• The 1980 Corvette was more streamlined and lost close to 250 pounds.
• The hood and doors were lighter with thinner door glass.
• Corvette bodies held new fiberglass bumper structures.
• The lift-oft roof panels were made of lightweight, low-density micro­scopic glass beads.
• The body panels were urethane-coated.
• Weight cuts also hit the power train.
• The dif­ferential housing and supports were made of alu­minum.
• The 350-cid (5.7-liter) V-8 had a new alu­minum intake manifold, while the 305-cid (5.0-liter) V.8 used in cars sold in California had a stainless exhaust manifold.
• The Corvette hoods had a new low profile.
• The front bumper had an integrated lower air dam and the bumper cover now extended to the wheel openings.
• New two-piece front cornering lamps worked whenever the lights were switched on.
• A deep-recessed split grille held integral parking lamps.
• Front fender air vents contained functional black louvers.
• New front and rear spoilers were mold­ed in and integrated with the bumper caps and were no longer of a bolt-on type.
• New emblems included an engine identifier for the optional L82 V-8.
• The dashboard carried a new 85-mph speedometer.
• Only two storage bins stood behind the seat, where three used to be.
• Turbo Hydra-Matic transmissions added a lock-up torque converter that engaged at about 30 mph, while the four-speed manual transmission got new gear ratios.
• In California, Corvette buyers could only get the 305-cid V-8 with automatic transmission this year.
• The base V-8 lost five horsepower, while the optional version gained five.
• New standard equip­ment this year included formerly-optional power win­dows, a tilt-telescopic steering wheel, and Four Season air conditioning.
• Rally wheels held P225/70R-15/B blackwall SBR tires with trim rings and center caps.
• Body colors were
  • White
  • Silver
  • Black
  • Dark Blue
  • Dark Brown
  • Yellow
  • Dark Green
  • Frost Beige
  • Dark Claret
  • Red
• Interiors came in Black; Claret; Dark Blue; Doeskin; Oyster; and Red.

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*AS400001 to 1Z87*AS440614

  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, 190-hp H = California L48 350-cid V8, 180-hp 6 = L82 350-cid V8, 230-hp, 4-barrel
  6	A	1980
  7	S	Assembled in St. Louis, MO
  8 to 13	400001 to 440614	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
  ZCA	LG4 350-cid	180-hp V-8	8.5:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor	California
  ZAM	L48 350-cid	190-hp V-8	8.2:1	manual	four-barrel carburetor
  ZAK	L48 350-cid	190-hp V-8	8.2:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor
  ZBC	L82 350-cid	230-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 80-1YZ37 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 ten 1980 Corvette exterior colors were:
  • 10 = White
  • 13 = Silver
  • 19 = Black
  • 28 = Dark Blue
  • 47 = Dark Brown
  • 52 = Yellow
  • 58 = Dark Green
  • 59 = Frost Beige
  • 76 = Dark Claret
  • 83 = Red
• Upholstery Codes

  Color	Cloth & Leather Upholstery	Leather Upholstery
  Oyster	12C	122
  Dark Blue	29C	292
  Doeskin	59C	592
  Claret	79C	792
  Red		722
  Black		192

Model No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
1Y	Z87	2-dr. Sport Coupe - 2 passenger	$13,140	3206	40,614

TRANSMISSION

• Standard Manual Transmission
  • four-speed fully-synchronized
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 2.88:1
    • 2nd = 1.91:1
    • 3rd = 1.33:1
    • 4th = 1.00:1
    • Rev = 2.78:1
  • Final drive ratio: 3.07:1
• 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 OGR P255/70R-15 Raised-white-letter steel-belted radial tires ($54)
• RPO OBS P255160R-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	1979	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989