1978 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe

1978 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Coupe 300 HP GM 350

75,000-mile chassis Approximately 25,000 miles on GM 350 performance engine Automatic T-Tops Garage kept Recent rear suspension bushing replacement

If you've been looking for a solid, honest C3 Corvette that you can enjoy rather than take on as a restoration project, this 1978 Corvette deserves a look.

I've owned and cared for this Corvette for many years. It has approximately 75,000 miles on the chassis and approximately 25,000 miles on the replacement GM 350 engine.

The car is now located in Boise, Idaho.

300-HP GM Chevrolet 350

One of the car's biggest advantages is its engine.

At approximately 50,000 miles, the original engine suffered a catastrophic coolant-loss failure and seized. Rather than rebuild the damaged engine, a professional mechanic installed a GM Chevrolet 350 (5.7L) Special Performance long block.

According to the original GM installation documentation, the engine is rated at 300 horsepower at 5,000 RPM. The replacement engine has been driven only approximately 25,000 miles since installation and runs strong.

The original cast-iron intake manifold and carburetor were retained, maintaining much of the factory appearance while providing substantially more performance than the original 1978 engine.

The exhaust was later upgraded with Hooker headers and a professionally fabricated custom dual-exhaust system, including dual mufflers and dual catalytic converters. Documentation for the engine and exhaust work is included.

Features

GM Chevrolet 350 (5.7L) Special Performance long block
300 HP @ 5,000 RPM per original GM documentation
Approximately 25,000 miles on replacement engine
Approximately 75,000 miles on chassis
Automatic transmission professionally rebuilt
T-Tops
Hooker headers
Custom dual exhaust
Dual catalytic converters and mufflers
Factory air conditioning
Power steering
Power brakes
New brakes
Recent rear suspension bushing replacement
Upper and lower control arms replaced with upgraded units
Idler arm replaced
Garage kept
Clean title

Condition

The Corvette presents as a good, honest driver-quality C3.

The car has been repainted in a non-original color. The paint has good shine and I would rate the exterior approximately 7/10. There are some minor chips, but no known fiberglass cracks.

The interior is also approximately 7/10. The seats have been professionally reskinned and the carpet has been replaced. The dashboard is in good condition with no cracks.

All gauges function properly except the clock.

The frame is solid with no known rust issues, and there are no known fluid leaks.

The factory air conditioning was recently tested on a warm day and begins blowing cool air within about a minute. As expected of a late-1970s factory system, it does not cool like a modern vehicle, but it is functioning.

A Few Things You Should Know

This is a 40-plus-year-old Corvette, not a new car, and I believe in being straightforward about what I'm selling.
Repainted in a non-original color
Clock is inoperative
Carpet is somewhat faded
Normal C3 squeaks and creaks
Factory A/C performance is typical of a late-1970s system
Like many carbureted classics, the engine benefits from a short warm-up period before driving. If placed in gear immediately after a cold start, it may stall. After warming up for several minutes, it runs and drives normally. I have chosen to leave any further carburetor tuning to the next owner.

Documentation Included

The car comes with documentation for much of its history and major work, including:
Original GM documentation for the 350 Special Performance engine installation
Hooker header documentation
Meineke receipts for the custom exhaust system
Additional maintenance records where available

The Bottom Line

This is not being represented as a numbers-matching or restored Corvette.

It is an honest, well-maintained C3 driver with a documented 300-HP GM performance engine, approximately 25,000 miles on that engine, a professionally rebuilt automatic transmission, desirable T-Tops, upgraded exhaust, and a solid history of maintenance.

The rear suspension bushings were recently replaced, addressing another area of age-related maintenance.

If you're looking for a C3 to drive and enjoy rather than restore, this one is worth seeing.
Located in Boise, Idaho.

Serious inquiries are welcome. I'm happy to provide additional photos, documentation, or answer questions about the car.