Is it unusual for a '79 Vette to still have its original exhaust and mufflers?
05-22-2015, 02:59 PM
#1
Heel & Toe
Thread Starter
Member Since: May 2015
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is it unusual for a '79 Vette to still have its original exhaust and mufflers?
Is it unusual for a '79 Vette to still have its original exhaust and mufflers? I saw one today...
05-22-2015, 03:45 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Sep 2001
Location: Wellington, FL
Posts: 9,970
Received 417 Likes
on
288 Posts
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
I'd say extremely unusual. Low mileage would be paramount here along with good driving habits (no short trips), and dry climate.
05-22-2015, 05:41 PM
#4
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2006
Location: Westminster Maryland
Posts: 30,173
Likes: 0
Received 2,878 Likes
on
2,515 Posts
Hi V4,
In earlier years, 70-72 for example, it's pretty easy to tell an original exhaust system by looking at the exterior appearance of the construction of the mufflers, and also the way in which the 'bends' were made in the pipes.
I don't know if this is true for 79 cars or not, but it certainly might be.
Regards,
Alan
In earlier years, 70-72 for example, it's pretty easy to tell an original exhaust system by looking at the exterior appearance of the construction of the mufflers, and also the way in which the 'bends' were made in the pipes.
I don't know if this is true for 79 cars or not, but it certainly might be.
Regards,
Alan
05-23-2015, 12:01 AM
#5
Team Owner
Unless that car was left in a museum for its entire life or lived in AZ or lower NM all that time, it would be impossible for a '79 car to have the same exhaust system. Back then, factory exhaust systems weren't even "aluminized". Just sitting in humid air would turn them to rust in only a handful of years. I would bet a bunch of money that this car has had at least ONE exhaust system replacement.
05-23-2015, 09:25 AM
#6
Team Owner
Member Since: Jun 2000
Location: Southbound
Posts: 38,928
Likes: 0
Received 1,468 Likes
on
1,247 Posts
Cruise-In II Veteran
These days it's unusual to see a C3 anywhere. When was the last time you saw one on the road or happened across one in a parking lot? I'm always tickled just to see one.
05-23-2015, 08:42 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Jun 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 5,999
Received 868 Likes
on
372 Posts
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2022 C7 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Modified
Bought my 78 last year with 80K on it. Still had complete original exhaust system. Car has been in Colorado it's whole life so it was in a semi-arid climate. Replaced the original mufflers for better sound, but the rest of the system is still original. 
05-23-2015, 08:49 PM
#10
Team Owner
None of them must have seen much use. Just starting and running the car for a few minutes would create a lot of water/condensate on the inside of those bare-steel parts. If they weren't run long enough to get completely warm/hot, that moisture would rot the exhaust system from the inside....arid climate or not.
That arid Southwest environment is great for old cars, if they're kept out of what little rain there is.
That arid Southwest environment is great for old cars, if they're kept out of what little rain there is.
05-23-2015, 10:19 PM
#11
Heel & Toe
Thread Starter
Member Since: May 2015
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well I just picked up a '79 Corvette L82 4 spd from a friend and it has 30K miles and it does have the original exhaust and mufflers. The date codes are right on the bottom of the mufflers! The car is a real nice original unrestored survivor. I even got the original tires with the car.
05-24-2015, 10:09 AM
#13
I didn't think they were THAT uncommon... but yesterday when I was out and about in my 1980 while I was stopped at a light some kid in some crappy little riced out import (an Eclipse I think) stopped next to me (well back from the cars in his lane) and stuck his camera phone out the window and was taking pictures of my car... I'm going "really"? It isn't like its a Ferarri or a Lambo or anything... But maybe I'm just more used to seeing Vettes having two of them and being in the club...
05-24-2015, 01:58 PM
#15
05-24-2015, 02:33 PM
#16
To get back on topic...
My 1980 had its original exhaust up until I got it back on the road (it sat a long time in my garage) late last year. However, the reason it has a new (OEM replacement type) cat-back system on it now is because the original mufflers had rust throughs and the shop said it probably wouldn't pass inspection that way if the inspector bothered to check. FWIW, the inspector never opened the hood or looked underneath... but better safe than sorry.
My 1980 had its original exhaust up until I got it back on the road (it sat a long time in my garage) late last year. However, the reason it has a new (OEM replacement type) cat-back system on it now is because the original mufflers had rust throughs and the shop said it probably wouldn't pass inspection that way if the inspector bothered to check. FWIW, the inspector never opened the hood or looked underneath... but better safe than sorry.
05-24-2015, 11:13 PM
#18