1976 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

The popularity of America’s Sports Car, the Chevrolet Corvette, exploded during the 1970s, so much so that Chevy's St. Louis plant could barely keep up with production. It was all thanks to the Corvette’s wonderful combination of sleek styling, V8 power, and handling prowess.  

The 1975 model year saw the first fundamental shift in Corvette’s design pattern since the C3 debuted in 1968. The Corvette once again received changes to its bumpers: both front and rear were given a pair of mini bumperettes (for minor contacts), and the rear was now a single piece plastic affair. The changes helped ’75 become one of Corvette’s most successful sales years ever, even though convertible production was down. 

For 1976, Chevrolet did away with the convertible option and focused solely on producing the best sports car possible. Of course, buyers of the Corvette coupe could still feel the wind in their hair thanks to the coupe’s removable T-tops. Changes included removing the air-extractor vents from the coupe’s rear deck and eliminating the cowl induction in favor of a system that rammed air forward over the radiator support. The standard engine remained a 350-cubic-inch V8, and the interior now featured a four-spoke, leather-wrapped sport steering wheel. 

Highlights 

• C3 Corvette refinished in red paint — originally Dark Brown Poly (69L) — over Buckskin leather interior  

• Powered by a 350-cubic-inch V8 engine rated at 180 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque 

• Three-speed automatic transmission 

• Four-spoke, leather-wrapped sport steering wheel with center horn 

• The chassis number (1Z37L6S423943) decodes as: 

  • 1 – Chevrolet 

  • Z – Corvette 

  • 37 – Coupe 

  • L – Base V8 engine 

  • 6 – 1976 model year 

  • S – St. Louis, Missouri, assembly plant 

  • 423943 – Sequential production number starting at 400001 

Features 

• Two-door, rear-wheel-drive coupe 

• Curved Coca-Cola bottle design 

• Stingray fender emblems 

• Pop-up headlights 

• Dual exhaust  

• Fiberglass bumpers 

• Dual exterior rearview mirrors 

• Faux wood paneling on doors and gear shift plate 

• 15-inch, five-spoke American Racing wheels 

• Power steering 

• Power brakes 

• Turn-knob door locks 

• Four-wheel independent suspension 

• Driver-focused instrumentation: 

  • 160 mph speedometer 

  • 7000 rpm tachometer 

• Center-mounted instrumentation: 

  • Fuel level  

  • Water temperature 

  • Analog clock 

  • Oil pressure 

  • Battery 

• Aftermarket Eclipse AM/FM/CD stereo 

• Rear antenna 

• Lap seatbelts 

• Map pockets on dash in front of passenger 

• Storage compartments and courtesy lights behind the seats 

• Inside hood release 

Known Imperfections 

• Paint chips up front, on passenger fender just behind wheel well, on passenger step plate, and on gear shift plate 

• Paint worn off chrome under foot wells on driver’s side 

• Minor corrosion on underside 

• Leather seats are worn (more so on driver’s side) 

Included 

• Carpeted Corvette mats 

Ownership History 

The consignor of this 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible has owned it since 2013.