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2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by hunt4cleanair
Picture shows a 1978 hood with dual tear-drop mirrors and glass t-tops...78 options?
'77 & '78 had the same ventless hood and sport mirrors became an option in '77. Tops could be aftermarket.
Originally Posted by Paul Borowski
...no '78-'82 back window, but has '78 front badge above the front bumper, no "Stingray" badges on the side. Kind of a mysterious car all around so far? Maybe some kind of GM test mule car or pre-production '78 pilot car? Verrrrrrrrrrry interesting.
The Stingray emblem went away at the end of '76 & early '77s came with nothing on the side. Nose emblem is a mystery...
ZN1! You likely have a heavy duty radiator, and the gymkhana suspension (look for a rear swaybar).
The silver horn button is rare, too, as many were taken back during a recall.
You can likely get your dealer invoice from GM. Link in my signature.
Yes rare, but the Telescoping lock ring is painted same as interior blue. If the horn button was original to the car the lock ring would also be the same finish as horn button. The Lt. Blue exterior color is similar to the 78 Lt. Blue.
What do you mean nose emblem is a mystery? Here is a closeup. Does this help?
It's a mystery how it got on your car. The 25th anniversary emblem was only put on 1978 Corvettes at the factory.
But my 80 wears 81 emblems, so it could be as simple as a PO's preference.
Originally Posted by bmotojoe
Yes rare, but the Telescoping lock ring is painted same as interior blue. If the horn button was original to the car the lock ring would also be the same finish as horn button. The Lt. Blue exterior color is similar to the 78 Lt. Blue.
Good to know!
While unlikely, it is possible that your car was repaired with the front clip, or at least some interior pieces, from a 78.
The next easy things to check (if you want to go down that rabbit hole) are the VIN at the end of the driver's door, and the engine stamp pad. Engine codes can be found here. Likely yours has a matching VIN, and a code that matches the L48 Auto. But you never know until you check!
Yes rare, but the Telescoping lock ring is painted same as interior blue. If the horn button was original to the car the lock ring would also be the same finish as horn button. The Lt. Blue exterior color is similar to the 78 Lt. Blue.
.....hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, there is a 19k mile '77 just listed on the C3's for sale, Dark Blue with Blue interior and surprisingly, it too has the "rare" recall brushed aluminum horn button and it's "locking ring" is painted like the interior?
...yeah, I forgot about some '77 having no "Stingray" side emblems as the one for sale above doesn't either, just the alarm switch. It also has a single chrome stalk outside driver's mirror which you don't see on many '77s.
...that "Light Blue" color in '77 was really a "silver Blue" that was similar to the 912 Silver Blue of '63 & '64. It wasn't really close at all to that light, light pale blue color of '78/'79. I thought the OP's car was white in the pics?
.....hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, there is a 19k mile '77 just listed on the C3's for sale, Dark Blue with Blue interior and surprisingly, it too has the "rare" recall brushed aluminum horn button and it's "locking ring" is painted like the interior?
...yeah, I forgot about some '77 having no "Stingray" side emblems as the one for sale above doesn't either, just the alarm switch. It also has a single chrome stalk outside driver's mirror which you don't see on many '77s.
...that "Light Blue" color in '77 was really a "silver Blue" that was similar to the 912 Silver Blue of '63 & '64. It wasn't really close at all to that light, light pale blue color of '78/'79. I thought the OP's car was white in the pics?
The color of the car was the reason for my oiginal post as I couldn't figure it out since it isn't classic white but closer to a very pail almost white paint color with a light blue pin stripe on the side. I didn't see that color as a standard color listed for 77' . We were considering having it repainted but was advised by someone to not do so since it was a "survivor." Any thoughts on this?
The color of the car was the reason for my oiginal post as I couldn't figure it out since it isn't classic white but closer to a very pail almost white paint color with a light blue pin stripe on the side. I didn't see that color as a standard color listed for 77' . We were considering having it repainted but was advised by someone to not do so since it was a "survivor." Any thoughts on this?
...to be honest, if it were a "true survivor" it would have to have what ever "primer" that GM put on that car in 1977. Kinda almost like a super original bigblock C3 with a replacement non-numbers matching engine. If it doesn't have the original "born with" engine in it, it's not really a "survivor". I saw some of these cars get judged NCRS and Bloomington many years ago and if the trim tag denoted "Spec" or "Prime", it better have primer on it or it was either a "fail" or total deduct on paint. There were very, very few exceptions to this rule such as the 30 1973 Corvettes that were ordered by Hory Chevrolet that were painted Black and I believe(maybe not)they had Spec or Prime tags on those cars, but you had to have documentation such as the build or broadcast sheet, protecto plate(?)and/or the original window sticker. Not sure how a spec/prime was handled on a car that came with a protecto plate. Maybe someone else can answer this? I know the paint code was on a 1968 protecto plate, not sure for other years.
Last edited by Paul Borowski; Oct 22, 2025 at 12:14 AM.
.....hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, there is a 19k mile '77 just listed on the C3's for sale, Dark Blue with Blue interior and surprisingly, it too has the "rare" recall brushed aluminum horn button and it's "locking ring" is painted like the interior?
...yeah, I forgot about some '77 having no "Stingray" side emblems as the one for sale above doesn't either, just the alarm switch. It also has a single chrome stalk outside driver's mirror which you don't see on many '77s.
...that "Light Blue" color in '77 was really a "silver Blue" that was similar to the 912 Silver Blue of '63 & '64. It wasn't really close at all to that light, light pale blue color of '78/'79. I thought the OP's car was white in the pics?
I saved this recall notice and photos below many, many years ago and it's all I have to go by...
Brushed cap & lock ring
Yes rare, but the Telescoping lock ring is painted same as interior blue. If the horn button was original to the car the lock ring would also be the same finish as horn button.
Originally Posted by Paul Borowski
.....hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, there is a 19k mile '77 just listed on the C3's for sale, Dark Blue with Blue interior and surprisingly, it too has the "rare" recall brushed aluminum horn button and it's "locking ring" is painted like the interior?
Brushed chrome horn buttons were installed on 1977 Corvettes equipped with N-37 tilt/telescopic steering column from the start of production through VIN18637. Matching brushed chrome tele- lock levers were installed on 1977 Corvettes equipped with N-37 tilt/telescopic steering column from VIN 13504 through VIN 18637. Source: NCRS 1975-77 Technical Information Manual & Judging Guide, 3rd edition. OP's VIN is 12270 so it fits properly within the ranges above.
As previously mentioned most brushed chrome horn buttons and tele- lock levers were removed under the Chevrolet recall 77-C-15-1 issued in July of 1977. See Chevrolet recall letter below. I have also attached the recall letter from Chevrolet as well so you can download it for your files.
Most brushed chrome horn buttons and tele- lock levers were removed by the dealer under the recall and replaced with interior color painted pieces. I have a friend who purchased a new 1977 Corvette in late 1976. It was equipped with N-37 tilt/tele column and the brushed chrome horn button. She received the recall letter from Chevrolet and subsequent correspondence reminding her to have the horn button replaced. She refused to have her horn button switched out because she like the look. Chevrolet then asked her to sign a waiver form releasing Chevrolet of any liability should she get into an accident caused by the horn button's reflective surface. She refused. Crazy stuff back in 1977.
Last edited by '73and'75; Oct 22, 2025 at 01:59 PM.
Does anyone who what these symbols mean regarding exterior and interior colors on my Corvette manufacture date 11/76?
FWIW there appears to be a faint hint of grey primer above the top lip and left lip of the Trim Tag - indicating the car tag was taped up for the powder blue paint color. HOWEVER if you can get the original invoice for the car it would have a Special Paint price if the car was painted the light blue at St Louis, if the original invoice had no additional price for special paint the car was probably delivered in prime.
Our Special Paint Black 1971 LT1 had a $83.00 charge for the original Black Paint applied at the factory.
The color of the car was the reason for my oiginal post as I couldn't figure it out since it isn't classic white but closer to a very pail almost white paint color with a light blue pin stripe on the side. I didn't see that color as a standard color listed for 77' . We were considering having it repainted but was advised by someone to not do so since it was a "survivor." Any thoughts on this?
In some of the images above, it certainly looks like the "frost blue" available in 78 and 79 (which would match the front emblem). Close to white, but not quite.
Do get a dealer invoice if you can. I don't know if the final cover is indicated if "SPEC" is on the trim tag, but it's worth a shot. https://www.gm.com/heritage/archive
The 77 in the Regular Car Reviews video has the brushed aluminum versions of both the horn button and trim ring, but the owner has also redone the entire interior.
In some of the images above, it certainly looks like the "frost blue" available in 78 and 79 (which would match the front emblem). Close to white, but not quite.
...probably the previous owner's to the OP here liked that '78/'79 pale Blue color and at some point had this '77 painted this color. Probably also liked the '78 Anniversary nose emblem and at some time added that. With these cars approaching 50yrs old it's hard telling what past owner's have done to them.
...probably the previous owner's to the OP here liked that '78/'79 pale Blue color and at some point had this '77 painted this color. Probably also liked the '78 Anniversary nose emblem and at some time added that. With these cars approaching 50yrs old it's hard telling what past owner's have done to them.
Brushed chrome horn buttons were installed on 1977 Corvettes equipped with N-37 tilt/telescopic steering column from the start of production through VIN18637. Matching brushed chrome tele- lock levers were installed on 1977 Corvettes equipped with N-37 tilt/telescopic steering column from VIN 13504 through VIN 18637. Source: NCRS 1975-77 Technical Information Manual & Judging Guide, 3rd edition. OP's VIN is 12270 so it fits properly within the ranges above.
As previously mentioned most brushed chrome horn buttons and tele- lock levers were removed under the Chevrolet recall 77-C-15-1 issued in July of 1977. See Chevrolet recall letter below. I have also attached the recall letter from Chevrolet as well so you can download it for your files.
Most brushed chrome horn buttons and tele- lock levers were removed by the dealer under the recall and replaced with interior color painted pieces. I have a friend who purchased a new 1977 Corvette in late 1976. It was equipped with N-37 tilt/tele column and the brushed chrome horn button. She received the recall letter from Chevrolet and subsequent correspondence reminding her to have the horn button replaced. She refused to have her horn button switched out because she like the look. Chevrolet then asked her to sign a waiver form releasing Chevrolet of any liability should she get into an accident caused by the horn button's reflective surface. She refused. Crazy stuff back in 1977.
I knew there was a formal letter drawn up just didn't have it.
Thanks for the clarification!
