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Frame-Off Restored 1978 Chevrolet Corvette C3 with 5,710 Miles

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$15,000
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Car Details
Year
1978
Make
Chevrolet
Model
Corvette
VIN
1287L8S405154
Mileage Shown
5,710 mi
Transmission
3-Speed Automatic
Title
Clean
Color
Mahogany Metallic
Auction Details
Category
Vehicles
Location
Poughkeepsie, NY
Zip Code
12603
Country
United States

About this vehicle

For 1978, Chevrolet's 25th-anniversary Corvette landed as the most thoroughly reworked C3 in a long while — the new fixed-glass fastback rear window changed the roofline entirely, opened up rearward visibility, and carved out actual usable luggage space behind the seats. Silver Anniversary crossed-flags emblems, a ground-up interior redesign, and revised powertrain choices put it in a class of its own within the C3 run. Here's a Mahogany Metallic example over a Doeskin beige interior, carrying the 350ci L48 V8 and a 3-speed automatic. The current owner bought it in 1991. A frame-off restoration followed, finishing in 1994.

The Mahogany Metallic fiberglass body comes with matching removable roof panels, pop-up headlamps, fender vents, and a cowl-induction hood. Dual sport mirrors flank each side, a power antenna rises from the rear quarter, and the nose and fuel door carry the Silver Anniversary crossed-flags emblems that were specific to the '78 model year. Ride height sits on 15" eight-slot alloy wheels wrapped in General tires dated 2016. According to the seller, the car was fully refinished during the 1994 restoration and the paint holds up in very good overall condition. More detail shots are in the gallery.

Inside, the reupholstered Doeskin beige cabin includes bucket seats, a three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, a tilt/telescoping steering column, and air conditioning. An analog clock and console-mounted auxiliary gauges fill out the dash, while a chrome gear selector and a Corvette-branded AM/FM cassette stereo finish the center stack. Every gauge and accessory is reported fully functional — the rear-window defroster is the lone exception. When the restoration wrapped in 1994, the odometer was replaced and reset to zero; it now reads 5,710 miles.

Pull back the cowl-induction hood and you'll find the 350ci L48 V8, factory-rated at 185 HP and 280 lb-ft of torque, sending power to the rear wheels through the 3-speed automatic. Power steering and power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes are fitted. The seller confirms all maintenance is currently up to date.

Sale includes owner's manuals, a spare tire, and a clean title. Per the seller: "Same owner since 1991, complete restoration in 1994."

Buy Now on PCARMARKET
$15,000
Buy Now or Make Offer
Status
Active
View on PCARMARKET
Values are as of last update. Live bidding available on PCARMARKET.