Were the other cars comparably priced? I seem to think the 340 cars were highly competitive at less cost and that's what would chap a Corvette lovers hide, paying the money and a guy with a less expensive car blows his doors off.:)
When i worked at my old body shop i went to pickup a customer's 75 corvette from the alignment shop and that thing was so slow i couldn't believe it! My 74 Duster with a 2 barrel 318 would've smoked that turd.