80 factory 4
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 18
Likes: 4
80 factory 4
My next car
how many 4 speed cars did they make in 1980, what would be a fair market price for one with 55k on the odo, ac doesn’t work, e brake not working, seats show their age. Second paint 10 years ag, garaged it’s whole life, he’s asking 10k, unmolested factory original accident free vehicle,,, thanks
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,350
Likes: 5,240
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
My next car
how many 4 speed cars did they make in 1980, what would be a fair market price for one with 55k on the odo, ac doesn’t work, e brake not working, seats show their age. Second paint 10 years ag, garaged it’s whole life, he’s asking 10k, unmolested factory original accident free vehicle,,, thanks
5,726 1980 Corvettes came with the 4 speed manual (out of 40,614 cars.)
10 grand plus or minus 2 grand on value depending on what an in person inspection reveals. Good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,168
Likes: 1,336
From: FLL Florida
My next car
how many 4 speed cars did they make in 1980, what would be a fair market price for one with 55k on the odo, ac doesn’t work, e brake not working, seats show their age. Second paint 10 years ag, garaged it’s whole life, he’s asking 10k, unmolested factory original accident free vehicle,,, thanks
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 16,472
Likes: 2,368
From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
If the car pictured is a true L82 4 speed car, it is extremely rare as the 4 speed was not available with L82 in 1980 with the exception of a few early production cars. Look for a low VIN.
Last edited by Tally Ho; Nov 8, 2018 at 01:40 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,877
Likes: 4,467
From: Virginia
Nice choice! White 80 4-speeds are favorite. If you don't have to immediately gut the interior, replace every suspension component, and it is rust-free, it is worth every bit of his asking price. Try to get it for $8K or $9K though.
Read the 10 rules before you go look, and know the engine, trim, VIN, etc codes to reference.
Read the 10 rules before you go look, and know the engine, trim, VIN, etc codes to reference.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,427
Likes: 456
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
...had this Yellow '80 4spd coupe with Oyster(greyish white)interior for about 7yrs. Putting about 34K miles on it during that time. Was such a smooth running car, sold it with 127K miles on it. Also was a Bloomington Gold Survivor even with the higher miles, it was just a well kept & maintained car. Probably one I should have kept.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
My thoughts also.
Rare doesnt always make it worth a ton of money, the car has to be popular, or in demand.
The rest of the car would have to be pretty nice to warrant 10k. If you fall in love with it well maybe its worth 10k. Plan on sinking a few grand into it for what it needs and little things you discover after youve had it awhile.
Edit-DUH missed it was a 4 spd. Worth it if condition in person looks like the pics
Rare doesnt always make it worth a ton of money, the car has to be popular, or in demand.
The rest of the car would have to be pretty nice to warrant 10k. If you fall in love with it well maybe its worth 10k. Plan on sinking a few grand into it for what it needs and little things you discover after youve had it awhile.
Edit-DUH missed it was a 4 spd. Worth it if condition in person looks like the pics
Last edited by cv67; Nov 12, 2018 at 07:58 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
In 1980, the L-82 engine had ZBC or ZBD in the code on the engine stamp pad. Other codes were L-48 or 305 (Calif.) engines.
55K on the odometer doesn't mean much...especially, if the interior is well worn. That usually means the engine has 155K miles on it....or 255K miles. Depending on your state's requirements, the title may also indicate actual miles when last sold. I would not be wary of buying a car with 155K miles on it, if the mechanicals were still in good condition (well maintained and repaired car), the fluids looked & smelled OK, and the engine operated well will no smoking at start-up, under acceleration, or when decelerating.
Often, care and maintenance of a car is much more important than how few miles it has on it. It is STILL a 40-year-old vehicle!!
55K on the odometer doesn't mean much...especially, if the interior is well worn. That usually means the engine has 155K miles on it....or 255K miles. Depending on your state's requirements, the title may also indicate actual miles when last sold. I would not be wary of buying a car with 155K miles on it, if the mechanicals were still in good condition (well maintained and repaired car), the fluids looked & smelled OK, and the engine operated well will no smoking at start-up, under acceleration, or when decelerating.
Often, care and maintenance of a car is much more important than how few miles it has on it. It is STILL a 40-year-old vehicle!!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,877
Likes: 4,467
From: Virginia
The 10 rules for buying your first C3 are a sticky at the top of this forum. (C3 General).
I use this site to decode engine, paint, trim, and VIN codes:
http://corvettec3.ca/
Of note, no 1980 C3s came with both an L82 engine and 4-speed (that I know of). The VIN will tell you which engine it came with. The partial VIN on the block will tell you if the engine is original. The engine code will tell you what engine is in there, and what transmission it came with.
EDIT: Originality isnt worth as much as a well maintained car with the working options you want. The 4-speed is the best part of my car, perhaps you'll feel the same. Good luck!
I use this site to decode engine, paint, trim, and VIN codes:
http://corvettec3.ca/
Of note, no 1980 C3s came with both an L82 engine and 4-speed (that I know of). The VIN will tell you which engine it came with. The partial VIN on the block will tell you if the engine is original. The engine code will tell you what engine is in there, and what transmission it came with.
EDIT: Originality isnt worth as much as a well maintained car with the working options you want. The 4-speed is the best part of my car, perhaps you'll feel the same. Good luck!
Last edited by Bikespace; Nov 10, 2018 at 08:11 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,448
Likes: 1,475
From: Little Rock AR
5th digit of the VIN needs to be a "6" for an "L-82" engine. If you have an "8" for the 5th digit, it had a base engine L-48 originally.
4 speed can also be added later.
If the engine suffix stamp is "ZBD", you need to buy it NOW. A 1980 4 speed L-82 should not exist.
4 speed can also be added later.
If the engine suffix stamp is "ZBD", you need to buy it NOW. A 1980 4 speed L-82 should not exist.
