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Ready To Cruise: 1979 Chevrolet Corvette

UPDATE 6/10/18 – The auction ends later today!

FROM 6/6/18 – If you follow the site, then you may recognize this Corvette. Josh and I found it while out doing errands and ended up buying it on the spot. We have since fixed a few little things, but have mostly just enjoyed cruising around in it. The only thing we wish it had was a manual transmission. Well as luck would have it, Josh found another ’79 parked along the road with a “for sale” sign in the window! It had a manual transmission so we couldn’t resist. Now this one has to go to help fund that purchase. It’s located in Boise, Idaho and is listed here on eBay with no reserve!

Inside the leather seats put off a good smell and the steering wheel appears to have been rewrapped. When we bought this car the center console was covered with a wood grain look overlay. We quickly removed that and replaced the Audiovox cassette player with an aftermarket unit that was included with the car. It looks more appropriate and has an auxiliary input. We also repaired the sagging t-top headliners and cleaned things up a bit. Besides the nonfunctional clock and jumpy speedo, there isn’t much else to do in here.

Besides an oil change and a new transmission modulator valve we haven’t had to do much under the hood. Someone put a cheap plastic fan shroud in there so that should be replaced at some point. It takes a couple pumps of the pedal to start in the morning so I’d probably want to rebuild that carb at some point too. It pulls good and has a nice growl though. Drive it as-is or save up your pennies and install a pair of headers and dual exhaust to release even more ponies!

This Vette is not perfect, but it’s a nice driver-quality car. There are a few scratches here and there but overall it presents very well and is a pleasure to drive. Nothing beats peering out over those curved front fenders while listening to the growl of that V8! This car will make someone a nice summer daily driver and we may regret selling it after suffering through a few stoplights with our manual transmission car. It’s fun to experience new things though and we hope this one goes to a good home. Please look through all the photos and pleased post your questions below!

Comments

  1. Avatar Stephen Walton

    Hey—-is the A/C working?

    Like 5
    • Avatar Jesse Mortensen Staff

      Good question. The system is all there, but we have never even tested it. The compressor looks original so plan on replacing that and checking the system for leaks. It shouldn’t cost a lot to get it going, but would require some work.

      Like 1
      • Avatar ken TILLY Member

        How much effort is involved in checking to see if the a/c works Jesse? There must be a switch in there somewhere surely.

        Like 14
      • Avatar Jesse Mortensen Staff

        We could see that the compressor was disconnected under the hood.

        Like 0
  2. Avatar Michael

    Nice car!

    Like 4
  3. Avatar 2cool2say

    I’m thinking a factory in-dash 8-track player would help you sell this car.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Jesse Mortensen Staff

      I believe it was originally an eight track car actually. The glove box has evidence of the eight track holder.

      Like 3
  4. Avatar OIL SLICK

    8 track would not. Worst audio system ever invented.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Michael

      Agreed. Hated 8 tracks. Especially when during the middle of a song it faded out, clicked to the next track and faded back in. I remember the song “Tramontane” on Foreigner’s Double Vision tape did that. It drove me nuts.

      Like 6
      • Avatar Dean

        Neil Young’s “Cowgirl in the Sand” was another

        Like 4
      • Avatar TinCanSailor

        I had to laugh when I read that comment. To this day, when I listen to songs of the 8-track era, I imagine the fade down, “click” and the fade up. Also, Tramontane was a great example… thanks for the memories!

        Like 5
      • Avatar trcrtps

        The worst was “In A Gadda Da Vida”. I had to buy a portable cassette player and the cassette tape just to hear the entire song.

        Like 4
      • Avatar MSG Bob

        The one that got me was Blood, Sweat and Tears (second album?). Right in the middle of “Lucretia McEvil” — “Soon he’ll be takin’ out his due” –pause– KA-CHUNK! –“What you goin’ to do?”

        Like 1
    • Avatar Willee gee

      It was a joke.

      Like 0
      • Avatar Rick Rothermel

        Eight tracks? Ga-CHUNK…

        Like 1
  5. Avatar CanuckCarGuy

    Not normally a fan of the glass back C3, but in white with the rally wheels this one looks very sharp; without a rear spoiler it looks much cleaner…a more subtle appearance.

    Like 6
  6. Avatar 86 Vette Convertible

    Looks pretty good to me. Good luck on selling it.

    Like 5
  7. Avatar PRA4SNW

    GLWS!

    The 79 – 81 Vettes have really grown on me. There is one just down the road from me – a Red ’80 L82 – that I stare at every time the garage door is open.

    I thought that I was through with C3s after owning one for nearly 30 years, but these late model years and their prices are getting more and more attractive to me. Plus, they are easily modified.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Jesse Mortensen Staff

      Yeah they are currently bargains. I predict they will be going up in value soon. The earlier ones are expensive and these can be just as much fun.

      Like 4
      • Avatar PRA4SNW

        Just as much fun, with more comfort included. My 70 was fun, but these have way more creature comforts.

        And it’s easy to bring it up to the performance of the earlier ones. Heck, half the decent ones I see for sale have been modified already.

        Like 3
  8. Avatar R Soul

    I have a white 79 with red leather interior. These bubble back vettes do look sharp in white.

    Like 6
  9. Avatar Frank Sumatra

    If you wouldn’t mind sharing the information, I would be curious to know the approximate age range of the purchaser. I am predicting 50+. I am convinced these cars have no appeal to anyone under 30 and I am also convinced they are missing a great opportunity for a fun, entry-level car.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Jesse Mortensen Staff

      Well, Josh and I are both in our early thirties. I think cost probably has more to do with it than appeal. This is the car that most people think of when they hear the word Corvette!

      Like 4
    • Avatar Josh Mortensen Staff

      I think the cost of entry has been a major barrier for most of the younger enthusiasts. I wanted one when I was a teenager, but I just couldn’t get the money together to buy one. I even had a chance to buy a low mileage one from a little old lady, she only wanted $3,500 but I just couldn’t scrape up the money in time. That was 13 years ago and I still regret not figuring out a way to buy it!

      Like 8
      • Avatar 86 Vette Convertible

        I think it depends on what you’re calling the ‘cost of entry’. There are Vettes out there that can be gotten for a decent price. Happens in my area people think there’s a bar of gold buried in there some place and price it accordingly, assuming it’s a C3. C4’s and even some C5’s can be still gotten for a decent price.
        From the people I’ve talked to, it’s not so much the car as things like maintenance and insurance that kills it. Some of the new cars have performance better than older Vettes – score one for the new stuff. Insurance for a young person can be out-of-the-park on a Vette vs a Toyota – score another one for the new stuff. Face it, most of the new stuff hasn’t aged out so parts and maintenance can be gotten on them much easier than a 20-30 year old car – score a third one for the new stuff. Face it, most kids have never turned a wrench and most schools appear to no longer have things like automotive classes – score a 4th one for the new stuff.

        Put it into perspective – back in 1979 I looked at a 69 roadster. Beautiful, 350-350 4 speed, hardtop with the car. Body was immaculate other than one scratch from putting the hardtop on and off. Car went for $3500, insurance was over that a year. Imagine paying the price of the car every year for insurance!

        I think that’s why kids don’t get into them more.

        Like 8
      • Avatar cyclemikey

        I don’t pay any premium for the insurance on either my C5 or C7.

        Score one for the old farts.

        :)

        Like 4
  10. Avatar Kerry Dahl

    You stated this had a manual transmission but the picture clearly shows it an automatic!

    Like 0
    • Avatar Jesse Mortensen Staff

      No, I said that we were selling this one because we found another Corvette with a manual.

      Like 4
      • Avatar Kerry Dahl

        I stand corrected, Jesse! Thank you!

        Like 0
  11. Avatar Brian Lee Weyeneth

    I’ve toyed with the idea of selling my 77 L48 for years; owned the last 15 and driven 9000 miles in that time. Black and red leather, fully optioned, auto. I’ve watched the market go up and down on them. I just don’t drive it anymore.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Jesse Mortensen Staff

      Please consider listing it here on the site!

      Like 0
  12. Avatar John B

    This ’79 brings back good memories. Right about 15 grand when new. I was 19 then and drove a good number of these at a local Chevy dealer. The L82 version cost nearly two thousand more. Took forever to prep them, lots of little bugaboos to sort out!

    Like 2
  13. Avatar Howard

    Virtually all carbureted cars require a couple of pumps on the accelerator pedal before starting after sitting overnight. They did from the time they were new. On fuel injected cars the fuel is still pressurized when the engine is off, that is why they start without touching the accelerator after sitting.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Jesse Mortensen Staff

      Good point Howard. I still think it would benefit from a rebuild and tune.

      Like 0
  14. Avatar Johnny Joseph

    Had a 78 in the softer shade of yellow than the really popular one. Great thing about it (and this one in white) is the car can be filthy from a rainstorm but from 15 feet or further away, it looks gorgeous. Strange but true. If it’s got a good detail on it, they just don’t show dirt until you are standing next to the car. I had my top end rebuilt to get it up closer to 200 choked and gagging ponies. Lord the EPA nearly ruined the American muscle car hobby in the 70’s. In August of 1985 GM offered incredible interest rates and being a Teamster (Local 706, Chicago newspaper drivers) and making a nice living driving for The Sun Times, I traded the Vette in for my 1986 black IROC Z. I got 2.9% for 48 months and I remember that I did the math as I got closer to paying her off and I had paid a total of $2,400 in interest over the full life of the loan! She was stored on blocks from November thru April and I drove her out here to SoCal in September of 1990. She was my everyday car when I was in Cardiff By The Sea (North County San Diego, also known as PARADISE) and I enjoyed her until selling her to my very good friend B Rad. He changed the chip and changed the exhaust to get the Z more like the 5.7 because, truth be told, when I sold her to him she was getting tired, had about 100,000 on the clock and was not that much more powerful than my Vette that I had started with. I personally thought that the wheels that Chevy was using on the end of the C3 run were some of the best wheels that Chevy ever used. I say that because this 79 has the old reliable Rallye wheel, which never goes out of style. It may just be a ride to go styling around in on a summer day or evening, but they are still available for very good prices and it’s only a matter of time before they start climbing just like the “Disco Era” Trans Am’s and my old IROC have been the last few years. Here is the IROC. I had a small wing put on the back, stripped off all stickers and had an artist friend write “Eat em And Smile” as a tribute to Diamond Dave. If you have to ask, I can’t explain… GLWTA.

    Like 3
  15. Avatar cyclemikey

    Is this the sexiest Corvette ever built? No. But it’s a pretty honest example of what it is. It’s a way to get into a running, driving, vintage Corvette for essentially pocket change. Don’t overthink it.

    And at this price point, I’d think the automatic would be an advantage. People looking to break into the vintage car hobby don’t know how to drive a manual, for the most part. Sad but true. Good luck with the Ebay sale, guys!

    Like 1
  16. Avatar Henryfrederick

    It’s not hard to change from auto to stick. I restored a 74 stingray but didn’t like the auto. I found one being parted out. Nothing has to be cut to do the swap. Only have to weld the ball stud bracket to frame for the clutch a bar. I since sold the 74 and found a good deal on a 80 l48. Just painted it. It’s an auto which is ok since if I want to shift I have my 4spd. Cuda. The late c3s don’t have a big following but I like em.

    Like 1
    • Avatar BRAKTRCR

      Always liked those rims

      Like 0
  17. Avatar Jesse Mortensen Staff

    Oh, I forgot to mention that the front suspension has been rebuilt with new bushings too!

    Like 1
  18. Avatar BRAKTRCR

    Your eBay ad was/ is pretty vague. You have a lot more information here, than in the 1 sentence eBay ad. How come?

    Like 0
    • Avatar Jesse Mortensen Staff

      I included a link to this post so there was no reason to rehash everything.

      Like 1
  19. Avatar PRA4SNW

    How much did you get for it?

    I hate the new EBay policy where they show you a diferent car after the auction you are interested in is over. I hope they change back to the old way.

    Like 0
    • Avatar leiniedude Member

      Hi PRA4SNW, I agree on the new EBay policy also. EBay, sell, sell, sell. Anyway, I have found if I am watching a rig I like and it shows an alternative vehicle, I go toward the top of the page. There is a blue header with this inside, ‘The listing you’re looking for is no longer available. Check out this similar item we found for you.’ The word listing is highlited in blue. Click it and the original post comes up. Have not found the magic button for vehicles I do not watch. Take care, Mike. Ended: Jun 10, 2018 , 8:00PM
      Winning bid:US $6,100.00
      [ 45 bids ]

      Like 0
  20. Avatar leiniedude Member

    And I still am not getting new comments. You?

    Like 0
  21. Avatar leiniedude Member

    I added that a couple of days ago, thanks, Mike. OOOPs, sorry about the size!

    Like 0

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