Decided to look up some info on a car I used to own, an '81 Z82 and then compared '79 Corvette to '79 Camaro.

It seems that the so-called "Corvette tax" existed from the time it was new!

Every option (except radios for some reason) common to both costs more on the Corvette. I've verified that many if not all of the actuators and switches used in these options are shared between the models.

.......................................C amaro....... Corvette
Power Locks ....................$86 .............$130
Power Windows .............$132 .............$141


Rear Defog ......................$99 .............$102
A/C .................................$562 .............$635
Sport Mirrors ...................$43 ................$45
Cruise .............................$103 .............$113
Power Antenna ...............$47 .................$52

References:
1979 Camaro specs/production/prices
1979 Corvette specs/production/prices

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You should look through Ecklers camaro catalog then the corvette catalog. The prices are pretty astounding. I cant elieve how cheap replacement metal is......makes you want to get a metal car

 

My Dad has a 65 Mustang. I look thru his parts catalogs and cannot believe how cheap his parts are compared to mine.

 

Had time for a little more research and it seems that this applied throughout the C3 era with the most notable exception of power windows in 1969. Otherwise nearly all shared options cost more for the Corvette.

1969...................Corvette......... ......Camaro
Windows.............$63................. ......$105
Defog..................$33.............. ..........$22
A/C.................... $376......................$428
Steering..............$103.............. .......$113
Brakes................$42............... .........$42

1973...................Corvette......... .....Camaro
Windows..............$83................ ......$75
Defog...................$31............. .........$41
A/C......................$397............. .......$452
Steering...............$113............. .......$113
Brakes.................$46.............. ........$46

1975..................Corvette.......... .....Camaro
Windows..............$93................ ......$91
Defog...................$46............. .........$41
A/C......................$498............. .......$435

1982...................Corvette......... ......Camaro
Locks...................$155............ .........$106
Cruise..................$155............ .........$125
Defog...................$129............ ........$125
Seat.....................$197........... ..........$197

 

I could understand this as they made so many Mustangs. Heck they made more Mustangs in one year 1965 than in all C3 years combined!

 

Whats funny is, that despite these taxes, if you compare values of those cars today, equal condition 1979 Z28 to equal condition, 1979 Corvette, the Z28 will command more money.