Chevrolet Corvette C3

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Chevrolet Corvette C3
Manufacturer	Chevrolet
Parent company	General Motors
Production	1968–1982
Assembly	St. Louis, Missouri Bowling Green, Kentucky
Predecessor	Chevrolet Corvette C2
Successor	Chevrolet Corvette C4
Class	Sports car
Body style(s)	2-door coupé 2-door convertible
Layout	FR layout

Base model
Production	1968–1982
Engine(s)	350 CID (5.7 L) Small-Block V8

Big-block
Production	1968–1969
Engine(s)	427 CID (7 L) V8

Big-block
Production	1970–1975
Engine(s)	454 CID (7.4 L) V8

For an outline of all the Chevrolet Corvette generations see

Main article: Chevrolet Corvette

The Chevrolet Corvette C3 is a sports car patterned after Chevrolet's "Mako Shark II" (designed by Larry Shinoda), produced between 1968 and 1982. It is the third generation of Chevrolet Corvettes built and marketed by Chevrolet.

This generation has the distinction of being introduced to the motoring public in an unorthodox — and unintended — fashion. 1968 marked the introduction of Mattel's now-famous Hot Wheels line of 1/64-scale die cast toy cars. General Motors had tried their best to keep the appearance of the upcoming car a secret, but the release of the Hot Wheels line several weeks before the Corvette's unveiling had a certain version of particular interest to Corvette fans: the "Custom Corvette", a GM-authorized model of the 1968 Corvette.

In 1969, GM enlarged their small-block again to 350 in³ (5.7 L) and the ZL1 option was offered, with an aluminum 427 big-block engine listed at 430 horsepower (320 kW) but generally accepted as delivering at least one hundred horsepower (75 kW) more than that.^{[citation needed]} This option cost $1,032.15, and only about 100 were ever built.^[1]

in 1970 the 427 big-block was enlarged to 454 in³ (7.4 L). Power peaked in the 1970 and 1971 models, with the 1970 LT-1 small-block putting out 370 hp (276 kW) and the 1971 454 big-block having its last year of big power with 425 hp (317 kW). In 1972, GM moved to the SAE Net measurement for power (away from the previous SAE Gross standard), which resulted in lower values expressed in reported horsepower. Along with the move to unleaded fuel which required lower compression ratios, emission controls, and catalytic converters, power continued to decline and bottomed out in 1975 — the base L48 engine put out 165 hp (123 kW), and the optional L82 engine put out 205 hp (153 kW). This was the lowest power Corvette since the first year of production. Nevertheless, Car and Driver magazine found the Corvette to be the fastest accelerating American car for 1976, with a 0-60 time of 7.1 seconds. Power remained fairly steady for the rest of the C3 generation, ending in 1982 with the 200 hp (149 kW) L83 engine.

Styling changed subtly over the generation. In 1973, the Corvette dropped the front chrome bumpers for a urethane-compound "5 mph" bumper but kept the rear chrome bumpers. In 1974, The rear chrome bumpers became urethane, too, making 1973 the last Corvette model year with any chrome bumpers. 1975 was the last year for the convertible, and 1978 saw the introduction of a glass bubble rear window to "freshen" the car appearance for it's 25th Anniversary. Corvette production hit its peak in 1979, at 53,807.^[2] In 1980, the Corvette got an integrated aerodynamic redesign that resulted in a significant reduction in drag. 1980 was also the introduction of many weight-saving components such as thinner body panels and an aluminum Dana 44 IRS differential (instead of the previously used but arguably stronger iron GM 10 bolt IRS diff).^[3]

Contents 1 Special Editions 1.1 Collector Edition 1.2 Indianapolis 500 pace cars 1.2.1 Special VIN numbers 1.3 ZR1 1.4 ZR-2 2 Production notes 3 Engines 4 References 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Special Editions

[edit] Collector Edition

The 1982 Collector Edition was the first Corvette hatchback, foreshadowing the C4 Corvette. It included a "cross-fire" TBI fuel injected engine good for 200 hp (149 kW). 6,759 Collector Edition Corvettes were produced that year, out of a total production of 25,407.

The Collector Edition also had special aluminum wheels designed to look like the bolt-on wheels of the 1967 car. A special color scheme was used inside and out along with Collector Edition badges. The Collector Edition had a "0" in the sixth digit of the VIN rather than the "8" found on standard Corvettes. This was the first Corvette to sell for more than $20,000, with a base price of $22,537.59.

[edit] Indianapolis 500 pace cars

The C3 Coupe was chosen as the pace car for the 1978 Indianapolis 500^[4]. To celebrate this choice on its 25th year of production, Chevrolet produced just over 300 replica pace cars. That number was increased later due to high demand, with Chevrolet deciding to produce one replica for every Chevrolet dealer in the United States at the time, 6,502 cars in total.

The replicas were equipped with a fancy two toned color scheme (black on top and silver on bottom with a red line circumventing the car an inch below the intersection of the other two colors) with several sticker emblems on the door and behind the rear fender wells. The pace cars were equipped with otherwise optional tinted glass t-tops and rear spoiler.

[edit] Special VIN numbers

The VIN numbers of the replicas differed from the standard Corvette. An example VIN number is 1Z8748S420001. The 1Z87 was the code for all models, the first 4 was the engine (in this case the L-82), the last 5 digits signify the actual number the car had. The pace car last five vin #'s began with 9 (example 900189)

[edit] ZR1

The ZR1 option is an $1,221.00 option available exclusively with the LT-1 engine option. It was a special racing package that included the solid-lifter small-block engine, heavy-duty four-speed transmission, power brakes, aluminum radiator, and a revised suspension with special springs, shocks, stabilizer bar, and spindle-strut shafts. Since it was competition equipment, the ZR1 could not be ordered with power windows, power steering, air conditioning, a rear-window defogger, wheel covers, or a radio.^[5]

[edit] ZR-2

It is a 1-year option originally planned for 1970^[6], but officially released in 1971 for $1,747.00. It included the racing equipment options in ZR1, but it is an option for the LS-6 engine. Per GM policy, 1971 Corvette engines were detuned to run on low-lead fuel, except for the LS-6 454, which was rated at 425 bhp (317 kW) on premium gas. 188 cars in the 1971 model included LS-6 engine, with 12 cars including the ZR-2 package.^[7]

[edit] Production notes

Year	Production	Base Price	Notes
1968	28,566	$4,663	First C3; 2-piece T-tops are new
1969	38,462	$4,780	First year of the 350 in³ Small-Block; Emblem "Stingray"
1970	17,316	$5,192	First year for the LT-1 Small-Block and 454 in³ Big-Block
1971	21,801	$5,496	Significant horsepower drops
1972	27,004	$5,533	Last year for front chrome bumpers, the LT-1, and the optional removable rear window
1973	30,464	$5,561	Only year with chrome rear and plastic front bumpers
1974	37,502	$6,001	Plastic bumpers all around (rear with a center split); last year of the 454
1975	38,645	$6,810	Catalytic converters are new; last year of the convertible until 1986; new (simulated) pads stick out of the bumpers. One piece rear bumper
1976	46,558	$7,604	Alloy wheels an option. Last year of "Stingray" emblem.
1977	49,213	$8,647	New interior console.
1978	46,776	$9,750	Silver Anniversary and Indy 500 Pace Car versions; new fastback rear and redesigned instruments & interior.
1979	53,807	$10,220	New interior comfort features; highest Corvette sales year to date
1980	40,614	$13,140	Lightened materials and bumper-cap spoilers; Federal government required 85 mph (137 km/h) speedometer
1981	40,606	$16,258	Production is switched from St. Louis to new Bowling Green plant
1982	25,407	$18,290	No manual transmission offered; new cross-fire fuel-injected L83 engine; Collectors Edition hatchback is ¼ of total sales
Total	542,741

[edit] Engines

1975 convertible

1975 convertible

St. Louis "Last Day" 1981 coupe

Engine	Year	Power
305 in³ "Calif. Only" LG4 V8	1980	180 hp (134 kW) net
327 in³ Small-Block V8	1968	300 hp (224 kW)
	1968–1969	350 hp (261 kW)
350 in³ Small-Block V8	1969	300 hp (224 kW)
	1970	350 hp (261 kW)
	1970–1971	370 hp (276 kW)
	1971	270 hp (201 kW)
	1971	330 hp (246 kW)
	1972	200 hp (149 kW) net
	1972	255 hp (190 kW) net
	1973	190 hp (142 kW) net
	1973–1974	250 hp (186 kW) net
	1974	195 hp (145 kW) net
	1975	165 hp (123 kW) net
	1975	205 hp (153 kW) net
	1976–1977	180 hp (134 kW) net
	1976–1977	210 hp (157 kW) net
	1978	185 hp (138 kW) net
	1978	220 hp (164 kW) net
	1979	195 hp (145 kW) net
	1979	249 hp (168 kW) net
	1980–1981	190 hp (142 kW) net
	1980	230 hp (172 kW) net
	1982	200 hp (149 kW)
427 in³ Big-Block V8	1968–1969	390 hp (291 kW)
	1968–1969	400 hp (298 kW)
427 in³ Big-Block Tri-Power V8	1968–1969	435 hp (324 kW)
427 in³ ZL1 aluminum V8	1969	550-680 hp (410-507 kW) estimated
454 in³ Big-Block V8	1970	390 hp (291 kW)
	1971	365 hp (272 kW)
	1971	425 hp (317 kW)
	1972, 1974	270 hp (201 kW) net
	1973	275 hp (205 kW) net

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Chevrolet Corvette

[edit] External links

• Chevrolet Corvette: 1968-1982 at the Open Directory Project

v • d • e Chevrolet Corvette timeline, 1953–present
Type	1950s							1960s										1970s										1980s										1990s										2000s
	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Coupe											C2					C3																															C5
Hatchback																														3		C4													C5								C6
Convertible	C1										C2					C3																		C4												C5							C6
Performance					FI						L84		BB			Big block																						ZR-1						4					Z06					Z06			ZR1
Motorsports: Grand Sport • GTP • C5-R • C6.R