It can be fascinating to reflect on the past, especially if given a specific time frame. Let’s take twenty-five years as an example. In that time, I’ve changed careers, changed cars (several times!), and now reside in a different state. This 1979 Corvette occupied the same spot on this patio during that entire period. It needs someone willing to return it to active service, but they’ll commence the process with a rock-solid foundation and an engine bay containing the most potent combination offered in that year. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, the Corvette is listed for sale here on Craigslist. You could take the ‘Vette home by handing the owner $8,000. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J., who has managed to refer another excellent classic to us.

It seems that someone may have wanted to recapture the appearance of the Silver Anniversary Corvette from the previous year, so this 1979 model wears the same combination of Silver and Dark Gray. The paint looks tired, but it isn’t the end of the world. It will benefit from a repaint, but that could prove the most taxing part of whipping the presentation into shape. The fiberglass looks excellent, and the seller says that there are no issues around the bonding strips. Adding to the appeal, the Corvette spent a significant portion of its life in sunny Sacramento, allowing the frame to remain rust-free and rock-solid. The Rally wheels, trim rings, and center caps look excellent, as does the glass. If potential buyers seek a classic Corvette where they could potentially tackle much of the restoration work in a home workshop, this could be their car.

The “complete but tired” theme continues when we examine this Corvette’s interior. Its shortcomings are dominated by faded carpet and damaged seat upholstery. However, if you look past those issues, there’s plenty to like. The dash and pad look excellent, and the same seems true of the console and other trim items. A previous owner added a radio/cassette player, but I can’t spot any further changes. The original owner ordered this classic with air conditioning and power windows, although there could be other luxury touches I can’t spot. Once again, the new owner could address the shortcomings in a home workshop after spending $680 on some new leather seatcovers and $360 on a complete carpet set. When you consider the cost of some interior restorations we’ve seen at Barn Finds, that looks like a bargain!

The seller supplies no engine photos, but this shot of the hood badges tells its own story. Buyers received their new ’79 Corvette equipped with a 350ci small-block V8 producing 195hp. If prepared to drop an additional $565 above the sticker price, they found the engine bay occupied by the L82 version, producing 225hp. Adding to the driving pleasure, this ‘Vette features that motor and a four-speed manual transmission. If the owner pointed this classic at a ¼ mile, it would despatch the distance in 15.5 seconds. That may not seem fast by today’s standards, but it looked pretty good if you compare performance figures across the board in that year. The seller indicates that this was their father’s car and that it has been sitting for twenty-five years. They say that it runs, but the brakes require attention. There’s no doubt that this Chevy will also benefit from a complete mechanical inspection. The buyer should brace for replacing tires, belts, hoses, and other perishable items. Thankfully, parts are easy to find and are generally dirt-cheap.

I know that some people are willing to ignore later C3 Corvettes. They feel that the badge had lost its performance credentials and that these later cars were a shadow of their predecessors. That is probably true, but they were also about the most potent passenger cars produced by an American manufacturer during a dismal period in automotive history. They remain among the most affordable Corvettes available in the current market, but that could be set to change. A new generation of enthusiasts has become partial to offerings from that decade, pushing values up pretty rapidly. Whether a 1979 Corvette will ever command a price comparable to a 1969 version is impossible to know, but if their popularity continues growing, they could become less accessible to the average enthusiast in the near future. It is something to consider while you ponder whether you might want to pursue this one further.