It is common to categorize people as having either a “glass half empty” or a “glass half full” mentality. If you read the comments on some of the cars we feature, it is apparent that some people only see the negatives when dealing with older cars. Others see opportunities and can chart a path to success in their minds when looking at a featured vehicle. Which type of person are you? If you need a test, then this 1980 Chevrolet Corvette for sale on Craigslist in Homestead, Florida is the perfect vehicle to see where you land. Do you view this imperfect $5,000 Corvette with 41,919 miles as a money pit with few redeeming qualities, or are you thinking about how to bring it back to its past glory or even take it further? Thanks go to Michael for finding this rolling Rorschach test!
Corvettes have always been collectible, but some years seem to garner less appreciation than others. Starting in 1975, the Corvette morphed from a sports car into more of a cruiser. This was due to ever-tightening emissions and safety standards with a little bit of insurance company pressure built in. Some even derided these Corvettes as “secretary’s hot rods.” Chevrolet did what it could to keep the car fresh despite its chassis dating back to 1963 and its body style from 1968. Over the next few years, the car gained a large rear backglass, more interior room, updates to that interior, and changes to its body that more seamlessly blended the federally mandated safer bumpers front and rear. You could make the argument that the body changes became too pronounced on the 1981-1982 models, but the cars built from 1978-1980 seem to hit a sweet spot with looks.
All of the negativity surrounding later C3 Corvettes has done little to dampen the enthusiasm of the aftermarket. Virtually every part for these cars is being remanufactured and is available for a price. Better yet, a whole lot has changed since 1975 when it comes to making one of these cars perform both in a straight line and the turns. You can now outfit a C2 or C3 Corvette with a state-of-the-art suspension system, modern powerplant, and much more efficient transmissions. A determined owner can now make a Corvette of this era into a bonafide performance car with the proper application of parts, skills, and folding money.
Which brings us to this 1980 Corvette. While it presents a few challenges regarding its cosmetics, there is nothing that could not be restored by the average enthusiast. The front and rear replacement bumper covers will need to be repainted, the dash pad needs to be changed out, the steering wheel refurbished, and a few other odds and ends all need tending to. Unfortunately, the small amount of verbiage in the ad alludes to possible engine issues for what is claimed to be a matching numbers car. We are told nothing, and the only clue we have is that the photograph of the engine compartment shows a shocking love for the color red and some mold along the fender line. If there is something wrong besides the usual rotten fuel from sitting the fix shouldn’t be prohibitively expensive. A call to Summit or Jegs for a crate motor is just a credit card away.
The $5,000 asking price for a car that has been advertised for five days hints that there is a little negotiating room. From there, this could be any type of Corvette you want. A little work could make it presentable, or you could strip it down and build it up to be a terror. What would you do with this Corvette? Or, would you not mess with it at all? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Odd to call a Corvette a “sleeper”, but money saved on purchase price could be used to build up what is not seen on these underappreciated cars. Then go terrorize the dragstrip with it.
I’ve been working on a 76 Vette, chasing Gremlins for a few months now. I’ve managed to learned everything I never wanted to know about them. Not sure if they did away with the vacuum system on a 80 Vette, but, that’s a pain in a 76. Most importantly is the birdcages on Vetts. If you are going to look at one remove the kick panels and see it it’s rusted up in there. If it is, it means your firewall is leaking, not the t tops, when it rains. Recommended fix is to remove the front clip… And reseal all openings. The caulking at the top of the metal windshield trim also goes bad so when driving in the rain you force water into the top of the windshield and create rust damage. Replace all weatherstripping around doors, and I had to put little wooden dowels behind the t top weatherstripping to push the seal towards the door glass… Whew… Aside from that, they are pretty easy to work on. Ask about the motor, obviously, could be minor with low miles. Sending unit goes bad when they sit, and, the tank has plastic/nylon screen in there that could be bad and seeping junk into carb jets… PS Have fun putting the tank back in… Weeeee
Sorry, one more thing… If the car was ever hit in front and repaired it sometimes knocks out your window adjustments, which affects the weatherstripping seals. If toying with the window adjustments doesn’t work, you have to remove the dash to get to the top door hinges to get some play and stop leaks… Ask me how I know…
I admire your persistence.
Great article, Jeff! Glass half full over here, any Corvette before the C4 is accessible to DIYers. Not necessarily easy, but at least doable.
I am not what you could call a fan of Corvettes from this era for numerous reasons, but I will admit that this one could be a pretty good purchase. At this price, one could fix some of their biggest drawbacks, ( ie: the pitiful performance and, at least with this one, the gearbox) The latter being due to the fact that I do believe any Corvette (with the notable exception of the late model rocket ships) should not be an automatic. A few bucks and some “elbow grease” and this could be a nice entry level ‘Vette for somebody.
How much for the black and white dog?
Something I don’t read about regarding used corvettes is the fact that if you want it for a daily driver then it does not really need to be all that fast or corner all that well. Woodward Avenue drag races in Detroit in the 1960’s surely had their allure. But me… even in my 30’s in 1983 when I owned an 81 Corvette … I did not then and I do not now have the skills to use any more power than the 185 horses it had nor the ability to go so fast it starts to go into a controlled slide. I know, keep talking and I’ll have to surrender my Man-Card.
Admittedly, when I bought the 81 I thought … and still do think … the 1976 with NO SPOILER was my favorite. It is the most appealing model ever. But then, like now, my daily driver had to be stone cold reliable so getting a 7 year old Stingray was not such a prudent move.
Now, I would LOVE a “dog-year” 74-76 Stingray. Mostly stock would be fine. It would be my only car and a daily driver. If I won $5k or so at a lottery then… I might consider retro mod with one of today’s in-line 6 motors – efi and a 6 speed?
Donald: To each his own. I have owned a Corvette in one shape or fashion since 1967 and I will admit that when I wore a younger man’s clothes, performance was high on my priority list. I am now 76 and own what will be my last Corvette, a black-on-black 2000 Z-06 that I bought new. It probably hasn’t seen anything past about 1/2 throttle in 15 years, but in my opinion a Corvette should be what Zora Arkus Duntov envisioned them to be: fast and able to handle straight aways and curves equally well. Just my opinion.
How many of us here are able to say ” I have owned a Corvette in one shape or fashion since 1967 “? Very cool.
I am in the process of rebuilding a 81…going old school hi-rise intake, aluminum heads and big carb..This is going to be my Corvette summer