Different '79 Bodies?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: Miami FL
Different '79 Bodies?
I've studied hundreds, maybe a thousand pictures of 1979 Corvettes, I'd love to scoop one up some day but it's gotta be the right one.
Is it just me, or are some '79s longer in the front with wheel wells that are less flared up? I know the front spoilers (air dams) make a bit of a difference, but the more I look, I start to feel as if a '79 with front and rear spoilers is a body style unto itself.
One friend suggested that the angle at which you look at the car, and even it's color scheme could affect the lines that are visually presented. All the information I've looked at indicates that there's only one body - a sport coupe. But what gives? Some '79 Vettes look really long, some look really short, and others look like they have bigger wheel wells. Does posi affect the ride's appearance? Are all '79s 185 inches long?
I'd personally LOVE a black/black '79 with both spoilers, sitting low and long with high wheel wells!
Is it just me, or are some '79s longer in the front with wheel wells that are less flared up? I know the front spoilers (air dams) make a bit of a difference, but the more I look, I start to feel as if a '79 with front and rear spoilers is a body style unto itself.
One friend suggested that the angle at which you look at the car, and even it's color scheme could affect the lines that are visually presented. All the information I've looked at indicates that there's only one body - a sport coupe. But what gives? Some '79 Vettes look really long, some look really short, and others look like they have bigger wheel wells. Does posi affect the ride's appearance? Are all '79s 185 inches long?
I'd personally LOVE a black/black '79 with both spoilers, sitting low and long with high wheel wells!
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 163
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From: Covington VA
The 1979 body is identical to the 1978 body. Only two years they were the same. You see a lot of '79s with add on front and rear spoilers. The pace car spoilers seem to be popular on these cars. Mine is stock.
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Oswego NY
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,389
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From: Seabrook Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
Not sure on 79's although I would say they story is the same. On a 78 Pace Car the fender lips were shved at the factory to accept the larger tire size. So the only difference body wise may be that some of the front fenderlips are a little narrower than ones that did not have the larger tires. i found this out in a NCRS book during the repaint of my car since we were not sure why the lip edges were smaller.
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From: Wichita Kansas
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
A lot has to do with the angle that you're viewing the car from, as well as the ride height of the car. And, while some folks will say, "They're all the same", I don't totally agree. They were supposed to be the same, but the fiberglass bodies had more variance to them than a stamped steel body, IMHO. Just park 2-3 virgin 78-79s side by side, and look at the door gaps, for instance..........
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
While I agree there was some variance in the 'glass, and these cars were notorious for terrible quality control (my buddy refused delivery on his new '79, it was so poor), I don't believe there should be significant body differences such as "really long," "really short," and different wheel wells as to make you think there was a "different" body.
They are all essentially the same.
They did make a zillion of them in '79, so maybe there's more room for inconsistent repair.
They are all essentially the same.
They did make a zillion of them in '79, so maybe there's more room for inconsistent repair.
