1978 corvette

Anniversaries are special occasions that call for celebration.

The arrival of the Chevy Corvette would happen just a few months after the ,th model rolled off the St. There were, of course, concessions that had been made by automotive manufacturers both in the United States and around the world. Sports cars as a whole had become a dwindling commodity. With each passing year, manufacturers had to deal with a broader and ever growing array of political, environmental, and financial challenges that made building expensive sports cars increasingly impractical. The oil embargo of — had caused consumers to shun the gas-guzzler automobiles that had been popular just a decade earlier. Instead, the big sales winners were fuel efficient cars like those being built by the Japanese.

1978 corvette

The Chevrolet Corvette C3 is the third generation of the Corvette sports car that was produced from until by Chevrolet for the to model years. Engines and chassis components were mostly carried over from the previous generation , but the body and interior were new. It set new sales records with 53, produced for the model year. This time it was a single word as opposed to Sting Ray as used for the —67 C2 generation. The name would then be retired until when it returned with the release of the C7. The most expensive Corvette C3 to sell in history was a L88 Lightweight, one of only four lightweight L88s to be produced. The resulting lower half of the car was much like the Mako II, except for the softer contours. The concept car 's name was later changed to Manta Ray. The C3 also adopted the "sugar scoop" roof treatment with vertical back window from the mid-engined concept models designed by the Duntov group. It was intended from the beginning that the rear window and that portion of the roof above the seats to be removable. The "Shark" has the distinction of being introduced to the motoring public in an unorthodox—and unintended—fashion. GM had tried their best to keep the appearance of the upcoming car a secret, but the release of Mattel 's die-cast Hot Wheels line several weeks before the C3's unveiling had a certain version of particular interest to Corvette fans: the "Custom Corvette", a GM-authorized model of the Corvette. For , both the Corvette body and interior were completely redesigned. As before, the car was available in either coupe or convertible models, but coupe was now a notchback fitted with a near-vertical removable rear window and removable roof panels T-tops. A soft folding top was included with convertibles, while an auxiliary hardtop with a glass rear window was offered at additional cost.

Also available were several variants of the big-block cu in 7. Unchanged was the standard rear axle ratio for the base engine, which remained at 3. Louis to Bowling Green, Kentucky1978 corvette, and several two-tone paint options were offered.

Herewith we again present the Corvette, which might be described as the Jackie Onassis of automobiles. Like the former first-lady-heiress-Jet-Set-Juliet, America's fiberglass sweetheart remains a subject of perpetual intrigue and fascination for the vox populi regardless of its age or impact on the larger scheme of things. Moreover, Jackie O. They are growing old together, these two media-ripened cult objects, but they persist in their ability to attract attention. Although in her forties and far beyond the gossamer glories of Camelot, Jackie is still newsstand dynamite in the movie mags and the gossip rags.

Mechanically, the car remained very similar to the Corvette that had come before it. A few changes were made, including a larger fuel tank, which now held 24 gallons of gas versus the 17 gallon tank used on the previous year. Spring rates and shock absorber equipment may vary when engine, transmission or Gymkhana suspension options are used. Your email address will not be published. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam.

1978 corvette

With the Corvette changing very little in terms of styling or performance from to , Chevrolet finally decided some tweaks were in order to celebrate the 25th anniversary of what the company had conceived as the only true American sports car. And the changes were very welcome. The most noticeable is the new rear window that brought back the fastback roofline. Not only did this update the look of the car, it also significantly increased visibility and luggage capacity.

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A soft folding top was included with convertibles, while an auxiliary hardtop with a glass rear window was offered at additional cost. Also in the works February are special, laminated see-through roof panels that will be strong, easy to install and not light ballpark guess: 25 pounds each. And we'll attest to the fact that after 20 years, the Corvette is more than going strong. With each passing year, manufacturers had to deal with a broader and ever growing array of political, environmental, and financial challenges that made building expensive sports cars increasingly impractical. A special ZR1 package added racing suspension, brakes, stabilizer bars, and other high performance components to LT-1 cars. In the cabin, a large round speedometer and matching tachometer were positioned in front of the driver. All models featured a new cowl induction domed hood, which pulled air in through a rear hood intake into the engine compartment under full throttle, increasing power but didn't show up in the horsepower ratings. An auxiliary electric engine cooling fan was first installed, but only on L equipped cars with air conditioning. Engines and chassis components were mostly carried over from the previous generation , but the body and interior were new. Exterior door handles were redesigned so the finger plate would actuate the door, eliminating the separate release button. With the Corvette changing very little in terms of styling or performance from to , Chevrolet finally decided some tweaks were in order to celebrate the 25th anniversary of what the company had conceived as the only true American sports car. Contents move to sidebar hide.

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. The decade turned out some classics that have stood the test of times.

We might be able to help you with that. The fuel tank capacity increased from 17 gal to 24 gal on all cars. In so doing, Chevrolet engineers not only gave the aging third-generation Corvette a new look, but they also brought about the return of the Corvette fastback, which had been notably absent since The fixed-glass fastback benefited both aerodynamics and increased the usable luggage space behind the seats while improving rearward visibility in the bargain. Read more: Corvette Specifications. The FE7 Gymkhana "off-road" suspension included stiffer springs and a stiffer front stabilizer bar with no ordering restrictions. As with the Corvette it, the model featured two basic versions of the CI small-block V-8 engine from which consumers could choose. Interiors were tweaked with redesigned seats and a new deluxe interior option combined wood-grain wood accents and higher-spec carpeting with leather seat surfaces. Obviously they were aware of the benefits of a full hatchback version, but given the restrictions of the aged Corvette rear-suspension layout — the same hulking, rather undistinguished, leaf-spring independent unit introduced in — and its attendant high frame-rail kickup, their options were severely limited. The presentation of a Corvette on the cover of a magazine like this — especially if it is accompanied by a headline trumpeting "Exclusive! It was a solid lifter motor featuring a forged steel crankshaft , 4-bolt main block , compression ratio , impact extruded pistons, high-lift camshaft , low-restriction exhaust , aluminum intake manifold , 4-barrel carburetor , and finned aluminum rocker covers. Wider series tires were also introduced on the Corvette as an option, and the installation of these would require fender trimming at the Corvette assembly path to ensure proper fit. Compared to the previous Turbo-Hydramatic 3-speed, the new R4 transmission had a lower first and second gear for improved low-end acceleration, and a fourth gear overdrive that would reduce engine RPM by 30 percent at highway cruising speeds, resulting in better fuel economy.