When’s the last time you saw surfboards on a Corvette? There’s a first for everything, and it’s also a sure-fire way to get your car noticed among the throngs of Vettes listed for sale every day. This is a 1978 Silver Anniversary model that sports weathered paint, another unusual feature on these limited-edition models that are usually preserved with a feather duster. Find this interesting Silver Anniversary model here on eBay with a $6,200 Buy-It-Now and the option to submit a best offer.
Despite needing paint, the seller has made a variety of upgrades and replacements that should make this 1978 Corvette a reliable driver. The original motor was replaced with a 295 b.h.p. crate motor, which is a significant upgrade over the stock powerplant (no word if the matching numbers mill comes with the car). The interior was also replaced, but no listing of the replaced parts is offered; regardless, the seats look excellent, as do the dash and door panels. The carpet looks original, however. Two sets of T-top glass are also included, original and mirrored glass.
The Corvette also benefits from a rebuilt automatic transmission, rebuilt carb, new windshield, and a new exhaust with the cats removed. Overall, if the A/C was working, this is a Corvette you could drive every day without worry (in my armchair quarterback opinion). The issues the seller mentions are fairly minor, such as the aforementioned A/C and a power antenna that doesn’t work. The front “Silver Anniversary” badge is also missing, and I’d honestly replace this just to remind purists that this is a genuine Anniversary car in beater condition!
20 years of service records are included, and the seller notes there’s just two owners on the paperwork: the original family owners until 1998, and then the current owner from that point onwards. Despite its tired cosmetics, this strikes me as a car that was used and loved in the best way possible, with the owners doing the sensible repairs to keep it on the road without it becoming a burden. It looks like a fun driver to me for $5K or a little less.
It’s early, but this should draw some of the week’s top comments
I’m with you, Frank. Just tried my hand below.
Well played, Sir. Well played.
Rarest of all collector cars. A thoroughly used 25th anniversary Corvette.
Oddly, it’s the first Silver Anniversary that’s made me think “wow, I like it”. Normally I’m not a patina or a Silver Anniversary fan, but this one looks very cool… especially with the surfboards. Don’t waste time washing and waxing it, just drive the s##t out of it – a very refreshing find.
Just wax the boards.
I literally froze, in awe, at the utter coolness of this. Folks, you are looking at the coolest C3 Corvette in all the world. I would literally be rushing over there right now if I didn’t live in the midwest. Unfortunately, somehow, I don’t think it would look as cool with a snow shovel on the roof.
Or would it….
I get the feeling that this one is mechanically very good and ready to be driven. Maybe a lot.
Slap some adhesive wood grain vinyl on the sides. Surf city here we come.
I usually stay away from commenting on Corvettes, outside of mechanicals I really never paid attention to them for whatever reason, more of a mid size/pony car nut, but this Corvette looks so right to me.I wouldn’t paint it, really like the rawness it has going for it. Mechanically it’s much better than factory original given the year, although I could never get it past the smog gurus out here in California with the missing cats. Maybe hi-flows on it but what else is missing? Only thing that kinda bugs me, and this may sound strange, is that sparkeling interior is my least favorite part of this car. But I could live with it! Great find!
Looking at the tie downs for the surf boards worries me.
It is attached to the t-top.
The wind up force will be pulling on the mounts on the T-top and it might go flying.
I don’t think I would do that.
That’s why it comes with a spare set of T-tops.
Steve R
Surfers are too cool to drive fast. No worries.
The T-top attatchment to the body is very secure. Here in Wisconsin the surf boards would be replaced with a cedar strip canoe. I am happy to see the nice interior. I would rather drive a rig with a clean interior and beat up body than drive one with a nice exterior and beat up interior.
Neat trick, to the untrained eye it looks like the stock factory air cleaner. In fact it has a smaller lid to mimic an open air cleaner. This helps immensely with the smog police as they hate to see anything chrome.
I think a tow hitch on the back connected to a manure spreader and ones got a good truck / tractor for field work.
I do not like the surf boards
or the patina of the paint 🎨 and disrespect of a anniversary special 😳
Love the unpretentiousness of the whole thing. A car being used,and not giving a hoot who cares how it’s being used. Amen to that, brother.
The first thing I thought of when I saw the surfboards on this Corvette was this Sparkomatic ad from the late ’70s.
I’ve never been a Vette fan. I’ve always thought of them as the proverbial plastic pig with way to much lipstick.( If you are a Corvette person enjoy. I’m just stating my personal opinion folks)
Having said that I think this is the first Corvette I can appreciate. It’s not a compensation for anything or never been used because of what it represents.
It’s been lived in,played in and thoroughly enjoyed.
And at the end of the day isn’t that what it’s all about?
I hope whomever buys it continues to drive the wheels off it for years to come!
Bring this to a Vette meet and make other anniversary owners wish that they could take the factory plastic off the seats and actually drive their car, but that would be after seeing them do a spit-take on the 6 digit mileage.
No automatic. Ever.
This is a great find for anyone eager to drive a 70s Vette.
How do they do that? Surf, sand, and driving this ‘Vette daily do not equate to a nice Pat Boone white interior. For me anyway. I’ve actually seen ‘Vette owners change oil in a white shirt and jeans and not get so much as a drop of oil on their clothes or interior of their prize posession. Let alone go surfing and not have 4” of sand in the footwells.
What a keeper.
No one notice where the plates indicate the car is at? New York State!!!! Where do you go surfing there? I’d bet the picture was staged.
Plenty of surfing off Lawn Guyland.
Out on the South Shore of Long Island or out towards Montauk Point. Ad lists Larchmont N
Y , Long Island Sound is nearby.
That looks like the Montauk lighthouse in the picture with the surfboards on top.
My favorite kind of Vette!
As I said in a previous post, a lot of people, probably most, don’t care about matching numbers or a stick, they just want to drive a Corvette. The AC fix might cost a lot if you have muck in all of the lines and the antenna should be an easy fix. Paint it or not? Me, I would. It is not really an anniversary edition anymore so make it look nice. Fixing the AC and antenna, a nice paint job, and for 12K or a bit more you might be the envy of the neighborhood.
Don’t know where you live, but you would be the envy of my neighborhood driving this just the way it is. To heck with the AC. I drove a 1979 for many years without AC.
There sure is a lot of controversy about keeping something original, even if it is a total mess, verses a restoration. If it was as from the factory then I would consider not painting it but as I said since it isn’t I would. Personal preference for sure.
I had Brock Yates autograph this image for me with “Real Men Drive ‘Em” My NCRS pals loved it.
Larchmont N.Y. is near the coast between Connecticut & Long Island
I actually like this anniversary car better than the ’78 pace car with the black on it. I worked in the parts dept. at the local Chevrolet dealer when these cars were new and we had 2 pace cars and 2 of these at the same time. I would have to repaint it back the original colors because I love the look and just drive it.
This is one of the coolest C3’s I have seen. If it had the L82 and a 4 speed it would be perfect.
I love the patina but don’t care for the yellow tone of the fiberglass, looks too much like the yellow plastic that’s under painted car bumpers.