1979 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

This 1979 Chevrolet Corvette gets a lot of things right. Maybe it's because red Corvettes are always in fashion, or maybe it's those timeless aluminum wheels, but this Sting Ray perfectly captures the feel of the era. It also packs its original, numbers-matching engine and a handsome red interior, so if you're looking for a starter Corvette, it'll be hard to do better than this for less money.

Looking at the trim tag, it says this one is painted 72L. Code 72 is Corvette Red, so it's wearing the right suit of clothes and always has. This might be original paint, or perhaps a very old respray, and while there are signs of use and age, the car still has a ton of charisma. Look at the way the light dances over those swooping fenders and tell me again that this is not a great color. Look a little closer and you'll see that the fiberglass underneath is in good order and if you wanted to invest a little bit in a paint job to take this up a level, it probably won't require major surgery or huge injections of cash. Panel fit is just about how the factory would do it, good but not perfect, and the car has an overall look that's quite honest. This is not a show car, of course, but there's a reason it's priced the way it is, leaving you room to take it up a notch and still come out ahead on the other end. Not many Corvettes offer such a choice.

Code 722 Red leather was the recommended interior choice with code 72 paint, and the seats in this car appear to have been reupholstered at some point. The workmanship is quite good and the new look is very appealing when you open the door. The seats are supported by very nice original door panels and carpets that are a little faded but not damaged (fading is all but impossible to avoid with red). Factory gauges still look good with crisp, bright white markings on their faces, visible through a steering wheel with leather that's starting to show its age. The only major deviation from stock inside is the modern Sony AM/FM/CD stereo head unit in the dash and speakers behind the seats. T-tops mean open air motoring is always an option, and both tops will stow easily in the compartment behind the seats where they have their own seatbelts to hold them safely in place.

The wonder that is the small block Chevy provides power, this time in matching-numbers L82 guise and making 225 horsepower. Of course, more power is just a few phone calls away, but even in completely stock form, the engine has great torque and moves the 'Vette with ease and a great V8 burble. Reliability like this is unparalleled in any other 2-seat sports car, and the tidy engine bay suggests that this '79 has always been someone's toy, not a daily driver. Not detailed for show, it has nonetheless been maintained and used gently. Underneath, it's quite clean, showing signs of use but no cause for worry. 4-wheel discs, power steering, and a limited slip differential were standard equipment, and the TH350 3-speed automatic was the most popular transmission option that year. It starts quickly, idles right, drives well, and you'll probably find that you feel comfortable behind the wheel almost instantly. Optional aluminum wheels always look right, with these wearing fat BFGoodrich T/A radials that really fill the fenders.

If your tastes run to fuelies and split-windows, but your budget says otherwise, this 1979 Corvette gets you into the game at a very reasonable price. Call today!