For Sale: 1979 Chevrolet Corvette in Bradenton, Florida

1979 Chevrolet Corvette �€" 350ci V8, 4-Speed Manual, T-Tops, Corvette Red Why This Car Is Special The 1979 Chevrolet Corvette holds a production record that still stands today. Chevrolet built 53,807 Corvettes that model year, making it the highest-volume production year in the nameplate's history up to that point. That number has never been surpassed. The C3 generation was in the final stretch of its 15-year run, and by 1979 Chevrolet had refined the formula considerably �€" the body was fully restyled from the 1978 redesign, the interior was improved with features borrowed from the pace car edition the year prior, and the standard equipment list grew longer than it had ever been. This was the Corvette at its most accessible, yet it still carried the bones of a genuine American sports car: a fiberglass body, independent suspension at all four corners, and a small-block V8 backed by a 4-speed manual gearbox. This particular 1979 Chevrolet Corvette is finished in Corvette Red over a black leather interior �€" a color pairing that defined the car's era and remains the most recognizable combination the C3 ever wore. The odometer reads 66,706 miles, which for a car of this age suggests it was driven and enjoyed rather than hidden away, but not used up. The underside shots tell an important part of the story: the floorpan and frame rails are solid and well-coated, with no visible rot or patch work �€" a meaningful detail on any 45-year-old car, and especially important on a Corvette where the steel ladder frame is the structural core beneath that fiberglass shell. Features List - 350ci 5.7L V8 engine - 4-Speed manual transmission - T-Top removable roof panels - Limited-slip differential - 4-wheel power disc brakes - Power steering - Air conditioning - Power windows - Tilt and telescopic steering column - Black leather bucket seats - Center console - Full gauge cluster with tachometer - Electric clock - Rear window defogger - Rally wheels - BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires - Dual exhaust - Sony Bluetooth stereo - Fiberglass body Mechanical The engine under the hood is the L48 350ci 5.7-liter V8, which was the standard engine for 1979. In that model year it was rated at 195 horsepower �€" a figure that looks modest on paper, but context matters. The early 1970s emissions and compression ratio cuts had bottomed out, and Chevrolet was beginning to recover power numbers by the end of the decade. More importantly, the 350 small-block is one of the most proven, parts-supported V8 engines ever built. Rebuilds are straightforward, performance upgrades are well-documented, and finding a knowledgeable mechanic is never a problem. The engine bay photos show the block and accessories in honest, unrestored condition �€" this car has not been detailed to hide its history. The 4-speed manual transmission is the configuration most drivers of this era actually wanted. In 1979, the majority of Corvette buyers were still ordering the manual, and the close-ratio or wide-ratio Muncie or Borg-Warner 4-speed was a defining part of the driving experience. Paired with a limited-slip differential, this car puts power to the pavement without the loss of control that an open diff invites under throttle. Four-wheel power disc brakes were a Corvette hallmark going back to 1965, and by 1979 the system was well sorted �€" significantly better stopping hardware than most of what was on the road at the time. The underside photos confirm the independent rear suspension with its distinctive multi-link geometry, which gave the C3 a handling advantage over most American cars of the period. Interior The black leather interior is in used but honest condition. The bucket seats show the kind of creasing and patina that accumulates on genuine leather over decades of real use �€" nothing torn or structurally compromised, but this is not a concours cabin. That said, the dashboard, door panels, and center console are all intact and present correctly. The steering wheel, a three-spo