Been reading the thread on the best C3 to buy. Are the 80s really that much roomier?? I bot a 78 PC and it is tight. Anyone have a clue on this?? Thanx.

 

A '78 Pace car should have the same seats as a '79-'82 C3 so I dont think you'd see much difference in fit unless the seats are well broken in on a different car of the same range of years. How , or where is it tight for ya ? I am 6'4" and around 250/285 lbs. its tight at first but not unbearable. Peace,,,Moosie

 

That must be one hell of a trip to the john!

 

my head is about .5" from the roof; I had a 74 vert and had plenty of headroom. same in the 2002. I drove an 81 quite some time ago and didn't notice the lack of headroom

 

Did the '81 have glass roof panels? If it did and your '78 doesn't, that could explain the extra headroom........

 

John aint got nothing to do with it but the time of year does & the amount of Original Coors consumed.

 

I hear that!

 

According to all of my vast resources (copy write protection law prohibits me from naming this particular source)...."NO comfortable C3 was ever manufactured by GM for the years 1968 through and including 1982"....wait there's more....it goes on to say (and I am quoting now) that within the years specified 1968 -1982 " WARNING-Vehicle operation should not be attempted by any individual in excess of 6'-4" in height and having a gross weight 250-285 pounds as this may cause serious injury to the vehicle".


Stay in tune....

 

You could also pick up an extra 1-2" with a 1 piece targa Astrotop............... some like em (like me) others hate em.

Dean
6'3" 275

 

Napoleon ? Otherwise Bull$hit ! Peace,,,Moosie

 

Somtimes, I just can't help myself...........


Stay in tune....

 

verts by their nature will allow for more headroom - ok smart ***** no top down comments are you soley concerned with headroom or seating area or? Now for storage area the 78 = 82 just blows our verts away. My 72 started out life as a ZR-1 but with quite a few years of racing and a mid 80's resto other than the numbers I don't really think of it as a rare ZR-1 vert. too many new parts in it. But, my wife loves the ride and she has had 2 spinal surgeries (fusion and removal of hardware) due to being hit by a drunk driver in '92. I put C5 seats in it, raised them for her so she doesn't lean back in the seat bottom and she luvs going for cruises - top down is her favourite esp in the fall. We have taken 3 and 4 day trips in it and she has been able to tolerate it. I did putin Bilstein. new 550 lb front springs and a 360 VB fibreglass spring to replace the steel 9 leaf I put in 9 yrs ago for a softer ride over the 7 leaf. To be honest she hasn't ridden in the vette since the new spring as it was too late in the season when I got it back. I also added a 5pt race harness with the rollbar hoops to make her feel more secure. Now I need to put the C5 seats back on my original tracks to lower them (been saying this for 7 yrs now though).

 

Okay....further research has given me more info to share with the prospective convertible buyer's in the market today....once again, I can not reveal this source due to copy write laws....It reads and I qoute...."WARNING-Operation of this vehicle with the the top secured in its storage area (CONVERTIBLE TOP DOWN POSISTION) can lead to undue scalp irritation (removal) due to the wind turbulance created, and can cause the removal of Toupe's (RUG'S) at speed's of greater than 45MPH. This is soley dependent upon the chemical adherance used by the opreator. Gm accepts no responsibility nor liability for operators over the age of 55 whom feel they have a identity crisis and insist on attaching such NOM fixtuer's to their upper scalp area".

You guy's think I am making this up....it really say's that...I swear!

Stay in tune.....

 

Other than interesting tangents, seems no one really knows.

 

It is a subject that is entirely too "personal" for any one to have a definitive answer for you, if you've sat in a few different years/seat styles, with or without glass roofs, available storage space, etc. etc. etc. then you can make up your own mind, Peace,,,Moosie

 

I would have the say the 78-82 are more comfortable from a SEAT standpoint. The changeover to that style of seat, IMO, is hands down more comfortable than the older models. The seats "hug" you a little more, and when cornering that makes a big difference. So far as actual roominess....I'm guessing they are all about the same in respect to leg room and such. Of course, with the T-Tops off, or the top down....they all have the same headroom.

 

Okay....the later years were more comfy circa....79-82. More creature comforts were added within this year span. If you want.... really comfy buy a C5/C6. And in all honesty, all jokes aside, the C3's have without a doubt the sexiest body and body lines of the earlier Vette's. However, they were known to be a little rough on the ride factor, with a modest shake, rattle and roll. So, if you want a C3 with comfort, shoot for the later years of 79-82. Don't be offended...its just the facts.

Stay in tune.....

 

thanx for the info. I do LUV the C5 vert, but I wanted to use the C3 as a beater. Tuff when w/bad back it is hard to get into. I agree they are the best of the early years. Maybe I'll just sell the 78 PC and go for an 80/81 as I had originally planned.

 

The final year of any generation. They've improved it as far as GM was willing to go before a redesign.
Esp true with C3's, the 82 was targeted more toward the cruising buyer than previous yrs.....hence only the Auto, mono-leafspring, lots of bells/whistles, etc.
Good luck with your decision..........

 

All the big back window cars have the same interior dimensions. There won't be anymore room in an 80 than your 78.

I agree the optional glass tops have a little more head room since they do not have trim panels.