blk79nj

I'm trying to improve my skill at determining the year of a c3 "at a glance"... for example:

'68 = door push buttons/taillights
'69 = shark gills
'70/'71 =???
'72 = amber front turn signals/no fiber optics
'73 = front bumper
'74 = split rear bumper
'75/'76 = '76 has different steering wheel
'77 = crossed flag emblems
'78 = 25th anniversary emblems
'79 = crossed flag emblems like '77
'80/'81 = ????
'82 = crossfire injection emblems

What are the "at a glance" differences between a '70 and '71, and between an '80 and '81? I do know that if it's a 2 tone, it's an '81 built in Bowling Green... but is there any other way to tell "at a glance"?

Thank You in advance

vettebuyer6369

80- chrome trim around flags emblem

81-Black around emblem

CraigH

70/71 = egg crate side grills & white front turn signals

oldgto

70-71 "egg crates" I believe 70 had only horizontal chrome edges, while 71 had both vertical and horizontal edges chromed. Someone will correct me if I`m wrong.

Alan 71

Hi,
Once you decide it's NOT a 70, (because of the difference in the side grills), and that it's either a 71 or 72.... IF it DOESN'T have the alarm switch on the tail-light panel, it HAS to be a 71, because the alarm was still an option in 71. (One can be fooled by a 71 WITH the alarm option).
So,
then look at the shifter console to see if it has the fiber-optics bezels... a 71 car will have them, and 72 car won't.
Regards,
Alan

jr73

74 does not have split rear bumper

Alan 71

Hi,
Once you decide it's NOT a 70, (because of the difference in the side grills), and that it's either a 71 or 72.... IF it DOESN'T have the alarm switch on the tail-light panel, it HAS to be a 71, because the alarm was still an option in 71. (One can be fooled by a 71 WITH the alarm option).
So,
then look at the shifter console to see if it has the front and rear fiber-optics bezel/lenses... a 71 car will have them, and 72 car won't.
Regards,
Alan

The13Bats

Yes it does....

Many have the aftermarket replacement thats one piece, but it came split

red topless gator

I agree!!!!

BarryB72

If it is a 70-72 and has the rubber headlight and radio ***** with the little white icon (headlight beam, Music note, antenna) it's a 72. I was pumped to see my car had them because Dad had a 75 when I was 3-4 years old and I remember those *****.

Radios change but I doubt many people change the headlight ****.

72 leather seat pattern went side to side instead of top to bottom.

72 gauge bezel has one large fasten seat belts dummy light.

There's a few other 72 only things but if the hood is up and there is a sticker on the air cleaner lid telling you how much horsepower it has it's not a 72. No need to advertise 200 horsepower.

Wee

Unless someone has changed the sticker....or lid.....Like on my 72.

Brian

JohnnyQuik

Between the '70 and '71, if it has no screws in the front of the bumperettes, it's a '70. If it has screws, it's likely a '71 or a '70 with replacement bumperettes.

The13Bats

I forgot to mention my wife tina who never gave vettes a second thought before we met will score an an easy 8 out of 10 in recognizing c3s that drive by, and shes getting pretty darn good at trivia of year to year changes....

JETS C3-C4

Added some info in blue above.

jr73

Maybe I'm interpreting it wrong I thought he meant split chrome rear bumpers.

JETS C3-C4

He is talking about the rubber rear bumper. 1974 was the first year with the rubber rear bumper and it was two piece. In 1975 it changed to a one piece bumper. Just a F.Y.I.

Eljay

70 tail lights are pointy "cones" most 71s are rounded domes. So if rounded dome tail lights its not a "correct" 70. Also 390HP big block, boom!

rastafford3164

On an 80 interior, the bezel around the wiper control is black. On an 81 it is the dash color.

pauls71stingray

71 = green instrument lights

72 = white instrument lights

Blue73Shark

Didn't one year have white front lens with clear bulb and the other year have white front lens with amber bulb?
Fran