1977 Chevrolet Corvette

Coupe Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

1Z37L7S428870

Clear

Gasoline

I purchased this car in 2004, and it was in pretty solid survivor condition when I got it. All the numbers match, engine, rear-end & transmission. It even had the original distributor and Quadra-Jet carburetor on it. The ignition shielding is still there, as is the smog pump. When I got it, there was literally no interior. Just a steering wheel sticking out of the firewall. I drove it home setting on a milk crate (Not recommended, btw). The previous owner had gutted the interior, but fortunately he had most of the gauges, braces and seat frames, which I brought home in the back of my truck. I sat down one night and did a complete inventory of what I had, and what I did not. I used an original GM parts catalogue and starting checking off parts that were missing. Once I had a list, I got out my Eckler's catalogue and started buying interior parts. $3500 & two weeks later boxes of parts started showing up from The Big Brown Truck. I sent the original seat belts off to Snake Oyl and had them re-webbed, and all the retractors and buckles replaced or rebuilt. I then started building a new interior from my boxes from Eckler's, and reused what was still serviceable. New leather seat skins with new foam, deluxe door panels, carpet and pad, dash panels, etc. Almost everything inside is either re-pop from Eckler's or NOS. The car originally had a dark brown interior (yuck) and I changed everything to black. All the gauges work, and I had the speedometer rebuilt. The radio was missing, and I didn't want to source a NOS one, so I put in a re-pop that is AM/FM/Casette. It also has an 1/8" jack for an MP3 player (I use my iPhone) but it looks period correct, and fits in the stock bezel. The interior is literally just like brand new! The brakes have been completely gone through from master to calipers and work as they should. The suspension has all been gone through, and it tracks straight, and rides at the proper height (Could probably use shocks soon, but they are still okay for now). I replaced the stock exhaust, mufflers and cat, and put in true duals with new performance mufflers, and stock appearing tips. The car has a nice rumble, but is not too loud. I rebuilt the power steering pump (it was leaking) and got the A/C to blow 48 degree air when it's 110 outside. The tires are 6 years old, but have less than 1000 miles on them. I went over the body and frame when I bought it, and the body shows no repairs or damage. The frame appears to be rust free. Options as it left St. Louis 35 years ago:A31 Power WindowsC49 Rear Window DefoggerC60 Air ConditioningD35 Sport MirrorsM40 Turbo Hydramatic Automatic TransmissionN37 Tilt-Telescopic steering ColumnU69 AM/FM radio (Replaced with aftermarket radio)ZX2 Connivence Group Now the issues: The car is 35 years old, and is still running the original drive train. The odometer shows 24,915 miles, but I'm sure it's turned over, so probably more like 124,915 miles. Actual miles are unknown. It starts and runs fine, and passes smog, but is starting to blow some blue smoke out of one bank. The transmission shifts fine in forward gears, but when you shift to reverse, it takes about 5 seconds before it engages reverse. After 35 years, both need to be pulled and rebuilt. The low fuel light, seat belt light and door buzzer don't work. The horn would honk when you turn the steering wheel, so I pulled the plug. The factory alarm won't set using the door key either. I've chased those bugs, but just can't find the problems. I replaced the original carb with a rebuilt one, but still have the original saved for someone that wants to restore to factory specs. I replaced the A/C compressor and metering device, as well as the hoses, but have a small leak somewhere. I have to give her a pound or so of R12 about once a year to keep it charged up. The car was originally painted Corvette Tan (yuck, again) but was repainted red a long time ago. The paint has faded to something between red and orange, and is shot. It will defiantly need a repaint, but like I said the body is straight so not too big of a deal. There are probably several other small issues, but I can't think of them right now. If I do, I'll add them to the description. This is a 35 year old car, so please don't be like the guy I sold my 16 year old boat to, and expect it to look like it just came off of a dealers showroom floor in 1977... I'm selling it as I was torn as to wether I should pull the motor and trans and rebuild them to factory specs and keep it period correct, or if I wanted to make it into a resto-rod and go with a ZZ4 crate motor and 4-speed auto. The later would be more fun, but I hate taking a survivor as original as this one is and "ruining" it. It is stored inside under a cover, and comes out once a year to get a smog test and a new plate sticker. It's silly to let it just set, someone needs to finish what I started and have a fun driver, or go NCRS on her and get her back to Disco Heaven... Please, please ask questions! I'll be more than happy to answer them, and will provide my phone number or email on request. If you live in Southern Nevada, I can show the car in person. Please though, no tire kickers as the storage unit is 20 miles away... Video walk around of the car can be viewed on Photo-bucket, but eBay won't let me put a link in the description. Send me a message, and I'll forward the link to you... On Mar-05-12 at 16:12:17 PST, seller added the following information: The Reserve is set WELL below the Buy It Now price. Also, if it doesn't meet reserve, get a hold of me and let's talk after the auction ends...