• Corvette was advertised as "America's only true production sports car."
• After the demise of the big-block 454-cid, the 350-cid (5.7-liter) small-block engine remained alone to power all corvettes for the next ten years.
• Two V-8s were offered this year
  • The L48 (base engine) had 180 hp (up 9% from 1975).
  • The L82 (optional engine) produced 120 hp. It had special heads with larger valves, impact-extruded pistons, and finned aluminum rocker covers
• The standard V-8 was linked to a lighter automatic transmission: the Turbo Hydra-Matic 350, which was supposed to improve shifting at wide-open throttle.
• The optional V-8 kept the Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, but with a revised torque converter
• A wide-range four-speed manual gearbox (with 2.64:1 first gear ratio) was standard and a close-ratio version was available at no extra cost.
• A new Carburetor Outside Air Induction system moved intake from the cowl to above the radiator.
• The convertible was dropped this year, so only the Stingray coupe remained.
• It had the removable roof panels.
• A partial steel underbody replaced the customary fiberglass, to add strength and improve shielding from exhaust system heat.
• A new one-piece bar Corvette nameplate was on the rear, between twin-unit tail lamps (which were inset in the bumper cover).
• Of the 10 body colors, eight were Corvette exclusives:
  • White
  • Silver
  • Bright Blue
  • Dark Green
  • Mahogany
  • Bright Yellow
  • Buckskin
  • Dark Brown
  • Orange Flame
  • Red
• Corvettes had side marker lights with reflectors, parking lamps that went on with the head lamps, lane-change turn signals and two-speed wiper/washers.
• Inside was a new, smaller-diameter four-spoke sport steering wheel with crossed-flags medallion, which actually came from the Chevrolet Vega subcompact.
• Not everyone appreciated its lowly origin, so it lasted only this year.
• A grained vinyl-trimmed instrument panel (with stitched seams) held a 160-mph speedometer with trip odometer and 7,000-rpm electronic tachometer.
• A key lock in the left front fender set the anti-theft alarm.
• Corvettes had fully-independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes.
• Wide GR7O SBR tires rode 15 x 8-inch wheels.
• A total of 5,368 Corvettes had the FE7 Gymkhana suspension installed; 5,720 came with the L82 V-8; and 2,088 had the M21 four-speed close ratio manual gearbox.
• Cast-aluminum wheels were a new option, and were installed on 6,253 cars.
• Standard equipment included
  • bumper guards
  • flush retracting headlamps
  • Soft-Ray tinted glass
  • Hide-A-Way wipers
  • wide-view day/night mirror
  • center console with lighter and ashtray.
• Behind the seat-backs were three carpeted storage compartments.
• Bucket seats had textured-vinyl or leather upholstery and deep-pleated saddle-stitching.
• Interior leather trim was now available in seven colors, while vinyl was available in four colors.

I.D. NUMBERS

• The serial number [Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN] was stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.
• Serial numbers ranged from 1Z37*6S400001 to 1Z37*6S446558

  Position	Character	Description
  1	1	Chevrolet Division
  2	Z	Corvette
  37	coupe
  5	*	Engine type where * is replaced by the following L = ZQ3 350-cid V8, 180-hp, 4-barrel X = L82 350-cid V8, 210-hp, 4-barrel
  6	6	1976
  7	S	Assembled in St. Louis, MO
  8 to 13	400001 to 446558	production sequence

• Engine serial number began 0001001
• Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block just ahead of the cylinder head on the right-hand side combined with a three-letter engine code suffix
• Also cast into the top rear of the block is a four-symbol code indicating when the engine was built
  • The first letter of the date code shows the month the block was cast
  • The one or two numbers shows the month
  • The last digit shows the year
• Engine suffixes:

  Code	Engine	Horsepower	Compression	Transmission	Fuel Supply
  CHC	350-cid	210-hp V-8	9.0:1	manual	four-barrel carburetor
  CKC	350-cid	210-hp V-8	9.0:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor
  CKW	350-cid	180-hp V-8	8.5:1	manual	four-barrel carburetor
  CKX	350-cid	180-hp V-8	8.5:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor
  CLS	350-cid	180-hp V-8	8.5:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor

• The body number plate was located on the engine side of the cowl.
• The Fisher Body Style Number 76-1YZ37 identifies a Corvette Stingray coupe
• The body number is the production serial number of the body.
• The trim number indicates the interior trim color and material.
• The ten 1976 Corvette exterior colors were:
  • 10 = Classic White
  • 13 = Silver
  • 22 = Bright Blue
  • 33 = Dark Green (however Dark Green was originally supposed to be code 39)
  • 37 = Mahogany
  • 56 = Bright Yellow
  • 64 = Buckskin
  • 69 = Dark Brown
  • 70 = Orange Flame
  • 72 = Red
• Upholstery Codes

  Color	Vinyl Upholstery	Leather Upholstery
  Black	19V	192
  Firethorn	71V	712
  Buckskin	64V	642
  White	15V	112
  Smoked Gray		152
  Dark Brown		692
  Blue-Green		322

Model No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
1Y	Z37	2-dr. Sport Coupe - 2 passenger	$7605	3445	46,558

TRANSMISSION

• Standard Manual Transmission
  • four-speed fully-synchronized
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 2.64:1
    • 2nd = 1.75:1
    • 3rd = 1.34:1
    • 4th = 1.00:1
    • Rev = 2.55:1
  • Final drive ratio: 3.36:1 with L48 and 3.55:1 with L82
• Optional Manual Transmission
  • close ratio four-speed fully-synchronized
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 2.43:1
    • 2nd = 1.61:1
    • 3rd = 1.23:1
    • 4th = 1.00:1
    • Rev = 2.35:1
  • Final drive ratio: 3.55:1 or 3.70:1
• Automatic Transmission
  • Three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 2.48:1
    • 2nd = 1.48:1
    • 3rd = 1.00:1
    • Rev = 2.08:1
  • Final drive ratio: 3.08:1 with L48 and 3.36:1 with L82

RPO Custom interior trim ($164) RPO A31 Electric power windows ($107) RPO C49 Rear window defogger ($78) RPO C08 Vinyl covered aux­iliary hardtop ($350) RPO C60 Air conditioning ($523) RPO FE7 Gymkhana suspension ($35) RPO G81 Positraction rear axle, all ratios ($13) RPO J50 Power brakes ($59) RPO L82 350-cid 210-hp V-8 ($481) RPO M21 Four-speed close-ratio manual transmission (no-cost option) RPO M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission (no-cost option) RPO N37 Tilt-telescopic steering wheel ($95) RPO N40 Power steering ($151) RPO QRM White stripe nylon steel-belted radial tires GR7O x 15 ($37) RPO QRZ GR7O x 15 raised-white-letter steel-belted radial tires ($51) RPO U58 AM-FM stereo radio ($281) RPO U69 AM-FM radio ($187) RPO UA1 Heavy-duty battery ($16) RPO UF1 Map light ($10) RPO YJ8 Aluminum wheels ($299) HISTORICAL NOTES Introduced October 2, 1975 Model-year production: 46,558 Calendar-year production: 47,425 Calendar-year sales by U.S. dealers: 41,673 Model-year sales by U.S. dealers: 41,027 Though largely a carry-over from 1975, Corvette set a new sales record The basic design dated back to 1968 Car and Driver did several tests of the 1976 Corvette Feature March 1976 test of L48 March 1976 test of L82 April 1976 test of L82 Transmission M21 M40 M40 Rear axle 3.36:1 3.70:1 3.36:1 0-to-30 mph 2.7 seconds 2.8 seconds 2.8 seconds 0-to-60 mph 6.8 seconds 6.8 seconds 7.1 seconds 0-to-100 mph 20.2 seconds 19.5 seconds 19.5 seconds Standing start quarter mile 15.4 seconds at 91.5 mph 15.3 seconds at 92.1 mph 15.3 seconds at 91.9 mph Top speed 121 mph 121 mph 124.5 mph 1976 CORVETTE Click here for Corvette books Books on other automobiles Dictionary of over 15,000 Automotive Terms Cadillac History Sign My Guestbook View My Guestbook a@motorera.com 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 June 18, 1999