I am pretty new to the Vette world but I came across this on e-bay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6168

Is it me, or does that look like a 73-79 front end stuck on an '80 vehicle? I did not think any 80-82 Vettes had the little black bumper thingamabobs on each side of the front license plate. If I am wrong on this then please know, that is why I cruise these forums, so that I might learn from your collective wisdom.

Hopefully, tommorrow I get to pick my first Vette, an '80 model. I am wicked excited about the whole deal. This is better than getting my first car, YEEHAAWW!

CVT4ME

 

Well you're right that the '80 models don't come with the black tag things.

 

:yesnod:

 

Also an 80 should have a 2 door rear compartment lid instead of the 3 door style that is in that car.

Also an 80 should have an 85 MPH speedo instead of the 140 MPH speedo in that car.

 

Also, the 1980-82's have different front fender. The fender on an '80+ has a horizontal division line between the fender and bumper (which extends from front wheel to front wheel) right above the sidemarker lights.

As mentioned, the '80+ has only 2 storage compartments, not 3.
The speedo is wrong, the only side emblems on a 1980 would be an L-82, but this car has them on the hood.
1980's had a plastic shield over the HEI distributor, not the metal one show.
Another way to find out is to look under the rear end. If the rear end has a large aluminum structure holding the rear gear in place then it is an '80+, if not, pre 1980.
While your down there, look at the cross-member for the transmission. Does the exhaust go through the crossmember holes ?? If so, '79 or newer, if it is a single exhaust that goes under then its '80+.
It also appears to be missing the vaccum switch mounted on the firewall for the Turbo350C transmission that came in the 1980 and 1981 modles.

The interior is far from stock, the AIR pump and system are missing, and to me this looks like a 1979 with 1980 rear bumper, gas tank and nose emblem, wrong fender emblem and may or may not be a L-82.




[Modified by BSeery, 12:33 AM 5/9/2003]

 

You can only do that if you also change out the fenders as well. See my note above.

 

Also looks like it has the 140mph speedometer which, as we know, ended in late 79 to be replaced with the 85 mph wonder.

-Steve

 

Something is definitely fishy with that car . . . the VIN is from 1980, but like the other guys pointed out, the other stuff is all from earlier years.

Looks like the ebay lister misread the VIN, or we've found another car that Bubba has owned.

BTW, congrats on your "new" and first vette!! My first and only so far is an 80 also :cool: :cool: Just got it on the road for the first time last weekend :auto:

:cheers:
Matt

 

You mean the fifth digit??

Here's where I checked: http://vetteworks.tripod.com/1980SPECS.html

Matt

 

I sent the following e-mail to the seller:

"The car that you are selling as 1980 Corvette is not a 1980. It looks to be a 1979-78 with a 1980 rear end.

Contact me if you care to know more, ask any questions, or to prove otherwise.


To CVT4ME -- good eye in catching this ! Welcome to the forum, I can already tell that you will be an asset to this group.
I hope you enjoy your 1980 as much as I have enjoyed mine. They are an incredible car that are a lot of fun to drive, work on or just stare at in the garage :D !
Selling this car as a 1980, even though it is not, would be fraud and basis for a person to back out of the sale.
You should revise your auction or retract it before selling a car that is not a 1980 as you stated."

I also plan on sending an e-mail to the buyer with the link to this thread. I think it only fair they know that car is not a 1980.

If I can find out how, I will be alerting E-Bay if this guy does not pull his add.

 

I Could be wrong. I was looking at a wall poster with all the specs for each year as a reference, and it may be wrong.

Upon further reading, you are right -- 5th digit is engine. 9th is a check code digit that varies with the last number. I will remove that from my above post.

Either way, that thing is not a 1980.

 

everything on and in that car looks like my 79, including the emblems, that was the first thing i noticed because i just got done repainting them. my guess is 79

 

The email I got from the owner ---

"Hello,
Yes, it is definitely a 1980. The VIN # and title verifies that. There is no damage to the car and the title is clear. But you are correct, the front clip is not a 1980 front.

Here's how it was explained to me.
The gentleman that bought the Corvette new, got the car in late 1979. He was the owner of a large local construction company and used to having his way. He wanted a new Corvette, but preferred the look of the 1979 front to that of the 1980, so shortly after he bought the 1980, he had the front switched to look like a 1979. The job was professionally done and looks great.

Sounds kind of strange today, but I guess when the 1980 Corvette first came out, a lot of people didn't like the change to the front of the car. The original owner has passed away, but I can get you in touch with his son if you'd like.

We now have a complete ownership history and have verified from a previous owner that this is the correct mileage.

Today, this beautiful black 1980 Corvette is owned by my brother-in-law, Larry. He is a certified Corvette Nut! Larry spent the last 4 years perfecting this Corvette, to make it the best C3 Corvette in the area. I believe he succeeded.

There will be no disappointments with this car, bid with confidence."

 

Ummmm No thank you...


I bet a carfax report would turn up an interesting history....
maybe even a re-title.

 

Can't carfax pre 1981 cars .... :cry

I sent an e-mail asking for photos of the rear end and transmission area.

 

DesertDawg also noticed the door lock button on the door is not in the correct place for a 1980 --- this keeps getting stranger ......

 

You need to see the differential- BIG differences in the 80-82.
:yesnod: :chevy :chevy :yesnod:

 

VIN was the first thing I checked.

 

Well alright then, I am not nuts. I kept going back and looking at the pics of that car thinking it looked out of place in my search for 1980-1982 models on e-bay. It is an attractive car no matter what, but then again I think most of them are pretty good looking vehicles. Luckily the '80 model I am getting is a local car that I have been able to touch, feel and drive. Thanks everyone, for your Vette smarts.

CVT4ME

 

Yeah, that's a 1979 with the optional spoilers, not an 80. My Corvette book indiated that there was an optional "extra cost" spoiler package for the 79 models, so it's not a 1980 rear...just the spoiler package...it even has a picture of a 79 with the rear spoiler. The seller is full of baloney...that story of buying a 1980 and altering it to be a 1979 is pure :bs He only mentioned the front bumper being changed...and didn't say a thing about all the other alterations like the rear compartments. I think this car needs to be reported to the authorities...it's definitely a VIN swap from a chop shop. If anyone had a 1979 stolen then I'd be calling the local police and saying "I found it!" The crooks should be caught for being so dumb. They probably thought that it was just a vette...and a 79 would be the same as an 80. :nono: But, not around this forum!


[Modified by Rockn-Roll, 11:57 AM 5/9/2003]


[Modified by Rockn-Roll, 12:02 PM 5/9/2003]