By 1978, the Chevrolet Corvette was no longer the hard-edged sports car it had been a decade earlier. While many performance enthusiasts lamented the evolution of the C3 Corvette into its new form, the changes brought a different type of buyer into the fold. They were people who craved the Corvette lifestyle but longed for a more civilized ownership experience. Sales figures confirmed that the more sedate ‘Vette hit the right note with potential buyers. Our feature car is a 1978 Silver Anniversary Edition, and its condition is astounding. This is hardly surprising, considering it has 9,000 genuine miles showing on its odometer. It needs a new home, so the owner has listed it for sale here at Mecum Auctions. It is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is set to go under the hammer on June 11th with No Reserve. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting this stunning classic for us.
If you were to line up photos of a C3 Corvette from every year of production side-by-side, they would show essentially evolutionary styling from one year to the next. However, place pictures of a ’68 and a ’78 together, and they reveal some pretty profound changes. Gone were the chrome bumpers in favor of urethane items to meet legislated safety requirements. However, the new rear glass that appeared in 1978 changed the vehicle’s profile, providing a look that mimicked a fastback. However, with the glass remaining fixed, it lacked the versatility of such cars. This Corvette presents exceptionally well for its age, with the distinctive two-tone paint that was an integral part of the Silver Anniversary Edition shining beautifully. It is common for Silver paint to develop a patchy appearance following long-term UV exposure, but the consistency, in this case, is in keeping with a car that has spent its life in a garage. The plastic and trim look excellent, while the glass is crystal clear. The ‘Vette rolls on a set of factory aluminum wheels, and they shine as richly as the rest of the exterior.
If you fancy a Corvette with a splash of luxury, this classic is set to satisfy that need. Its interior features Mahogany leather upholstery, air conditioning, power windows, power lock, and a leather-wrapped tilt/telescopic wheel. As you might expect from any car with less than 10,000 miles on its odometer, the condition and presentation are first-rate. There is no evidence of wear, although the seats feature wrinkles that are part of the inherent character of aging leather. The carpet is free from wear and fading, and the dash is spotless. I think that there may be an aftermarket stereo occupying the spot reserved for the factory radio, but I can’t spot any further changes.
When we start comparing performance figures, many enthusiasts will argue that by 1978, the C3 Corvette was a shadow of its former self. In 1968, the slowest manual-equipped Corvette took 14.7 seconds to cover the ¼ mile. By 1978, the fastest fell short of that figure by nearly a full second. Our feature car rolled off the line equipped with the L48 version of the 350ci small-block that sent its 185hp to the road via a four-speed manual transmission. That same journey would take 16.4 seconds for this car before it ran out of breath at 109mph. The seller indicates that the ‘Vette is numbers-matching and that it has 9,000 genuine miles showing on its odometer. Unfortunately, they don’t mention verifying evidence for the mileage claim, nor how well it runs or drives. We are left to rely on visual condition and presentation to make an assessment, and it looks pretty positive.
They say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating, which is undoubtedly the case with the evolution of the C3 Corvette. By 1978, it no longer offered the raw performance or engaging driving experience that was a hallmark of the model when Chevrolet unveiled it in 1968. That fact could have been enough to see sales figures slump, but the opposite was true. In 1968, 28,566 buyers were willing to hand over their cash for a new C3. Wind forward to 1978, and that number soared to 46,776. An incredible 15,283 of those elected to spend the additional $399 above the sticker price for a Silver Anniversary Edition. Values for these classics spent years in the doldrums, but buyers are warming to them in the current market. Considering its overall condition and odometer reading, I expect bidding to easily sail past $25,000 before the hammer falls. I wouldn’t rule out a figure beyond $30,000. If you have a well-preserved Silver Anniversary ‘Vette on your Wish List, this one is worth considering.
Always hard to tell from the images but that looks like a Corvette Red interior. Mahogany is code 762. Red is 722.
This collection has more Corvettes coming up along with some other interesting cars.
The Mahogany leather is stunning against the Anniversary Silver paint. I have a friend who had one just like that when these cars were new., It was the only one I ever saw back then so I know they must be rare.
But if I had to choose between this Mahogany or the Bright Red, it would be a tough, tough choice.
They always have some good cars at Mecum.
There are a good number of these in low mileage condition. The collector phase among car guys was just starting to gain traction and a good number of these were bought and put away for the future. I remember seeing several in the early 90’s that still had factory wrapping on the interior. One of the things I hated was the 85 mph Speedo’s on these and all the other cars of the era.
This is a mecum owned car that they have purchased to resell. Check out auction results at any city and look up Private Collection-No reserve. You will see all the cars are photographed in the same location. It says no reserve but you can be sure they have schills in the crowd to be sure they don’t lose money . My friend sold a car at a Tennessee auction and it turned up at Kissimmee under the PC-NR but they made an 8000 dollar profit. Beware!