United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
United States
1979 Chevrolet Corvette
One body, 53,807 cars
Every 1979 is a coupe with two lift-off roof panels. There was no convertible. Options are what set one car apart from the next:
- Glass roof panels (RPO CC1): 14,480 cars.
- Front and rear spoilers (RPO D80): 6,853 cars. These are the bolt-on pieces first seen on the 1978 Pace Car.
- Gymkhana suspension (RPO FE7): 12,321 cars.
- Aluminum wheels (RPO N90): 33,741 cars.
- Air conditioning (RPO C60): 47,136 cars.
Tungsten-halogen high beams were phased in during the year, and bright trim around the roof panels and rear glass gave way to black.
Engines and transmissions
Both engines are 350 cubic inch V8s, rated in net horsepower.
- L48, 195 hp: the base engine, in the other 39,291 cars.
- L82, 225 hp: 14,516 built.
The automatic (RPO MX1) was a no-cost choice and went into 41,454 cars, 77 percent of production. The standard wide-ratio four-speed accounts for the remaining 8,291. The close-ratio M21 four-speed was sold only with the L82 and reached 4,062 cars, which makes an L82 four-speed the version to look for.
Confirming an L82 and reading the tags
The fifth character of the VIN is the engine code: 8 for the L48 and 4 for the L82. A full 1979 VIN reads 1Z87, the engine digit, 9 for the model year, S for St. Louis and a sequence from 400001 to 453807. The plate sits on the driver's windshield pillar. An L82 hood emblem on a car with an 8 in the VIN was added later.
To check that the original engine is still in place, read the pad on the front passenger side of the block. It shows a V for the Flint engine plant, the assembly date, a three-letter suffix (ZBA for an L82 four-speed, ZBB for an L82 automatic) and a partial VIN that should match the car. The trim tag above the driver's upper door hinge gives the body build date, paint code and interior code.
Two points cause confusion. Some late-production 1979 cars left the factory with an 85 mph speedometer, so that dial alone is not evidence of swapped parts. And a 1979 with spoilers is not a Pace Car: the replicas were all 1978 models.
What to inspect before you buy
- Birdcage: rust in the steel around the windshield is hidden by the body. Check the lower windshield posts first.
- Frame: get the car on a lift and study the rear kick-ups and the trailing-arm mounts.
- Roof panels: test the latches and weatherstrips for leaks and creaks. The optional glass panels can crack.
- Bumper covers: the urethane ages in sunlight, then cracks or crumbles. Paint that does not match the fiberglass body is a sign of replacement.
- Headlamps: the vacuum hoses and actuators that raise them leak with age.
- Chassis wear: trailing-arm bushings and brake calipers are the usual items.
Related listings
- 1978 and 1980 Corvette for sale, or every C3 Corvette, 1968 to 1982.
- Comparing C3 years: best year C3 Corvette to buy.
- Living with one: are classic Corvettes reliable?
- Reference: Corvette buyer's guide and Corvette factory colors.
- From the magazine: the history of Corvette T-tops, why late C3 prices are rising and how the C3 lasted 15 years.
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Recently Ended Chevrolet Corvette Listings
See all 4,416 past listings →| Vehicle | Last Asking Price |
|---|---|
| 1965 Chevrolet Corvette | $66,900 |
| 1988 Chevrolet Corvette | $23,900 |
| 1969 Chevrolet Corvette | $37,495 |
| 1969 Chevrolet Corvette | Not listed |
| 1974 Chevrolet Corvette | Not listed |
| 1958 Chevrolet Corvette | $124,995 |
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