helives777

If anybody knows the answer to this, please let me know. I own a 79 L82 Vette, and the odometer has 140mph on it. I thought all L82 cars had that odometer. I am being told that they put out some cars with the same motor but had an 80mph odometer. Does a true L82 car have 140mph or 80mph or both?

Thanks

speedreed8

my 79 L82 is a later prod. model and has the 80 mph speedometer. with the gold 55 numbers. ha.

martinsw

My early 79 L48 had a 140 mph speedo - go figure a L48

while later L82 had 80mph

spedaleden

I am not positive, but I think in 79 if you had a L82 car it came with 140mph speedo.

helives777

Maybe it was an early year, late year production thing. Mine has 140 mph odometer, but I thought only L82 cars had that one, while the 190hp cars had the 80mph. Thank you all for your input, but still no definite answer. Anybody else got any ideas? Thanks

79VetOwner

No idea on which came on which but if it helps both of my 79 L82s had 140 speedos.
I have pulled both out when they rolled over so if you need a 0 mile 140 mph speedo let me know.

KapsSA

Late production 79s got the 85mph speedometer regardless of motor. My black 79 L82 is vin 51xxx and has it. My white 79 L82 is vin 35xxx and has the 140. Both Vettes are low mile untouched originals. They probably just started using speedos meant for the 80s, same as the 2 or 3 compartment rear storage compartments.
In the Corvette Black Book in the 1980 section, they make a note of how the 85mph speedo was required by the feds and were phased in in79.

69elky

What KapsSA said,just "Big Brother"mandating what is good for us!My 79,L 82 is blessed with the 140 mph speedo.Later Geno

Sofine79

My 79 L82 Also has the 140MPH Odometer, the car is original with the exception of the paint and radio.

TPL79

I tend to believe this is an early production versus late production issue. I am an original owner of an unmolested 79 L-48 and have the 140 speedo. Production number on mine is 13XXX. Hope that helps.

BKbroiler

A couple people here seem to be confused:

SPEEDOMETER indicates speed

ODOMETER indicates miles driven

bstbrgr

It doesn't matter if it is a L-82 or L-48 for the speedo it was on production #, GM phased in the 85 mph speedo on all later production 1979 Corvettes.