1980 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

Get into the Corvette hobby for less than the price of a used Honda with this brilliant black 1980 Corvette coupe. Beautiful original black paint, a beautiful Oyster leather interior, and T-tops for the open air experience make this a great-looking summertime cruiser that you'll enjoy far more than the bargain price would suggest.

Yes, the black paint is original, and it is remarkably well preserved and looks so good that more than one of us thought it was a fairly recent repaint. Although 1980 was nearing the end of the line for the C3, it didn't diminish the iconic looks one bit, and even today these are perhaps the most distinctive Corvettes ever built. Everyone loves them. And when they look this good, falling in love is easy. The hatchback profile greatly improved Corvette aerodynamics as well as the car's overall look, and it's enhanced by the ducktail spoiler. All the trim is in good condition as well, including the stainless rocker panels that add a bit of flash to an otherwise very monochromatic car and the L82 badges that indicate this is a top-of-the-line model.

The 38,343 miles shown are authentic, although this car could easily claim half as many miles based on the condition of the interior. The cool Oyster leather buckets show age-appropriate wear but no serious injuries, extraordinary for almost 35 years of entertainment. With the T-tops off, you'll appreciate the light color, and it works very well to hide dirt, so it always looks great and has aged gracefully unlike many of its siblings (I'm looking at you, 1978 Collector's Edition). Corvettes typically came loaded with options, and this one is no exception, carrying things like power brakes, power steering, power windows, power locks, a tilt wheel, and factory A/C. The original AM/FM radio has been upgraded to a later AM/FM/CD head unit that looks right at home in the original console and all the gauges are fully functional.

The 350 cubic inch L82 under the hood is the original, numbers-matching engine, and in 1980 it was the top choice. Still wearing a correct Rochester 4-barrel under the twin-snorkel air cleaner, the engine bay is highly original, showing the usual wear but no glaring issues. A recent detail has brightened things up and you can see many of the original decals and markings are still in place. The exhaust system is new and includes a single high-flow catalytic converter in place of the restrictive original, and the twin pipes out back bark out a soundtrack that you'll never get tired of hearing. The TH350 3-speed automatic transmission has crisp shifts and quick reflexes and the suspension is a good compromise between handling and comfort, making this Corvette very easy to drive. Four-wheel discs have been standard equipment since 1965, and the C3s featured some of the most powerful binders of the era. Machined aluminum wheels are just the right compliment to the black paint, and wear 255/60/15 BFGoodrich T/A radials.

Fast, comfortable, and timeless, this is a great entry-level 'Vette that delivers more than most with an awesome pedigree and survivor status, all for a bargain price. Call today!