350/4-Speed: 1979 Chevrolet Corvette

If you walked into your local Chevrolet dealership in 1979 intending to drive away in a new Corvette, a car like this one was about as good as it got. It is loaded with the most potent motor available, along with all of the extras designed to make life on the move a pleasant experience. This Corvette might not be 100% original, but it is a tidy classic that you could drive and enjoy today. Located in Bellingham, Massachusetts, you will find the Corvette listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set the BIN at $14,000, but the option is available to make an offer.

From the outside, this Corvette looks pretty tidy. The shade of Blue that it wears isn’t original, but it does hold a very respectable shine. There is a color mismatch between the panels and the bumpers, but this is only really apparent in certain light. There are no major flaws or problems with either the paint or the panels, and the top seems to fit tightly. The owner doesn’t indicate whether there is any rust present on the frame or birdcage, but the lack of visible corrosion in other areas of the vehicle gives us some cause to be optimistic. The wire wheels are an aftermarket addition. These appear to be fairly new and are wrapped in what appears to be a fairly fresh set of tires from the good folks at BF Goodrich. I can’t spot any defects with the tinted glass, and the overall initial impression seems to be fairly positive.

With the Corvette’s exterior looking so tidy, I find the overall condition of the interior to be disappointing. It is serviceable, but the level of wear means that the buyer will probably want to spend a few dollars bringing it to a higher level. The seats sport some rips and tears, so new covers will be on the agenda. The edges of the door trims are also damaged, which will probably prompt the buyer to replace these as well. I was initially worried about the top of the dash because the way that the aftermarket cover undulates might have suggested that the pad has seen better days. However, there are a couple of shots with the cover off, and it appears that the owner has had the good sense to fit that cover to protect what appears to be a healthy pad. That’s a pretty smart move on the part of the owner because a replacement pad will bite into the wallet to the tune of $500. The original owner liked his touches of comfort, so the Corvette comes equipped with air conditioning, power windows, and an AM/FM radio/8-track player.

There’s no hiding the fact that by 1979, American V8s were hurting in the performance department. The 350ci unit in the Corvette was no exception, with the entry-level L48 unit producing 195hp. The original owner obviously desired more, so he ordered this car with the L82 version, along with a 4-speed manual transmission. Driving duties are made less tiring by the inclusion of power steering and power brakes. The L82 lifted the power output to 225hp, which was enough to see the ‘Vette cover the ¼ mile in 15.5 seconds. That might not sound impressive today, but it was about as good as it got during the height of The Malaise Era. This classic is numbers-matching, and the owner states that he has recently fitted a new clutch. It has also been fully serviced, and while it isn’t specifically stated, it seems that the Corvette is ready to be driven and enjoyed by a new owner.

This 1979 Corvette isn’t perfect, but it is a tidy classic that could be enjoyed immediately. The interior presentation is not as nice as I’d hoped, but this is something that could be addressed as time and circumstances allowed. It isn’t the cheapest ’79 Corvette that you will find on the market today, but given its overall condition and specifications, the BIN price looks pretty competitive. If you are searching for a project car where you only need to smooth out a few minor rough edges, maybe this one deserves a closer look.