1980 Chevrolet Corvette C3

For 1980, the Chevy Corvette shed nearly 250 pounds and received minor restyling. Items that were given reductions in weight were the hood and doors. The glass even became thinner. The body panels were urethane-coated and there were new fiberglass bumper structures. The lift-off roof panels were made of low-density microscopic glass beads that were very lightweight.

In front, there was a deeply recessed split grille that housed integral parking lamps. The front fender air vents had function black louvers.

Under the bonnet were a 350 cubic-inch V-8 that had aluminum intake manifolds and a cast-iron block. The vehicles sent to California had a 305 cubic-inch V8 unit that had a stainless steel exhaust manifold. The base engine lost five horsepower, while the optional V8 gained 5 hp. The optional V8 was similar in dimensions to the 350 unit, except it had a 9.0:1 compression ratio and produced 230 horsepower.

The four-speed manual gearbox got new gears and the Turbo Hydra-Matic transmissions added a lockup torque converter that engaged at around 30 MPH.

The 1979 Corvette had power windows, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, and Four Season air conditioner as optional equipment. For the 1980 Vette, these items became standard. The three bin storage that was behind the seat was changed and became a two bin. Exterior colors were black, red, dark green, dark blue, dark claret, dark brown, frost beige, silver, white and yellow. Interior colors included red, black, oyster, claret, dark blue or doeskin.

The two-door coupe was priced at 13,140 and 40,614 examples found interested buyers. 53,807 were sold in 1979 and 40,606 in 1981. There were 5,726 Corvettes fitted with the four-speed gearbox and 5,069 were given the L82 engine. Another popular option was the Gymkhana suspension, which 9,907 buyers selected to have fitted to their car.

Third Generation Corvette
The 1980 Chevy Corvette was part of the third generation, patterned after the Mako Shark II concept car, and produced from 1968 to 1982. Among the features of the 'Gen 3' Corvettes were the T-top removable roof panels, the 25th Anniversary Corvette (1978), and the introduction of monikers of Collector Edition, LT-1, Z07, and ZR-1. The 3rd Generation was also the first Corvette used to pace the Indianapolis 500.

The Fourth Generation that followed (1984 through 1996) represented the first complete redesign of the Corvette since 1963. Due to production issues, only 43 prototypes were built for the 1983 model year and all (except one) were destroyed or serialized to 1984.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2011