1979 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

Can a Corvette also be a sleeper? This one-owner 1979 Stingray makes the argument thanks to a built small block churning out a dyno-verified 350 horsepower. With just one owner and a slightly modified #'s matching block, this is a fast, fun, affordable 'Vette that is ready to enjoy with no excuses.

Having spent its entire life with one owner, you know this is a special Corvette. Aside from the hood and bumpers, the paint is original, again giving you an idea of how well-maintained this car truly is. Always a toy and never a daily driver, it enjoyed the frequent washing and waxing that our favorite machines receive which helps explain its condition today. Sure, the urethane bumper caps are ever so slightly different, but they were like that on the showroom floor, and all the gaps are as the factory set them back in the disco era. There's no sign of accident damage, no cracking, no fiberglass issues, again pointing to a very easy life. We all know there's no shortage of C3 Corvettes out there, but finding a 1-owner car this nicely preserved is a rather rare thing.

The fantastic dark green leather interior has that comfortable, lived-in look that's ideal and to be honest, it's nicer in person than it looks in photos due to dark colored leather's tendency to magnify every little flaw. There are no splits or tears in the seats and the carpets are excellent originals. This Corvette was ordered right, including a 4-speed manual transmission, power windows, A/C, and a tilt/telescope wheel, the original AM/FM radio still lives in the dash, and even the clock works! The color combination is fantastic and makes this 'Vette stand out from all the black-and-white also-rans at the shows, and it's another reason this car is so impressive. Even the trunk area remains in excellent condition with no sun fading or UV damage and the T-tops seal up well and don't rattle.

The original, numbers-matching engine was tweaked by KC Colvin and produces about 100 ponies over any stock 1979 Corvette. A custom camshaft pops the valves in the upgraded heads, and a big 4-barrel carb feeds fuel through a high-rise Edelbrock intake. Beautiful ceramic-coated long-tube headers use a new stainless steel exhaust system to channel the spent gases and it sounds amazing. Fortunately, the modifications are not difficult to reverse and all the original parts are included, although I doubt you'll have need for them after you experience how this particular C3 moves. There's torque everywhere on the tach, and anyone who expects a '70s Corvette to be sluggish will be flat-out astounded by how quickly this one runs away from them. The stock gymkhana suspension does a commendable job of keeping it planted, and the brakes remain firm and powerful. Original aluminum wheels help enhance the sleeper look and wear fat BFGoodrich T/A radials that really fill the fenders.

All Corvettes are fun cars, but this one takes everything that's great about Chevy's 2-seater and amps up the testosterone, all at a bargain price. There is also a lot of paperwork and documentation included from the one and only owner, including tons of receipts and his original purchase paperwork back from 1979. Call today!