Do I have a 76 Vett?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Laquey Missouri
Do I have a 76 Vett?
I recently purchased what I believed to be a 1976 Vett. Doing some research and have found the nose emblem is from a 77. I have the "Stingray" emblms on the fenders. Other small things don't add up to a 76. Recently ordered sunvisors for a 76 but found out they won't work. My VIN is 1Z37L6S445525. Is it possible the assembly plant changed over to 77 build but still sold mine as a 76?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '08
One easy way to tell would be the steering wheel, and center gauge cluster. Post up pics if you can. Fender and nose emblems could have easily been changed over the years by a previous owner. VIN looks to be a late 76. There are even later VIN's on the C3 registry site with correct emblems, so I doubt it was an early changeover.
Last edited by jn76vette; May 7, 2011 at 11:27 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
Some 76 parts depend on if it was build as an 'early' 76 or a 'late' 76. It's been a long time since I restored my 76 so I can't remember all the parts that changed, but the sunvisors might be one. I think the radiator is also one of the parts that were changed mid year. Your's sounds like it might be a 'late' 76. Mine was actually built in 75 as a 76 ... Vega steering wheel 
and all.
The early sunvisors have holes in both ends where 2 chrome rods slide into them as the pivot points. They cannot rotate to the side like newer vehicles. Does your's match that description? I'm not sure what 77 sunvisors look like since they did a big interior redesign that year.
and all.The early sunvisors have holes in both ends where 2 chrome rods slide into them as the pivot points. They cannot rotate to the side like newer vehicles. Does your's match that description? I'm not sure what 77 sunvisors look like since they did a big interior redesign that year.
Last edited by Jason Staley; May 8, 2011 at 06:22 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
There were many changes made throughout the 76 model year, but using the 77 nose emblem, was not one of them.
There are 2 different radiators, radiator core supports and fan shrouds used. Two different rear bumpers, 2 rear Corvette emblems and 2 different t-top headliners, also. Part way through the year, the interior light was moved from the rear storage compartment bulkhead, to the "T" bar.
The Corvette Parts Book only lists one visor for 76. Your car is a very late 76. 45,525 is only about 1,000 from the end of production, so I won't say that it's not possible that GM pulled forward 77 visors, at the end of 76 production. I don't know of any documentation, that this did happen though.
I am sure that GM never put 77 nose emblems, on 76's. More likely, a previous owner installed the 77 emblem. The 76 nose emblem has been very expensive for years (it was $75 ten years ago) and the red plastic inserts in them tended craze, fog up, crack, or just fall out. In comparison, until a couple years ago, the 77 nose emblem, was only about $30.
There are 2 different radiators, radiator core supports and fan shrouds used. Two different rear bumpers, 2 rear Corvette emblems and 2 different t-top headliners, also. Part way through the year, the interior light was moved from the rear storage compartment bulkhead, to the "T" bar.
The Corvette Parts Book only lists one visor for 76. Your car is a very late 76. 45,525 is only about 1,000 from the end of production, so I won't say that it's not possible that GM pulled forward 77 visors, at the end of 76 production. I don't know of any documentation, that this did happen though.
I am sure that GM never put 77 nose emblems, on 76's. More likely, a previous owner installed the 77 emblem. The 76 nose emblem has been very expensive for years (it was $75 ten years ago) and the red plastic inserts in them tended craze, fog up, crack, or just fall out. In comparison, until a couple years ago, the 77 nose emblem, was only about $30.
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
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Laquey Missouri
Thanks for the replies - My Heater/AC controls are different from mds3013's but my sunvisor's are the same. Guess I'll have to reorder them to match a 77. I also have the 77 steering wheel and the interior light is in the middle of the T-bar. Again - thanks to all.
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Arlington WA
You have a 1977 Corvette
You have a 1977 from your description of the nose emblem, fender emblems, the looks of the dash gages and the steering wheel. Chevrolet started using plastic for the gage bezel in 1977 and they returned to a Corvette steering wheel. 1976 used the same steering wheel as a Vega and Camaro most likely to save money in manufacturing but the Corvette world revolted and Chevrolet complied with their wishes.
I have a 76 and have learned all about these little things over the course of 7 years of ownership.
I have a 76 and have learned all about these little things over the course of 7 years of ownership.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
the last 76 was 46558, you have 45525.. a very late 76 car... hopefully the 76 experts will chime in but there may have been some 77 parts put on the car from the factory..
According to the corvette black book:
"some late production 1976 production corvettes were built with parts normally associated with 1977 models, especially interior components"
According to the corvette black book:
"some late production 1976 production corvettes were built with parts normally associated with 1977 models, especially interior components"
