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In 1986 I bought a red 79 for $9000. Loved that car and did not mind the $500/month payment at all! My wife got pregnant and I refused to sell the car. She had our first daughter and I refused to sell the car. I bolted the car seat in the back. At 11 months I put my daughter in the car and she hit her head, damn. Time to sell the car. Bought a Honda civic, then more kids and a Dodge mini van. Was not until 2006 before I could afford another vette, a c6. I recently bought an 82. Always loved the 82 styling and I could not be happier!
A 1979 tenth Anniversary TA in the early 1980s above and her a few years ago when I had to move her below:
She is all there but hasn't run for the last 30 years. It has an interesting history!!!!!
Back in the early 1980s as you stated it was T/As and Camaros and Chargers. No thought of a Vette, that was a rich mans car (not sure why it never dawned on us to look at used ones since all of our other cars were used!!!!!!) Hoping to restore the T/A at some point in time when I retire. I bought the Vette because of the fact it did not need alot of work. Of course I have managed to find a bunch of things to do to it to make it better and more correct!!! Ike
Last edited by general ike; 12-17-2017 at 08:42 PM.
I remember very early 1980s we punched out a VW Type 1 to 2110 and used to go look for victims like Corvettes, for my girlfriend who liked to race!! I remember Reeves Callaway just being a guy that showed up at cruising hang outs with His water cooled modified Wabbit!
I didn't know that kind of thing was going on the rabbits but I'd guess it wasn't. It wasn't particularly fast as I remember, just compared to my L48.
A 1979 tenth Anniversary TA in the early 1980s above and her a few years ago when I had to move her below:
She is all there but hasn't run for the last 30 years. It has an interesting history!!!!!
Back in the early 1980s as you stated it was T/As and Camaros and Chargers. No thought of a Vette, that was a rich mans car (not sure why it never dawned on us to look at used ones since all of our other cars were used!!!!!!) Hoping to restore the T/A at some point in time when I retire. I bought the Vette because of the fact it did not need alot of work. Of course I have managed to find a bunch of things to do to it to make it better and more correct!!! Ike
Also a T/A lover, I've owned 2 of them. I remember when the 10th anniversary edition came out there was one at our local dealership and I was really impressed with the interior, graphics and wheels.
Also a T/A lover, I've owned 2 of them. I remember when the 10th anniversary edition came out there was one at our local dealership and I was really impressed with the interior, graphics and wheels.
Here's the one I bought new:
I had a couple of Firebirds, over the years, too. My first was a '77 T/A, bought new, in October of '76 (400 Pontiac engine, 4 speed stick). I said that I'd keep it forever, but even though I stored it winters, it still developed rust issues. I sold it in the summer of '01, to buy my '01 Corvette.
In the spring of '85, I bought a Firebird SE, as a DD......supposedly. I drove it through one winter, then got tired of seeing it "salt encrusted", all winter long. A buddy of mine wanted to get rid of a "beater" '76 Chevelle, so I bought it, and began storing the SE in the winter, too. Kept it through '95, when I sold it off, to buy a '96 Z-28. I kept the Z through 2015.
Kind of funny back in those days, graduated in 1974 and was working at the cotton mill in 1975 here in Huntsville. Driving home one night in 1975 I drove by one of those fly buy night car sales places and they had a 1965 corvette setting out for sale. I went back the next day and ended up with a green 65 rag top with a hard top, 327 4 speed for $3800.00. Jist of the story is I went to have new tires put on and when they were adjusting the rear end the technician was going to bend the rear strut with a sledge hammer to adjust the rear camber, I had to show him were the adjustment bolt was...LOL After that in the summer the rag top leaked when it rained and I would have all these small plants growing out of the carpet...those were the days, got married and needed a 3rd seat and sold it. If I could just go back in time!
YBnormal....drive a vette
I didn't know that kind of thing was going on the rabbits but I'd guess it wasn't. It wasn't particularly fast as I remember, just compared to my L48.
I would have to go get some of the old Hot VW mags out of the garage, but I remember the general Callaway kit put out a buck fifty horsepower! They had decent punch when moving in the power band, but not an off the line car! The short wheelbase could embarrass many Cars in the twisties! I only ran across one in something respectful to gauge how they ran, and I was driving a friends modified 944 Turbo! Just when I thought the guy would be giving up, there it was caughting up as I lined up a slower car I came up on, to pass in a safe manner! That challenge was in about 1987 in Carbon Canyon from Chino to Brea! Good ole Porsche had to counter the C4 Corvettes by Turbocharging those 944s!
In 1978 there was a kind of Corvette mania gripping the country. It was a lot of fun. The combination of the 25th Anniversary AND the Corvette pacing the Indy was wild. The Pace Cars were highly sought after and dealers were gouging big time for them. There was a belief that the Pace Cars would one day be worth a fortune, and rumors of people paying $75K or more for one to pack away were common.
There was a motion picture called Corvette Summer, one year after Star Wars with Mark Hamill in the starring role (I never saw the movie, but it added to the attention on the Vette in 1978).
I went to a dealer and saw a crisp new Silver Anniversary with Oyster interior on the showroom floor. I was told it was 6 to 12 weeks to pay full sticker price, with Pace Cars even more. I opted to buy a one year old 1977 instead.
The 1978 and 1979 Corvette sales exceeded 100,000 units, I believe that feat has never since been matched. The combination of the "Glassback" and available Pace Car spoilers made this (to many) the most beautiful Corvette style ever produced. Sales numbers reflected that, and people were snatching them up so quickly the factory could not keep pace (sorry...) even with multiple shifts.
More aerodynamic front and rear in 1980, and other technology insertions including throttle body fuel injection in 1982 rounded out the C3s.
Of course the utter disaster of Jimmy Carter as President tanked the economy (not until Barak Obama did we again have such a totally incompetent 'president' with similar results). Interest rates were 14% plus on cars, and up to 17-18% on mortgages. This plus Stagflation (yes, Carter managed to get unemployment AND inflation increasing at the same time, something economists until that time thought impossible) cut demand for all cars. Until Reagan got elected and turned the country around, like President Trump is doing today, Corvette sales suffered.
The 1978 -1982 cars were very well received in that era. And today. If I take my current 1978 Silver Anniversary L82 4 Speed out, as I often do, people beep, give thumbs up, gush about the car, smile, compliment and just love it. Total strangers smile and start conversations. I've owned many Corvettes, but the 1978 SA is the one that really grabs people, even 40 years later.
Everything about the 1978 - 1979 body style is in my humble opinion, the most beautiful Corvette ever produced, and it is the one everyone thinks of if they think Corvette. The 80-82s are also beautiful in my opinion, although I still prefer the 'tack on' Pace Car spoiler to the integrated one on the later models. It preserves the lines and proportions of the car better, but truly a very minor difference. 1978 - 1982s are all classically beautiful cars.
Anyway, you sort of had to be there, the Summer of 1978 really was a Corvette Summer. The entire nation was obsessed with Corvettes that year.
Man, your politics are showing. They are about as accurate as your recollections. The late 80’s was terrible for domestic performance cars. It was all styling, no go. These cars could barely get out of their way. Ugly *** bumpers added tons of weight. Detroit hadn’t figured out how to get performance and “low emissions.” Numbers sold don’t meaning. Millions of Toyota Corollas are sold. Doesn’t make them anything special.
I had a ‘69 350 350hp 4 speed car. None of the late 70s early 80s Corvettes impressed me in the least.
Ah, remembering the good old days! In 74 I turned 25, was married in 73, so my insurance rates were "reasonable." I traded my 73 Camero for a 69 390 427 4 speed T-Top. I wish I still had it. Looking around, trying to recapture my youth will likely set me back 30K +. Since that's out of my budget, I've been looking at 73 to 77 350 coupes. I don't like the 78 big back window, and the next one has to be another 4 speed. No doubt in my mind, the best looking Vets are the C3s, 68 to 72.
I was young but a driver and dont recall things actually like red does,
I know in 82 robbies dad got a killer deal on his 82ce the dealer telling him they were just sitting on the showroom not moving,
I recall around 80 Barbaras dad was told went he went to swap in her ta on a newer one that they would give him a much better deal on a basically new 78 corvette so he did that, he said the the back lot had more 78 and 79 vettes than he could count, and even tge dealer made fun of the 80s big nose,
That was around the time i paid 5k for a nice driver condition 72 roadster with both tops hopped 454 and 4 speed,
I recall the circles i hung in made fun of the fish bowl bubble butt rear and tacked on spoiler,
I did by around 84 have my first 81 corvette it was a fine, anemic car for the daily driver it was but lacked the heart and soul of my 72,
I avoid politics, no president has bought me a corvette but if trump does then hes my hero...
I did buy a new 80 L82 auto vette red with tan interior it was a real head turner and held its own red light to red light , I had a few buds running chrome bumper cars that I rode in one had a 454 ... I got to tell you compared to a new 80 vette they drove like old cars you know took bumps like crap , too small inside , terrible on the highway ... they both loved the 80 , I had a black 79, brown 80, silver 81, silver 82 , white 85 , burgundy 87 rag top, red z51 89 all new on the c4s
I have to say maybe not the best vette I had but by far my favorite was the 80 L82 , I ended up putting a B&M super charger on it with all the toys headers etc , my car was rented by a movie producer and was driven in a movie by Michael J Foxes wife I forget her name ....... but anyway I love all vettes chrome rubber don't matter
Last edited by av81; 06-18-2018 at 07:34 PM.
Reason: Typo
I did buy a new 80 L82 auto vette red with tan interior it was a real head turner and held its own red light to red light , I had a few buds running chrome bumper cars that I rode in one had a 454 ... I got to tell you compared to a new 80 vette they drove like old cars you know took bumps like crap , too small inside , terrible on the highway ... they both loved the 80 , I had a black 79, brown 80, silver 81, silver 82 , white 85 , burgundy 87 rag top, red z51 89 all new on the c4s
I have to say maybe not the best vette I had but by far my favorite was the 80 L82 , I ended up putting a B&M super charger on it with all the toys headers etc , my car was rented by a movie producer and was driven in a movie by Michael J Foxes wife I forget her name ....... but anyway I love all vettes chrome rubber don't matter
You cant compare worn out suspension to brand new off the show room, lets keep it fair,
I owned both basically back to back, 72 bb 81sb and besides the power of the 454 they road basically the same, but my 72 was up to par maintenance wise, it was a convertible, which do have a different feel to a coupe,
But even with solid body bushing of my 72 it took bumps fine and highway as well as the 81,
Perhaps 81 took a dive from 80 in performance but my 81 was with all due respects a dog, i found it embarrassing light to light but again not fair to compare it to 400 plus rwh and a 4 speed of my 72,
Im lost that you say the eariler cars were smaller inside, i felt the other way around plus the newer plastic interior parts gave them a cheap rattlely feel,
I do like 80 style seats, my 69 has them, and ac was nice but some early cars came with it and i plan to add it to my 69,
Around 88 89 at 100k miles i rebuilt my first 81, yeah, i have owned 2, i did like them,
Full built sb , and went nuts with a ecklers wide body kit,
Then it wasnt a dog, and i expect the little blower woke up your 80,
When i went shopping in 09 for another corvette because i have zero use for the c4 i had i went with what i liked best, i liked my 81s just not best so i grabbed a 69, convertible was a must, but i almost bought a 75 convertible, 502, 5 speed 80 style front and rear, had i bought it i would have left it as is..
You cant compare worn out suspension to brand new off the show room, lets keep it fair,
I owned both basically back to back, 72 bb 81sb and besides the power of the 454 they road basically the same, but my 72 was up to par maintenance wise, it was a convertible, which do have a different feel to a coupe,
But even with solid body bushing of my 72 it took bumps fine and highway as well as the 81,
Perhaps 81 took a dive from 80 in performance but my 81 was with all due respects a dog, i found it embarrassing light to light but again not fair to compare it to 400 plus rwh and a 4 speed of my 72,
Im lost that you say the eariler cars were smaller inside, i felt the other way around plus the newer plastic interior parts gave them a cheap rattlely feel,
I do like 80 style seats, my 69 has them, and ac was nice but some early cars came with it and i plan to add it to my 69,
Around 88 89 at 100k miles i rebuilt my first 81, yeah, i have owned 2, i did like them,
Full built sb , and went nuts with a ecklers wide body kit,
Then it wasnt a dog, and i expect the little blower woke up your 80,
When i went shopping in 09 for another corvette because i have zero use for the c4 i had i went with what i liked best, i liked my 81s just not best so i grabbed a 69, convertible was a must, but i almost bought a 75 convertible, 502, 5 speed 80 style front and rear, had i bought it i would have left it as is..
basically speaking the rear bubble glass gave you a lot more storage area I drove mine from Boston to Daytona Beach one year had suit cases in the back . I do not think the drivers area is any different in size as chrome cars although it felt bigger with glass tops extra head room ... also the cars my buds had were not beat up and worn they were real nice cars but sorry they did not ride as well and it's not a knock on the cars just my observation from driving in multiple years , I believe the better ride came from better shocks, bigger roll bar, the composite rear leaf , advancement in tires , jmo , my 81 that I have now is a dog for sure but I didn't buy it for anything other than a cruise type car you know a car to take out to a restaurant with the wife nice a/c all power options as far as power it couldn't beat a 4 cylinder car with it lol if I want to tear it up I have a 69 Camaro with a supercharger .
I do agree the chrome bumper cars have a more quality looking interior than the plastic of the 78+ years , I would not hesitate to buy a chrome car but it would have a different purpose for me than my 81 I am looking at a 69 l46 4spd the owner will not sell it until I tell him I don't want it. Only time will tell ... or the wife lol I mean
I didnt use my 81 for long trips if i had needed to i travel light,
I dont hate the bubble butt glass, it just isnt my favorite roadster is, had they all been a hatch now that would have sold me,
cragar louvers were a must on both my 81s my 86 too,
I didnt like how open it made the car feel, tint and louvers did help,
At the risk of sounding pompous ive owned a lot of vettes 66 to 86 and again while i believe you that you felt the ride was better in a new 80 over used chromes i personally on cars in equal condition didnt feel it, nothing to the epic level i feel you describe, then again i didnt run bias ply 70s on my cars, remember i said fair comparison, show room stock, well ill take a 69 435 4 speed with inferior ride over 10 81s
I will say that my 69 with full vpb transverse stuff will ride and handle a bit better than any stock suspension 68 to 82
I also never felt the epic to some people difference in solid vs rubber frame bushings,
My vettes fast or slow are daily drivers, including my modded 66 no power anything hard top only, no heat or ac either,
Damn, i miss that car,
I cant afford multi toys so my 69 will have ac and hp.
It was a real same gm had to kill performance at the very same timing they went to plastic bumpers,
That didnt help any negative later c3 stigmas,
The 78 up interior is sad too, it doesnt look bad i wouldnt say early or late one looks better to me, just the early ones hold up better and have a bit more "feel" to me,
Its a bit hard to say my favorite is xxx without it sounding like im dissing all the rest
12-17-2017, 07:44 PM
