very rare c3
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
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very rare c3
I was doing some politcal work for my town and was going door to door I came to a house where this guy was detailing his 1980 c3, beautiful lo mileage car. We get to talking he says it has an Lt1 engine that is factory, not the 2nd Lt motor but the first one they made in late 69 350-370hp.He said that chip miller built 5 of these car and this was one of them says he brought the car at carile pa. anybody ever here of these cars being built.
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Another "mythical" Bubbamobile 
No LT1's until 1970. Certainly no 1980's Vettes with them. I don't think Chip spent any time hot rodding late C3's.
No LT1's until 1970. Certainly no 1980's Vettes with them. I don't think Chip spent any time hot rodding late C3's.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Salisbury Maryland
Yeah, yeah, an 80 Lt-1, 1 of only 5 made, yeah, yeah. It's as rare as the '78 Anniversary models with a 427/400HP motor, yeah, yeah, that's the ticket. It's a LT....uh....ZR....uh.....ZL model, yeah, that's the ticket!
Team Owner
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It might be an LT-1, but it isn't factory. It's probably an L-82.
He's correct about 1969 LT-1s. They had the LT-1 ready for long lead press review in 1969 and had two of the LT-1s installed in 1969 Corvettes for this purpose. Of course, the engine was not available until the 1970 model year.
One of the two 1969 Corvettes with LT-1s installed was sold by Clippinger Chevrolet to a private owner with full warranty. Bizzoco's book has a picture of the car and it's first owner.
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Maybe you guys are reading this wrong - maybe he is just saying that the motor is factory - but not that the motor and the car we necessarily mated at the factory. A "factory" LT-1 Corvette engine put into a 1980 Corvette doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility.
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Racer
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Safety Car
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Confused?
Was this car a 4-spd? When I ordered my 1980 in Oct 1979, I was told I could only get an L-48 with the 4-spd because of emission certification problems.
When my car came in, the salesman told me that there may have been up to six L-82, 4-spd cars built. That was the rumor at the time.
I don't know what ever came about with that rumor.
Maybe that is what he means when he says it is rare?
When my car came in, the salesman told me that there may have been up to six L-82, 4-spd cars built. That was the rumor at the time.
I don't know what ever came about with that rumor.
Maybe that is what he means when he says it is rare?
Team Owner
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...the salesman told me that there may have been up to six L-82, 4-spd cars built. That was the rumor at the time....
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Springfield Illinois
May the owner got his story mixed up and has an L82 rather than an LT1.. He probably thinks it is an LT1 since they both use the same valve covers. If you get a chance, do some research about vin #'s, ask him to see the car, and look at the vin. That would clear up a lot of things..
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
You guys are always so skeptical. Some of you don't even believe that I bought a '57 Corvette new with a steel body and a 454, but I know what I bought. I never should have sold that car......
GM Cert Corvette Tech
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From: Anaheim Hills California
A "factory" LT-1 Corvette engine will not fit under the stock hood of a 80 Vette. Thats why in the 70's the LT1 used a BB hood because of its high rise manifold.
Last edited by Douglas Mariani; Oct 14, 2009 at 03:28 PM.
Terrorizing Orange Cones
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From: Northern CO
The 454 in that car was real, though. I remember because someone said it was a 409. Chevy didn't make a 409 in 1957.
