[Patrick]

All about C3's

The 1968 Corvette was expected to debute in 1967 -- but Federal safety regulations forced GM to continue the Sting Ray for one more year as the 1967 Corvette.

1968 - Received a completely redesigned exterior and interior. No longer called the "Sting Ray," and not yet called the "Stingray." Coupe featured a removable rear window and removable roof panels referred to as "T-Tops." Hidden headlights were vacuum operated. British Green was the top selling color choice chosen by 57 more buyers than the second place color choice, LeMans Blue. A new three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission was introduced.

1969 - Now called the Stingray. First year for newly designed optional side-mounted exhausts. A 350ci engine was introduced. Wheel width was 8".

1970 - Fender flairs were increased. Front fender louvers were redesigned. Optional engine displacement was increased to 454ci. The LT1 350ci option utilized solid lifters and produced 370hp. A special purpose engine package, built around the LT1 engine, was designated RPO (ZR1).

1971 - Low lead fuels required the lowering of engine compression ratios. The LS6 454 engine option was rated at 425 HP.

1972 - Little external differences distinguished the '71 and '72 Corvettes. Beginning in 1972 horsepower would be measured as "net horsepower," whereas previously it had been measured in "gross horsepower." The exterior color choice of Pewter Silver was only offered in 1972.

1973 - The front body colored "plastic" bumper was introduced. Side-impact door beams were introduced.

1974 - The rear body colored "rubber" bumper was introduced. In 1974 the rear was a two piece bumper. After '74 it was a one piece unit. The Gymkhana Suspension option was first offered this year. This was the last year for the "big block" engine option.

1975 - The last year for a convertible model until 1986. First year for Catalytic converters.

1976 - Sales increased from 1975 levels. Due to more strict emission standards California buyers could not order the L82 engine option.

1977 - The first year for standard leather seats. Cloth seats were a no-cost option.

1978 - The return of the "fastback' rear window. The first of Corvette's Indy 500 Pace Car replicas.

1979 - More Corvettes were built in 1979 than in any other year. 53,807 were produced.

1980 - Due to Federal law, the '80 Corvette's speedometer registered only a top speed of 85 MPH.

1981 - Corvettes were painted with two different types of paint in '81. St. Louis produced Corvettes had Lacquer paint and Bowling Green produced Corvettes used enamel paint. There was no optional engine choice in 1981.

1982 - Fuel injection reappeared for the first time since 1965. No manual transmission was offered this year.

Specifications:

# produced: 1968: 28,566 Coupes: 9,936 Convts: 18,630

1969: 38,762 Coupes: 22,129 Convts: 16,633

1970: 17,316 Coupes: 10,668 Convts: 6,648

1971: 21,801 Coupes: 14,680 Convts: 7,121

1972: 27,004 Coupes: 20,496 Convts: 6,508

1973: 30,464 Coupes: 25,521 Convts: 4,943

1974: 37,502 Coupes: 32,028 Convts: 5,474

1975: 38,465 Coupes: 33,836 Convts: 4,629

1976: 46,558 Coupes only

1977: 49,213 Coupes only

1978: 46,776 Coupes only (6,502 Pace Car Replicas)

1979: 53,807 Coupes only

1980: 40,614 Coupes only

1981: 40,606 Coupes only

1982: 25,407 Coupes only (6,759 Collector Editions)

 

[Eddie 70]

Just a little addition to 1970, this was the year the exhaust coming out the back was changed to a square opening.

 

[sidepipe79]

The 85 mph speedo was introduced in late 79. I know because i am stuck with it.

 

[BatManFire]

Patrick you missed the most important part of the C3 history, The Mako Shark II.

Mako Shark II

 

[aerofan]

FYI

The '69 had an extended run until February of '70.

David

 

[CorvetteInfo]

And a strike..

FYI.. The '69 had an extended run until February of '70. ..David

September 24, 1969 - At 4:45 p.m., 15 minutes after the second shift had begun, Local 598 Fisher Body workers took on GM in the longest strike by the UAW in GM history. The strike lasted until February 6, 1970 (136 days). Ref.

*So no '70's as scheduled in '69. Start up date for the '70 production run is not until 2/6/70.

C'ya
D

[*Edited errata. Thanks, aerofan!]

 

[SilverBear]

Re: And a strike..

September 24, 1969 - At 4:45 p.m., 15 minutes after the second shift had begun, Local 598 Fisher Body workers took on GM in the longest strike by the UAW in GM history. The strike lasted until February 6, 1970 (136 days). Ref.

*So no '70's as scheduled in '69. Start up date for the '70 production run is not until 2/6/70.

C'ya
D

:surprised :surprised :surprised

 

[aerofan]

Re: And a strike..

September 24, 1969 - At 4:45 p.m., 15 minutes after the second shift had begun, Local 598 Fisher Body workers took on GM in the longest strike by the UAW in GM history. The strike lasted until February 6, 1970 (136 days). Ref.

*So no '70's as scheduled in '69. Start up date for the '70 production run is not until 2/6/70.

C'ya
D

I would of swore that I just read last night on the 2004 Corvette brochure CD that what I said was the case. I will check again when I get home. :huh:

Also, Corvette started in Flint, MI but a moved to St. Louis, MO in '54 and then to Bowling Green in '81.

Here is a quote from the Bowling Green Plant History web site:

"...Corvette didn't always call Kentucky "home," however. In 1953, the first 300 were built by hand in Flint, Michigan. The following year production moved to St. Louis, Missouri.

In June of 1981, Corvette production transferred from St. Louis to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Previously an industrial air-conditioning unit factory, the building was completely renovated into a modern automotive facility twice the size of the previous structure..."

and here is a link to it

http://www.bowlinggreenassemblyplant.com/plant_history.html

The strike that you were referring to was in Flint, MI.

 

[CorvetteInfo]

Re: Re: And a strike..

...The strike that you were referring to was in Flint, MI.

Yes, but when the UAW goes on strike... the UAW goes on strike... [aren't] all factories shut down?

I haven't researched the '69's timeline, but as the owner of a '70 ZR1 (1 of 25) I certainly have done some on the startup dates for the '70.

My build date is Feb 17, 1970. Since the factory was closed [through Jan. '70], until Feb. 6, and since my car is a ZR1, I thought there was a fairly good chance I had the first ZR1 built.

Researching that bit of history led me to the strike situation as well as a couple earlier ZR1's, and the first ZR1 magazine article Corvette Fever, dated Feb. 1982.

C'ya
D

 

[CorvetteInfo]

C3 History Continued...

1969 Corvettes began with VIN#194679S700001 (9/68) and ended with VIN#194679S738762 (12/69).

1970 Corvettes began production Feb 6, 1970, with VIN#194670S400001.

[NCRS 1968-1970 Corvette Specifications Guide, J. Amgwert.]

I stand (and posts) corrected.. The Corvette plant was apparently open for business through Dec. '69. January '70 it was closed for production, and remained closed until startup 1/6/70.

"A labor dispute in May of 1969 caused the 1969 model production to run long, shortening normal 1970 production by over four months. To compensate Chevrolet then treated 1971 Corvette production as an extension of 1970." Ref.

Thanks aerofan for the input! :thumbsup:

C'ya
D

 

[Z to the 06]

Re: All about C3's

1976 - Sales increased from 1975 levels. Due to more strict emission standards California buyers could not order the L82 engine option.



1976: 46,558 Coupes only

proud owner of a 1976 stingray...lol

 

[CorvetteInfo]

For what it's worth..

1976 - Sales increased from 1975 levels. Due to more strict emission standards California buyers could not order the L82 engine option....

I know this is the gerneral concensus on the internet...but..

I bought a new '77 L82, 4spd, in 1976. Because I wanted the 4spd, I picked up the car in Denver. I drove it directly to CA with a temporary operating permit (dealer's paper plate) and immediately registered the car in CA.

It came equipped with smog device and I was courious why I could not get the 4spd. in CA.

GM told me it was not a "smog" issue, the car would (and did) pass CA emissions. The problem was in the cost of certification for CA emissions.

Every engine-drivetrain combo had to be CA certified before GM could sell in CA. The cost of CA certification was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The number of CA 4spd. orders was insufficient to offset the cost of certification, and as such, GM did not make the 4spd. available (and perhaps the L82 as well).

In '76, out of 46,558 Corvettes built, only 3527 had CA emissions. And only 9933 4spds. were produced.

C'ya
D

 

[Trey]

Yeah, you have to wonder about the reasoning behind the various power teams offered. In 1980 California only got the automatic and LG4 305 powered C3. Perhaps that was because the Californian emissions laws got tightened for 1980 and GM wanted to put the cost of meeting that for the 350 off temporarily, so they switched to the LG4 (used in Z/28s & T/As).:huh:

 

[Flared]

November 20, '69 afaik is the birthdate of my baby. (P20).

 

[Stingraykev]

Whats in a Name

Hello to all of the C3 fans,
Where might one find information, or even know someone, that might know the answer to a long unanswered question...
How did the name STINGRAY disaper from the 1977-1982 model years, or even a darker question,on the 1968 model:huh:

If anyone can inlighten some of us, please do so...:devil:

Thanks Kev...


SAVE THE WAVE

 

[Frank Judge]

The 85 mph speedo was introduced in late 79.

Export Models for Europe had still the 260 km/h (160 mls) Speedometer.

 

[6880 Mike]

...1969 Corvettes began with VIN#194679S700001 (9/68) and ended with VIN#194679S738762 (12/69).

1970 Corvettes began production Feb 6, 1970, with VIN#194670S400001.
...
The Corvette plant was apparently open for business through Dec. '69. January '70 it was closed for production, and remained closed until startup 1/6/70....

Correct with the exception of the 2/6/70 date for the beginning of 1970 production. The same strike affected Camaros and Firebirds. They were introduced as "70 1/2" models. Thankfully, GM chose not to stick that moniker on the '70 Corvettes.
:buhbye:

 

[ETM]

I had a California `80. It was originally a 305 engine but by the time I bought it someone had already put in a 350 crate engine. The Cali 80 had the first computer that was put into a Corvette. I believe it was the same one that they used nationally in 1981. It controlled timing and fuel/air mixture.

 

[6880 Mike]

1969 ...The Corvette plant was apparently open for business through Dec. '69....

1969 production continued through December 19, 1969. The plant was closed for the holidays and new model retool and reopened on 1/6/70 when 1970 production began.

The '70s went on sale in late February, 1970.

:thumbsup: