We always appreciate the input from our readers at Barn Finds. The reality is that without your leads and feedback, the site wouldn’t exist, and we wouldn’t have the privilege to write about some truly great and desirable classics. Therefore, I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting this 1977 Chevrolet Corvette. It presents well as a survivor-grade vehicle, with the seller stating that the odometer reading of 55,000 miles is genuine. The first owner selected some desirable factory options, combining good looks with comfort. The seller has listed the ‘Vette here on eBay in Barrington, Illinois. The BIN of $12,000 seems affordable, although with the option to make an offer, circumstances could improve for potential buyers.
It was business as usual for the C3 Corvette in 1977. The company limited its cosmetic upgrades to a few trim changes, though it would also be the final year the car featured the vertical rear window. The company offered buyers a choice of twelve paint shades, with 6,070 customers selecting Code 19 Black. That color had not been widely accepted previously, but it ranked second only to Classic White in 1977. The seller purchased the car last year, stating that it had spent years in storage before coming into their care. They performed a meticulous revival, but left the exterior largely untouched. They encourage in-person inspections, which will reveal minor paint chips and marks. Of course, it would be unrealistic to expect perfection from paint that is almost fifty years old, but they say that it looks excellent from ten feet away. The panels show no evidence of cracks or spider-webs, the glass is clear, and the Rally wheels wear fresh Yokohama tires.
The seller’s sole engine bay image is almost enough to cause vertigo, but it reveals the car’s 350ci V8. It is the L48 version, with that year’s Sales Brochure stating that the small-block produces 180hp and 270 ft/lbs of torque. A three-speed Hydramatic transmission tackles shifting duties, with the first owner ticking the boxes beside power steering and power brakes on their Order Form. We’ve reached the point in this Corvette’s story where we discover how thorough the seller’s revival was. They overhauled the front suspension, pulled and resealed the transmission, and refurbished the brakes. The fuel system has a new pump and all new rubber hoses. They performed a carburetor overhaul and a comprehensive tune-up. The rear spring is new, as are the exhaust, tires, and hoses. The results justified the effort because the Corvette is a turnkey proposition that runs and drives extremely well. They don’t mention evidence verifying the mileage claim, which must be taken at face value.
The biggest changes to the Corvette for 1977 were focused on the interior. Leather trim became standard, with the driver grasping a new wheel. The first owner selected Smoked Gray leather, which beautifully contrasts with the Black exterior. Its condition is impressive, with the lack of visible wear seemingly supporting the mileage claim. The aftermarket radio/cassette player is the only addition to an interior that features air conditioning, power windows, cruise control, and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel. Once again, this aspect of the car isn’t perfect, but it is comfortably acceptable for a driver-grade vehicle.
This 1977 Corvette isn’t perfect, but therein lies what could be its greatest strength. The idea of owning a pristine classic is appealing, but owners often feel trepidation every time they hit the road, worrying that an errant stone will mar perfection. However, there are no such problems with this Corvette, and its overall presentation should still receive its share of positive comments. It isn’t the most potent example to wear the iconic badge, but the interior options will make life on the road comfortable and enjoyable. After all, isn’t that what the ownership experience should be all about?
1977 was the first year black was offered on the corvette since 1969. This is a good starter vette and reasonably priced.
Quite frankly, I agree with you, I’d just jump in and enjoy it. Love the thin whitewalls too. Nice find Curvette!!
This is a nice car with the AC option and many of the needed fixes already done. This could easily be a daily summer driver if someone was looking for “that” car. I’ve seen these go for a bit more at auction so the asking price is very reasonable.
Being a base model, $12K is spot on for a driver grade 77 with a few age-related issues. As always with any of these, get a thorough inspection of the frame and bird cage and enjoy the ride. Hope it finds a good home.
I don’t usually go for black, not because of not liking the color, but the work involved to keep it nice. But it just looks great on this generation of Corvettes. And, I’d definitely only drive it on nice days and in nice weather too. This will make someone a very reasonably priced cruiser for sure.
Nice car, nice looking, and nice price. It’s pretty much a no brainer for someone looking for a driver Vette.
good looking vette in a great color combo. w/w really make the car pop. price seems right if it as good in person as in the pics.
77s have many one year mechanical parts, like the turn signal stalk. It is the last year of the flat deck C3s, L82 was 210 hp. This one has an automatic. Pass.
Had a 1977 Corvette back in the 80s. Fun car, but the biggest piece of junk I’ve ever owned. Spent more time fixing it than driving it.
Looks like a pretty nice Corvette for the money. Black was one of the most popular colors in 77, second only to white in sales. The Smoke and Buckskin interiors are my favorite interiors in black 77’s. It’s interesting that this car still has a brushed chrome horn button. The feds recalled them a couple months into production because they did not meet interior reflective parts standards. They were supposed to be replaced with a interior color button, but some owners ignored the recall.
This car had a luggage rack on it at one time, evidenced by the 8 Wellnuts in the rear deck. As a 77 it’s quite possible this car came with the 77 only factory installed luggage rack/t-top carrier. The original rack was likely rusty (which is typical) and the seller probably didn’t want to spend the $450 for a new one.
I’m happy to see there is only one negative (so far) comment about it being an automatic. The 70’s Turbo-Hydramatic was a great transmission and Corvette’s are fantastic cruisers when equipped with one. Having owned both 4 speeds and automatic C3’s, I personally don’t think the Turbo Hydro detracts from the driving experience or performance of early Corvettes at all.
Yes, my folks had a black on black 1977 Corvette, with the luggage rack factory installed. Also had the factory aluminum wheels with raised white letter tires. Sharp looking car. It got lots of compliments.
There were 2 automatics used in the ’70s – the great turbohydramatic 400 trans thru ’74, but not so great smaller turbo 350 trans starting in ’75 to fit next to the new wide cat converter.
For that kind of money you can buy a really nice low miles C4 with 120 more HP. ’77 was the middle of Corvette “dog” years.
White walls on a 77′ Corvette with rally wheels. Wherever the owner went to have those tires put on, they are still laughing.
Believe it or not, back in the day a lot of Corvettes came with thin stripe white wall tires, matched with Rally wheels. Looks good to me on this one, and I’m not laughing (and I’m only looking!) GLWTA!! :-)
Pretty sure by 1977, no Corvettes were coming from the factory with white walls.
1976 was the last year white stripe tires were available on corvettes.
I was thinking the same thing😂
If a married man buys this car he should not let his wife drive it alone. She will definitely get hit on regularly. On the other hand, if a single woman buys it she won’t be single for long. This was the peak era for Look At Me profiling cars and the Corvette was the epitome of the genre (sorry Trans Am).
Price seems fair given that bringing a cheaper car to this level would end up costing more in the long run. Buyer will not be disappointed and will not lose money on the deal.
Everyone here busting on Corvettes from this era don’t seem to remember this applied to every car built during that time. It wasn’t the car’s fault. Let’s talk about 77 Mustangs…as ccrvvt stated, if you had one of these you were the envy of the neighborhood.
Nope. With the reintroduction of the Z28 in 77, then the 6.6 T/A within the next couple of years, both were quicker than the L82 Vette. I was in my late 20s,working for GM, and got a 78 Z28. Then tried to get a 79 6.6 T/A, but they already sold out. A new Corvette wasn’t even on my radar! Older guys I worked with in the GM building were buying Vettes with automatics.
Nope, do your research. The 77 L82 Vette with a 4 speed had 10 more hp than a 77 Trans Am 400 4 speed and was the more powerful of the 2. In 78 the Trans Am and the Vette were even at 220 HP and 260 lb. ft. apiece, with no advantage to either without upgrades.
Wayne D, the various 400 & 403 motors avail in the ’77-’78 t/a had 320-325 ft lbs of torque at 1600-2800 rpm, depending on the motor.
Ron and Joe, please do a deeper dive into your claims! Joe, look at the torque on the L82 engines from those years, mostly equal.
Research:
“Investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws”
“Merriam Webster”
Wayne, don’t care about the specs. I was doing dragstrips through the 70s. Corvettes from 75 through the (thankfull) end of the St Louis period were absolutely pitiful. I worked for GM in IT from 76-82. NOBODY who liked performance cars had any interest in a Corvette!
Corvette DNA says $14,000. I say $8,000 these were not good cars. For the asking price you would do much better with a C4/5
You’re absolutely right, Jim. But a C4/5 will never get the attention that a decent C3 gets on the street. It’s an evocative shape and you don’t really have to wear a Members Only jacket and a heavy gold chain to drive one.
Did this year Vette come with radial tires?
Sorry if this is a dummy question.
Thank you ahead.
Corvettes switched to radials in 1973.
If I was buying this car, it would not be for performance.
I just think that it’s a very nice looking Vette.
I would love to park it next to my C5.
This appears to be a very nice car, not perfect but nice. The pictures and description show that there has been quality some work done as well. Will you need to take it further? Sure, it depends upon what you goal is. Fix the A/C, enjoy the top-down weather, this one looks like a great driver.
I’ve owned both a C3 and a C4 Vette “back in the day”. My C3 was a 71 454. Friends where I worked at GM had late 70s C3s that were absolute dogs, plus the usual awful St Louis build quality. For the same money (as was mentioned above) I would much rather have a C4, with real luggage capability, far better build quality (from Bowling Green) and far better performance. If you want a 77, buy a 77 Trans Am or Z28.
Wayne, you ignored the 77 Z28. I tried, but couldn’t find 77 L82 road tests. I recall NONE being below 16-flat. My 78 Z28 got to a 15.6 with a 4-speed and 3.73s. Corvettes of the era were pitiful, no perf enthusiast wanted one. My 71 454 was stolen in late 77, and I had no desire for a new one, hence the 78 Z28. And the build quality of the St Louis cars was getting worse by the year.
Here’s an article for the 77 corvette. The L82 4spd ran a 15.5 quarter, 6.8 0-60 and beat the Porsche turbo in the slalom. Your Z28 was about as fast but didn’t handle as well but you did have 2 more cramped seats and a trunk.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/reviews/a9802/30th-anniversary-road-test-1977-chevrolet-corvette-sting-ray/