The 1978 model year was one of celebrations at Chevrolet. “America’s Sports Car” was 25 years old and – to commemorate the occasion – the Bow-Tie boys built a 25^th Anniversary Silver Edition. However, it was not exclusive, and about 1 out of 3 Corvettes for 1978 came that way. The seller’s anniversary model is a two-owner car that appears to have been laid up for years but recently brought back to life. Located in Phoenix, Arizona (the listing also says Las Vegas, Nevada), this revised classic is available here on eBay. Without reserve, the current bid is $6,300.

C3 Corvettes received a facelift in 1978, providing a fastback look compared to earlier renditions. All ’78 Corvettes came with 25th-anniversary identification, but Chevy went all out with the Special Anniversary Edition, using two-tone Charcoal Silver and Silver Metallic paint. No attempt was made to make them rare, as 15,283 out of 46,776 Corvettes produced in 1978 came as 25^th Anniversary Silver editions. Corvettes became cruisers of sorts that year as the size of the gas tank increased from 17 to 24 gallons. Two 350-cubic-inch engines were offered, the standard L48 and the optional L82.

The timeline on this Chevy is a little unclear, but it was purchased as a retirement gift for a veteran who then became sick. The car apparently sat in a garage for 14 years and went into decline, but the decision was made to finally sell it, and the instructions to (the second owner?) were to get it going again. Which is apparently how we find it today, all refreshed and mostly ready to go.

We assume the engine is the L48 35,0, and it has 96,000 miles on it. It’s a 4-speed manual car, and the seller says it runs well after a bit of work was done. Replacements include the fuel sending unit, fuel pump, battery, alternator, and probably a few odds and ends. We’re told it drives out well with no noises or leaks, but the brakes will need to be looked at. And while the tires look like new, they were installed in 2012, so maybe it’s time for new rubber, again.

The paint on this ‘Vette is not original, but we don’t know when it was redone. The interior looks pretty good except for one spot on the driver’s seat cushion. We’re told there is no rust, but parts of the undercarriage look a bit crusty. The gauges act a little “wooky” at times due to a potential wiring issue. This seems like a decent ‘Vette that should be a good driver with a little more work.