Tired Tires: 1979 Chevrolet Corvette L82/Auto – STILL $12,000

by | Apr 2023 | Classifinds, Sports Car Saturday

(To stop the slideshow and expand the pictures, click on the current photograph below)

April 12, 2023 Update – Despite no sale in three months, the seller of this 1979 L82/Auto-equipped Corvette continues to ask $12,000 in the newest Craigslist ad they posted to replace their expired listing.

March 15, 2023 Update – The seller replaced their expiring listing with a fresh Craigslist ad.  The pictures, description and $12,000 continue to remain the same.

February 13, 2023 Update – After just ten days, the seller replaced their last Craigslist ad with a fresh listing in which the pictures, description, and asking price all remain the same.

February 3, 2023 Update – The seller replaced their expiring Craigslist ad with a fresh listing in which the pictures, description, and asking price all remain the same.

Over the course of its seventy-year production run, the Chevrolet Corvette experienced milestone model years usually followed by less memorable ones. In 1978, Chevrolet celebrated Corvette’s 25th anniversary (it’s hard to believe that was fifty years ago as I write this) by offering two-toned Silver Anniversary and Indy 500 Pace Car editions highlighting the car’s interior updates and back glass. When 1979 rolled around, the updates were minor, the most notable being a slight bump in horsepower due to a less restrictive exhaust system.  The 1979 Corvette also represented two milestones for the brand: the first to have a base price over $10,000 and the first model year to exceed 50,000 units.

This driver quality, medium blue over Oyster Leather, 1979 Chevrolet Corvette for sale currently listed on Craigslist in Virginia Beach, Virginia, now features a rebuilt 355 cubic in crate motor TurboHydramatic 350 automatic transmission and fresh rear suspension components.

Currently offered for $12,000, Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask is below the one-year rolling average of this guide’s summary for other 1979 Corvettes.  By clicking on the green dots in the graph below, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you evaluate the price of the C3 featured here:

As a second data point, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls between this guide’s #2 Very Good” estimate of $11,600 and its #1 “Excellent” appraisal of $16,900.

Following all of the changes and buzz around the 25th Anniversary and Pace Car Replicas in 1978, the 26th edition of the Corvette marks 1979 as a year of refinement.  The highback bucket seats, introduced with the Limited Edition in mid-1978, became standard.  The new standard bucket seats include a high pivot point that allows the seat back to fold down level with the luggage area load floor. This makes access to the luggage area easier, and the folded seat back on the passenger side can be used as an extension of the load floor.
 
New options for 1979 include heavy-duty shock absorbers for better ride control, high-intensity high-beam headlamps, an illuminated visor mirror, and an AM/FM stereo radio with a cassette player. Mid-1978 addition to the options list of transparent roof panels, power door locks, and dual rear stereo radio speakers are continued for 1979.
 
The base L48 5.7 liter received a new dual snorkel air cleaner that helped increase the horsepower of the base L48 engine to 195 horsepower (the optional L82 V8’s output remained at 225 horsepower). Also aiding engine output was a larger diameter “Y” pipe behind the emissions converter and new open-flow mufflers to reduce exhaust gas back pressure. Cold engine operation is improved with the trapped vacuum spark advance system, and drivability is enhanced with a new exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system.

The Retro Classic Car YouTube Channel features this Point-of-View (“POV”) video giving the perspective of what it’s like to drive an L82-automatic-equipped 1979 Corvette with a similar Oyster leather interior:

Based on the seller’s recommendation, the first order of business after buying this 1979 Chevrolet Corvette for sale is to replace the tires.  After that, we would focus our attention over the winter on restoring the aged Oyster leather interior to get it ready for the 2023 driving season.

If you are serious about buying this Corvette, you can start the conversation by calling the seller at the contact information provided in their Craigslist ad.  When you connect, please remember to mention you saw their C3 featured here on GuysWithRides.com. Good luck with the purchase!

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1979 Chevy Corvette Beautiful Car and a Great Driver! Tons of work done by the previous owner, including a fresh 355ci engine, Rebuilt Th350 trans, and Rear suspension completely gone through with new bearings, Brakes, Bushings, etc. Few years old paint with some minor blemishes, but super clean underneath! It runs and drives great! The tires are a little old and should be replaced in the near future. Clean and clear title in hand. $12,000 “

Restore or drive as-is: What would you do with this 1979 Chevrolet Corvette for sale?  Please comment below and let us know!

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