mid late 70's vettes
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: wethersfield ct
mid late 70's vettes
i've gone through several books and i have to say that i find the c3 to be the best looking in my opnion. while i don't actually have a corvette, i am only 17 so come on....but my friends dad has a '74 that i have been in a few times so it's good enough. anyway getting to the point, i noticed that in the years like 75, 76, 77 you can't tell the difference between them just but looking at them. i realize that the 77's don't have the stingray piece there but i've seen a '76 that didn't have it either so i don't really know whats going on there...i know the main differences between these years were things were made lighter and such but are there any things i can see that will help me determine what year it is by looking at a picture or whatever? thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,660
Likes: 3
From: South Central Louisiana
St. Jude Contributor
Re: mid late 70's vettes (gnrtool)
Welcome!
75 and 76 had the red starburst emblem and stingray on the fenders. 77 had crossflags in the place of both those emblems.
Weight reduction really didn't begin until 78 and 80 :seeya
[Modified by LAvetteman, 4:08 PM 7/29/2003]
75 and 76 had the red starburst emblem and stingray on the fenders. 77 had crossflags in the place of both those emblems.
Weight reduction really didn't begin until 78 and 80 :seeya
[Modified by LAvetteman, 4:08 PM 7/29/2003]
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,426
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From: San Diego, CA Website: ChrisMitchell.us
Re: mid late 70's vettes (gnrtool)
Well the 77 doesn't have the grills on the top of the back deck. And the all 77's came stock with the deluxe leather interior. Plus there where some other interior impovements made. But for the most part they are not much different.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 10,073
Likes: 1
From: Toronto
Re: mid late 70's vettes (gnrtool)
1968 - no 'stingray', button w/lock on door,
1969 - same as '68 but w/ 'stingray', no button on door
1970-72 (I can't tell the difference) - eggcrate side gills, square parking lights
ALL ABOVE HAVE FRONT AND BACK CHROME BUMPERS
1973 - front rubber, back chrome
ALL BELOW HAVE RUBBER BUMPERS
1974 - front rubber, back bumper split up middle
1975 - black bumperettes attached to front and rear beside plates, 'corvette' spelt with invdividual letters on rear bumper, rear deck has vent
1976 - same as '75 but with 'corvette' on rear as one solid emblem and no rear vent
1977 - same as '76 but with no 'stingray', sport mirrors optional
1978 - fastback rear glass, all emblems say '25th anniversary'
1979 - same as '78 but emblems just crossed flags
1980 - integrated front and rear bumpers, outline of front and rear emblems are chrome/polished
1981 - same as '80 but emblems outlines in black
1982 - 'crossfire injection' emblems, silver colored centre cap emblems (vs. black from previous years)
:thumbs:
1969 - same as '68 but w/ 'stingray', no button on door
1970-72 (I can't tell the difference) - eggcrate side gills, square parking lights
ALL ABOVE HAVE FRONT AND BACK CHROME BUMPERS
1973 - front rubber, back chrome
ALL BELOW HAVE RUBBER BUMPERS
1974 - front rubber, back bumper split up middle
1975 - black bumperettes attached to front and rear beside plates, 'corvette' spelt with invdividual letters on rear bumper, rear deck has vent
1976 - same as '75 but with 'corvette' on rear as one solid emblem and no rear vent
1977 - same as '76 but with no 'stingray', sport mirrors optional
1978 - fastback rear glass, all emblems say '25th anniversary'
1979 - same as '78 but emblems just crossed flags
1980 - integrated front and rear bumpers, outline of front and rear emblems are chrome/polished
1981 - same as '80 but emblems outlines in black
1982 - 'crossfire injection' emblems, silver colored centre cap emblems (vs. black from previous years)
:thumbs:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,310
Likes: 1
Re: mid late 70's vettes (gnrtool)
'77 has black windshield pillars.
Of the '75/6/7, black as an exterior color was only offered on the '77.
'75 & '76 have vent at the back of the hood.
Of course, like badges & bumpers, colors can be changed, so unless it's stock, it'd be really tough to tell.
Again, if there's been no modifications, the factory dealer installed luggage rack on the '75 had six mounting posts, while the '76 & '77 had eight.
'75 was the last convertible and shouldn't have anything but rallye wheels.
'77 also had several interior differences.
Of the '75/6/7, black as an exterior color was only offered on the '77.
'75 & '76 have vent at the back of the hood.
Of course, like badges & bumpers, colors can be changed, so unless it's stock, it'd be really tough to tell.
Again, if there's been no modifications, the factory dealer installed luggage rack on the '75 had six mounting posts, while the '76 & '77 had eight.
'75 was the last convertible and shouldn't have anything but rallye wheels.
'77 also had several interior differences.
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Re: mid late 70's vettes (jerryp58)
Good description of the C3 differences Superfast80! You can usually pick a '72 out of the '70-'72 lineup by it's amber park lenses outside, & inside no fiber optics. The REALLY hard ones to tell apart are '70 & '71 with clear park light lenses. Almost indistinguishable from the exterior. You have to get down to color and engine choices.
Greg
Greg
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,958
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From: Middletown Connecticut
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: mid late 70's vettes (Greg)
Hey, Welcome to the fun.. I'm about 15 minutes south of you in Middletown. If you ever see me on the pike flag me down :cheers:
psst, I bought mine when I was a sophmore in H/S and I graduated in 02
psst, I bought mine when I was a sophmore in H/S and I graduated in 02
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