The mid 1970 Corvettes have been the last of the C3s to start appreciating. Maybe it is because the cars were slow and the engines lacked the power that many buyers were accustomed to in this American sports car. I think they look great from a design standpoint. This example is a 1976 Chevrolet Corvette. The car is located in Hollywood, Florida and is listed for sale here on eBay. There are 28 days remaining in the auction and the seller has set a Buy It Now Price of $11,600. The seller lists the car as a convertible which it is not. The last convertible C3 was produced in 1975. He also lists the car as AWD (All Wheel Drive) which it is not. I would be surprised if it was even equipped with a posi traction rear differential. Maybe he is referring to the independent suspension. We appreciate Larry D for submitting this car for us to admire and review.
The seller does not state what engine is in the car but since there is no L82 designation on the hood, we should assume that it is the base engine which was designated at the L48. The L48 350 cubic inch V8 engine was rated at 180 horsepower in 1976. The optional L82 350 cubic inch V8 engine was rated at 210 horsepower. One change in 1976 from the prior year was that the air induction from the cowl was replaced with an air cleaner that was ducted over the radiator. This helped reduced the noise level in the cabin.
The interior of this car looks original. The Vega GT style steering wheel was a complaint by many enthusiasts and was eventually replaced but was installed on 1977-1979 cars if tilt steering was not ordered. Chevrolet called this interior Firethorn Red (Code 712) and came in vinyl or optional leather. The exterior paint (Classic White Code 10L) was repainted about 25 years ago but looks to have been well maintained as claimed by the seller. The odometer reading is 6,300 and the seller reveals that the car has rolled over once it the Corvette has traveled 106,300 miles.
A change in 1976 was the introduction of steel floor panels that protected the cabin from the heat generated by the catalytic converter. The steel floor panels actually weighed less than the prior year’s fiberglass floors. Chevrolet claimed that the steel floors also reduced the noise levels in the interior of the car. Another new feature in 1976 was that cast aluminum wheels were made available as a $299 option. This car is equipped with that option. It looks like a nice car and should sell for $9,000 to $10,000.
What a nice way to go slow!
With that mileage it should sell for $7,000 maximum. Very nice looking car but a base engine, automatic, high-mile Corvette is not worth much more. Let’s see what the C3 market says.
I sold my 76 for 5k
Anyone else remember The Magician with Bill Bixby?Steering wheel same as my brother’s 78 Camaro,just saying.
Yes I remember “The Magician” along with the Vette and the Plane.
Most under powered Corvette made. Wouldn’t pull a wet noodle outta cats butt
Even so, but what a great candidate for more. Horsepower that is.
Here’s a picture of a 75 noodle that had to back off to avoid running up the rear of a 12.51/4 mile Nova race car. I was behind the Nova and when he slammed it I then punched the 75 in first. When I hit second gear I went a little sideways and then I had to back off. If we were side by side I would have driven around him. If you know what you are doing, It’s easy to make these C-3s very fast.
Your comment cracked me up! I’ve lived in Germany, 20 years. And over there they say for a slow car, it wouldn’t pulls fish from the plate. I’ve always wondered what the American equivalent to that was! Thank you! Lol
The “L” in the VIN indicates this is an L-48, though it would have been nice if the seller had included an under hood shot. Aluminum wheels were optional in 76, but those are 80-82 Corvette wheels, with 82 center caps. The car appears to have a fiberglass replacement rear bumper cover, and is missing the “CORVETTE” letters from the rear bumper. And it does have Posi, because it’s been standard on Corvettes since 71.
The steel floors were a big improvement to 76-82 Corvette interior comfort, but they’ve also become a rust problem for those years.
Factory air, power windows, Custom leather interior, automatic and likely, PS and PB make this a pretty typical 76, and probably a nice cruiser for someone, if it’s mechanically and structurally sound.
Even though it was the most underpowered vette at that time or all time, that year it was the second fastest production car. Right behind a Firebird 400 if I remember. The HP was way down, but it still had tons of torque. Don’t get me wrong, it was not fast, but for that year (1976) it wasn’t that bad.
I think your comment applies to L-82 equipped 1976 Corvettes only.
Had one and all I remember is spending $1000 every year to get it going. I lived in Springfield, IL and took it to the Bloomington Gold event. The trans verse leaf spring broke and had it fixed at the Gold show. We sold it for $7000 with about 65K miles on it. It was blue
love the wheels
My 2nd Corvette was a twin to this one except for the wheels. I loved that car and drove it for 5 years. Though low HP, it was plenty for me as we just enjoyed the ride! Now my C5 has 345 HP and we still just enjoy the ride!
Apparently, the owner thinks that T-Tops qualify the car to be a convertible:
“1976 Chevrolet Corvette, T-top convertible in EXCELLENT condition!”
Owned for 2 years, yet has always been garaged. Quite an assumption.
Are those original ’76 wheels, or from a later model?
I had a 1976 Corvette with L82 and 4 spd and my leaf spring also broke, nice car to cruise in .
Like several others I had a ’76 Black on Black back in about 2002, mine also had the rear chrome rack. Not a bad driver but was underpowered as most were due to all the smog regulations etc. If I recall correctly this was the last year of the Stingray name. When the Auto Trans. started to go on my car I did a quick trade to dump it and swapped for a nice ’86 Camaro Berlinetta, one of my better car deals ever.
Unless the trim tag read “SPEC” and it was painted by the dealer, there were no black 1976 Corvettes. Maybe you meant 1977. I think black was offered as a standard color again in 1977.
It was for sure a ’76, only now when I think back it was probably repainted since it also was blue pin striped, and I do not think any Corvette that vintage was pinstriped.? It had a good look to it in Black, and the paint job was very good quality at the time.
Give the seller some credit. While there are some errors, he didn’t try to pawn the car off as having ” only 6,000 miles”.
I sold my black 77 L48 with red leather interior for $10k, 80k miles. Exactly what I paid for it 15 years earlier
I had a ‘76 with the L-48. I got it up to 105 and the front end started lifting from the air getting under it. My ‘90 LS400 could get to 130, run as smooth as glass and still have pedal left.