If you’ve ever looked at a nice, original and low mileage late 70’s Corvette you know what we mean when we say there’s something left to be desired both in power and fit and finish:  Fans of Chevy’s premier car know that St. Louis’ build reputation was downright horrible.  If you’re looking for a quality car it soon becomes apparent that even an ultra low mileage piece isn’t going to cut it.  You’re looking for a car where someone else spent the money and made the car right, like this one:  A freshly repainted example with a 100% new interior and a new GM crate engine with fully sorted mechanicals make this car look and perform like it should.

This isn’t your standard fluff-and-buff job, as the previous owner not only cared greatly for the car he, being an accountant, kept full records of the car’s restoration.  Final tally?  North of $44,000.  And he only paid $5500 for the car!

The original plan was to drive and enjoy his new toy as-is, and work on the cosmetics as needed.  That went out the window starting in 2006 with new Goodyear Eagle GTII 255/60/15 tires on freshly restored and polished factory rims, as well as nearly $7000 worth of interior work.  New leather upholstery is just the start, as Vintage Auto Trim in Cincinnati replaced the carpet, sun visors, sill top trims, lock knobs, compartment liners and more.  The seat belts were rewebbed, the speakers and grilles are all new and parts as small as the seat nuts and dome lens were changed.  Local Corvette gurus at Corvette Conspiracy topped off the interior with a tilt/telescope column and new leather steering wheel.

Thanks to the GM Heritage Center we have a copy of the car’s original invoice.  This is a nicely equipped car:

1YZ87 Corvette coupe

A31 Power windows

C49 rear defrost

C60 Air conditioning

D35 Sport mirrors

K30 Cruise control

L48 350 V8 engine

MX1 Automatic transmission

N90 Aluminum wheels

QGR 225/70/15 White letter tires

UM2 AM/FM stereo w/8 track

U75 Power antenna

U81 Dual rear speakers

ZX2 Convenience group

58L Corvette Dark Green Metallic

592 Light Beige leather bucket seat interior

Hallmans Chevrolet in Rochester, NY, got the car with a sticker price of $12431.23, ready for the lot.

Fast forward to 2007, when the mechanical and cosmetic transformation took place.  Look underneath and you’ll find nearly every suspension component replaced, from the rebuilt A arms up front to the shocks to the 100% rebuilt brakes to the new poly bushings in the rear suspension.  Corvette Conspiracy, Friedman Auto Center and our own crew worked the car into far better-than-new condition.  There’s a new leaf spring up front, a rebuilt axle out back and new fluids everywhere.  The transmission was resealed and a shift kit was added, the A/C was converted to R134a (using an AC Delco remanufactured compressor, no less) and more.  Again, if it’s a moving part, and it’s under the car, it was replaced or significantly upgraded.  This not only makes the car ready for the road it makes it a lot more fun to be out there with less body roll and more control.

On the outside, the original paint wasn’t fairing too well, so Friedman Collision in Eastlake took it, smoothed it and reapplied the factory dark green color.  A new rear bumper cover replaced the torn original, new badges and weatherstripping went all aroundand new body gaskets are everywhere.  Combined with the beige interior and lightly tinted windows this is a world-class looking sports car.

Last summer the call went out for more power, and a GM 350HO Turn-key crate motor answered.  There really wasn’t anything wrong with the original motor, aside from it being a 180hp L48 unit (you’re free to have it if you’re into the numbers thing) but we’ve never met anyone who would say it’s a fast piece.  The Turn-key nomenclature indicates the car came with an HEI distributor, a Holley carb, all front accessories and nearly everything else to make the motor run.  A set of headers was added for more power, and the stifling Y-pipe and catalytic converters were ditched in favor of straight pipes leading into the factory mufflers.  With Vortec heads, a decent cam, a free-flowing dual plane intake and the headers this motor’s rated at 330hp, or nearly double what the stocker made!

Late 70’s Corvettes are on the rise as people realize these are comfortable cruisers with plenty of style.  Unfortunately, unless they’re completely rebuilt, they’re simply not fun to drive, and can be downright scary at speed.  With the amount of time and energy (and parts and money) lavished upon this car you’re sure to have the best of both worlds!

If you’ve ever looked at a nice, original and low mileage late 70’s Corvette you know what we mean when we say there’s something left to be desired both in power and fit and finish:  Fans of Chevy’s premier car know that St. Louis’ build reputation was downright horrible.  If you’re looking for a quality car it soon becomes apparent that even an ultra low mileage piece isn’t going to cut it.  You’re looking for a car where someone else spent the money and made the car right, like this one:  A freshly repainted example with a 100% new interior and a new GM crate engine with fully sorted mechanicals make this car look and perform like it should.

This isn’t your standard fluff-and-buff job, as the previous owner not only cared greatly for the car he, being an accountant, kept full records of the car’s restoration.  Final tally?  North of $44,000.  And he only paid $5500 for the car!

The original plan was to drive and enjoy his new toy as-is, and work on the cosmetics as needed.  That went out the window starting in 2006 with new Goodyear Eagle GTII 255/60/15 tires on freshly restored and polished factory rims, as well as nearly $7000 worth of interior work.  New leather upholstery is just the start, as Vintage Auto Trim in Cincinnati replaced the carpet, sun visors, sill top trims, lock knobs, compartment liners and more.  The seat belts were rewebbed, the speakers and grilles are all new and parts as small as the seat nuts and dome lens were changed.  Local Corvette gurus at Corvette Conspiracy topped off the interior with a tilt/telescope column and new leather steering wheel.

Thanks to the GM Heritage Center we have a copy of the car’s original invoice.  This is a nicely equipped car:

1YZ87 Corvette coupe

A31 Power windows

C49 rear defrost

C60 Air conditioning

D35 Sport mirrors

K30 Cruise control

L48 350 V8 engine

MX1 Automatic transmission

N90 Aluminum wheels

QGR 225/70/15 White letter tires

UM2 AM/FM stereo w/8 track

U75 Power antenna

U81 Dual rear speakers

ZX2 Convenience group

58L Corvette Dark Green Metallic

592 Light Beige leather bucket seat interior

Hallmans Chevrolet in Rochester, NY, got the car with a sticker price of $12431.23, ready for the lot.

Fast forward to 2007, when the mechanical and cosmetic transformation took place.  Look underneath and you’ll find nearly every suspension component replaced, from the rebuilt A arms up front to the shocks to the 100% rebuilt brakes to the new poly bushings in the rear suspension.  Corvette Conspiracy, Friedman Auto Center and our own crew worked the car into far better-than-new condition.  There’s a new leaf spring up front, a rebuilt axle out back and new fluids everywhere.  The transmission was resealed and a shift kit was added, the A/C was converted to R134a (using an AC Delco remanufactured compressor, no less) and more.  Again, if it’s a moving part, and it’s under the car, it was replaced or significantly upgraded.  This not only makes the car ready for the road it makes it a lot more fun to be out there with less body roll and more control.

On the outside, the original paint wasn’t fairing too well, so Friedman Collision in Eastlake took it, smoothed it and reapplied the factory dark green color.  A new rear bumper cover replaced the torn original, new badges and weatherstripping went all aroundand new body gaskets are everywhere.  Combined with the beige interior and lightly tinted windows this is a world-class looking sports car.

Last summer the call went out for more power, and a GM 350HO Turn-key crate motor answered.  There really wasn’t anything wrong with the original motor, aside from it being a 180hp L48 unit (you’re free to have it if you’re into the numbers thing) but we’ve never met anyone who would say it’s a fast piece.  The Turn-key nomenclature indicates the car came with an HEI distributor, a Holley carb, all front accessories and nearly everything else to make the motor run.  A set of headers was added for more power, and the stifling Y-pipe and catalytic converters were ditched in favor of straight pipes leading into the factory mufflers.  With Vortec heads, a decent cam, a free-flowing dual plane intake and the headers this motor’s rated at 330hp, or nearly double what the stocker made!

Late 70’s Corvettes are on the rise as people realize these are comfortable cruisers with plenty of style.  Unfortunately, unless they’re completely rebuilt, they’re simply not fun to drive, and can be downright scary at speed.  With the amount of time and energy (and parts and money) lavished upon this car you’re sure to have the best of both worlds!