Last of the Big Block Beasts: 1974 Corvette LS4 Four-Speed Coupe

Despite being choked down to 270 horsepower, 1974 Corvettes still offered big block thrills — and tons of torque.

The Corvette’s history is full of unusual “firsts and lasts.” 1982 was the first year for an opening hatch, but the last year for the C3. 1989 was the first year for the ZF six-speed transmission, but the last year for the full digital dashboard. And on and on.

Here at Corvette Forum, we’re endlessly fascinated by 1974 Corvettes. 1974 was the first year for urethane bumpers front and rear, but it was also the last year for the big block V8 (RPO LS4). For us, big block 1974 Corvettes are emblematic of the sea change in American car culture in the mid-1970s.

It’s as if we can point to this as the one moment where everything changed for the C3 Corvette. The fuel crisis, new federal safety and emissions standards, and changing customer tastes all had a hand in transforming the C3 from a brash, burly, pure sports car into a more luxurious, subdued grand tourer.

Tastefully Modified

That’s not to say that we don’t like late C3s — we love ’em. We enjoy early and late cars are two separate entities. 1974 is really where it all changed for the Corvette, though, and we were lucky to find this rare big block beast for sale on Hemmings.

Over 37,000 Corvettes were built in 1974, with just under 3,500 of them leaving the St. Louis assembly plant with a 454 cubic inch big block V8 nestled between the trademark humped fenders. Suffice to say that finding them is a challenge — finding tastefully modified examples like this one even more so.

This particular Corvette has been upgraded with an Edelbrock intake and carb, as well as an HEI ignition. It’s our opinion that every big block Corvette should have side pipes, and this car’s previous owner clearly agreed. The raised stinger hood, side pipes, and white letter tires wrapped around Rally wheels make this particular Corvette look a little tougher than your average ’74.

Inside, you’ll find an AM/FM cassette radio. However, it’s unlikely that you’d be able to hear much of anything over those pipes anyway. You’ll also find a beautiful silver interior, with a Hurst-shifted four-speed stick. While earlier big block C3s demand huge money, clean 1974s like this one can often be found for well under $30,000 (under $25,000 in this case).

We’re not sure yet if big block ’74s represent a great investment. Prices for all C3s are on the upswing, and these are no different. However, if you want big block power for Camry money, these are the only way to go.

Photos: Hemmings

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