Vehicle Description
What this 1980 Corvette doesn't need is more eyeball appeal, what
with the vivid Red paint and bright Light Beige interior. It's a
fantastic survivor that's still in great shape with a scant 27,943
actual miles on the clock, and the looks to back it up. With 350 V8
power under the hood, a smooth-shifting automatic transmission, and
a comfortable A/C interior, this 'Lil Red Corvette is more than
just a looker. If it's pedigreed performance you seek, this 'Vette
delivers without a massive price tag to go with it.
C3 Corvettes are established icons of performance and despite the
ever-growing values of these beauties, prices are still reasonable,
giving new enthusiasts the chance to get into great cars without
spending a fortune. Many of the most reputable classic car
publications agree, the C3 Corvette is among the best bang for your
buck in the entire industry. The bad news is that finding a good C3
can be difficult simply because they haven't gotten the same love
and care throughout the years like some of the earlier Corvette
generations. The good news is that this awesome survivor will get
you into all the great Corvette events and looks great doing it.
Red paint was one of the most popular choices in 1980, and after
Prince immortalized the "Little Red Corvette" in song forever, it's
probably the most popular today. It isn't dated like beige or gold
or brown and thanks to years of care by guys who treated this car
like something special, it remains in great condition. Sure, there
are some signs of use and age - the usual 'GM checking' and light
swirls here and there, and predictably the urethane bumpers fore
and aft are a slight shade off from the rest of the car, but all
that's typical for a survivor of this vintage. Although, the fit
and finish are much better than you might expect, not the
'perfectly imperfect' many of these C3s boast, and the red paint
still has a great shine that really turns heads. There's no denying
the appealing shape of the C3 and when you show up in this car with
the T-Tops off, people definitely notice.
The bright Light Beige interior is definitely an upgrade over the
somewhat odd Oyster upholstery this Corvette was born with, and if
you're driving a Corvette your goal probably isn't a low profile
anyway, so the upgrade is welcomed. For me, a light color like this
up against the vivid red finish is the absolute right choice,
offering elegance and flash in equal measure, and the reupholstered
interior is in really good shape. The seats wear elegant covers
with nary any comfort marks, the matching door panels at the flanks
are very clean, the gray carpets are plush, the headliner is
smooth, and the dash is remarkably clean - a rare sight on a T-Top
car from the 1980s. Those are clean, original gauges ahead of the
driver and inside the center stack, and although the console and
original steering wheel show some light signs of use, they're in
very solid shape as well. Luxury features were common in the C3,
and this one carries factory A/C, power windows and locks, cruise
control, and a tilt/telescoping steering column, as well as the
original Delco AM/FM stereo that keeps things 100% stock. You'll
also find that the "trunk" area is in good shape with a few clever
storage areas and even a vanity shade.
The 350 cubic inch L48 V8 made 190 horsepower in 1980, which seems
modest today but the torque makes this car feel a lot more powerful
than the numbers would suggest. We pulled the numbers and this is
indeed the original, numbers-matching engine, and it has not been
modified or abused in the last 41 or so years. You'll note that the
factory air cleaner inhales through twin snorkels for a bit more
performance, and all the top-end equipment is stock. The TH350
3-speed automatic transmission slips through the gears without a
hitch and the dual exhaust system looks completely back to stock,
all the way down to the catalytic convertor and chambered mufflers
that improve the soundtrack. The chassis is remarkably clean and
incredibly solid, including the aforementioned exhaust system and
all the suspension components, further evidence of the scant 27,943
actual miles. Fat 255/60/15 Goodyear Eagle GTII white-letter
radials give it a crouching stance that only adds to the car's
aggressive look, and they're wrapped around a set of shiny slotted
mags that are the perfect endcap to this survivor-grade
Corvette.
Investment grade? Maybe, this market gets stronger by the day.
Either way, if you want to have fun in a car with super-low mileage
on its side, you'll have a hard time doing better than this
Corvette. Call today!