early or late model 77
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: floral city fl
early or late model 77
hey all, i just brought a 1977 coupe to keep my 73,75 and 99 company. my question is i have to buy emblems for it since it came with none, i called a local vette shop and they asked me is it a late model or early model. where do look to find that on the car. is it in the vin or some where on the plate. thanks scott
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: Ca.
My 77 has a production date of 8/77. This is considered an early model. How I determined this was when I replaced the coolant recovery tank. If the cap has 2 hose ports, it`s an early model. If it has no hose port it`s a late model, 77-82. 
Last edited by law dog; Jun 16, 2009 at 09:23 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
August of 77 would be a late model not an early model. Very early 77's had the key for the alarm on the left front fender and no crossed flags, early had the cross flags on the fender with the alarm key, and late 77's had crossed flags on the fenders and the alarm key in the drivers door lock. My car had the key on the fender (not any more, I glassed it in) and crossed flags. It has a manufacture date on the door of 2/77 and is considered an early car. I found this out when I bought new weatherstrips for my car. I bought a set for a late car and had to return them because the t-top weatherstrips were not correct. My car also has the early style coolant recovery tank as well. Some very early cars also had orange painted engines as opposed to the corporate blue color that is found in most.
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,383
Likes: 1,755
From: Seattle Area Washington
My 77 is a late model and has the early recovery tank, but the t-top weather strip is late model. Early 77s had no fender flags just alarm switch in fender, mid year had fender flags and key alarm switch in fender, late production moved the alarm switch to drivers door lock key assembly. If equipped with A/C early 77s had the VIR system A/C, later used an accumulator.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 289
Likes: 1
From: Valley Springs SD
I was told early model 77 still had the alarm key on the fender, late model was included in the keylock on the door. Mine is on the fender so I assumed it is an early model. Anyone else heard this?
