Hi
Iam buying a two owner low miles 1978 black auto T top,I see prices for a genuine none molested start around $9,000 fare condition going up to the late teens

My Q is,is this a good year model ,I think as its a celebration year year this helps,,,,I have read as much as I can but any response/feedback from you guys would be much apreciated,Later today I will be viewing and driving it ,armed with all the 'to look for' and what it 'shouldn't look like'
Thanks in advance
Ventury

 

1978 was the first year for the big back window and Corvette's 25th anniversary. Production began in 1953.

Good luck.

 

I own a '78 and I love it, very glad I found it because I love the big back window! You can see EVERYTHING out if it and it makes it look more curvy and corvette like in my opinion. 78 is also the 25th anniversary of the corvette, thats a plus aswell. Are you looking at a L-48 or an L-82 and how many miles are on it just curious any pictures??

 

Ventury..FWIW.. I own a '78 Silver Anniversary vette..( my first ever corvette in 60+ years of cars-trucks.)
I am the 2nd owner..and car now has just under 59K original miles on the L48 350 engine and turbohydromatic 350 auto transmission.
I paid 6k for it from a private owner..IT had headers installed already..but otherwise 37 yr old stock '78.

In the past year I have gone thru the old gal from front to rear...All systems work well as they should..including conversion to R134A A/C .

JBA tight performance headers, NO cat converter..true stainless dual exhausts..ALL belts, hoses fluids filters..master cylinder, brakes all around..rebuilt quadrajet 4bbl carb..properly done with float upgrade..and proper tuneup-timing modified somewhat, plugs, wires.
new leather seat covers, carpeting, 'oyster white'..replaced a hold open door spring that was broken..adjusted vacuum lines so hvac control works properly..t sat.. New BFK 255/60 R 15 rwl tires.ALL fuses, all lamps, including new halogen headlamps..replaced clock with a new digital electric unit.
and the largest single expense..: new front-rear bumper covers, mounting hdw, great prep on body and top shelf close to show car original color 2 tone paint and SA decal kit applied..
I NOW have about 18K invested in the car but it looks great, drives perfectly and is 100% roadworthy..and fun to drive..
I did much of the work myself..but was smart enuf to find Qualified-experienced help on the matters which were above my skills, tools, space-experience level.
I think my picking the silver anniversary '78 turned out to be good.
NOT the most valuable C3.. nor rarest..and certainly NOT the fastest.. About 220 hp with the headers, exhaust changes on the L48 which came as 185 hp from factory..

IF YOU READ up on the various years preceding the '78 from 68-82..you'll find C3 vettes that inherently have issues in design which make repairing more challenging as well as driving..I did NOT buy my '78 as an investment or wish a collector..
I DO have a copy of the original build sheet, invoice to Oregon dealer and window sticker...NO matter how few miles the car has on it..EVERY vintage C3 corvette is going to need a whole lot of basic running gear items scrutinized and possibly replaced properly..They are ALL over 34 years old..and will need attention sooner or later to be safe/reliable/enjoyable..

 

Had a feeling i'd see you in this thread haha

 

I'd say '78 and up is a personal preference mostly based on looks, I prefer the older "sugar scoop" rear style; it was a must have for me as I wanted to swap in a removable rear window like a friend had 30 years ago in high school. There is more smog stuff on the later models, but so what you can toss all that. If you are in California, I'd definitely consider looking for a '74('75?) as anything newer requires emmisions testing; even choked down with all that factory smog crap, you'll still have issues getting a nearly 40 year old car to pass. All that said, the '78 and up were more "personal luxury coupes" loaded with options than the earlier models. Interior styling was different as well, but that is also personal preference. Unless you live in Cali, I'd say you can't go wrong mechanically-wise with any of them, granted you understand almost any of them will cost more than they are worth in resale value, unless you get the '68-'72 with the much more powerful engines and gorgeous chrome bumpers! They hold value much better than '74 and up, with entry costs to match. Whatever you get, have fun and welcome to the C3 family!

 

Richard, well put..I'm not certain I'd want to fiddle with the fuel injection on the early 80's vettes personally.. FWIW.even the supposedly anemic L48 with the equipment madated in the late 70's for emmission and economy will STILL get up and go faster than the street-hiway laws allow in the U.S.A. I care not about the track or burning rubber..With the positraction and an auto..not something one wishes to do with great newer tires at 700+ dollars a set..Jim

 

Oops, I forgot that! One nice thing about '82s('81s also?)is they have overdrive transmission, I don't think a four speed manual was available anymore(as I said, these were now boulevard cruisers, no longer a sports cars). But you would want to yank the junk Crossfire(Missfire!) fuel injection and stick a carb on there.

 

I've got a 78 and enjoy it a great deal. Along with the return of the "fastback" rear window, the 78 saw the return of the "glove box." Previous years in the C3 series only had map pockets. The dash was also restyled and looks better (IMHO) than previous years.

 

Gentlmen many thanks for the helpful replies
I hope to have more information and photos,it looks like I will buy. BUT the guy who has owned this for over thirty years ,his wife has burst into tears and then an argument ensued over him selling the car that has been in the family for so long,I know the couple very well so I know it's not an act or show,I also know how he drives and his attention to detail
I first saw this car a year ago ,the owner is now due for two new knees hence hike downsizing his private collection
After the emotional out us I retreated to a hotel but will get back tomorrow ,hopefully for the hand over then the 15hr drive ,I believe the brakes have been overhauled
Thanks again
Ventury

 

SOOO, Ventury..how'd it go?..Jim

 

Hi Jim
Well not sure where to start,,,I guess the good bits first
I know the owner has had the 1978 ,24,000 mile car for thirty years,It has been carefully stored and kept very well.i did all the checks,all the holes I could poke my fingers into felt no rust or corrosion what so ever.i crawled under and it was exactly what a 24,000 car would look like,it's black,Ttop all controls work as should,except the clock.the paint was near perfect,no stress cracks or blemishes,all numbers matched
By this time Iam excited ,like a school kid in a candy store and relieved the car is as described and I had dared to hope.I had flown to Omaha,I then started to wire the full asking price,,,,,,,,,then the world fell in,I paid to express the money,the next 24 hrs was me sitting in a hotel room waiting,and waiting,,,Nothing showed,,,I spent long calls to the Uk bank they kept assuring me it had gone,,,,,Iam a very honest man so I hated this waiting and no show,I think it embarrassed me a bit,as I have never misled,cheated or lied on any deal,Iam a man of my word,always have been.so I was super pleased when the bank said yes we see your money,,,,,now the bit that you just couldn't make up if you tried
Turns out my money was floating around JP Morgan's empire,due to an account that can only receive a particular form of transaction.The sellar and I just couldn't believe what we where hearing.yes sir your money is here they said but it won't land in to the correct account and there is nothing we can do apart from to let it finish floating around and then it will return to its source,,,,,your bank in the UK,,,this is the short version
I shouted at the manager to no avail
So I flew back to MI as Iam now booked to fly back to the UK,,,,and wait and wait and wait until my money meanders back to my account,,j p Morgan have promised in writing it will pop back to me,,,,by then the winter will be gripping Nebraska so the dream drive to a shipper ain't going to happen,,,that's if the sellar waits for me,he was a good decent guy so who knows


Excuse the late reply here but my heart just was not really into writing the banking morons guide of how to ruin a dream


Thanks for reading
Regards
John
Ps at least Iam in a position to come to your amazing country and even try to buy such a car,,,,through hard work Iam privilege to even attempt such a dream,,,,

 

pretty bizarre..perhaps the car may wait for you..Just the shipping back to the UK would have been pretty expensive I'd guess..gotta wonder sometimes why things happen as they do..I always..wonder why? and usually some time in the future..I find out why..Jim

 

You are buying THE quintessential Corvette. The 1978 and 1979 Corvettes (hard to tell apart visually, hint look at the seats) are the only two consecutive model years to break 100K units sold. These cars were so incredibly popular the factory could not build them fast enough to satisfy demand and there were waiting lists to pay sticker plus, at least where I live.

Happy for you...great choice.

Enjoy.

 

Jim I do agree,sometimes fate intervenes ,Iam still going to pursue the car ,it felt right,it looked right and the owner seemed a genuine chap
The shipping was 1700 US dollars to use a unshared container then the UK fees or there are cheaper ,,roll on roll off options
Jim do you have any photos on this forum of all the work and upgrades you have carried out,your vett sounds awesome
Red1990VT
I hope things fall into place so I can own it

Regards
Ventury

 

Ventury, here's a recent photo of our '78 SA all done..Earlier I described briefly all of what I went thru on the car to get it Right..Interesting..yesterday I looked at a JAGUAR 1987 SX-J V12 w 70 K original miles...I really like the car.pristine..private seller will take $5500.US for it..and it's not advertised at this time..just up the street..

Money isn't an issue..just space and time AND I'D have to figger out where I'd keep it when not driving it..and don't want the '78 SA to feel left out....Jim

 

AS a note on the black '78 you're considering..
In '78 there were fewer that 5000 vettes with that exterior color..SO if it is original paint/color it's rarer than the '78 painted w/SA cors like mine..AND the Pace car painted ones..KEEP me posted on what you end up doing..my e-mail is fetrowj@yahoo.com..
I have some old friends in the UK..ARCHERS who make and shoot the heavy english yew longbows.
Pip Bickerstaffe down in Nottingham for one..Jim

 

. . . the 78 has the 25th anniversary badges.

Black: 4,573
Pace Car: 6,502
Anniversary: 15,283

 

Thanks again Gents
Jim the photo looks great,I know Jaguars well buy with caution regarding corrosion also the tori converter,look for black spots in the trans fluid,the converters fail after 40,000 or less if unused
RKY MT c6
Jim mentioned the rare or low numbers of the black.This has made me determined to see the deal through
The sellar is a decent guy so I think I will be the very proud owner.It may be spring that I get back to Omaha,Iam fairly sure he will honor his word as I had travelled so far to be let down by his Bank,,,,,,,,,,Banks don't you just love them
Regards
John

 

I am now back in the UK but have been reassured the deal between myself and the owner will be honoured
Here are a few photos of the cartobemineoneday
Jim,,,,the Bow making is an interesting story,i know the area you mentioned well


excuse the poor quality ,it has a Holley carb and upgraded headers,originals are with the car


Any input or price suggestions would be greatly apreciated
I inspected everywhere for many hours,i couldn't find any corrosion
regards
Ventury