Something special needed to be done to the current Corvette , rather than introduce an all - new model , to commemorate the car ’s silver anniversary in 1978 . But how would chivy attain this on a tight budget ? The answer try out as dewy-eyed as trimming away the old " flying buttressing " cruise control board and substituting a large , compound - curve rear windowpane . Voilà ! The Corvette fastback was back .
Not only was this a relatively inexpensive modification that freshen up the car ’s coming into court , it improved rearward visibility in the buy . Even well , it made for a slightly larger and more accessible luggage area .
In summation to add Silver Anniversary badges to the exterior , changes for 1978 include squared - up instrument - panel housings for the speedometer and tachometer to couple the previous year ’s revamped console gauges , redesigned room access panels with new armrest and integral room access pulls , and – at last – a real glovebox . The railcar ’s fuel - tank car capability increase from 17 to 24 Imperial gallon , and the windshield wiper / washing machine control was move from the steering column haunt back to the dashboard .
Shark appearance was completely transformed for 1978 as the coupe exchanged its notchback roofline for a sweeping “glassback.” The change was neither cheap nor easy to effect, but it was necessary to keep the car sufficiently fresh until a truly all-new Corvette was ready.
The Corvette had the dubious distinction of being one of America ’s most frequently stolen cars , so the standard anti - theft system was rewire on the 1978 to encompass the T - tops , which were all - too - easy to pinch . To the same end , a new roller - unsighted protection shade was added to keep would - be thief from peer into the cargo area through the magnanimous new backlight . The glass thyroxin - tops promised for 1977 were now genuinely available from the factory , and both they and the normal fiberglass instrument panel were modified to provide more headroom and easier locking . The three - item seat belts were given a unmarried inertia bobbin , and belt guides were eliminated .
Power rating for 1978 shifted a bit in deference to emission criterion , as well as to the governance ’s new Corporate Average Fuel Economy ( CAFE ) mandates that took effect that class . As before , there were two basic version of the veteran 350 small closure from which to choose . The understructure L48 develop 185 bhp in " 49 - Department of State " passementerie and was the only option for client in California and high - altitude areas , where it generated 175 bhp . For an redundant $ 525 , the L82 delivered 220 bhp via a dual - snorkel aviation intake and a revamped exhaust system design to reduce back - pressure level .
A close - ratio four - speed manual gear box return as an exclusive choice for the L82 ; a 3.70:1 rear axle made this the well - performing drivetrain combination available . The same gearset was also offered for the L82 with the wide - ratio four - fastness , while the L48 came with a 3.36:1 axle ( also useable for the L82 / wide - ratio setup ) . Also offer for the L82 was a revised Turbo - Hydra - Matic of the new , so - called " CBC " character , with a crushed - inertia gamey - kiosk - speed ( 2,400 rpm ) torsion convertor . The automatic pull a 3.55:1 last drive , except with the L48 at miserable altitudes , where it was 3.08:1 . Such juggling reflected the proportional difficulty of balancing carrying into action against down in the mouth emissions and decent fuel economy .
Shark appearance was completely transformed for 1978 as the coupe exchanged its notchback roofline for a sweeping “glassback.” The change was neither cheap nor easy to effect, but it was necessary to keep the car sufficiently fresh until a truly all-new Corvette was ready.
The primary chassis variety for ' 78 was first - time availability of optional 60 - serial publication tires – raise - snowy - letter Goodyear GTs in HR60 size ( 225/60R-15 metric ) , though they necessitated some shearing of the pilot liners . Aramid - belt construction contributed to a claimed improvement in drive smoothness .
The FE7 Gymkhana Suspension package was still around , though its price had run up to $ 41 from the original $ 7 bargain . As before , it included heavy - duty shock and higher - rate springs all around , plus a rear anti - roll stripe and a dense front stabiliser .
The Corvette ’s 25thanniversary sparked the creation of two extra variation modeling that twelvemonth . Find out more about them in the next section .
Shark appearance was completely transformed for 1978 as the coupe exchanged its notchback roofline for a sweeping “glassback.” The change was neither cheap nor easy to effect, but it was necessary to keep the car sufficiently fresh until a truly all-new Corvette was ready.
Learn about other corvette in this generation :
1978 Special Edition Corvettes
cash in in on the birthday cachet , Chevy offered the 1978 Corvette with " 25th day of remembrance key , " which was a relatively inexpensive strip package that would be viewed as a suitable option and could thus be considerably check up . Before he retire , Bill Mitchell had suggest a Silver Anniversary example in his favorite color – flatware , appropriately enough – and it look as the $ 399 B2Z alternative software system . The first factory two - toning offered since 1961 ( save for the removable hardtops for the now - discontinued roadster ) , it presented silver over a gray low body with a disunite pinstripe , plus atomic number 13 wheels and dual " fun " outside mirrors as compulsory options , which added another $ 380 to the cost .
In another bit of anniversary schmalz , Chevrolet had negotiated with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to have a modified Corvette opt as pace car for 1978 ’s Indy 500 . Initially , 2,500 replica Corvette pacers – 100 for each year of production – were schedule for sale on a first - cum , first - service ground , but with Chevrolet having 6,200 dealers at the fourth dimension , it was decided that any such Corvette special would have to be built to a minimum order of 6,200 social unit so that each showroom could have at least one . Thus , what was officially called the Limited Edition Indy Pace Car Replica Corvette made up some 15 pct of full output – barely " limited " at all .
Like the Silver Anniversary model , the Pace Car Replica was actually an pick package – RPO Z78 – with two - tone paint as its primary eminence . Here it was disgraceful over silver metallic with a brilliant carmine pinstripe in between , but a plunderer was tacked on at each last to alter appearance more dramatically . The front spoiler was like to the one on the contemporary Firebird Trans Am , wrapped under and around to blend into the wheel wells , while the prominent rearward spoiler curved down at its outboard ends to meet the bodysides , call back the ' 69 Aero Coupe show car .
Pace Car interiors ponder Bill Mitchell ’s influence , with full silver leather or flatware leather / gray-headed fabric upholstery and gray-headed rug . Chevrolet had schedule novel Corvette bottom for 1979 , but the broadcast was rushed forward so that the 1978 Pace Car could have them first ; these provide a unexampled thin - case design with more prominent ( some say too prominent ) lumbar support . Also , Turbo Hydra - Matic was supposedly the only transmittal usable , but four - speed manual showed up on quite a few models .
All replicas were fit with the new glass T - top side , alloy bike , great power windows , rear defogger , air conditioning , sport mirror , tilt / telescope guidance wheel , labored - duty battery , mogul door locks , and an AM / FM stereo with either an eight - track tape musician or CB radiocommunication . The concluding touch was a Seth of regalia decalcomania for owner installment . These included " fly wheel " Indy Speedway logo for the rear fenders and legends for the doors reading " Official Pace Car , 62nd Annual Indianapolis 500 Mile Race , May 28 , 1978 . "
understructure - price at $ 13,653.21 , the Pace Car Replica was quite a rise over the $ 9,351 stock model . But because it expect like an " inst collectable , " every one was betray for more than list cost . This rabid interest tempted some owner of stock 1978s to try and pass them off as factory Pace Cars . All anyone needed was a spray gun for hire , a fateful or argent auto with the right options , and a friend in your dealer ’s part department unforced to betray you the two spoilers and especial silver cabin trim ( though most forger would blank out about the special seats ) .
Besides celebrating Corvette’s 25th birthday in 1978, Chevy was again tapped as pace car for the Indy 500. In celebration of that, Corvette buyers were treated to this special Indy Pace Car Replica model.
If the railway car was now long in the Shark ’s tooth , its 1978 changes seemed to regenerate it all out of proportion to their magnitude , at least accord to the machine powder magazine . The reviewers praise the car ’s classic potency to high heaven , especially an L48 / automatic ’s 7.8 - second 0 - 60 miles per hour time and top speed of 123 miles per hour , and note its more refined , less dentition - rattling ride . On the other manus , they continued to note its weakness , like a rear end that lean to step out during sharp cornering maneuvers and a cabin that was still cramped and uncomfortable .
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1978 Corvette Specifications
Corvette marked its facile anniversary for 1978 with a new fastback roofline that greatly increased luggage outer space , though the fixed glass mean you still had to load up from inside . honor the milepost natal day was a $ 399 two - tone Silver Anniversary pigment bundle . Here are the specification for the 1978 Corvette :
Mechanical Specifications ( 2 - room access coupe )
Suspensionfront : sovereign ; upper and low A - arms , coil springs , vasiform hydraulic seismic disturbance absorbers , antiroll barrear : Independent , lateral leafage bounce , prance , U - joint halfshafts , chase after subdivision , vasiform hydraulic jolt absorber
Besides celebrating Corvette’s 25th birthday in 1978, Chevy was again tapped as pace car for the Indy 500. In celebration of that, Corvette buyers were treated to this special Indy Pace Car Replica model.
Wheels / TiresP277/70R-15
Brakesfront : 11.75 - column inch discrear : 11.75 - column inch disc
Transmission3 - speed Hydra - Matic4 - stop number manual
Besides celebrating Corvette’s 25th birthday in 1978, Chevy was again tapped as pace car for the Indy 500. In celebration of that, Corvette buyers were treated to this special Indy Pace Car Replica model.
Standard axle ratio3.08:1 ( auto ) 3.36:1 ( manual )
Engine Specifications
publish Performance number
Vehicle Production and Base price
Options and Production
$ 130.00
Horsepower for the ’78 Corvette rose to 175/185 base and to 220 for the L82 option. Despite this, sales declined for the first time in seven years, easing to 46,776.
Color Choices and Production
Horsepower for the ’78 Corvette rose to 175/185 base and to 220 for the L82 option. Despite this, sales declined for the first time in seven years, easing to 46,776.
Horsepower for the ’78 Corvette rose to 175/185 base and to 220 for the L82 option. Despite this, sales declined for the first time in seven years, easing to 46,776.
Shark appearance was completely transformed for 1978 as the coupe exchanged its notchback roofline for a sweeping “glassback.” The change was neither cheap nor easy to effect, but it was necessary to keep the car sufficiently fresh until a truly all-new Corvette was ready.
Besides celebrating Corvette’s 25th birthday in 1978, Chevy was again tapped as pace car for the Indy 500. In celebration of that, Corvette buyers were treated to this special Indy Pace Car Replica model.
Horsepower for the ’78 Corvette rose to 175/185 base and to 220 for the L82 option. Despite this, sales declined for the first time in seven years, easing to 46,776.
