1979 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

After years of being merely a pleasant old 'Vette, this 1979 Corvette went to finishing school and came out as a romping, stomping piece of performance hardware that can truly live up to the promises made by its outrageous looks. With a built small block, 5-speed transmission, and upgraded suspension and brakes, you'd be nuts to tangle with this 'Vette on the street without some serious horsepower of your own.

You can't say that the C3 Corvettes aren't iconic, and deep down in their hearts, EVERYONE loves how they look. The modifications on this one give it a significantly more sinister look, and all of it is dedicated to adding functionality, not just style points. That's an L88 hood up front, custom rocker panel extensions to make it look lower, and the rear fenders were widened three inches to accommodate some pretty serious rubber. Then there are the front and rear bumpers from a 1982, complete with spoilers. Following assembly, the fiberglass was smoothed and filled, then several coats of Ford Laser Red went down only to be rubbed and buffed to a great shine. Mirrored T-tops add to both the performance look and the '70s vibe, and are very cool in either regard. Convex taillights update the rear fascia a bit, and you won't be sneaking around with those big chrome exhaust tips poking out underneath.

New black leather seat covers anchor a nicely refinished interior that definitely looks the part of a grand touring machine. The articulating buckets are as comfortable as they look and with a futuristic look, they were exactly right for the flashy Corvette. The dash is augmented with a wood applique that not only adds some class, but brightens up the otherwise all-black interior. New carpets on the floor fit well and help control noise and heat, and this car is equipped with such niceties as power windows, locks, and A/C. New door panels and fresh weatherstripping seal up well, and the AM/FM/CD stereo sounds great as a result. There's also a 160 MPH speedometer in the dash, and given the extensive engine mods, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this car can use most of it.

Those modifications include a 4-bolt 350 with a .060 overbore, TRW flat-top pistons, a forged crank, and a set of ported and polished Canfield aluminum heads. Intake duties are managed by a Team G single-plane intake and a Holley 750 carb and a Crower bumpstick and roller rockers. Hooker Super Comp headers dump into a fresh 3-inch exhaust system that sounds like the god of thunder himself was running the welder that day. For cruising, a Richmond 5-speed manual with long-handle shifter went in place of the original slushbox, and there are 3.36 gears on a Posi out back, so it cruises effortlessly at insane speeds. The brakes are fully rebuilt with stainless calipers and lines, the suspension features monoleaf springs, polygraphite bushings, and new KYB gas shocks, so it corners with serious attitude. And to help the grip, custom 8.5 and 10-inch wide 15-inch aluminum wheels are fitted with 265/50/15 front and 305/50/15 rear BFG radials.

Sure, a lot of C3s are not a serious threat on the street, but this car is a predator. Enjoy world-class performance at a very reasonable price. Call today!