• To mark Corvette's 25th anniversary, the 1978 model received a major aerodynamic restyling with large wraparound back window and a fastback roofline.
• This was the Corvette's first restyling since 1968. Two special editions were produced, one well known and the other little more than an optional paint job.
• New tinted glass lift-out roof panels were wired into the standard anti-theft system.
• A 24-gallon (US) fuel tank replaced the former 17-gallon (US) tank, filling space made available by a new temporary spare tire.
• Inside was a restyled, padded instrument panel with face-mounted round instruments and a new locking glove box that replaced the former map pocket.
• The 4ir conrestyled interior had more accessible rear storage area with a roll shade to hide luggage.
• The wiper-washer control was moved from the steering column back to the instrument panel, but turn signal and headlight-dimmer controls remained on the steering column.
• Door trim was now of a cut-and-sew design with sott expanded vinyl or cloth.
• As in 1977, the seats had leather side bolsters, with either leather or cloth seating areas in a fine rib pattern.
• Corvette's optional L82 high-performance 350-cid V-8 reached 220 hp as a result of a new dual-snorkel cold-air intake system, larger-diameter exhaust and tailpipes and lower-restriction mufflers.
• The automatic transmission used with the optional V-8 lost weight and had a low-inertia, high-stall torque converter.
• Base engines used a Muncie four-speed manual gear box with higher first-second gear ratios than before; the luced: performance V-8 used a close-ratio Borg-Warner.
• The axle ratios used in cars sold in California and high-altitude counties were switched from 3.08:1 to 3.55:1.
• A total of 12,739 had the optional L82 engines, 3,385 Corvettes had the M21 four-speed close-ratio gearbox, and 38,614 had automatic transmission.
• Glass roof panels, which had been promised earlier, actually became available this year.
• What Chevrolet described as "aggressive" 60- series white-letter tires also joined the option list for the first time.
• An optional AM/FM-CB stereo radio used a tn-band power antenna on the rear deck.
• Each of this year's Corvettes could have Silver Anniversary emblems on the nose and rear deck.
• A total of 15,283 displayed the $399 special two-tone "Silver Anniversary" paint combination with silver metallic on top and charcoal silver on the lower body.
• Pinstripes accentuated the fender's upper profiles, wheel openings, front fender vents, hood, and rear license cavity.
• Interiors were also silver.
• Various other options were required, including aluminum wheels.
• For a considerably higher price, buyers could have the Limited Edition replica of the Indy Pace Car with distinctive black-over-silver paint and red accent striping.
• Equipment in this "Indy Package" (RPO code Z78) included a special silver interior with new lightweight high-back seats, special front and rear spoilers, P255/60R1 5 white-letter tires on alloy wheels and lift-off glass canopy roof panels.
• The Indy Pace Car package's content included nearly all Corvette options, plus special decals (unless the customer specified that they be omitted).
• Upholstery was silver leather or leather with smoke gray cloth inserts.
• The year's 11 Corvette colors were
  • Classic White
  • Silver
  • Silver Anniversary
  • Black
  • Corvette Light Blue
  • Corvette Yellow
  • Corvette Light Beige
  • Corvette Red
  • Corvette Mahogany
  • Corveffe Dark Blue
  • Corvette Dark Brown
• Interior colors were Black; Dark Blue; Light Beige; Red; Mahogany; and Oyster.

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 1Z87*8S400001 to 1Z87*8S440274

  Position	Character	Description
  1	1	Chevrolet Division
  2	Z	Corvette
  87	coupe
  5	*	Engine type where * is replaced by the following L = L48 350-cid V8, 175-hp, 4-barrel H = L82 350-cid V8, 220-hp, 4-barrel
  6	8	1978
  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
  CHW	L48 350-cid	185-hp V-8	8.2:1	manual	four-barrel carburetor
  CLM	L48 350-cid	185-hp V-8	8.2:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor
  CLR	L48 350-cid	175-hp V-8	8.2:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor	California
  CLS	L48 350-cid	175-hp V-8	8.2:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor	high-altitude
  CMR	L82 350-cid	220-hp V-8	8.9:1	manual	four-barrel carburetor
  CMS	L82 350-cid	220-hp V-8	8.9:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor
  CUT	L48 350-cid	185-hp V-8	8.2:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor

• The body number plate was located on the engine side of the cowl.
• The Fisher Body Style Number 78-1YZ37 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 1978 Corvette exterior colors were:
  • 10 = Classic White
  • 13 = Silver;
  • 13/07 = Siver Anniversary
  • 19 = Black
  • 26 = Corvette Light Blue
  • 52 = Corvette Yellow
  • 59 = Corvette Light Beige
  • 72 = Corvette Red
  • 82 = Corvette Mahogany
  • 83 = Corvette Dark Blue
  • 89 = Corvette Dark Brown.
• Upholstery Codes

  Color	Cloth & Leather Upholstery	Leather Upholstery
  Oyster	12C	122
  Silver	15C	152
  Black	19C	192
  Dark Blue	29C	292
  Light Beige	59C	592
  Dark Brown	69C	692
  Red	72C	722
  Mahogany	76C	762

Model	Model No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
1978 Corvette	1Y	Z87	2-dr. Sport Coupe - 2 passenger	$9446	3401	40,274
1978 Limited Edition	1Y	Z87/Z78	2-dr. Sport Coupe - 2 passenger	$13,653	3401	6,502

TRANSMISSION

• Standard Manual Transmission
  • four-speed fully-synchronized
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 2.85:1
    • 2nd = 2.02:1
    • 3rd = 1.35:1
    • 4th = 1.00:1
    • Rev = 2.85:1
  • Final drive ratio: 3.36:1 or 3.70:1
• 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 or 3.70:1
• Automatic Transmission
  • Three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 2.52:1
    • 2nd = 1.52:1
    • 3rd = 1.00:1
    • Rev = 1.94:1
  • Final drive ratio: 3.08:1 or 3.55:1

• RPO A31 Electric power windows ($130)
• RPO AU3 Power door locks ($120)
• RPO B2Z Silver Anniversary Paint ($399)
• RPO CC1 Removable glass roof panels ($349)
• RPO C60 Air conditioning ($605)
• RPO D35 Sport mirrors ($40)
• RPO FE7 Gymkhana suspension ($41)
• RPO G95 Positraction axle, optional highway ratio ($15)
• RPO K30 Cruise Control ($99)
• RPO L82 350-cid 210-hp V-8 ($525)
• RPO M21 Four-speed close-ratio manual transmission (no cost option)
• RPO MX1 Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission (no cost option).
• RPO N37 Tilt-telescopic steering column ($175)
• RPO QBS P255/60R-15 White-letter steel-belted radial tires ($216.32)
• RPO QGR P255/70R-15 White-letter steel-belted radial tires ($51)
• RPO UA1 Heavy-duty battery ($18)
• RPO UM2 AM-FM stereo radio with tape system ($419)
• RPO UP6 AM-FM stereo radio with CB system ($638)
• RPO U58 AM-FM stereo radio ($286)
• RPO U69 AM-FM radio ($199)
• RPO U75 Power antenna ($49)
• RPO U81 Dual rear speakers ($49).
• RPO YJ8 Aluminum wheels ($340)
• RPO ZN1 Trailering package ($89)
• RPO ZX2 Convenience group ($84).

• Introduced: October 6,1977
• Model-year production: 46,772 (but some industry sources have reported a total of 47,667)
• Calendar-year production: 48,522
• Calendar-year sales by U.S. dealers: 42,247
• Model year sales by U.S. dealers: 43,106
• The limited-edition Indianapolis 500 Pace Car replica was created to commemorate the selection of Corvette as the pace car for the 62nd Indianapolis 500 race on May 28, 1978.
• A production run of 2,500 was planned, but so many potential buyers who saw it at the New York Auto Show in February wanted one that the goal quickly expanded to 6,500 or roughly one for every Chevrolet dealer.
• Buyers also had to endure a selection of "forced RPOs" (items installed at the factory whether wanted or not).
• The mandatory extras included power windows, air conditioning, sport mirrors, a tilt-telescope steering wheel, a rear defogger, an AM/FM stereo with either an 8-track tape player or CB radio, plus power door locks, and a heavy-duty battery.
• Before long, the original $13,653 list price meant little, as speculators eagerly paid double that amount and more.
• Later the price retreated to around the original list.
• Even though so many were built, the Indy Pace Car is still a desirable model.
• Dave McLelIan became head of engineering for Corvettes and worked on the next-generation models.

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