there are definitely more automatic than 4-speed 454s.

[Mark F.]

Re: '65-'74 Big Block Production.for Corvettes Ten year run, how many?

396 at 2,157, 427 at 9,656, and 454 at 21,577. In total today, Corvette production, 1953-2023, is over 1 million. The percentage of big-blocks in Corvettes now drops to below 3%. It would be an interesting chart for Corvettes having a big-block engine (with hp variations) showing other options, i.e., coupe versus convertible, automatic versus manual, power brakes, steering, AC, trim and color, etc. Maybe that summary has already been done. How rare are the Corvette muscle car giants getting? I was taken back by finding out that not very many came with the M21 close ratio 4-speed. Within that 10 year run, I also found out that in some years, GM only offered an automatic when buying a Corvette with a big-block. How about that. Georeg Hunt...Yes, I have a big block 73 Corvette LS4/M21 coupe. One of the 33,380 big boys.

Hi George,

Other than 396 and slightly different 454 numbers, I got a fairly large difference from your 427 numbers using data from the CorvSport website (I don't have all of those TIMJGs, which I would consider the most accurate source of BB production numbers by engine RPO).

Lemme know if I've misinterpreted something or have used an unreliable source...
65-74 BBs_001.jpg

[George H.]

Re: '65-'74 Big Block Production.for Corvettes Ten year run, how many?

No, you got it correct. I did not add up all the variations in 427 hp ratngs manufactured. That makes a big difference. Certaily appears the 427's were a lot more desirable than the 454's. In 1966, almost half the Corvettes sold had a big block 427.

Good follow up Mark.

George