This 1976 Chevrolet Corvette is being sold to settle an estate, and despite not being one of the more desirable model years, it is a clean driver that the seller feels can drive cross country without issue. Featuring T-tops, original paint, smoke gray interior, and a numbers matching 350, it could be a cheap entry into classic muscle car ownership. It will need a front bumper cover, but as the seller points out, those are pretty cheap to buy on eBay. Find the Corvette listed with no reserve here on eBay where bids have reached $6,800 and it is located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
It’s too bad that Corvettes at this juncture were suffering in the performance department, as they were still attractive muscle cars and by and large pretty cheap to run. The Corvette features a factory luggage rack and original wheels, so it’s clear that it was used primarily as a weekend driver and not as someone’s ongoing project car. The seller claims it is numbers matching and has been well-maintained over the years, including being garage stored. Despite this, the paint is still noted as being thin in places and touched up over the years. The seller claims the body is ding-free.
That’s not entirely a surprise, because even if the performance was getting increasingly disappointing, Corvette loyalists still treated these cars as big deal purchases worth preserving. Years later, they still come out of the woodwork as stock examples that someone has clearly loved. Now, that doesn’t mean this example still doesn’t show the perils of old age, as the interior is fairly dingy and in need of a serious detailing. The seats aren’t awful but could stand to be redone, and the console trim is the biggest detraction from what otherwise looks like a clean cabin. The carpets and the dash still present quite well, in my opinion.
Finding a numbers-matching drivetrain is a bonus, and the chromed air cleaner is a nice cosmetic upgrade if you’re into the shiny bits. The seller claims it runs and drives excellent, and handles well, too, but those are fairly subjective claims. The fact that the A/C is dead thanks to a failed compressor suggests some maintenance has lagged over time, so I wouldn’t count on the rubber components underneath the car not needing replacement. Still, for a turnkey driver that won’t sell for crazy money and still looks and sounds good, you could do far worse. The Corvette will likely not ever be worth much more than it is today, but that won’t stop the next owner from logging lots of trouble-free miles.
I’m so conditioned by experience- for some reason, the angle of the photos had me questioning if it was a corvette- it seems smaller, and more proportional than my usual take on the C3, somehow looking more sports car-ish. Do others notice this when looking at pictures of cars?
No
I would think this would be a Novette.
I did! To me, it looks oddly stubby yes? But I think some of that it due to the fact that it’s missing its endura bumper cap, which probably adds another 6 inches or so.
“Atractive muscle cars” ? Seriously? Someone slap me!
Ps. This is a rather unattractive interror color, no mention of the diff ratio,
I dont like that there isin’t a single underside picture (out of 24!) and the engine bay pics are done “in the dark” showing only the 30 dollar shiny bits from auto zone.
They all rust bad in the birdcage and frame kick up area.
I still love mine!
I get a kick out of the NADA values listed in the eBay ad. That will be the day this car is worth $14,000!
The seller claims he got 15k. Hard to believe. AND numbers matching? On a ’76 Vette, who cares.
75-82 C3’s, seem to be maligned or admired. Don’t even mention the luggage rack. I can’t think of many reasons to dislike entry level Corvettes. Not everyone can thrown down 75k and these are still fun to drive. I never put a person in the driver seat of my C3, who wasn’t smiling. This one needs a lot of love and already looks overpriced.
If this car was a 4 speed I’d bid on it!! However I never liked the idea of buying a sports car with an automatic transmission!!! This way I could get it home and get a 383 stroker motor and make a real sports car out of this!!
Late C3s & early C4s seem to be ripe for hot-rodding. There are a significant percentage that have been modified, from a new carb to headers to full crate motor replacement. As cheap as they are they are a good source for hot car conversion.
For those who have done it, how difficult/expensive is it to convert one of these underpowered ‘Vettes to something a little more exciting?
I have a 79, with about 360HP from stock 190…
1. Stock short block but everything else swapped- edelbrock performance package with heads, cam, intake, 9.6 CR, i went with a holley instead of an edelbrock carb.
2. Stock th350 trans but with converter swapped and full manual valve body. The lack of overdrive is really killing it, with 4.11 rear you need to constantly accelerate over the speed limit, them coast in neutral then repeat. Luckily 200r4 is a direct bolt on
3. The factory knowing these cars have 190hp was assembling this one of a kind differencial haphazardly and its a weak area of the drive train. Do NOT expect it to stay in one piece at 400hp and slicks. (Youd be lucky if it stays together at 300 rear wheel hp and low pressure slicks)
4. Factory brakes are massive with 4-pot calipers out the back!! Any type of harder breaking and i lock up four 255s and just sled forward.
5. All the suspension parts are available, from improved stock to fiberglass leaf springs, 1.5 inch sway bars, rocker-actuated coilovers (you know when the spring and shock are horizontal).
If you want to learn more join a “budget c3” fb group
White on white?? I’ve never seen that before. Perfect for an Elvis impersonator, I guess.
I like these. Always have. I wouldn’t need it to breath fire but since they probably never will be hot ticket collector car, I would drop in one of those mild 300hp GM crate engines. Not a screamer but enough hp on tap to make it more enjoyable.
Put a red pinstripe on it. That’ll brighten things up. LOL!!
I worked at a Chevy dealer in 1976. We got in a silver L82 with Firethorn leather. YJ8s too. Got to drive it. 210 up bit what a thrill. Today, I own a 73 silver coupe. Love it.
212 horsepower if you turn the air cleaner lid upside down!
I was selling these in 76 and the are not a muscle car by a long shot. The are nice drivers and a cheap way to get in a Vette today.
We were selling a lot more automatics than 4 speeds.
Winning bid $15,400 at 9 pm edt Sun July 19, 2020. Lots of late bids pushed the price up a few grand the last few minutes. Hopefully, the bid is legit.