1980 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

There can't be many car guys who haven't lusted for a red Corvette at some point in their lives. This great-looking 1980 example is a fantastic way to break into the Corvette hobby for not a lot of money, and you'll probably discover that it's a lot of high-performance fun for your dollar.

You simply can't go wrong with bright red on your fantastic plastic. This one still wears its original paint, so it's a remarkable survivor that you see fewer and fewer of these days as these cars have recently seen an uptick with collectors looking to do full restorations. Although clearly showing some ace now, it can be enjoyed without having to worry about rain or bugs on the finish. By 1980, build quality had improved by leaps and bounds, so you'll find decent gaps, neat-fitting bumper caps, and T-tops that seal up well. With survivors being red-hot with collectors, I don't even think I'd worry about the light fading on the bumper caps, and it's important to remember that they seldom matched, even when they were new. With an update in 1978, the fastback profile with aggressive front and rear spoilers is as good as the C3 got, and it's instantly recognizable today. Unlike a lot of Corvettes of this period, this one hasn't been dressed up with aftermarket add-ons, pinstripes, or other nonsense that purists reject; it's just a very clean, original 'Vette.

The beautiful Oyster leather interior is pure 1980s cool and I like the contrast a lot more than plain old black or in-your-face lipstick red. With a comfortable look that's quite inviting, it's hard to resist sliding into those deep buckets and looking out over that long, dramatic hood. The driver's seat shows wear that's commensurate with the car's age and mileage, while the rest of the interior is very well preserved with only minimal signs of use. Corvettes were loaded with standard equipment in 1980, including A/C, power windows and locks, tilt wheel, and a complete array of gauges that are highly visible and easy to read. An AM/FM/8-track stereo head unit remains the center stack, so make a few trips to garage sales and see if you can outfit it with some disco-era sounds! The A/C blows cold thanks to an R134a refrigerant upgrade, but that's really the only major deviation from original spec.

Dual snorkels on the air cleaner suggest that this is an L82 engine, and it is indeed this car's original, numbers-matching powerplant. With 230 horsepower, it was a stout performer in 1980, and even today the solid whack of torque will get your heart racing on the street. It starts quickly and idles easily thanks to an extensive recent tune-up that includes fluids, belts, hoses, plugs, and other components to keep it in top mechanical condition. It's topped by a Summit Racing intake manifold and Holley carburetor, but they're invisible and certainly add a few horsepower. The engine bay is clean and well-maintained, and items like the air cleaner lid and valve covers remain in excellent shape. The TH350 3-speed automatic transmission shifts crisply and the brakes were freshened at the same time that the engine was tuned. The original slotted alloy wheels look great and wear fat 225/70/15 performance radials.

This car represents a great opportunity to get into the Corvette hobby at an awesome price. Call today!