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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

Chevrolet Corvette C3 Price Specifications

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.