C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

body profile 68'-82'

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 07:45 AM
  #1  
wadey's Avatar
wadey
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: nova scotia canada
Default body profile 68'-82'

just wondering how the body profile of the vette has changed from 68'-82'
thanx wade
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 08:44 AM
  #2  
gerry72's Avatar
gerry72
Safety Car
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
Default

Not much.
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 08:53 AM
  #3  
Ganey's Avatar
Ganey
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Default

There are 2 basic body styles 68-77 w/ the flat rear glass & 78-82 w/ the large fastback rear glass.
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 10:33 AM
  #4  
SARASOTA SAM's Avatar
SARASOTA SAM
Instructor
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: GRIMSBY N.E.LINCS. U.K.
Default

The front wheel well outer edge profile was slightly changed in 73 to allow more clearance for radial tyres so they didnt catch on lock.
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 11:11 AM
  #5  
Goody's Avatar
Goody
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Default

This applies to the 80-82 years only:

Integrated front and rear spoilers.

Front bumper has integrated license frame area.

No bumperettes on front.

Front bumper is much different around headlight area.

Fender gill opening much smaller and back to a shark appearance.

Front side markers are different because of white lense to aide in turning at night.

Longer hood does away with the wiper door design from the early C3's.

82 crossfire hood is unique to that year on the underside.

82 CE has accessible rear hatch glass (preview to C4 functionality).
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 04:17 PM
  #6  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,315
Likes: 4,418
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Hi Wade,
Another change would be the addition of front and rear caps in place of the chrome bumpers. I think the caps make the profile look a bit longer and a bit lower than the bumpers.
Regards,
Alan
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 04:20 PM
  #7  
Ganey's Avatar
Ganey
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Default

Originally Posted by Goody
This applies to the 80-82 years only:
...
Longer hood does away with the wiper door design from the early C3's.
...
The longer hood in 73 eliminated the slow wiper "door" design!
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 06:26 PM
  #8  
grandmastercorvette's Avatar
0grandmastercorvette
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 3
From: Charlotte North Carolina 704-394-5150
Default

There is a MILE of difference from a 1968 to a 1982. Although the exterior kept the basic shape there are differences in many groups of the C3 era...Which I hate the 1968 to 1982 being called C3's. That is a whole other issue.

SO if you post a question about your C3...SPECIFY THE YEAR...because it can make a difference ...depending on what you are asking about.

But when GM got to the 1980 model year...they made changes so that the coefficient of drag was the LOWEST of all previous years. They implemented aluminum in some of the drive line...and changed impact bar design to lighten the car along with many other changes.

All of the 1968 to 1982 Corvettes have there place...and in some slight way are different.

"DUB"
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 06:54 PM
  #9  
rajsid's Avatar
rajsid
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
Default

Originally Posted by wadey
just wondering how the body profile of the vette has changed from 68'-82'
thanx wade
I tend to break it up like this...
68-69, 70-72, 73, 74-77, 78-79, 80-82
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 07:09 PM
  #10  
vettebuyer6369's Avatar
vettebuyer6369
Administrator
25 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 54,006
Likes: 6,215
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Default

That's a pretty broad question. Some people would say the silhouette is basically identical. Others would point to the different bumpers and big back window as the biggest "changes" in the silhouette. Is that what you mean by "profile?"

By the way, it's '68-'82.
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 08:10 PM
  #11  
seventysixvette's Avatar
seventysixvette
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 845
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Indiana
Default

Here's something someone posted in a thread a while back. I thought it was interesting.



John
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 10:38 PM
  #12  
Goody's Avatar
Goody
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Default

Originally Posted by Ganey
The longer hood in 73 eliminated the slow wiper "door" design!
D'oh and I knew that too.....I added this only applies part after making up most of the list since I have an '81. My bad.......

And that the C3 generation is broken out into several subsets because of the evolution of the series.
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 10:49 PM
  #13  
The13Bats's Avatar
The13Bats
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Default Wiper door....

Not high jacking but splintering off a slight bit from the broader thread topic,
This thread is perfect and I hope someone can clue me in with my quandary

As most of you know I am doing a custom and for all kinds of reasons I want a wiper door which means a 68-72 chrome bumper donor,

I tried to add a wiper door to an 81 and while nothing is impossible this was close to it,
The windshield was all in the way down on the bottom edge,

Would I be right to assume the windshield changed from 72-73 and up and perhaps changed after 73 a number of times?
So lets start with how many different c3's ran a different windshield?
Will any windshields interchange?

I would love for someone who knows for sure to tell me could a wiper door be fitted to say 73 or 74?
When I still had that 76 here the windshield lower edge and cowl area seemed different than the 81 and appeared a wiper door could be added,

OR is it cut in stone that 72 is the cut off and anything newer just can't have a wiper door added.

Perhaps one of you fellows with several project might have a wiper door with it's hinges and could hold it up to say a 73-75 car to see if it will fit,

Many thanks!
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2009 | 05:39 AM
  #14  
HamadUP's Avatar
HamadUP
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

Originally Posted by rajsid
I tend to break it up like this...
68-69, 70-72, 73, 74-77, 78-79, 80-82
.. although I take it more "general", like that :

68-72 - early C3s (high horse power)
73-79 - mid C3s (comfortable)
80-82 - late C3s (modernized)
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2009 | 10:05 AM
  #15  
DZRick's Avatar
DZRick
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Default

Originally Posted by The13Bats
Not high jacking but splintering off a slight bit from the broader thread topic,
This thread is perfect and I hope someone can clue me in with my quandary

As most of you know I am doing a custom and for all kinds of reasons I want a wiper door which means a 68-72 chrome bumper donor,

I tried to add a wiper door to an 81 and while nothing is impossible this was close to it,
The windshield was all in the way down on the bottom edge,

Would I be right to assume the windshield changed from 72-73 and up and perhaps changed after 73 a number of times?
So lets start with how many different c3's ran a different windshield?
Will any windshields interchange?

I would love for someone who knows for sure to tell me could a wiper door be fitted to say 73 or 74?
When I still had that 76 here the windshield lower edge and cowl area seemed different than the 81 and appeared a wiper door could be added,

OR is it cut in stone that 72 is the cut off and anything newer just can't have a wiper door added.

Perhaps one of you fellows with several project might have a wiper door with it's hinges and could hold it up to say a 73-75 car to see if it will fit,

Many thanks!
I can only tell you my '68 parts car came to me with a '74 date coded windshield. I don't know if the cowl was changed after '72.
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2009 | 10:32 AM
  #16  
The13Bats's Avatar
The13Bats
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Default

Originally Posted by DZRick
I can only tell you my '68 parts car came to me with a '74 date coded windshield. I don't know if the cowl was changed after '72.
I dont want to misunderstand, do you mean your 68 has a windshield made for a 74 or a windshield made in 74?

If I could put a wiper door on a 74 it would be a big help in finding a donor
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2009 | 11:10 AM
  #17  
DZRick's Avatar
DZRick
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Default

Originally Posted by The13Bats
I dont want to misunderstand, do you mean your 68 has a windshield made for a 74 or a windshield made in 74?

If I could put a wiper door on a 74 it would be a big help in finding a donor
I can't answer that. I believe it was an original '74 windshield but I no longer have it. Sorry.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To body profile 68'-82'

Old Sep 30, 2009 | 12:05 PM
  #18  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

Originally Posted by The13Bats
Not high jacking but splintering off a slight bit from the broader thread topic,
This is as good a hijack as I've ever seen.
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2009 | 12:12 PM
  #19  
Easy Mike's Avatar
Easy Mike
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

1968


1982


Changed about that much.
Reply
Old Sep 30, 2009 | 09:02 PM
  #20  
The13Bats's Avatar
The13Bats
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Default

Originally Posted by Mike Ward
This is as good a hijack as I've ever seen.

I apologize if you feel I went too far off the threads topic of the profiles of C3's

I was just thinking that my wiper door dilemma which is directly related to the windshield which in turn has a major role in the profile of the C3 would fit well into a thread about C3's profiles, my bad....

In a way your post that had zero to do with c3 profiles might even be a better high jack ....
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:19 PM.

story-0
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-2
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-5
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE