1980 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

What this 1980 Corvette doesn't need is more eyeball appeal, what with the bright white paint and vivid red interior. It's a fantastic survivor that's still in great shape and shows just 66,895 actual miles and comes with a ton of paperwork to back it up. If it's pedigreed performance you seek, this 'Vette delivers without a massive price tag to go with it.

C3 Corvettes are established icons of performance and prices have stabilized, giving new enthusiasts the chance to get into great cars without spending a fortune. The bad news is that finding a good C3 can be difficult simply because they haven't gotten much love over the past three or four decades. The good news is that this awesome survivor will get you into all the great Corvette events and looks great doing it. White paint was by far the most popular choice in 1980 and even today it looks good. It isn't dated like beige or gold or brown and thanks to years of care by guys who treated this car like something special, it remains in great condition. Fit and finish are par for the course in the Corvette world, meaning it's perfectly imperfect, and the white paint offers a period-correct shine with minor signs of use and age. There's no denying the appealing shape of the C3 and when you show up in this car, people definitely notice.

The bright red leather interior isn't for everyone, but if you're driving a Corvette, your goal probably isn't a low profile. For me, red is the absolute right choice, offering elegance and flash in equal measure and the original interior is as nice as the bodywork. Sure, there are a few creases on the seating surfaces and the original carpets are worn, but is it worth replacing? I'm not so sure simply because erasing originality is often seen as a mistake these days. The original gauges are in good condition, complete with the tachometer that parks itself at about 1300 RPM when you shut off the key. Luxury features were common in the C3, and this one carries factory A/C, power windows and locks, cruise control, ad a tilt steering column, as well as a modern Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo head unit that seems to be the only deviation from stock. You'll also find that the "trunk" area is in good shape with a few clever storage areas and the original T-top bags.

The 350 cubic inch L48 V8 made 190 horsepower in 1980, which seems modest today but the torque makes this car feel a lot more powerful than the numbers would suggest. We have every reason to believe this is the original, numbers-matching engine, and it has not been modified or abused in the last 35 or so years. You'll note that the factory air cleaner inhales through twin snorkels for a bit more performance, and all the top-end equipment is stock. The TH350 3-speed automatic transmission slips through the gears without a hitch and the new dual exhaust system does away with the power-robbing catalytic converters, which also improves the soundtrack. The chassis is remarkably clean and shows recent signs of work, including the aforementioned exhaust system and some suspension components. Fat 255/60/15 Firestone radials give it a crouching stance that only adds to the car's aggressive look.

Investment grade? Maybe, this market gets stronger by the day. Either way, if you want to have fun in a car with a bit of history and documentation (including the original build sheet) on its side, you'll have a hard time doing better than this Corvette. Call today!