• "The Corvette evolution continues," declared the 1979 Corvette sales catalog.
• Not much of that evolution was visible, however, after the prior year's massive restyle.
• Under the hood, the base engine received the dual-snorkel air intake introduced in 1978 for the optional L82 V-8, which added 10 horsepower.
• The L82 V-8 had a higher-lift cam, special heads with larger valves and higher compression, impact-extruded pistons, a forged steel crankshaft, and finned aluminum rocker covers.
• The "Y" pipe exhaust system had new open-flow mufflers, while the automatic transmission received a higher numerical (3.55:1) rear axle ratio.
• All Corvettes now had the high-back bucket seats introduced on the 1978 limited-edition Indianapolis 500 Pace Car.
• A high pivot point let the seat backrest fold flat on the passenger side, level with the luggage area floor.
• An AM/FM radio was now standard. Corvettes had black roof panel and window moldings.
• Bolt-on front and rear spoilers (also from the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car) became available.
• Buyers who didn't want the full Gymkhana suspension could now order heavy-duty shocks alone.
• Standard equipment included the L48 V-8 with four-barrel carburetor, either automatic transmission or a four-speed manual gear box (close-ratio version available), power four-wheel disc brakes and limited-slip differential.
• Other standard items included tinted glass; a front stabilizer bar; concealed windshield wipers and washers; a day/night inside mirror; a wide outside mirror; an anti-theft alarm system; a four-spoke sport steering wheel; an electric clock; a trip odometer; a heater and defroster; bumper guards, and a luggage security shade.
• The standard tires were P225/70R1 5 steel-belted radial blackwalls on 15 x 8-inch wheels.
• Corvettes had a four-wheel independent suspension.
• The bucket seats came with cloth-and-leather or all-leather trim.
• The aircraft-type console held a 7,000-rpm tachometer, a voltmeter and oil-pressure, temperature and fuel gauges.
• Seat inserts could have either leather or cloth trim.
• The ten body colors were
  • Classic White
  • Silver
  • Black
  • Corvette Light Blue
  • Corvette Yellow
  • Corvette Dark Green
  • Corvette Light Beige
  • Corvette Red
  • Corvette Dark Brown
  • Corvette Dark Blue
• Interiors came in Black; Dark Blue; Dark Brown; Light Beige; Red; Dark Green; 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*9S400001 to 1Z87*9S453807

  Position	Character	Description
  1	1	Chevrolet Division
  2	Z	Corvette
  87	coupe
  5	*	Engine type where * is replaced by the following 8 = L48 350-cid V8, 195-hp, 4-barrel 4 = L82 350-cid V8, 225-hp, 4-barrel
  6	9	1979
  7	S	Assembled in St. Louis, MO
  8 to 13	400001 to 453807	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
  ZAA	L48 350-cid early production	195-hp V-8	8.2:1	manual	four-barrel carburetor
  ZAB	L48 350-cid early production	195-hp V-8	8.2:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor
  ZAC	L48 350-cid early production	195-hp V-8	8.2:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor	California
  ZAD	L48 350-cid	195-hp V-8	8.2:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor	high-altitude
  ZAF	L48 350-cid	195-hp V-8	8.2:1	manual	four-barrel carburetor
  ZAH	L48 350-cid	195-hp V-8	8.2:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor
  ZBB	L48 350-cid	225-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 79-1YZ37 identifies a Corvette coupe
• The body number is the production serial number of the body.
• The trim number indicates the interior trim color and material.
• The eleven 1979 Corvette exterior colors were:
  • 10 = Classic White
  • 13 = Silver
  • 19 = Black
  • 28 = Corvette Light Blue
  • 52 = Corvette Yellow
  • 58 = Corvette Dark Green
  • 59 = Corvette Light Beige
  • 72 = Corvette Red
  • 82 = Corvette Dark Brown
  • 83 = Corvette Dark Blue
• Upholstery Codes

  Color	Cloth & Leather Upholstery	Leather Upholstery
  Oyster	12C	122
  Dark Blue	29C	292
  Dark Green	49C	492
  Light Beige	59C	592
  Red		722

Model No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
1Y	Z87	2-dr. Sport Coupe - 2 passenger	$10,220	3372	53,807

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
• 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 = 2.52:1
    • 2nd = 1.52:1
    • 3rd = 1.00:1
    • Rev = 1.93:1
  • Final drive ratio: 3.55:1

• RPO A31 Electric power windows ($141)
• RPO CC1 Removable glass roof panels ($365)
• RPO C49 Rear window defogger ($102)
• RPO C60 Air conditioning ($635)
• RPO D35 Sport mirrors ($45)
• RPO FE7 Gymkhana suspension ($49)
• RPO F51 Heavy-duty shock absorbers ($33)
• RPO G95 Highway ratio rear axle ($19)
• RPO K30 Cruise Control ($113)
• RPO L82 350-cid 225-hp V-8 ($565)
• RPO MM4 Four-speed manual transmission (no-cost option)
• RPO M21 Four-speed manual close-ratio transmission (no-cost option)
• RPO MX1 Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission (no-cost option)
• RPO N37 Tilt-telescopic steering column ($190)
• RPO QGR P255/70R-15 Raised-white-letter steel-belted radial tires ($54)
• RPO QBS P255/60R-15 White Aramid BR tires ($226.20)
• RPO U58 AM-FM stereo radio ($90)
• RPO UM2 AM-FM stereo radio with 8-track tape system ($228)
• RPO UN3 AM-FM stereo radio with cassette ($234)
• RPO UP6 AM-FM stereo radio with CB system and power antenna ($439)
• RPO U75 Power antenna ($52)
• RPO U81 Dual rear speakers ($52)
• RPO UA1 Heavy-duty battery ($21)
• RPO ZN1 Trailering package ($98)
• RPO ZQ2 Power windows and door locks ($272)
• RPO ZX2 Convenience group ($84).

• Introduced: September 25,1978. Model-year production: 53,807 (Chevrolet initially reported a total of 49,901 units).
• Calendar-year production: 48,568.
• Calendar-year sales by U.S. dealers: 38,631.
• Model-year sales by U.S. dealers: 39,816.
• For what it's worth, 7,949 Corvettes were painted this year in Classic White, while 6,960 carried Silver paint.
• Only 4,385 Corvettes had the MM4 four-speed manual gearbox, while 4,062 ran with the close-ratio M21 version.

		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

1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988