Chevrolet Corvette V8 C3

About this Collectable

Chevrolet Corvette V8 1979

Looking for a trailer queen, stop reading. If you are looking for a nice driving Corvette, then this is your car. Unlike much of the market, this is just a neat, approved, neat driving Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette (C3) is the third generation of the Corvette produced from 1967 to 1982. The engines and chassis components were largely carried over from the previous generation, but the bodywork and interior were new. With some 54000 produced for the 1979 model year, it was a new sales record and the second time the Corvette would bear the Stingray name, but only for the 1969-76 model years. 1978 was the 25th anniversary of the Corvette with a new fastback rear window being the most notable change. This gave new life to the decade-old C3 Corvette bodywork. The fixed-glass fastback benefited both aerodynamics and usable luggage space behind the seats and improved rearward visibility. A sunshade was installed that could be pulled forward to cover the rear compartment to protect cargo and carpet from the sun. The tachometer and speedometer were redesigned to match the new ‘aircraft-style’ centre console and gauge panel first seen last year. There were also redesigned door panels and a real glove box was added in front of the passenger seat, replacing the map pockets of previous years. The base L-48 engine produced 195 hp (138 kW). The Corvette switched to metric tyres with P225/70R15 as standard. Wider P255/60R15 tyres (like this one) were available as an option and required ex-factory wing modification for clearance. Fuel tank capacity increased for all cars and to make room for the larger tank, a smaller (P195/80D15) space-saving spare wheel was used. Auto journalists praised the car's classic strengths, including the L48/automatic's (for the time) impressive acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.8 seconds and its top speed of 198 km/h, and noted that the car drove more refined and less rattling. In 1979, the crossed flag emblems on the nose and fuel valve were returned to those of the ‘77 model. Three popular features introduced on the ‘78 pace car replicas went into production this year: the new bucket seats, front and rear spoiler package and glass roof panels.  New lightweight high-back seats became standard equipment. The new seats had better lateral support, offered easier access to rear storage space and were a lot lighter. Remarkably, about 82% of cars in 1968 were ordered with a manual gearbox. In ‘79, less than 20% of cars were delivered with a manual gearbox. This year marked a peak in the Corvette's popularity. Production peaked in 1979 with 53,807 units, a record that stands to this day.

The C3 offered by us was brought to the Netherlands by the owner himself. Like almost all (offered) Corvettes, this one was not flawless shall we say. He spent three years to get the car driving properly and to present it to the RDW, after which the car was approved in one go! Pretty special for a car that turned 45 years old last April. The owner has kept a complete list of everything he has done to it, including invoices. There is also a stack of invoices from the USA. In the meantime, the car has been driving around in the Netherlands for about 7 years and improvements such as new seat covers, carpet a new windscreen, etc. were still made during its lifetime. The car is further equipped with a stainless steel exhaust, an Edelbrock carburettor and a K&N air filter.

Our opinion

A Corvette is and remains the American dream as a sports car. Affordable, robust and especially its looks make it a true American muscle car. Not as refined as the German competition, but affordable and great fun to drive. Despite the high production numbers, there are very few real survivors. There are quite a few on offer, but almost all of them are projects that still need a lot of heart and soul (and a lot of money) to be put into them to make them usable.

About the seller

As a little man sitting in a Vauxhall Viva (remember it?) he was overtaken by a white roaring car. His father said that's not a car, that's a Corvette.... then he was infected, he had to have something like that one day. Took a long time, but it happened. Still, motorcycling suits him even more than the Corvette and the Corvette had to make way for a two-wheeler. Hence, he decided to auction the car through The Collectables.

Equipment

This Corvette C3 is factory equipped with, among other things:

- Air conditioning 
- Cruise control 
- Glass T-tops 
- Radio 
- Powerbrakes 
- Power windows 
- Power Lock 
- Power Antenna 
- Rear window heater 
- Sports Mirrors 
- Tilt & Telescopic steering wheel 

Modifications

The Corvette features the following modifications:

• Stainless steel exhaust 
• K&N Air Filter 
• Edelbrock Carburettor 500cfm

Notes

The Corvette is in clean driving condition. There are certainly some things to note such as the air conditioning and cruise control not working and the polyester bodywork that needs some attention here and there. The paintwork has once been redone in the original red color in the USA and the car has recently been polished from which it has improved nicely. It is and remains a 45-year-old car, but make no mistake, there are many Corvettes for sale where everything still needs to be done while this one is just a nice driving car.

Recent maintenance history

There are lots of invoices available, but most of them have been done by the owner himself over the past 10 years. In addition, the car has had maintenance at Corvette Factory, among other places.

Latest items in a row:

• 30-11-2016 - New tyres, alignment, handbrake cable, leaf spring - Andre Boer
• 05-01-2018 - Front calipers replaced - Corvette factory
• 07-08-2019 - Spark plugs, oil pump, rear calipers - Corvette factory
• 15-10-2022 - Oil change, Steering ball, Alignment, Windshield - Corvette factory
• 01-03-2024 - Change spark plugs, distributor cap, cables and rotor - in-house
• 01-06-2024 - Differential oil change

The entire history and lots of invoices are available upon request. 

Included in the sale

Included in the sale of this Corvette is:

- Keys 
- Folder with documentation. 
- Invoices etc. 
- List of replaced parts
- Parts for the cruise control
- Bodymounts 1-2 and 3
- Matt set
- Various fluids
- New window rubbers

Summary

Seller - John
Seller type - Private
Location - Raamsdonksveer
Registration number - NT-262-P
Chassis number - 1Z8789S429951
Year of construction/date - 28 February 1979
Mileage - 69,659 miles
Demonstrable - No
Warranty - No
Margin/VAT - Margin car
Bodywork - Coupé
Engine - 5.7 litre V8 with 195 hp
Drive system - Rear-wheel drive
Transmission - Automatic
Exterior - Red 
Interior - Black 
Upholstery - Leather
Smoking car - No
Owners - In USA unknown, 1 in Netherlands
Tyres - BF Goodrich 255-60-16 DOT 2016, >6mm profile

The description of this Collectable has been compiled with the utmost care, based on information provided by and validated by the seller. Based on the information provided, The Collectables performs a (pre)selection and consults public sources for any irregularities. However, bidders should ascertain for themselves the accuracy of the description and can, if they wish, conduct (or have conducted) personal research. All Collectables on our platform can be subjected to any possible inspection, examination or valuation in advance by buyers, of course in consultation with the seller. Consult our General Terms and Conditions for more details.

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