Need 1979 History
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Hughesville MO
Need 1979 History
I have a 1979 Corvette that is two tone silver blue/dark blue. I can't find that this was an option in '79 - but it is the factory color. Does anybody have any information about this or know a web-site where I can find specific information about my VIN Number??
Thanks.....
Thanks.....
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
I have a 1979 Corvette that is two tone silver blue/dark blue. I can't find that this was an option in '79 - but it is the factory color. Does anybody have any information about this or know a web-site where I can find specific information about my VIN Number??
Thanks.....
Thanks.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
No 2 tones were offered in 79. Do a search here to find the place where you can order a duplicate window sticker. That's one thing I still need to do for mine. Another option if you're lucky enough to be able to get it without it beind destroyed, is the actual build sheet on top of the gas tank.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Hughesville MO
Thanks for everyone's help so far......looks like I still have some investigating to do. The tag on the driver's door says that it's a '79, but I have yet to find a paint code. The paint does seem to be from the factory though, because I've even taken the inside door panels off & the paint is somewhat underneath that. I'm stripping the paint off the car, and there does not seem to be another color underneath........I'll do some more looking & post when I find out more. Again, thanks so far.....
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,988
Likes: 6,212
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Thanks for everyone's help so far......looks like I still have some investigating to do. The tag on the driver's door says that it's a '79, but I have yet to find a paint code. The paint does seem to be from the factory though, because I've even taken the inside door panels off & the paint is somewhat underneath that. I'm stripping the paint off the car, and there does not seem to be another color underneath........I'll do some more looking & post when I find out more. Again, thanks so far.....
I also don't understand your original post where you say it's the "original color?" How do you know it's original, and you said it was 2 colors.
Its been custom painted at some point, possibly the second color over the original color.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
That's what you're looking for (driver's door hinge post). This one is unpainted. Yours should show evidence of paint unless the folks who put the two tone on it removed it prior to paint.
There is no real information in the VIN other than a code for base engine or the optional L-82. If the 5th digit of the VIN is 8, your car had the L-48 base engine; a 4 indicates the optional L-82
Contact these folks http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...x.php?cmd=area and see if you can obtain a copy of the original dealer invoice for your '79. The invoice will list all the options on your car, the original dealer, time built, prices, etc.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Jul 20, 2009 at 10:46 AM.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Hughesville MO
Thanks for everybody's help so far - except for the "smart" reply. This is a forum where people offer HELP to one another - not smart comments. Maybe some of us are NEW at this, maybe some are Pro's.....but we're all here for the same thing.
And, in response to that comment, it just seems really odd to me that somebody would have previously stripped the entire car before just to paint it two-toned & you'd think that I would see a hint of another color underneath the one that I am stripping. I also have history on this car from the only other owner that has had it & he bought it new & then parked it in 1981, it then sat until I bought it - he claims that he did not paint it........and I know for sure that this car is a 1979.
But again, thanks to all of the POLITE people out there who know what a forum is all about. I'd appreciate no more comments from "smart guy".
And, in response to that comment, it just seems really odd to me that somebody would have previously stripped the entire car before just to paint it two-toned & you'd think that I would see a hint of another color underneath the one that I am stripping. I also have history on this car from the only other owner that has had it & he bought it new & then parked it in 1981, it then sat until I bought it - he claims that he did not paint it........and I know for sure that this car is a 1979.
But again, thanks to all of the POLITE people out there who know what a forum is all about. I'd appreciate no more comments from "smart guy".
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
I would have asked the same thing. There is no evidence of any cars of this model year leaving the factory with two tone paint. The paint booth had no equipment to do anything other than single colour and no provisions to paint any colours other than the approved standard offerings. Many people dream of finding a rare one off and love to invoke the mythical COPO to explain every unusual car that shows up, but unless they can come up with a paper trail from the factory, it's all just 'dreaming'.
Do you have the paint code off the trim tag yet?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
I have a 79 Corvette at my shop with a paint code of 13L. The L stands for lower, but I believe absent an XXU color that goes along with it the entire car is the same color as the lower code. I dont know why they stamped them L if the entire car was the same color.
The upper color code for 78 pace cars didnt even show up in the 78 GM color chart, its not until the 79 GM chart that the color code "47 Indy Silver Poly" appeared.
The upper color code for 78 pace cars didnt even show up in the 78 GM color chart, its not until the 79 GM chart that the color code "47 Indy Silver Poly" appeared.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Hughesville MO
I'm not "dreaming" of having a rare car - I'm just new to this corvette & I'm trying to figure out exactly what I have.........anybody else who didn't know (like me) would be asking the same questions. It would be a shame to infact have something rare & not know it - so, it doesn't hurt to ask & try to find out. That's why we're all on this forum...right??....to help one another.
It's just a shame that others try to make you feel stupid when you're just trying to learn.
Found the tag & it says 28L - which is supposed to be a frost blue color. The only thing that I can come up with is that someone must have completely stripped the entire lower part of the car to paint it two-toned, because I can only find one layer of color. Somebody sure went to a lot of trouble to buy it new, and re-paint it, only to park it in 1981........
Thanks for everyone's help........
It's just a shame that others try to make you feel stupid when you're just trying to learn.
Found the tag & it says 28L - which is supposed to be a frost blue color. The only thing that I can come up with is that someone must have completely stripped the entire lower part of the car to paint it two-toned, because I can only find one layer of color. Somebody sure went to a lot of trouble to buy it new, and re-paint it, only to park it in 1981........
Thanks for everyone's help........
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
