Government mandated safety regulations that made their first appearance in 1968 became more intrusive with the introduction of the 1973 Corvette. New laws required all cars to be able to sustain a five mph impact on the front without damaging lights or other safety gear. The bumper system consisted of a injection molded urethane cover, which, due to the flex agent in the paint, was often a slightly different shade than the rest of the car. Also gone was the "ice cube" style grille and the fender louver, which was replaced by a rather bland and untrimmed recess.

A new hood made an appearance in 1973 and the new design eliminated the need for the moveable panel that was raised to allow the windshield wipers to do their thing. The mechanism was troublesome so it probably wasn't missed.

The rear window would no longer be removable. The idea was to give a more open feeling, but excessive wind buffeting meant that it was little used.

Some steps were taken to make the Corvette a quieter place to drive and ride in, including the addition of sound deadening material on some inner panels, a hood pad and improved chassis mounts.