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The 1980 Corvette

1980 Black Corvette Coupe

The 1980 Chevrolet Corvette was the first since 1974 to have more than one engine displacement. Unfortunately the new option was a 305 cubic inch destined for the California market to meet the stringent smog laws. This engine was required for California and was only available with the automatic transmission. The good news is that the '80 was 250 pounds lighter than the 1979. The hood and doors were made thinner saving weight. The tops decreased in density due to the use of microscopic beads in their construction. The rear differential housing and supports were manufactured from aluminum which also decreased weight. On the 350 cubic inch cars the intake manifold was made from aluminum. The California 305 ci engine got a stainless steel exhaust manifold. The front and rear spoilers from the '78 pace car were now molded into the front and rear bumper pieces and were standard. All '80 Vettes now had the 85 MPH speedometer. The Turbo-HydraMatic automatic transmissions recieved a lock-up torque converter which engaged at about 30 MPH. The manual transmissions got new gearing although it was only available with the base L48 engine. Only two storage bins were behind the seats, this had been three. Power windows, tilt-telescopic steering and air conditioning were all included in the base price. The base (non-California) engine lost 5 horsepower this year, the optional L82 engine gained 5 horsepower. The 1980 colors are also new, the "Corvette" colors were gone.

Production Options and Build Statistics

Total 1980 Corvettes Built - 40,614

Serial Numbers
1Z87xAS400001 - 1Z87xAS440614

The "Vehicle Identification Number" (also VIN or serial number) is stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.

Serial Number Decoder

PositionCharacterDescription
11Chevrolet Division
2ZCorvette
3-487Coupe
58L48 350-cid V8, 190-hp
5HCalifornia LG4 305-cid V8, 180-hp
56L82 350-cid V8, 230-hp, Four-Barrel
6A1980
7SAssembled in St. Louis, MO
8 to 13400001 to 440614production sequence

Engine Serial Number Decoder

1980 Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block after the engine number. The date code the engine was manufactured was also cast into the block. The engine serial number includes a production sequence number starting with 0001001 and one of the suffixes below.

CodeEngineHorsepowerCompressionTransmissionFuel SupplyExtra Features
ZCALG4 305-cid180-hp V-88.5:1AutomaticFour-Barrel CarburetorCalifornia
ZAML48 350-cid190-hp V-88.2:1ManualFour-Barrel Carburetor
ZAKL48 350-cid190-hp V-88.2:1AutomaticFour-Barrel Carburetor
ZBCL82 350-cid230-hp V-89.0:1AutomaticFour-Barrel Carburetor

The body number plate is located on the engine side of the cowl. The Fisher Body Style Number identifies the model of Corvette. 80-1YZ37 - Corvette Coupe The body number is the serial number of the body. The trim number represents the color of the interior, the paint color is the exterior paint color.

Production Options

RPO
Description
Cost
Total
Prod.
%
1YZ87Base Coupe$13,140.24 40,614 100.0%
AU3Power Door Locks$140.00 N/A N/A
CC1Removable Glass Roof Panels$391.00 19,695 48.5%
C49Rear Window Defogger$109.00 36,589 90.1%
FE7Gymkhana Suspension$55.00 9,907 24.4%
F51Heavy Duty Shock Absorbers$35.00 1,695 4.2%
K30Cruise Control$123.00 30,821 75.9%
LG4305ci, 180hp engine**N/A 3,221 7.9%
L82350ci, 230hp engine$595.00 5,069 12.5%
MM44-Speed Manual Transmission$0.00 5,726 14.1%
MX1Automatic Transmission$0.00 34,838 85.8%
N90Aluminum Wheels$407.00 34,128 84.0%
QGBWhite Letter SBR Tires, P225/70R15$62.00 26,208 64.5%
QXHWhite Letter SBR Tires, P255/60R15$426.16 13,140 32.4%
UA1Heavy Duty Battery$22.00 1,337 3.3%
U58AM/FM Stereo$46.00 6,138 15.1%
UM2AM/FM Radio, stereo w/ 8-track$155.00 15,708 38.7%
UN3AM/FM Radio, stereo w/ cassette$163.00 15,148 37.3%
UP6AM/FM Radio, stereo w/CB$391.00 2,434 6.0%
U75Power Antenna$56.00 32,863 80.9%
UL5Radio DeleteN/A 201 0.5%
U81Dual Rear Speakers$31.00 36,650 90.2%
V54Roof Panel Carrier$125.00 3,755 9.2%
YF5California Emissions Certification$250.00 3,221 7.9%
ZN1Trailer Package$105.00 796 2.0%

Color Options for 1980

Interior options for exterior colors are suggested by Chevrolet. Any combination could be ordered.
RPO
Color
Cost
Interior Color
Total
Prod.
%
10White$0.00B-CL-DB-DS-O-R 7,780 19.2%
13Silver Metallic$0.00B-CL-DB-O-R 4,341 10.7%
19Black$0.00B-DS-O-R 7,250 17.9%
28Dark Blue Metallic$0.00B-DB-DS-O-R 4,135 10.2%
47Dark Brown Metallic$0.00B-DS-O 2,300 5.7%
52Yellow$0.00B-O 2,077 5.1%
58Dark Green Metallic$0.00B-DS-O 844 2.1%
59Frost Beige$0.00B-CL-DB-DS-R 3,070 7.6%
50/74Dark Claret Metallic$0.00B-CL-DS-O 3,451 8.5%
83Red$0.00B-DS-O-R 5,714 14.1%
Color Codes: B=Black, C=Cloth, CL=Claret, DB=Dark Blue, DS=Doeskin, L=Leather, O=Oyster, R=Red

Interior Colors

RPO
Color
Cost
Total
Prod.
%
12C0yster Cloth$0.00 1,808 4.5%
29CDark Blue Cloth$0.00 1,040 2.6%
59CDoeskin Cloth$0.00 1,616 4.0%
79CClaret Cloth$0.00 1,338 3.3%
122Oyster Leather$0.00 7,104 17.5%
192Black Leather$0.00 6,776 16.7%
292Dark Blue Leather$0.00 2,752 6.8%
592Doeskin Leather$0.00 7,310 18.0%
722Red Leather$0.00 7,184 17.7%
792Claret Leather$0.00 3,636 9.0%


1980 Corvette Specifications

Mechanical Dimensions

FeatureDimensions
Wheelbase98 inches (2.489 m)
Overall Length185.2 inches (4.704 m)
Overall Width69.0 inches (1.753 m)
Overall height48 inches (1.219 m)
Ground Clearance4.5 inches (11.4 cm)
Front Tread58.7 inches (1.491 m)
Rear Tread59.5 inches (1.511 m)
Wheel Size15 x 8 inches
TiresP225/70R-15 SBR (steel-belted radial)
PositractionStandard
SteeringRecirculating ball
Front SuspensionIndependent, unequal-length control arms with ball joints, coil springs, and stabilizer bar
Rear SuspensionIndependent, trailing link, transverse semi-elliptic leaf springs
BrakesHydraulic, vented four wheel discs 11.75-inch diameter, single calipers
IgnitionHEI electronic
Body ConstructionSeparate fiberglass body and box-type ladder frame with cross-members
Fuel Tank24 US Gal (20 Imp Gal) (91 liters)


Engine Specifications

FeatureBase Engine RPO L48Base California Engine RPO LG4RPO L82
TypeV-8, 90-degree Overhead valveV-8, 90-degree Overhead valveV-8, 90-degree Overhead valve
BlockCast IronCast IronCast Iron
Displacement350 cid (5.7 liters)305 cid (5.0 liters)350 cid (5.7 liters)
Bore & Stroke4.00 x 3.48"3.735 x 3.48"4.00 x 3.48"
Compression Ratio8.2:18.5:19.0:1
Brake Horsepower190 @ 4200180 @ 4200230 @ 5200
Torque280 lb-ft @ 2400255 lb-ft @ 2000275 lb-ft @ 3600
Main BearingFiveFiveFive
Valve LiftersHydraulicHydraulicHydraulic
Fuel SupplyRochester QuadrajetRochester QuadrajetRochester Quadrajet

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