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The 1979 Corvette
The 1979 Chevrolet Corvette was a much smaller change from the last year. The standard
seats are now the lighter weight and taller version that was introduced on the pace
car in '78. The passenger seat now folds flat to the level of the cargo area. The
bolt-on spoilers from the '78 pace car were now available as an option. These reduced
drag by approximately 15%. Both the base and L82 engines now use a dual snorkel
intake to add 5 horsepower to the base engine. The L82 engine option has a higher
lift cam, special heads with larger valves and higher compression, impact-extruded
pistons, a forged steel crankshaft, and finned aluminum rocker covers. These improvements
added another 10 horsepower to the L82 engine. Some late 1979 models were "upgraded"
to the new 85 MPH speedometer that would be standard on the 1980 models. The automatic
transmission equipped models had the rear gear ratio changed to 3.55:1. This was
the last year for the "Corvette" named colors.
Production Options and Build Statistics
Total 1979 Corvettes Built - 53,807
| Serial Numbers |
|---|
| 1Z87x9S400001 - 1Z87x9S453807 |
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
| Position | Character | Description |
|---|
| 1 | 1 | Chevrolet Division | | 2 | Z | Corvette | | 3-4 | 87 | coupe | | 5 | 8 | L48 350-cid V8, 195-hp, Four-Barrel | | 5 | 4 | L82 350-cid V8, 225-hp, Four-Barrel | | 6 | 9 | 1979 | | 7 | S | Assembled in St. Louis, MO | | 8 to 13 | 400001 to 453807 | production sequence |
Engine Serial Number Decoder
1979 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.
| Code | Engine | Horsepower | Compression | Transmission | Fuel Supply | Extra Features |
|---|
| ZAA | L48 350-cid Early Production | 195-hp V-8 | 8.2:1 | Manual | Four-Barrel Carburetor | | | ZAB | L48 350-cid Early Production | 195-hp V-8 | 8.2:1 | Automatic | Four-Barrel Carburetor | | | ZAC | L48 350-cid Early Production | 195-hp V-8 | 8.2:1 | Automatic | Four-Barrel Carburetor | California | | ZAD | L48 350-cid | 195-hp V-8 | 8.2:1 | Automatic | Four-Barrel Carburetor | High-Altitude | | ZAF | L48 350-cid | 195-hp V-8 | 8.2:1 | Manual | Four-Barrel Carburetor | | | ZAH | L48 350-cid | 195-hp V-8 | 8.2:1 | Automatic | Four-Barrel Carburetor | | | ZBB | L48 350-cid | 225-hp V-8 | 8.2:1 | Automatic | Four-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. 79-1YZ37 - 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. | % |
|---|
| 1YZ87 | Base Coupe | $10,220.23 | 53,807 | 100.0% | | A31 | Power Windows | $141.00 | 20,631 | 38.3% | | AU3 | Power Door Locks | $131.00 | 9,054 | 16.8% | | CC1 | Removable Glass Roof Panels | $365.00 | 14,480 | 26.9% | | C49 | Rear Window Defogger | $102.00 | 41,587 | 77.3% | | C60 | Air Conditioning | $635.00 | 47,136 | 87.6% | | D35 | Sport Mirrors | $45.00 | 48,211 | 89.6% | | D80 | Front and Rear Spoilers | $265.00 | 6,853 | 12.7% | | FE7 | Gymkhana Suspension | $49.00 | 12,321 | 22.9% | | F51 | Heavy Duty Shock Absorbers | $33.00 | 2,164 | 4.0% | | G95 | Optional Rear Axle Ratio | $19.00 | 428 | 0.8% | | K30 | Cruise Control | $113.00 | 34,445 | 64.0% | | L82 | 350ci. 225hp engine | $565.00 | 14,516 | 27.0% | | M21 | 4-spd, Close Ratio Manual Trans. | $0.00 | 4,062 | 7.5% | | MX1 | Automatic Transmission | $0.00 | 41,454 | 77.0% | | NA6 | High Altitude Emissions Equipment | $35.00 | 56 | 0.1% | | N37 | Tilt-Telescopic Steering Column | $190.00 | 47,463 | 88.2% | | N90 | Aluminum Wheels (4) | $380.00 | 33,741 | 62.7% | | QBS | White Letter Steel Belted Tires - P255/70R15 | $226.20 | 17,920 | 33.3% | | QGR | White Letter Steel Belted Tires - P225/70R15 | $54.00 | 29,603 | 55.0% | | UA1 | Heavy Duty Battery | $21.00 | 3,405 | 6.3% | | UM2 | AM-FM Radio Stereo w/ 8-track | $228.00 | 21,435 | 39.8% | | UN3 | AM-FM Radio Stereo w/ Cassette | $234.00 | 12,110 | 22.5% | | UP6 | AM-FM Radio Stereo w/ CB | $439.00 | 4,483 | 8.3% | | U58 | AM-FM Radio Stereo | $90.00 | 9,256 | 17.2% | | U75 | Power Antenna | $52.00 | 35,730 | 66.4% | | U81 | Dual Rear Speakers | $52.00 | N/A | N/A | | YF5 | California Emissions Certification | $83.00 | 3,798 | 7.1% | | ZN1 | Trailer Package | $98.00 | 1,001 | 1.9% | | ZQ2 | Power Windows and Door Locks | $272.00 | 28,465 | 52.9% | | ZX2 | Convenience Group | $94.00 | 41,530 | 77.2% |
Color Options for 1979
Interior options for exterior colors are suggested by Chevrolet. Any combination could be ordered. | RPO | Color | Cost | Interior Color | Total |
|---|
| Prod. | % |
|---|
| 10 | Classic White | $0.00 | B-DB-DG-LB-O-R | 8,629 | 16.0% | | 13 | Silver | $0.00 | B-DB-DG-O-R | 7,331 | 13.6% | | 19 | Black | $0.00 | B-LB-O-R | 10,465 | 19.4% | | 28 | Corvette Light Blue | $0.00 | B-DB-O | 3,203 | 6.0% | | 52 | Corvette Yellow | $0.00 | B-LB-O | 2,357 | 4.4% | | 58 | Corvette Dark Green | $0.00 | B-DG-LB-O | 2,426 | 4.5% | | 59 | Corvette Light Beige | $0.00 | B-DB-DG-LB-R | 2,951 | 5.5% | | 72 | Corvette Red | $0.00 | B-LB-O-RW | 6,707 | 12.5% | | 82 | Corvette Dark Brown | $0.00 | B-LB-O | 4,053 | 7.5% | | 83 | Corvette Dark Blue | $0.00 | B-DB-LB-O-R | 5,670 | 10.5% |
Color Codes: BG=Blue Green, B=Black, DB=Dark Blue, DG=Dark Green, L=Leather, LB=Light Beige, O=Oyster, R=Red
Interior Colors
| RPO | Color | Cost | Total |
|---|
| Prod. | % |
|---|
| 12C | Oyster Coth | $0.00 | 2,606 | 4.8% | | 29C | Dark Blue Cloth | $0.00 | 2,142 | 4.0% | | 49C | Dark Green Cloth | $0.00 | 517 | 1.0% | | 59C | Light Beige Cloth | $0.00 | 2,224 | 4.1% | | 122 | Oyster Leather | $0.00 | 9,316 | 17.3% | | 292 | Dark Blue Leather | $0.00 | 4,768 | 8.9% | | 492 | Dark Green Leather | $0.00 | 907 | 1.7% | | 592 | Light Beige Leather | $0.00 | 8,818 | 16.4% | | 722 | Red Leather | $0.00 | 9,181 | 17.1% |
1979 Corvette Specifications
Mechanical Dimensions
| Feature | Dimensions |
|---|
| Wheelbase | 98 inches (2.489 m) | | Overall Length | 185.2 inches (4.704 m) | | Overall Width | 69.0 inches (1.753 m) | | Overall Height | 48 inches (1.219 m) | | Ground Clearance | 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) | | Front tread | 58.7 inches (1.491 m) | | Rear tread | 59.5 inches (1.511 m) | | Wheel size | 15 x 8 inches | | Tires | P225/70R-15 SBR (steel-belted radial) | | Positraction | Standard | | Steering | Recirculating ball | | Front Suspension | Independent, unequal-length control arms with ball joints, coil springs, and stabilizer bar | | Rear Suspension | Independent, trailing link, transverse semi-elliptic leaf springs | | Brakes | Hydraulic, vented four wheel discs 11.75-inch diameter, single calipers | | Ignition | HEI electronic | | Body Construction | Separate fiberglass body and box-type ladder frame with cross-members | | Fuel tank | 24 US Gal (20 Imp Gal) (91 liters) |
Engine Specifications
| Feature | Base Engine RPO L48 | RPO L82 |
|---|
| Type | V-8, 90-degree Overhead valve | V-8, 90-degree Overhead valve | | Block | Cast Iron | Cast Iron | | Displacement | 350 cid (5.7 liters) | 350 cid (5.7 liters) | | Bore & Stroke | 4.00 x 3.48" | 4.00 x 3.48" | | Compression Ratio | 8.2:1 | 8.9:1 | | Brake Horsepower | 195 @ 4000 | 225 @ 5200 | | Torque | 285 lb-ft @ 3200 | 270 lb-ft @ 3600 | | Main Bearing | Five | Five | | Valve Lifters | Hydraulic | Hydraulic | | Fuel Supply | Rochester M4MC | Rochester M4MC |
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