1978 Vette
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
You can't forget that the '79+ colors were intended to look good with that black chrome! There was nothing like Targa Blue available at the time.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 336
Likes: 42
From: Grand Ledge, MI
Originally Posted by SwampeastMike
You can't forget that the '79+ colors were intended to look good with that black chrome! There was nothing like Targa Blue available at the time.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 781
Likes: 113
Yep..the '78 SA cars are fun to drive and challenging to learn about and work on..Yours probably has the same oyster white interior as mine..
Yes the '78 SA vettes DO GET a lot of appreciative looks and waves..Nothing bad about the L48 350 and turbohydromatic THM 350 auto tranny..Take your time and go thru and learn about the systems on your 'new' car..Age alone will dicttate you look critically at belts, hoses, brakes, tires..First step is the reliability ..the starting, stopping, steering , cooling, engine oil, trans fluid..filters, lights, etc...That will keep you happily employed for a day or two..IF previous owner can tell you things about car's history..what has or hasn't been done recently..AND if you have it..the owner's manual is a great help for starters.Have fun and enjoy your new journey!Jim
Yes the '78 SA vettes DO GET a lot of appreciative looks and waves..Nothing bad about the L48 350 and turbohydromatic THM 350 auto tranny..Take your time and go thru and learn about the systems on your 'new' car..Age alone will dicttate you look critically at belts, hoses, brakes, tires..First step is the reliability ..the starting, stopping, steering , cooling, engine oil, trans fluid..filters, lights, etc...That will keep you happily employed for a day or two..IF previous owner can tell you things about car's history..what has or hasn't been done recently..AND if you have it..the owner's manual is a great help for starters.Have fun and enjoy your new journey!Jim
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 167
Likes: 42
From: Virginia
I didn’t want to start a new thread for something that is probably easy to figure out. I recently bought a 78 corvette and the owner said it was an anniversary. From what I have seen the anniversary only came in the silver and mine is light beige. Is there a way by looking at the VIN to know if it is anniversary edition or just the anniversary year?
VIN: 1Z87L8S422764
VIN: 1Z87L8S422764
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
Every '78 received "Silver Anniversary" badging on the nose and gas cap emblems (there may be others--I'm not sure). There was also the special "silver anniversary" two-tone paint job available About 15,000 of the nearly 47,000 '78s produced had that paint job so it was very popular. 6,502 "Indy Pace Cars" were also produced. It had its own special paint two-tone paint job and production was limited to one for every Chevrolet dealer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
Look for paint code 13/07 on the trim tag on the driver door hinge pillar.
In the years shortly after they were made both the pace car and to a much lesser extent the "normal" with silver anniversary paint were so popular and commanded such a premium price that imitations were made.
In the years shortly after they were made both the pace car and to a much lesser extent the "normal" with silver anniversary paint were so popular and commanded such a premium price that imitations were made.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
Yes. Again ALL '78s got those "Silver Anniversary" emblems. The numeral "8" in the 6th position in your VIN indicates 1978 model year. Color 59 is "Corvette Light Beige" which seems to match what I see in the picture. Trim 762 is "Mahogany Leather".
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 167
Likes: 42
From: Virginia
I’m sorry I’m still confused. In 1978 did they make anniversary and non-anniversary models? When I go to sites to look for parts it will have the options of base/anniversary/pace car. If so which, one does mine fall into.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
Likes: 4,507
From: Virginia
The other 78 base/Pace Car difference is the seats. 79-82 C3s had the more comfortable "clam shell" seats. So did the 78 Pace Car. They are a popular bolt-in mod, so your car may already have them, too.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,982
Likes: 6,209
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
I didn’t want to start a new thread for something that is probably easy to figure out. I recently bought a 78 corvette and the owner said it was an anniversary. From what I have seen the anniversary only came in the silver and mine is light beige. Is there a way by looking at the VIN to know if it is anniversary edition or just the anniversary year?
VIN: 1Z87L8S422764
VIN: 1Z87L8S422764