hello, my 74 big block is black, yet it wasn't available. I talked to the owner from 1980 and she said it was black then and had no idea why it would have been painted. It also has gold pin stripes. If anyone knows anything about pin striping or how to find original owner any help would be appreciated thanks.

Welcome aboard Brock! I've been skiing in your neighborhood many times. My bride is from Red Wing so we're down there every so often.

The Corvette Black Book by Mike Antonick has these exterior codes listed for '74:

10 - Classic White
14 - Silver Mist
17 - Corvette Gray
22 - Corvette Medium Blue
48 - Dark Green
56 - Bright Yellow
68 - Dark Brown
74 - Medium Red
76 - Mille Miglia Red
80 - Corvette Orange

Trying to track back through the previous owners will be a real chore with all the privacy laws in place now. I'm not making much headway in my search for the history of "The Toy". Good Luck!

Try and find someone who has a NCRS judging manual to be sure black wasn't added during the year. For example, the corvette black book doesn't show a saddle interior for a 68 model year, but the NCRS judging manual does show it was added late in the year. Also check the paint code to the ones noted above. Hopefully someone out there knows where the code is on your model year and get you that info. I don't know where to look on a 74.

Hey Brock,
True, the color Black was not available from the factory from 1970 to 1976 on Corvettes. But there were a few Vettes during those years that came from the factory with the "SPEC" paint code which meant they were delivered to the dealer in primer and the dealer could paint the car what ever color the owner wanted. I met a guy at Bloomington Gold show several years ago with a Black 1975 coupe that was delivered that way. Chech the trim tag on the inside of the drivers side door jam near the dash. It should have the paint code and interior code that the car was delivered from the factory with. Good luck. Let us know what you find. Take care.

Jon.

well, thanks for the suggestions, the door panel says 14L, I assume that means it was silver, however, there are absolutely no signs of it ever being silver. Is there any way to tell if it's the right tag on the door panel? thanks again

Having painted a few cars myself... I can tell you that if it was silver from the factory you will find some silver
somewhere on the car.... lowering the windows and looking down inside the window track will "usually" result the original color paint being visible... 99.5 percent of the time even the best painter will not mess around in that area...

It is my understanding that Black was not offered because
the fiberglass looked like it was waving back to you when they were painted black....maybe that is the source of the "wave"... lol

Bob Griffiths

As has been stated, there are a few documented cases where cars came from the factory with special paint jobs, including primer, but if your trim tag says silver, then silver it was! Just because it is black and the second owner bought it that way, means absolutely nothing. My car was bought, by owner number two, from the original owner, and it had "factory side pipes". Great, except pipes were only available on 69's from the factory. My car is a 72.
Gary

So true on trying to figure out what came original on your car. My wife's 78 was originally red from the numbers and it was left unpainted there around the plate to show it. we have the pace car package in front and back spoilers and mirror t-tops. those were supposedly only put on the pace car in 1978 from what I read. They look original with wear on the glass and rubber seals. they must have been special ordered or maybe gotten in 1979 or 80. who knows?

Back in 1988 I was able to get copies of titles issued on my 76 back to the original owner from Michigan Secretary of State for $30. Fortunately, the car never left Michigan. I found the original owner still living at the same address and talked to him for a while. I located a relative of the second owner recently, but have not been able to talk directly with him. I bought the car from the third owner, but have lost track of him. It was interesting to track the history of the car.I think I surprised some people with my phone calls. You might try your secretary of state for some title history. If nothing else it's kind of fun finding out some history on the car.

Well, it could be the door was replaced in an accident and the tag was never changed. Check the other codes. highly unlikely. My 72 was originally elkhart green. Its now atlantis blue. I found some of the original green on the inside front fenders one day under the hood with a bright light. Not a lot, but it was there.