1978 Chevrolet Corvette — Two-Tone Silver/Charcoal, 4-Speed Manual, Red Leather Interior Why This Car Is Special The 1978 Chevrolet Corvette holds a specific and well-documented place in C3 history. This was the 25th anniversary year for the Corvette nameplate, and Chevrolet marked it with a significant redesign of the rear end — most notably the introduction of the large wraparound fastback rear window that replaced the previous flying buttress design. That change alone transformed the look of the car and dramatically improved rear visibility.

The 1978 model also debuted a redesigned instrument panel and a larger interior storage area behind the seats. Chevrolet sold 46,776 Corvettes in 1978, the highest single-year total up to that point in the car's history, which tells you something about how well the public responded to what the factory did that year. This particular 1978 Chevrolet Corvette is a well-equipped example wearing a two-tone Silver and Charcoal exterior — a color combination that was very much in step with the late-1970s design aesthetic and is period-correct for the C3 generation.

The interior is finished in red leather, which makes for a high-contrast combination with the silver-over-charcoal body. It's a car that looks like it came out of the factory with intent rather than as a default spec. The VIN confirms this is a Corvette coupe (body style code 87) built in 1978 (model year code 8) at the St.

Louis assembly plant (plant code S), which was the sole Corvette production facility until Bowling Green, Kentucky took over in 1981. The four-speed manual transmission is a key detail here. By 1978, many Corvette buyers were opting for the three-speed automatic, and the manual car represents a more driver-focused configuration.

The combination of the 350ci V8, the four-speed, and the Corvette's independent rear suspension makes this a car that rewards someone who actually wants to drive it rather than just look at it. Features List - 350ci 5.7L V8 engine - 4-Speed Manual transmission - T-Top removable roof panels - Wraparound fastback rear window (introduced for 1978) - Two-Tone Silver and Charcoal exterior - Red leather bucket seats - Center console with 4-speed shifter - Power steering - Power brakes with 4-wheel disc brakes - Air conditioning - Power windows - Tachometer - Full auxiliary gauge package (temperature, fuel, oil pressure, voltmeter, clock) - AM/FM Stereo with 8-Track player - Aluminum wheels - Raised white letter tires - Dual exhaust - Independent rear suspension Mechanical Under the hood sits the 350 cubic inch (5.7 liter) V8, which was the standard engine for the 1978 Corvette. The L48 version of this engine, which was the base offering that year, was rated at 185 horsepower — a figure that reflected the compression and emissions constraints of the era rather than the engine's fundamental character.

The 350 small block is one of the most proven V8 architectures in automotive history, known for its durability, parts availability, and straightforward maintenance. Paired with the 4-speed manual transmission, this drivetrain delivers a connected driving experience that an automatic simply cannot replicate. The underside photos show the car's frame and structure in honest, unrestored condition — surface oxidation on the exhaust system and related components is present, as you would expect on a vehicle of this age.

The independent rear suspension, which Corvette has used since 1963, is visible and intact. This multi-link setup with a transverse leaf spring and half-shafts that double as upper lateral links was genuinely advanced for its time and gave the Corvette a significant handling advantage over most American performance cars of the 1970s. Four-wheel disc brakes were standard equipment on 1978 Corvettes, which was not common across the American automotive landscape at the time.

The exhaust exits through a dual system, which is correct for the 350 V8. The body, being fiberglass, shows no