Corvette history 1977

	1977 CORVETTE

Since the Stingray front fender nameplate departed this year, Chevrolet's sports car technically no longer had a secondary title.
Changes were fairly modest this year and mainly hidden (such as a steel hood reinforcement) or inside.
New crossed-flags emblems stood between the headlamps and on the fuel filler door.
A thinner blacked-out pillar gave the windshield and side glass a more integrated look.
The Corvette's console was restyled in an aircraft-type cluster design, with individual-look gauges.
A voltmeter replaced the former ammeter.
"Door ajar" and "headlamp up" warning lights were abandoned.
New heater/air conditioning controls, an ashtray, and a lighter were on the horizontal surface.
A recessed pocket was now seen behind the shift lever.
Power window switches moved to the new console.
The manual shift lever was almost an inch higher, with shorter travel.
Automatic transmission levers added a pointer and both manual and automatic shifters added a new black leather boot.
A shorter steering column held a multi-function control lever.
This year's steering wheel had a leather-wrapped rim.
This year's colors were
- Classic White
- Silver
- Black
- Corvette Light Blue
- Corvette Dark Blue
- Corvette Chartreuse (used on one car)
- Corvette Yellow
- Corvette Orange
- Medium Red
- Corvette Tan
- Corvette Dark Red
The Custom interior, formerly an extra-cost option, was now standard.
"Dynasty" horizontal-ribbed cloth upholstery was framed with leather (the first cloth trim offered on a Corvette), or buyers could have the customary all-leather seat panels.
Leather came in ten colors, cloth in six.
Two new trim colors were available: Red and Blue.
Door panel inserts were satin finish Black instead of the prior wood grain.
Both the instrument panel and door trim panels lost their embossed stitch lines.
New padded sunshades could swivel to side windows.
Passenger-side roof pillars held a soft vinyl coat hook.
Power trains were the same as in 1976, but power brakes and steering were now standard.
A total of 6,148 Corvettes came with the special L82 V-8 engine under the hood, while 7,269 had the optional Gymkhana suspension.
Only 5,743 Corvettes had the M20 four-speed manual gearbox and 2,060 used the M26 close-ratio four-speed.
A mere 289 Corvettes came with trailering equipment.
New options included an AM/FM stereo radio with tape player, cruise control (for cars with automatic transmission only), and a luggage carrier that could hold the roof panels.
Glass roof panels were announced, but delayed for another year.

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*7S400001 to 1Z37*7S449213

Position	Character	Description
1	1	Chevrolet Division
2	Z	Corvette
37	coupe
5	*	Engine type where * is replaced by the following L = L48 350-cid V8, 180-hp, 4-barrel X = L82 350-cid V8, 210-hp, 4-barrel
6	7	1977
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	Emission Control System
CHD	350-cid	180-hp V-8	8.5:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor	California
CKD	350-cid	180-hp V-8	8.5:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor	high-altitude
CKZ	350-cid	180-hp V-8	8.5:1	manual	four-barrel carburetor
CLA	350-cid	180-hp V-8	8.5:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor
CLB	350-cid	180-hp V-8	8.5:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor	high-altitude
CLC	350-cid	180-hp V-8	8.5:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor	California
CLD	350-cid	210-hp V-8	9.0:1	manual	four-barrel carburetor
CLF	350-cid	210-hp V-8	9.0:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor

The body number plate was located on the engine side of the cowl.
The Fisher Body Style Number 77-1YZ37 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 eleven 1977 Corvette exterior colors were:
- 10 = Classic White
- 13 = Silver
- 19 = Black
- 26 = Corvette Light Blue
- 28 = Corvette Dark Blue
- 41 = Corvette Chartreuse (used on one car)
- 52 = Corvette Yellow
- 66 = Corvette Orange
- 72 = Medium Red
- 80 = Corvette Tan
- 83 = Corvette Dark Red
Upholstery Codes

Color Cloth & Leather Upholstery Leather Upholstery
Black 19C 192
Smoked Gray 15C 152
Blue 27C
Brown 69C 692
Red 72C 722
Buckskin 642
White 112

Color	Cloth & Leather Upholstery	Leather Upholstery
Black	19C	192
Smoked Gray	15C	152
Blue	27C
Brown	69C	692
Red	72C	722
Buckskin		642
White		112

IDENTIFICATION

Model No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
1Y	Z37	2-dr. Sport Coupe - 2 passenger	$8648	3448	49,213

ENGINE

Feature	Standard Engine (RPO L48)	Optional Engine (RPO L82)
Type	V-8, Overhead valve
Block	Cast iron block
Displacement	350 cid (5.7 liters)	350 cid (5.7 liters)
Bore & Stroke	4.00 x 3.48"	4.00 x 3.48"
Compression ratio	8.5:1	9.0:1
Brake horsepower	180 @ 4000	210 @ 5200
Torque	270 lb-ft @ 2400	255 lb-ft @ 3600
Main bearing	five
Valve lifters	hydraulic
Fuel supply	Rochester M4MC	Rochester M4MC

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
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: 3.36:1
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: 3.36:1

CHASSIS

Feature	Coupe
Wheelbase	98 inches (2.489 m)
Overall length	185.2 inches (4.704 m)
Overall width	69.0 inches (1.753 m)
Overall height	48 inches (1.219 m)
Ground Clearance	4.5 inches (11.4 cm)
Front tread	58.7 inches (1.491 m)
Rear tread	59.5 inches (1.511 m)
Tires	GR70 x 15
Positraction	standard
Steering	recirulating ball
Front suspension	Independent, unequal-length control arms with ball joints, coil springs, and stabilizer bar
Rear suspension	Independent, trailing link, transverse semi-elliptic leaf springs
Brakes	Hydraulic, vented four wheel discs; 11.75-inch diameter, single calipers
Ignition	HEI electronic
Body construction	Separate fiberglass body and box-type ladder frame with cross-members
Fuel tank	17 US Gal (14 Imp Gal) (64 liters)

OPTIONS

RPO A31 Electric power windows ($116)
RPO B32 Color-keyed floor mats ($22)
RPO C49 Rear window defogger ($84)
RPO C60 Air conditioning ($553)
RPO D35 Sport mirrors ($36)
RPO FE7 Gymkhana suspension ($38)
RPO L82 350-cid 210-hp V-8 ($495)
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 ($165)
RPO N40 Power steering ($151)
RPO QRZ GR7O x 15 raised-white-letter steel-belted radial tires ($57)
RPO U58 AM-FM stereo radio ($187)
RPO UM2 AM-FM stereo radio with tape system ($414)
RPO U69 AM-FM radio ($187)
RPO V54 Luggage rack and roof panel rack ($73)
RPO YJ8 Aluminum wheels ($321)
RPO ZN1 Trailering package ($83)
RPO ZX2 Convenience group ($22)

HISTORICAL NOTES

Introduced September 30, 1976
Model-year production: 49,213 (Chevrolet initially reported 49,034 units)
Calendar-year production: 46,345
Calendar-year sales by U.S. dealers: 42,571
Model-year sales by U.S. dealers: 40,764

1977 CORVETTE

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