Hi,
i have just found this corvette:


What do you think about that?
Can you give me your opinion about Pro & Cons of this '79 C3?
I have checked and it's matching number (engine, chassis, colors).
thanks

 

I liked the music.
First, remember that 79s are not collector items.
Strange car with the added little lights, body color painted bumperettes (should be black) and the missing wheel centers. Really not much to go on in that vid.

 

thanks

 

i think little lights are european/italian law requirements.

 

I agree with what BKbroiler says (except I'm not a fan of the music ).

I believe the added lights are for European specs.

It's the optional L82 higher-performance 350, automatic transmission. Mileage unknown. Polished aluminum wheels look nice, but the lack of center caps really detracts from the overall impression.

The closeup of the tail lights (at around 1:10 in the video) show them to be very faded; and the front crossed flags emblem on the nose at the very end appears likewise faded and chipped. The appearance of those items, plus the addition of the shiny red paint job, makes me suspect that the pre-paint condition of the body was fairly worn.

If I were considering this car, I'd do a personal inspection, including having it on a lift.

 

The other item I noticed in the limited video is the miss alignment of the hood and the nose of the Corvette. Hood is much lower.

 

Faded taillights and emblems indicate lots of time outdoors. Lots of garage-kept cars out there with much less chance of rust in bad places. Total new paint job with little attention to getting the hood and doors aligned; most people fix the door gaps as well when they re-paint. Numbers matching for a 79 doesn’t really add value. You’ll have more fun with one that’s had a higher performance engine swapped in.
Charlie

Original 78 taillights; back-up lens on a garaged car will look clear-white. Avoid or expect a big discount for opaque amber-yellow.

 

Based on that YouTube video this is a red C3 Corvette, and that's about it.

 

Hello Iacopo
what has been said about extra lights on the car are for european standard, i had to put indicators/blinkers on the front of my 79 to allow it to be on the road here in Australia, changed back once i had the car engineered and ready for the road here. The back lights can all be changed back to stock, so can be readly bought to replace what you already have. another point to look at is the door gaps, they look too large so have a look at the hinges and check them out. But if you like this car and are happy with the way it is and how it looks then go for it, as for 1979 corvette's not being desirable if you have 1 and none of your friends have 1 then you will be the envy of them all. If you own a corvette and have the chance to drive it often people will want to talk to you about your beautiful car. Mine is a 1979 and i am in Australia and its amazing the amount of people who wave or want to take photos of my car.

 

This video shows none of the important concern areas of a C3.

Except one. It confirms that the car has an automatic transmission. Based on my extensive testing of a 79 automatic, that car will be about a million times less fun to drive than a similar 4-speed of that era. The L82 might help a bit, but it wasn't in the video.

I muted the music...

 

From the look of it, it's just been painted? Maybe why the wheel centre caps are not on it yet? They may be hard to get and expensive in Italy, so check that. You haven't said how much it's being offered for. I'd be more worried about what the holes/plugs are under each rear lamp. And of course, it would be good to see what it looks like underneath......

As for it being a "less than popular" '79 - that get's on my nerves. Nothing wrong with '79s, or '78s for that matter.

 

Where did you see the "less than popular" phrase in this thread?

 

I couldn’t find that quote either. Was it deleted?

I do not agree that numbers matching on the car would not add value.

 

So, did anyone else actually SEE the engine during this video??? These later year C3s have more smog accessories and/or catalytic convertors, at least in California and some other states. That may be a con for many...

 

I like 79’s. They look sleek and trim.
I can add nothing of value other than I felt like I watching a re-run episode of “Shaft”!!

 

Hi guys,
i have a question on wheel rims:

- this car has rims with silver center, but seems that original 1979 had rims with black center.

What about the original 1979? was it an option? different rims? repaint?
thanks to all

 

‘79 should have black in the center area around the lugs. The wheels could be 80-82s, or be originals that have the black stripped and the wheels polished.

 

​​​​​​Read Inverted Commas as opposed to Quotation marks🙂 - You caught me on a bad day having just read two (print) articles in a row denigrating the post-78 C3s. Having owned our 1978 for 32 years it's something I get a bit touchy about! Prolific they may be, but in my view any Corvette that is approaching its 45th birthday deserves collector status,

The OP hasn't come back with a price yet, which would be interesting to know, as the car is being sold in Italy. Most Corvettes in Europe command significantly higher sums than in the US (or UK). (Here in France, C2s and C3s are also highly regarded, quite often more so than later Corvette models and, other sports cars of the era)
The car in question seems to have later/aftermarket rims and has received a (maybe) quick paint job that has missed the black bumperettes etc. I don't much care for the larger front spoiler. The ageing of the rear lights is not uncommon, and they can actually be polished back. I suspect that the yellow tinge to the reversing lamps may be due to a conversion to turn signals, with amber bulbs (a European requirement). But given the ageing of the crossed flags logos, I'd like to see underneath and in the engine bay.....

Incidentally, the video is 8 months old, so probably all academic!

 

Any Corvette is cool but all C3's are cool because of their instantly recognizable body lines. You can identify a C3 versus any other car from a LONG way off. When I'm at a mixed car show and looking for only C3's I can save time by scanning down the row at all the front bumpers. There is no question where the C3's are parked. Plus its red on red. You dont see that everyday. Buy your dream car. If there is something major wrong with it, walk away but dont get put off by the small stuff.

 

Hi Stephen,
i'm italian and i confirm that in italy prices are higher that in america.
A corvette c3 in normal conditions (1978/1979) like that, goes from 20.000 € to 28.000€.
In italy there are no c3 in optimum conditions for 2 reasons:

1) there is not knowledge about what is optimum condition (all dealers generally says "the car is perfect but in the reality is not")
2) because if you want to do a perfect restauration the cars goes around € 35.000 (for 1978/1979)

In my country there is a mechaninc that works only with american muscle cars, and i put that car in the bridge and all seems to be ok underneath and in the engine bay.
In case next time i will post photos.
thank you