1980 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Stingray

Based on the Mako 'Shark' concept car of 1965 the 1968-1982 Chevrolet Corvette C3 'Stingray' offered stunning looks with decent power and somewhat unusually for an American car from this era great handling as well. As good as an E-Type or Porsche 911, we borrowed Great Escape Classic Car Hire's recently acquired example to find out. Read the full review at classiccarsdriven.com/

[@Bassarcher1645]

Im 17 and i have one. Great inheritant luck

[@richardmikus8205]

I have a 1982 White/red leather in excellent condition with less than 50k original miles. All stock with exception of plugs & wires. Jump on the gas and this car wakes up like a maniac, hauling tires and 0-60 with the quickness. The only downside that I see with the car is the steering and the fact that the rear is so light.Although it sometimes provokes me, I try to drive it as 'normal' as possible and it demands lots of attention and is fun to drive. I love this car!

[@ClassicCarsDriven]

Sounds like a keeper. Matt.

[@44excalibur]

The C3 Corvette design was a hybrid of the "Mako Shark" concept and the earlier "Manta Ray" concept, hence the name "Stingray." 1976 was the final year the C3 had the Stingray nameplate, but from 1977 on it was still essentially the same car.

[@MadnessOfMarmots]

Love C3's and almost everything about them.... but I CANNOT do red interior on white exterior.

[@paulmcadam6825]

Great video!

[@michaelstratton6701]

I have an 1980 L48 350 vette it has a few ISSUES but is beautiful black beauty that runs great I love it I'm fixing any issues and it will be ready again in the spring VERY fun and VERY cool car

[@ClassicCarsDriven]

Michael Stratton Good luck. Some cars just like to test their owners. I hope you get it sorted soon. Matt.

[@Guy-mx4fb]

Michael Stratton what kind of issues you have with it. i been looking into them thinking of getting one but everyone tells me they're horrible.

[@ThePacerX]

This is very late, but in case you are still thinking... common issues... 1) A deal-breaker is a car with a rusted birdcage or frame. You can buy them cheap, but you will never fix them economically. 2) Electrical issues due to morons working on them. Corvettes sometimes end up as canvas for the imagination of hare-brained owners that add all sorts of electrical doo-dads. Inevitably, the work is done badly and the electrical system then gives problems. 3) Headlight actuators. If they aren't working properly, expect to pay. Sometimes a lot. It's a vacuum system, so trouble shooting and fixing can be awful. 4) Other than that... not much. EVERYTHING is available on the aftermarket for them. Basically, apart from the suspension and body they are a parts-bin GM car in the best way: everything is shared with other cars. That means parts are available and inexpensive. Honestly, they are probably the least expensive sports car on the planet to own, a distinction they share to this day. The Corvette has always been "everyman's sports car", meaning the average guy with an average job could afford one (possibly used, but still...), and will hopefully remain so.

[@ClassicCarsDriven]

What distinguishes a C3 from a Stingray and does the same apply for the C2 cars...? Matt.

[@rustytoronto]

I have my 1980 Corvette and the leather seat design is fitted for comfortable long drives, I have a few videos of it on my you tube page, 420 Hp, and a 4 gear, just 5000+ made, cheers

[@ClassicCarsDriven]

Your car sounds menacing on idle. Matt.

[@rustytoronto]

There's nothing like it driving it on the freeway. It is better than the stock 190 hp motor. The original engine has a performance camshaft and updated it to make the car have excessive power, it loves the hills, cheers this summer, nice videos there classic cars, cheers

[@ClassicCarsDriven]

+Russ Graham Very nice, enjoy. Matt.

[@BOTmaster15]

The thing is, that after 1976 chevrolet stopped calling C3 "stingray". There is nearly no exterior diffrence between 76 and 77 exept stingray emblem.

[@1aceves]

It's strange how the Englishmen drive on the wrong side of the road. I couldn't get used to that!

[@RustyVigero2005]

It's actually us driving on the wrong side since cars originated in Europe. My mind was blown when I found that out XD

[@ClassicCarsDriven]

Yes I must admit although initially a shock, although I grew to accept it during the day. Matt.

[@markm.9458]

in comparison to any 'shagjuaar' of the era, the usa car is now worth 18k-30k us, the shaghuar has been parts for 10 years.

[@ClassicCarsDriven]

Are they just referred to C3's after that...? Matt.

[@markrichardson3566]

I should have bought that 80

[@xXSSTEARDROPXx]

I've got a question as a 6"4' guy would I have trouble sitting in one comfortably?

[@ClassicCarsDriven]

As promised I've gone back and sat in the C3 again. I would say at 6'4" probably not with the Targa roof panels on. I'm 5'11" and there was only 2" headroom left with the seat right down. Oddly there is plenty of leg room though. Matt.

[@terranrobinson7005]

xxssteardropxx I'm 6'5 and 300+ and I fit perfect.

[@tyleralderson5370]

Dosnt know his vettes 76 was the last year for the stingray

[@OhHeyThereGuy]

Tyler Alderson And '68 models, the first year of the C3, did not have the stingray nameplate either.

[@SuaveG310]

Not a stingray but good looking car

[@southpawsgarage]

LAST YR OF THE STINGRAY WAS 1976

[@nikond-vp9wt]

hard watching drive on left side

[@bigsmoke9678]

Wrong side of the road!! Oh nevermind lol

[@ThePacerX]

One comment... don't knock the big block cars until you try them. With a bit of judicious parts replacement (aluminum heads and intake being a good place to start) to lose some weight off the front end, they are quantum step up in firepower without ruining handling. A modern, standard C7 makes 460hp. A lazy and completely innocuous big block can make that without breaking a sweat. And, if you REALLY want to lay the hammer down, the big blocks can do it. 700hp naturally aspirated on pump gas? No problem.

[@LEESODANO]

With the noise , very hard to hear what you are saying .

[@ClassicCarsDriven]

LEESODANO Yes a particular problem on earlier reviews, later ones used a lapel mic which helped with noise. Matt.

[@SophisticatedPerson]

I'm just gonna come clean here, as a young man who never had a father, or knew shit about cars, I really like his view, as an American. I like how he said 5.7 L isn't small at all to European. My point is so many people want to talk bad on the c3 after 74, but we're still talking v8 and by ... what 1980 they shaved almost 300lbs off the c3 right? From what I can tell, just know what you're buying and know what the values are, know what you want and what you're getting into. If your Vette gets less than 250 hp, basically 74 and earlier... then it isn't likely to go up in value, pretty much due ot the engine, right? This isn't going to stop me from buying say a 79 or 80 because this is a very easily and awesome modified vehicle, AND I DON'T KNOW MUCH YET BUT YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, THIS CAR IS TITS.

[@kik1rik1]

Nate Hodson exact mindset I had 2 years ago. Now I'm taking the headers off and trying to get more out of the engine, so keep the dream. It's a good one and like you said, if the engine is the only draw back (which it more or less is... a better chassie and steering would be nice, but far from bad), then that's easily fixed.

[@buffett59]

I have never owned a bigger turd than an '80 corvette. It was a never ending circus of electrical problems, rattling, non-functional windows, etc. etc. I finally had enough when the car broke its own frame pulling away from a light! I got it fixed, (common problem, I was told.) It was also a slug, slower than the typical Camry. Don't get one!