In 1973, the Chevrolet Corvette took a detour from its muscle car roots, flirting with the idea of becoming a luxury sports car. It added soundproofing and radial tires to make the ride smoother, though it also gained a little front-heavy thanks to a new bumper, adding 35 pounds of “why-did-I-eat-that-extra-doughnut” weight. The 454 engine might’ve slowed down, but “Road and Track” still gave it a thumbs up. Meanwhile, the L82 small block engine was all about balance—because who doesn’t need a little Zen in their Corvette?
