Chronology of Chevrolet Corvettes

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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.


1973

January
  • GM Design Staff begins work on adding a body to the experimental 4-rotor rotary-engined Corvette. [47.60] [580.262]
  • In Henry Haga's design studio under direction of Chuck Jordan, design work begins on a future Corvette body. [580.262]
February 3
  • At the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida, the Daytona 24 Hours race is held.
    • Finishing 2nd in GT +2000 class and 3rd overall is the Dave Heinz #5 Corvette driven by Dave Heinz, Dana English, and Bob McClure. This is Corvette's best overall finish at this race to date.
    • Bob Baechle, Roger Pierce, and Alex Davidson race the Weaver Chevrolet #64 Corvette but do not finish the race.
    • Don Yenko and Robert R. Johnson race the John Greenwood #49 Corvette but do not finish the race.
    • John Greenwood races the John Greenwood #48 Corvette but do not finish the race.
    • Jerry Thompson and Ike Knupp race the Murray Racing #34 Corvette but do not finish the race.
    • Tony DeLorenzo and Maurice Carter race the Troy Promotions Inc. #11 Corvette but do not finish the race.
    [212.12] [263.280] [423] [580.241]
March 17
  • The National Broadcasting Company airs the pilot episode of The Magician airs on TV in the USA. The lead character drives a white 1973 Corvette coupe. [747]
March 24
  • In Sebring, Florida, the 12 Hours of Sebring race is held, round two of the Endurance Triple Crown.
    • Finishing 3rd in IMSA GT +2500 class, 3rd overall, is the John Greenwood #50 Corvette, driven by Ron Grable, John Greenwood, and Michael Brockman. This is the best ever overall finish for a Corvette at Sebring to date.
    • Finishing 5th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 11th overall, is the Phil Currin #99 Corvette, driven by Phil Currin, Danny Fortin, and Bill Johnson.
    • Finishing 6th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 16th overall, is the Leldon Blackwell #94 Corvette, driven by Wilbur Pickett and Bill Bean.
    • Finishing 7th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 17th overall, is the George Garcia #41 Corvette, driven by George Garcia and Vic Shinn.
    • Placing 8th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 19th overall, is the John Greenwood Racing #49 Corvette, driven by Jim Greendyke and Robert Johnson. The car is not running at the finish.
    • Finishing 9th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 21st overall, is the Sebring Racing #61 Corvette, driven by Scott Chapman, John McLaren, and Bill Hood.
    • Finishing 10th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 24th overall, is the Sebring Racing #47 Corvette, driven by Terry Keller, Robert Gray, and Neil Potter.
    • Placing 11th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 28th overall, is the Performance Associates #3 Corvette, driven by Dick Bauer, Jim DeStefano, and Nick Engels. The car is not running at the finish.
    • Finishing 13th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 38th overall, is the Ansley Racing Enterprises #97 Corvette, driven by Tony Ansley, Ron Connelly, and Steve Avera.
    • Placing 15th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 42th overall, is the WGB Niagara Wines #69 Corvette, driven by Ron Goldleaf and John Tunstall. The car is not running at the finish.
    • Placing 16th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 47th overall, is the Troy Promotions #11 Corvette, driven by Tony DeLorenzo and Steve Durst. The car is not running at the finish due to engine failure about halfway through the race.
    • Finishing 17th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 49th overall, is the Race Enterprise & Developments #5 Corvette, driven by David Heinz and Jerry Thompson.
    • Placing 18th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 50th overall, is the John Greenwood Racing #48 Corvette, driven by John Greenwood and Don Yenko. The car is not running at the finish due to engine failure.
    • Placing 19th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 51st overall, is the Pironell Racing #40 Corvette, driven by Tom Nell, Rich Dagiel, and Joseph Pirotta. The car is not running at the finish due to engine failure.
    • Placing 20th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 57th overall, is the Murray Racing Team #34 Corvette, driven by Ike Knupp and Bob Tullius. The car is not running at the finish due to engine failure.
    • Placing 22nd in IMSA GT +2500 class, 59th overall, is the Jeff Stevens Racing #62 Corvette, driven by Jef Stevens and Peter Sherman. The car is not running at the finish due to engine failure.
    • Placing 23rd in IMSA GT +2500 class, 64th overall, is the Iroquois Racing #54 Corvette, driven by William Schumacher and Rick Hay. The car is not running at the finish.
    • Placing 24th in IMSA GT +2500 class, 71st overall, is the Alex Davidson #6 Corvette, driven by Alex Davidson. The car is not running at the finish due to engine failure.
    [79.72] [224.81] [348] [423] [580.241] [585.100] [901.64]
April
  • The design of a future Corvette body is altered to suit the XP-882 chassis with 4-rotor engine. [580.262]
  • A 3/8 scale model in clay of the body for the 4-rotor Corvette prototype undergoes aerodynamic tests in California's GALCIT wind tunnel. The coefficient of drag is measured at 0.325. [47.60] [580.262]
April 15
  • At the Road Atlanta raceway in Gainsville, Georgia, the Trans-Am 500 race is held, part of the SCCA Trans-American Championship series.
    • Finishing 3rd is the Jim Robbins Co. Corvette, driven by J. Marshall Robbins.
    • In 20th place, but not finishing the race, is the Pironell Racing Corvette, driven by Joe Pirrotta and Richard Dagiel.
    • In 25th place, but not finishing the race, is the Budd Corvette, driven by Tony DeLorenzo.
    [248] (March 15 [423])
April 21
  • At the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida, the three-hour Daytona Continental race is held. The Leldon Blackwell Racing #94 1968 Corvette L88 has the top qualifying speed of 222mph.
    • Finishing 2nd in GTO class and 2nd overall is the Race Enterprise & Developments #5 Corvette driven by Dave Heinz.
    • Finishing 4th in GTO class and 4th overall is the Leldon Blackwell #94 Corvette driven by Bill Bean and Wilbur Pickett.
    • Finishing 6th in GTO class and 7th overall is the John Greenwood Racing #48 Corvette driven by John Greenwood.
    • Finishing 9th overall is the Phil Currin #99 Corvette driven by Phil Currin.
    • Finishing 16th overall is the ALTO Racing? #83 Corvette driven by Bob Farrell and Lou D'Amico.
    • Finishing 18th overall is the #19 Corvette driven by Lamar Mann.
    • Finishing 25th overall is the Performance Associates #3 Corvette driven by Dick Bauer.
    • Finishing 42nd overall is the #38 Corvette driven by Terry Wolters.
    • Placing 49th overall is the #41 Corvette driven by Vic Shinn.
    • Placing 54th overall is the Jeff Stevens Racing #62 Corvette driven by Jef Stevens.
    [104.151] [423] [901.65]
May 5
  • At the Lime Rock Park raceway in Lime Rock, Connecticut, the Schaefer Trans-Am 500 is held, part of the SCCA Trans-American Championship series.
    • Finishing 5th is the Jim Robbins Co. Corvette, driven by J. Marshall Robbins and Jerry Thompson.
    • Finishing 10th is the Widener College Corvette, driven by Dick Bauer and Bob Tullius.
    • In 19th place, but not finishing the race, is the Greenwood/Briggs #48 Corvette, driven by John Greenwood.
    • In 20th place, but not finishing the race, is a Corvette driven by Ron Goldleaf and John Tonstall.
    • In 31st place, but not finishing the race, is The Budd Corvette, driven by Tony DeLorenzo.
    [214.105] [248] [423]
June 9
  • In Le Mans, France, the 24 Hours of Le Mans race is held, over two days.
    • Finishing 1st in GT 5000+ class and 12th overall is the Greder Racing Team #30 Corvette driven by Henri Greder and Marie-Claude Beaumont.
    • Finishing 2nd in GT 5000+ class and 18th overall is the Ecurie Léopard #69 Corvette driven by Jean-Claude Aubriet and Depnic.
    • John Greenwood and Bob Johnson race the John Greenwood #29 Corvette until the engine fails.
    [42.99] [309.25] [423]
June
  • The final shape of the experimental mid-engined Corvette is approved. [48.38]
  • Eckler Industries opens its Corvette Parts division in Titusville, Florida. [316.37]
June 16
  • At the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Course, in Watkins Glen, New York, the Trans-Am 500 race is held, part of the SCCA Trans-American Championship series.
    • Finishing 3rd is the Greenwood Racing #48 Corvette, driven by John Greenwood and Bob Johnson. John Greenwood sets a race lap record of 99.737 MPH.
    • Finishing 4th is the Jim Robbins Co. Corvette, driven by J. Marshall Robbins and Jerry Thompson.
    • Finishing 15th is the Kepler Enterprises Corvette, driven by Fred Kepler and John Orr.
    • Finishing 19th is the Ron Weaver Corvette, driven by Ron Weaver.
    • In 25th place, but not finishing the race, is the Michael Oleyar Corvette, driven by Michael Oleyar.
    • In 30th place, but not finishing the race, is The Widener College Corvette, driven by Dick Bauer.
    • In 38th place, but not finishing the race, is the Stafford Racing Corvette, driven by Randy Stafford.
    [214.105] [248] [423]
June
  • At the McLean County Fairgrounds in Bloomington, Illinois, the first Bloomington Corvette Corral is held. About 1500 people attend the one-day show. 112 Corvettes are entered. 20 vendor spaces are filled. (The show's name is later changed to Bloomington Gold.) [131.77] [167.65] [169.36] [212.B6] [316.18] [325.4] (1972 [103])
June 27
  • The film Live and Let Die is released to theaters in the US. A recent Corvette appears, with fenders like those of an Eldorado car. [528.19] [584]

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(month unknown)
  • Bob Patterson buys Grand Sport Corvette #003 from Mike Golas and Allen Foster. [3.53] [106.8] [112.82] [142.77] [322.40] (1975 [332.87] [358.45] [574.38])
  • AMT releases model kit #K-426 1973 Corvette convertible, in white plastic. [336.21]
  • AMT releases model kit #T-420 1973 Corvette T-Top, in white plastic. [336.21]
  • MPC releases model kit #1-7306 1972 Corvette convertible, in white plastic. The kit includes a Wankel rotary engine. [336.21]
  • MPC releases model kit #1-7305 1972 Corvette T-Top, in white plastic. The kit includes a Wankel rotary engine. [336.21]
  • MPC releases the 1/20-scale model kit #1-7330 1973 Corvette T-Top, in white plastic. [335.39]
July
  • Warner Bros. Pictures releases the film Cleopatra Jones to theaters in the USA. A customized black and silver 1973 Corvette is used in the film. [751]
July 15
  • At the Sanair International raceway in St. Pie de Bagot, Quebec, the Molson Trans-Am race is held, part of the SCCA Trans-American Championship series.
    • Finishing 3rd is the Jim Robbins Co. Corvette, driven by J. Marshall Robbins and Jerry Thompson.
    • In 25th place, but not finishing the race, is the Weaver Corvette, driven by Ron Weaver.
    • In 27th place, but not finishing the race, is The Widener College Corvette, driven by Dick Bauer.
    [248] [423]
July
  • Production of 1973 model Corvettes ends. [148.60]
July 28
  • At the Road America raceway in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, the Road America Trans-Am race, part of the SCCA Trans-American series.
    • Finishing 1st is the Greenwood Racing #48 Corvette, driven by John Greenwood.
    • Finishing 9th is the My Brother's Place Corvette, driven by Daniel Scott and Frank Reimann.
    • Finishing 13th is the Bresee Chevytown Corvette, driven by Alex Davidson.
    • Finishing 22nd is the Corvette Unlimited Corvette, driven by Don Hager and Thomas Simpson.
    • In 31st place, but not finishing the race, is the Abex - Jim Robbins Co. Corvette, driven by Jerry Thompson and J. Marshall Robbins.
    • In 34th place, but not finishing the race, is the Pironell Racing Corvette, driven by Joe Pirrotta.
    [214.105] [248] [423]
(month unknown)
  • Fred Kepler sells a 1968 L88 Corvette to Joe Searles. The car was raced at Sebring in 1968 as car No. 3. [147.22]
  • Richard Fortier purchases the 1956 SR-2 originally built for Harlow Curtice. Fortier puts the car on display at the Sloan Museum in Flint, Michigan. [315.44]
  • Bill Mitchell builds the Aerovette show car, based on the XP-882. It features 350-420-hp 4-rotor Wankel engine, and gull-wing doors. [42.90] [176.45] [236.71] (1974 [86.45])
August 11
  • MCA/Universal Pictures releases the film American Graffiti to theaters in the USA. A 1961 Corvette sits outside a 1950s diner. A used car lot has three Corvettes for sale. [785]
August
  • Jon Blanchette begins restoration of Jack Ingle's EX-122 1953 Corvette (VIN #002). [359.21] [697.48]
August 19
  • At the Edmonton International Speedway, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the Edmonton Trans-Am race is held, part of the SCCA Trans-American Championship series.
    • Finishing 1st is the Greenwood Racing #48 Corvette, driven by John Greenwood.
    • Finishing 3rd is the Abex - Jim Robbins Co. Corvette, driven by Jerry Thompson and J. Marshall Robbins.
    • Finishing 9th is the Rowe Corvette, driven by Doug Rowe and Peter Bride.
    • In 15th place, but not finishing the race, is the Stark Enterprises Corvette, driven by Rick Stark.
    • In 17th place, but not finishing the race, is the Automotive Enterprises Corvette, driven by Rich Sloma.
    [214.105] [248] [423]
August
  • Production of 1974 model Corvettes begins. [148.62]
September 13
  • In Frankfurt, Germany, the 45th German Motor Show is held. General Motors show the Corvette 2-Rotor (project XP-987GT), with a 399-ci 180-hp two-rotor RC2-266 rotary engine, red exterior steel body, and leather interior. [5.167] [45.34] [104.139] [203.9] [320.36] [542.55] [580.259] [774.102]
October 2
  • The National Broadcasting Company airs the first regular episode of The Magician on TV in the USA. Episode title is "The Manhunter". The lead character drives a white 1973 Corvette coupe in each episode of the show. [748]
October 4
  • In Paris, France, the Paris Salon automobile show is held. General Motors premieres the 390-ci mid-engined Corvette Four-Rotor show car. It features a 390-ci rotary engine built by Zora Arkus-Duntov, body styling with gullwing doors designed by Bill Mitchell. The car is the former XP-882, with the four-rotor engine in place of the V-8. The Corvette Two-Rotor show car is also shown. [5.169] [90] [117.55] [147] [158.32] [454.157] [542.56] [580.262] [774.102]
October 17
  • The Corvette Two-Rotor and Four-Rotor prototypes go on display at the London Automotive Show. [117.55]
(month unknown)
  • At the Road Atlanta raceway in Braselton, Georgia, the Champion Spark Plug Road Racing Classic final races of the SCCA Club Racing series are held.
    • Finishing 1st in B Production class is Bill Jobe, driving a Corvette.
    • A driver of a Corvette is B-Stock Solo II champion.
    • A driver of a Corvette is B-Prepared Solo II champion.
    [3.125] [42.100] [394.4,13]
  • Fred Kepler sells his 1968 Corvette L88 to Joe Searles. This is the Sunoco Corvette that won GT class at Sebring in 1968. [327.39]

End of 1973. Next: 1974.

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Last updated: 2023 December 20.
Copyright © 1995-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/vettehis/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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