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

'79 Rear spoiler question.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 15, 2012 | 07:28 PM
  #1  
KLUTZ's Avatar
KLUTZ
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
From: Kiersteadville New Brunswick
Default '79 Rear spoiler question.

I've taken the factory rear spoiler off the '79 project car I bought as I prefer the look without. (now I will have to fill in the holes though) Will this spoiler fit all C3's or is it moulded for later models only? I'll be trying to sell it if there is a buyer somewhere.
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2012 | 07:37 PM
  #2  
briankeery's Avatar
briankeery
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 67
From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Default

I agree that our's look better without the rear ........do kinda like the front one though. I'm sure you'll have no problem getting rid of it.
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2012 | 08:42 PM
  #3  
TheSkunkWorks's Avatar
TheSkunkWorks
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Default

To each his own, but before you commit, you should be aware that the factory front dam / rear spoiler PC type aero package does actually work, improving '78-79 drag by ~15% and greatly reducing/eliminating lift at speed (tho the dam needs additional bracing for very much high speed driving). Food for thought, in case you thought it just bling.
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2012 | 08:45 PM
  #4  
gbvette62's Avatar
gbvette62
Race Director
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,682
Likes: 3,135
From: Shamong, NJ
Default

It will fit all 74-79 Corvettes. It's really only ideal for a 78-79 though.

The gas door is further back on a 78-79, so the spoiler has a cut out in it, to clear the gas door. When the 78-79 rear spoiler is used on 74-77's, you end up with the cut out being a couple inches back from the gas door. The aftermarket Pace Car style spoilers, made for 74-77's, don't have the gas door cut out in them.

Personally, I prefer the look of 78-79 Corvettes, with the spoiler package on them.
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2012 | 09:05 PM
  #5  
KLUTZ's Avatar
KLUTZ
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
From: Kiersteadville New Brunswick
Default

Originally Posted by TheSkunkWorks
To each his own, but before you commit, you should be aware that the factory front dam / rear spoiler PC type aero package does actually work, improving '78-79 drag by ~15% and greatly reducing/eliminating lift at speed (tho the dam needs additional bracing for very much high speed driving). Food for thought, in case you thought it just bling.

It's an L48. How fast can it go?

Thanks though. I had already read that but do like the clean look better. Maybe my mind will change. it had to come off anyway for when it gets painted in due time.
Reply
Old Sep 16, 2012 | 02:50 PM
  #6  
leadfoot4's Avatar
leadfoot4
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,375
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
Default

Originally Posted by gbvette62
....Personally, I prefer the look of 78-79 Corvettes, with the spoiler package on them.




It's a long story, but when my wife went to order her '79, I wasn't with her (part of the story is that we were only dating at the time), so she "forgot" to order the spoilers. I was always sorry she didn't....
Reply
Old Sep 16, 2012 | 03:18 PM
  #7  
briankeery's Avatar
briankeery
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 67
From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Default

Specifically the rears on the 80-82 cars really seem to be incorporated into the body quite well (also obviously the fronts for that matter). The spoilers on 78's and 79's almost look like an afterthought in the way the fitment always seems poor. The rear especially looks like its just kinda stuck on there.....jmo, but I think they figured it out by 1980. If they had incorporated the 1980 spoiler package starting with the Pace cars.....and offered a convertible option from '78 onward, I think our later model C3's might have been some of the prettiest cars ever produced.(Have a look at the CE convertible lurking around these threads.......simply stunning).
Reply
Old Sep 16, 2012 | 03:28 PM
  #8  
KLUTZ's Avatar
KLUTZ
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
From: Kiersteadville New Brunswick
Default

Originally Posted by briankeery
The spoilers on 78's and 79's almost look like an afterthought in the way the fitment always seems poor. The rear especially looks like its just kinda stuck on there......

That is basically the way I saw it. Perhaps if it was somehow moulded to the body so there were no seams, it would look great. Someone mentioned in another thread that the front bumper could be blended into the body. That would be of interest to me when I get to that point. If that can be done I'm sure the rear spoiler could be as well?
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To '79 Rear spoiler question.

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:30 PM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE