When it comes to fairly common project cars like a 1976 Chevrolet Corvette, one way to get my attention is to list one in an unusual color. We see plenty of these ‘Vettes in red, white, and black, but rarely do they pop up in an unusual color like Dark Brown Metallic. The name of the color isn’t exotic, but for a C3 to be anything other than red, it’s worth noting. Find this 1976 example here on craigslist with a $12,000 asking price.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Ikey for the find. The return of colors like brown and green to the forefront of the collector car hobby is great to see. For years, these were undesirable shades, but the era in which this car was made saw plenty of vehicles wearing earthy tones. Now, I don’t expect many C3 enthusiasts to pop in and say they love this color, but among the Euro car enthusiast crowd, these less-loved tones are all the rage. A chocolate brown Corvette would have been downright repugnant years ago; now, it’s refreshing.
And what a handsome color combination with that biscuit leather interior. The wood trim gives this Corvette a far more upscale feel, making it more suited for grand touring than hot rodding. Paired with the butterscotch carpets, this C3 has a distinctly luxurious feel. The seller notes it also remains highly original, with the matching numbers 350 under the hood and only 37,000 miles on the clock.
The engine bay is extremely clean, and comes with $5,200 in receipts for recent repairs, according to the seller. With such a clean and well-detailed engine bay and a similar level of correctness and attention-to-detail in the cabin, this C3 looks like a smart buy and one that may even appreciate a bit given the unusual color. While I’m a sucker for a classic car in a shade like this, many of you may prefer other colors. Is anyone else with me that colors like this are becoming more favorable among collectors?
Another nice car for the money. At least it’s not tan.
Very sharp car – on the C3 this is my favourite colour combination…on a C4 it’s dark green on the tan interior. Somehow these more subdued colours put more emphasis on the body lines… this is truly a beautiful car.
I am a Corvette junkie. I love the colors. This is a very nice car and appears original too. I think you could pay that price, enjoy the car and never lose any money. They are a nice cruiser, but that is all they are. They don’t accelerate, corner or brake any better than a modern Camry. 76 maybe one of the worst performers so values are low, but if you just want a nice car with Corvette style this is a winner. My wife said nothing more can come to our house until something goes. I don’t know where I will put her.
I must be married to her sister
Lol,dirtyharry.Maybe list “her” on Craigslist as one did recently in England, you might get some surprising offers.Just be honest about mileage,any recent bodywork and if “she” starts up and “performs” well. 😉
You can put her with her mother , and get thr Vette.
Great chance to get into a corvette for a reasonable price, although smogged down and detuned to the hilt, is still a looker. Good luck to the new owner!!
Cheers
GPC
Clean vette!
Needs a nice modern LS 3 6.2 and a six speed manual
If you want to ruin it.
Thats a very subjective opinion Frank, you consider it “ruining” it where some like myself would consider it making it the absolute best it can possibly be.
Resto modding/pro touring is where it at!
Matt- All opinions are “subjective”. Mine also happens to be right. There are 10,000 Donor-vettes available to serve as resto-mods. There aren’t too many left in this condition. It would be a shame (In my subjective opinion) to tear this one up.have a great weekend and Happy Holidays!
Your opinion is “right”??
So does that mean my opinion is “wrong”??
If opinions are subjective and you agree with that then there is no right or wrong agreed?
Maybe some people dont want do use a beat down donor vehicle and get in to a full restoration of the entire vehicle and want to start with an already very clean platform and just do some upgrades.
For example taking this C3 and dropping in a modern fuel injected LS engine, coil overs and big brakes & wheels.
I like brown too!
I absolutely love everything about that color combination but I’d prefer to see it on a C2 or a C3 from 68-72.
If you can live with a C3 without chrome bumpers, thats not a performer and you’re on a limited budget it definitely looks like a fine example of a real clean entry level classic Vette and it should sell fast.
My brother had this exact color combo on his ’75 vette, and i had a same year model white over silver leather, both bought new in west Texas for chump change – about 6500 bux (dealer was a GOOD friend). We had the L48 165hp engines and 4 spds, but he got the close-ratio tranny. Was interesting to drive. Man, those were the days.
And nights. :-)
Btw – this one has a non-stock steering wheel, and the aluminum rims were only available for a very brief period. Mfg issues in mexico, iirc.
The Kelsey-Hayes aluminum wheels (Option code YJ8) were delayed until 1976. They were announced in 1973 but witheld due to production problems. The option code was changed to N90 in 1979 and lasted until 1982. Don’t know who made the N90 wheels.
We owned a ’75 L48 and the engine did not look like that. Claim that this is original is suspect. That mileage claim may apply to this replacement engine rather than the whole car.
We have owned several other Vettes with high performance engines and modifications that would leave a 75-6 in the dust, but these are more spirited than you would think even with automatic and air and trouble free and pleasant daily and long trip drivers.
What about an original light blue sort of robins egg turquoise colored L/82 77 C3 ? I know few that have ever had one in that color. Would you say that is unusual?
@jackb:-) That is the correct steering wheel. That year the Vega, Camaro, Corvette (maybe even others…) all came with that as the base steering wheel. Don’t forget every GM of that ear had mismatched hues of the same color in all of their interiors. You are correct about the availability of the Kelsey-Hayes wheels though.
@Jim Brooks You are thinking of your 75 engine. The 76 had a completely different air cleaner assembly then yours. This is one of the cleanest most original later model C3’s I have seen in a while. Originality & mileage is totally believeable.
The thing is, this color wasn’t that unusual back in the day. The reason you don’t see many today is that most were repainted after the ‘Earth Tones’ craze of the ’70s passed.
I think it looks good, particularly with that interior. I liked it then and I like it now.
Yes sir- About 4600 were done up in brown.
I’m curious what had to be done that rang up $5200 in receipts?
Very nice example of a great driver Corvette.
Very nice Corvette, one I’d like to call my own. The only thing I’d change is the luggage rack out back and the bland boring engine room.
I don’t know how short lived the wheels were, but I had them on my 1977. They were not as highly polished though. Good colour if you like to drive fast. The police would never give you a second glance.
The color combination is great! The condition of the car is also superb. I would “collect” this example. I knew someone who had a ’78 Corvette in this color combination (featured the sloping rear window glass)–this one is much nicer. Love the wheels with this combination. Glad it has the original real leather–and the mileage claim looks reasonable.
Im pretty sure i own his car now.