Prices, Specifications & 360° Interactive
Chevrolet Corvette C3 - Price, Specs and 360° Interactive
Chevrolet Corvette C3 - 360° Interactive
Chevrolet Corvette C3 - Key Specifications
Chevrolet Corvette C3 Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Sports Coupé / Convertible |
| Released At | 1967 for the 1968 Model Year |
| Built At | St. Louis, Missouri, USA / Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA (later models) |
| Engine | 5.0 L - 7.4 L Naturally Aspirated V8 (L48, L82, LT-1, LS5, LS6, L88) |
| Position | Front-Engine, Longitudinal |
| Aspiration | Natural |
| Block Material | Cast Iron |
| Valvetrain | OHV, 2 Valves per Cylinder |
| Fuel Feed | Carburetor (early models) / Mechanical Fuel Injection (rare options) |
| Displacement | 4998 cc / 305 in³ to 7443 cc / 454 in³ |
| Bore | 101.6 mm / 4.00 in (454 V8) |
| Stroke | 99 mm / 3.90 in (454 V8) |
| Compression | 8.5:1 to 11.0:1 (varies by engine) |
| Power | 186 kW / 250 hp (L48) to 335 kW / 450 hp (LS6) |
| Specific Output | 60.4 hp per liter (LS6) |
| BHP/Weight | 201 bhp per tonne (LS6) |
| Torque | 624 Nm / 460 lb-ft (LS6) |
| Top Speed | 246 km/h / 153 mph (LS6) |
| 0 – 60 mph | 5.3 seconds (LS6) |
| 0 – 100 km/h | 5.5 seconds (LS6) |
| Body / Frame | Steel Ladder Frame with Fiberglass Body Panels |
| Driven Wheels | RWD (Rear-Wheel Drive) |
| Wheel Type | Steel Wheels with Optional Aluminum |
| Front Tires | F70-15 Bias-Ply / 225/70R15 (later models) |
| Rear Tires | F70-15 Bias-Ply / 225/70R15 (later models) |
| Front Brakes | Disc Brakes with Single-Piston Calipers |
| Rear Brakes | Disc Brakes with Single-Piston Calipers |
| Front Wheels | 38.1 x 17.8 cm / 15 x 7 in |
| Rear Wheels | 38.1 x 17.8 cm / 15 x 7 in |
| Front Suspension | Independent with Coil Springs and Anti-Roll Bar |
| Rear Suspension | Independent with Transverse Leaf Spring |
| Curb Weight | 1460 kg / 3219 lbs |
| Weight Distribution | 51 % Front / 49 % Rear |
| Wheelbase | 2490 mm / 98.0 in |
| Length | 4622 mm / 181.9 in |
| Width | 1753 mm / 69.0 in |
| Height | 1245 mm / 49.0 in |
| Transmission | 3-Speed Manual / 4-Speed Manual / 3-Speed Automatic |
| Fuel Economy (Combined) | 18.0 L/100 km or 13.1 mpg-US |
| Fuel Capacity | 75 liters or 19.8 gallons |
Some Interesting Chevrolet Corvette C3 Facts
- The Longest-Running Corvette Generation
The Chevrolet Corvette C3 was produced from 1968 to 1982, making it the longest-running Corvette generation, spanning 15 model years. - Inspired by the Mako Shark II Concept
The C3’s design was heavily influenced by the 1965 Mako Shark II concept car, featuring a long, pointed nose, aggressive fender flares, and a sleek, curvy body. - First Corvette with T-Top Roof Panels
The C3 introduced the removable "T-top" roof panels, giving drivers the flexibility of an open-air experience without committing to a full convertible. - Hidden Windshield Wipers for Aerodynamics
The early 1968-1972 models featured a unique vacuum-operated panel that hid the windshield wipers under a clamshell-like door when not in use, improving aerodynamics. - High-Performance Big Block Engine Options
The C3 offered several powerful big block V8 engines, including the 7.0L (427 cubic inch) and 7.4L (454 cubic inch) options, delivering up to 435 horsepower in early models. - Emissions Regulations Weakened Performance
Due to increasing emission standards and fuel crisis concerns in the mid-1970s, later C3 models saw a significant decrease in horsepower, with the base engine dropping to 165 hp by 1975. - First Corvette with a Glass Fastback Window
In 1978, the Corvette C3 received a restyled rear with a glass fastback window, improving aerodynamics and cargo space, making it a defining feature of late-model C3s. - The Pace Car Edition Became a Collector’s Item
Chevrolet produced a 1978 Indy 500 Pace Car Edition, featuring a two-tone black and silver paint scheme, making it one of the most collectible C3 models today. - Crossfire Injection Introduced in 1982
The 1982 Corvette was the first to feature Crossfire Fuel Injection, a primitive form of fuel injection technology that improved efficiency over traditional carburetors. - Final Corvette with a Stamped Steel Frame
The C3 was the last Corvette to use a body-on-frame construction before Chevrolet introduced the more advanced unibody design in the C4 generation (1984).
Chevrolet Corvette C3 Price
The C3 Corvette is America’s disco-era icon, blending space-age styling with brutal big-block V8s (when optioned). Survivors are rare in the EU—expect to pay 3× US prices for rust-free examples. Early chrome-bumper cars (1968–1973) now rival Porsche 911S values, while smog-strangled late models (1975–1982) remain bargains.
1. Price Ranges (EUR, Mid-2024)
Chrome-Bumper Models (1968–1973)
- Project Car (needs full restoration): €25k – €45k
(Warning: 90% of EU imports need €50k+ in rust repair.) - Driver-Quality (minor flaws, matching numbers): €60k – €90k
(Look for: Original interior, no frame patches.) - Concours-Grade (factory-correct, NOS parts): €120k – €180k+
(Big-blocks with docs fetch 2× small-block prices.)
Rubber-Bumper Models (1974–1982)
- Resto-Mod Candidates (L82 V8, solid body): €20k – €35k
- Original Survivors (<50k km): €40k – €65k
- Last-Year Rarity (1982 Collector Edition): €70k – €100k
Special Editions
- 1969 L88 (race-spec 430hp): €500k+ (if real—only 116 made)
- 1978 Indy Pace Car (3,000 built): €80k – €120k (avoid clones)
2. Key Factors Affecting Value
✅ Provenance Wins
- Original tank sticker (build sheet): +30% value
- European delivery papers: +€15k (ultra-rare)
✅ Engine Hierarchy
- 454 LS6 (1970–71): +€50k over base 350
- LS4 350 (1975, last of the 4-speeds): +€10k
✅ Color & Options
- Factory side pipes: +€8k
- Mille Miglia Red (1972-only): +€12k
- T-tops vs. coupe: Split-roofs trade at 20% premium
⚠️ Critical Watch-Outs
- Birdcage rust (hidden windshield frame rot): €15k+ to fix
- Fake big-blocks: Demand partial VIN stamp on engine pad
- Bonded (glued) body panels: 1973+ are nightmares to repair
3. Where to Buy in the EU?
Official Channels
- Corvette Classic (Germany, specializes in EU-legal imports)
- Hexagon Classics (London, high-end restorations)
Private Sales
- Corvette Club Europe (discreet listings for matching-numbers cars)
- Catawiki Auctions (but vet sellers—many "rust-free" lies)
Pro Tip:
Buy a US-spec car already in the EU—importing yourself adds €10k+ in VAT/duties.
4. Market Trends
📈 Early C3s Rising Fast
- 1970 LT-1 (370hp) up 12% annually since 2020
- 1973 coupes now breaking €100k for pristine examples
⚠️ Trap Warning
- "Restored" cars often hide Brazilian reproduction fiberglass
- Auto-to-manual swaps hurt value (vs. factory 4-speeds)
5. Must-Do Checks
🔧 Mechanical:
- Frame rot (poke with a screwdriver behind rear wheels)
- Starburst dash cracks (€3k to restore correctly)
- Vacuum system leaks (critical for headlight operation)
📄 Paperwork:
- Trim tag decode (verify factory color/options)
- Tank sticker reproduction (only NCRS can authenticate)
Fun Fact:
The 1977 C3’s 8-track player was a €1,200 option—today, working units sell for €500+ as retro curiosities!
Extra C3-Specific Tips:
- Lighter=Better: Base 1975 (1,542kg) is 300kg lighter than a 1982!
- Euro Headlights: Non-US sealed beams add €2k for legality.
- Avoid: 1980–82 with Cross-Fire Injection (notorious reliability).
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