1978 Chevrolet Corvette 25th Anniversary

Description

This 1978 Corvette 25th Anniversary model helped GM celebrate in a big way. With recent two-tone paint, a beautiful black leather interior, and a strong-running small block V8 under the hood, it's a great entry-level 'Vette that will get you into all the big events and put a smile on your face every time you crack the throttle.

1978 was the first year of the fastback styling, and combined with the two-tone paint, the results are a homerun. With a paint job about eight months ago, this Anniversary 'Vette is perhaps the most handsome built that year. More understated than the pace cars, but emphasizing the bulging fenders, there was no doubt that this was a high performance machine. The repaint was done to high standards, although you can't blame the owner for driving it afterwards; who wouldn't want to show it off? The finish was rendered in two-stage urethane, and the stripe separating the two colors has been exactly reproduced, and it looks as aggressive today as it did when it was new. There's no accident damage and overall this appears to be an extremely sanitary Corvette with no cosmetic issues.

Black is the right choice with the two-tone bodywork, and most enthusiasts prefer it to the much more common silver leather that came on most Anniversary models, as well as the pace car. With a patina that suggests gentle use and regular care, the cloth and vinyl seats are inviting like your favorite recliner. The door panels have been reupholstered to match, but things like the dash pad and carpets are original spec, and save for some minor fading, remain in excellent condition. There's a long list of options on this car, including A/C, power windows, cruise control, and a tilt steering column, and thanks to careful maintenance, the A/C still blows cold thanks to R12 refrigerant inside. The leather-wrapped steering wheel feels great in your hands, and the Hurst "Quarterstick" shifter for the 3-speed automatic transmission falls easily to hand just inches away. An upgraded Kenwood AM/FM/CD head unit replaces the original, which probably included an 8-track, and has been expertly installed with no hacking or cutting.

The original, numbers-matching 350 is included with the car, but it's no secret that in 1978, horsepower was hard to find, so the original was yanked and replaced by a built 350 cubic inch V8. There's a mild cam inside, an upgraded ignition system, an aluminum intake manifold, and a Holley 650 CFM 4-barrel carburetor up top. It's impressively clean, with fresh corporate turquoise engine enamel, chrome valve covers, and a finned air cleaner to really make it stand out. The TH350 3-speed automatic transmission snaps through the gears with real authority now that there's some horsepower in front of it yet it's still a comfortable highway cruiser that rides surprisingly well. Long-tube headers feed a stock-style exhaust system features Flowmaster mufflers for a little extra kick and a great soundtrack, while the rest of the chassis is clean and solid with a lot of recent service parts. The original machined aluminum wheels now wear fat Goodyear Eagle radials with lots of tread remaining.

It always pays to buy the best example you can afford, and this '78 Anniversary model is a great way to get into the Corvette hobby for not a lot of money. Call today!