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Code 52 Project: Chevrolet Corvette

There is only 1 day remaining on this auction for a 1980 Chevrolet Corvette which is selling at no reserve. You can place your bid here on eBay if you think this car is worth more than the $5,600 current bid. The car is located in Brighton, Colorado but it appears to be the same car we reviewed for sale in Las Vegas, Nevada back in January. Maybe the buyer was not happy with the purchase and is trying to sell it.

This Colorado Corvette is equipped with the base L-48 350 cubic inch V8 engine which was reported to generate 190 horsepower. The optional L-82 350 cubic inch V8 engine that was available for the last time in 1980 produced 230 horsepower. The odometer shows 74,500 miles but the condition of the interior looks like it might be 174,500 miles.

I almost bought a yellow 1980 Corvette about 20 years ago. I just think the Code 52 yellow on a nice black interior looks fantastic. This interior is anything but fantastic and will be expensive to restore. The seller states that the frame and birdcage are solid. Upon acquisition, the seller changed the oil, fuel, spark plugs and battery. I think that will be the easy part bringing this car back to life.

There are 35 bids and 122 watchers on this car and it says it runs and drives. It might be a good car for some drive train modifications because the exterior looks solid. However, there is a crack in the fiberglass on the driver side fender. What will this Corvette get sold for the second time around?

Comments

  1. Avatar photo PRA4SNW

    With the amount of interior work needed, and it being an L48, this isn’t worth anything more than $6K.

    Like 4
    • Avatar photo Frank Sumatra

      I was thinking $4500 tops.

      Like 1
      • Avatar photo Superdessucke

        Considering you can get a nice C4 with low mileage for 4,500 I don’t even know if I would go that high. If I was looking for something to beat the living hell out of, I would go with a C4. I don’t know really what you do with this honestly.

        Like 4
      • Avatar photo PRA4SNW

        A nice, low mileage C4 for $4500?
        Where?

        Like 1
      • Avatar photo Superdessucke

        One example here…

        https://www.ebay.com/itm/1985-Chevrolet-Corvette/264687687069?hash=item3da09d959d:g:zS8AAOSweatehjME

        There are others you can easily find. Some of them have higher asking prices because people get the Barrett-Jackson Syndrome but in the real world you can get a very nice C4 for 4,500 or less.

        Like 0
      • Avatar photo PRA4SNW

        7 owners, 110K miles, “starts and runs good”.

        Your idea of nice and low miles is different than mine.

        I agree with you that C4’s in this condition are available for low $$. But you’re going to sink some serious cash into them, came as as a C3 in this type of condition.

        Like 0
      • Avatar photo Superdessucke

        Oh yeah I agree it’s not perfect. But neither is this. I think the two are comparable. The ’85 would offer better performance for less.

        And at this price level I am riding these hard and putting them away wet after something expensive happens. I would rather have the L98 than the L48 for that purpose.

        Like 0
  2. Avatar photo Jim

    Meh..another Corvette

    Like 3
  3. Avatar photo Arthur

    In a way it’s too bad if the chassis is indeed solid. If the chassis ISN’T solid, it would be a good opportunity for someone to buy this car and put an Art Morrison or Roadster Shop chassis under it. That way, it could take the engine from the current Corvette and install it. That could be followed up by custom wheels and Michelin tires.

    Like 1
    • Avatar photo Ike Onick

      Why in the world would you bother? For that cost and time spent you could buy a nice car you could drive next weekend

      Like 2
    • Avatar photo Jim

      Lot of money to fix up a clapped out vette that drives worse and slower than a Camry…lol

      Like 1
  4. Avatar photo jerry z

    Imagine buying this car and driving across the country? You wouldn’t have to worry much about traffic. To me $6K is a great buy and hopefully reliable enough to drive a long distance.

    Like 1
  5. Avatar photo Gary D. Oliver

    I had a 1980 Corvette when new. Couldn’t get used to the speedometer showing a top speed of 80 MPH. A castrated Corvette?

    Like 2
  6. Avatar photo George Mattar

    I have a 73 Corvette L48 with 3.36 rear and 4 speed. New Hondas gingerly blow me off the road on the interstate. I can stay with traffic but refuse to run my engine up past 3,500 for a steady cruise. I really don’t care, I did not buy the car to go fast. If I wanted to go fast, I would have spent the money on a Hellcat. 80 Corvettes are nice, but L82 only available with automatic. Cheap typical GM refusing to certify a stick for emissions. C4s are cheap now. I live near Philadelphia. Numerous decent ones for sale. Yeah, the cheap leather seats are as dry as the desert and think first before you buy tires for these. The suspension is expensive to replace and they have cooling issues too.

    Like 1

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