1979 Chevrolet Corvette C3
Vendor supplied images
Highlights
- Fresh ITV technical inspection
- Numbers matching
- Subject to a comprehensive body-off restoration completed by the previous owner
- Well-documented recent work and maintenance
- Nicely presented throughout
- Recently serviced in readiness for its next owner
The Appeal
Following the first two exceedingly successful iterations of the Corvette, the development of Chevrolet’s hotly anticipated ‘C3’ had been kept secret from the public. So secret in fact that its eventual reveal happened by accident when Matel’s ‘Hot Wheels’ version hit the shelves before the C3 itself was officially unveiled!
And buyers were in for a treat. Based on Larry Shinoda’s ‘Mako Shark II’ design, the C3 Corvette took advantage of the design freedoms granted by glass fibre construction. It features incredibly sleek styling punctuated by bold curves that would have been exceedingly difficult to replicate in metal. A raft of engines were offered during the C3’s long production run, although every one was a V8 - naturally.
Today, these are some of the most desirable classic Corvettes. These cars were driven by the ‘jet set’ of the day from Hollywood stars to Apollo astronauts. Here we have a lovely matching numbers 1979 example which has been subject to a great deal of restoration work during recent years. it was imported to the UK in 2019 and the new keeper set to work rebuilding the car, documenting the work in a series of hand-written note. There’s also a substantial collection of invoices for parts and professional services which provide a detailed account of what’s been done to the car.
Now located in Spain and recently submitted for ITV testing, this Chevrolet Corvette awaits its next custodian.
The History and Paperwork
- US market car
- Imported to the UK from Florida in 2019 and registered from July 2020
- Limited history proper to 2019 present
- Condition and interior suggest that the mileage is genuine and original
- During present ownership, numerous invoices and hand-written notes have been amassed
- Considerable expenditure and many hours labour during recent years has made this a very smart example
- Spanish registration paperwork and ITV document present
- Numerous invoices from UK-based specialists
- The owner lists the work carried out, predominantly in 2020
- The vendor assures us that the car is matching numbers
- Most recent service dated 29th May 2024
The Condition
- Striking red paintwork, complemented by beige upholstery
- No signs of heavy wear or obvious indications of crazing/deterioration to the fibreglass
- Straight-looking bodywork with good door fit
- All presents well underneath, with no signs of notable age
- Very smart trim, lights, glass and badging
- Superbly presented period alloys, fittingly equipped with Mastercraft Avenger GT white-letter tyres on the front and Cobra on the rear
- Smart and mostly original interior
- Upgraded with a DIN Bluetooth stereo with fold-away LCD screen
- No notable wear apparent to the seats
- Slight wear to the steering wheel rim
- The veneers and plastics present very well
- The driver’s side carpet is a little worn at the base of the door, but otherwise presents very well
- We understand the cabin electrics and instruments to be in good working order
The Mechanics
- 5,733 cc V8
- Automatic gearbox
- As the notes and copious invoices show, this car’s mechanicals have been comprehensively rebuilt and well-maintained ever since
- Entries in the hand-written maintenance schedule continue right up to the present, with the most recent service and other miscellaneous work completed in May 2024
- All presents very well and looks highly original under the bonnet
- We’re informed that the engine starts well, runs as it should and performs correctly
- Recently passed ITV, reportedly with no issues
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. If requested, we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected]
The Gallery
About Max Bids
The max bid process allows you to bid without any hassle.
Enter your maximum bid and we will then bid on your behalf to ensure you're the highest bidder - just enough to keep you in the lead and only up until your maximum.
Anti-sniping
Car & Classic prevent auction snipers from bidding in the last seconds to win an auction.
Auctions are extended by 3 minutes if anyone bids within the last 2 minutes to allow other bidders to react and counter-bid.
Auto-bidding increments
- If your maximum bid is equal to or below the reserve price, your maximum bid will be applied in full if you are the highest bidder.
- If you are the highest bidder and place a maximum bid above the reserve, we will automatically put in the reserve as your first bid.
-
- Once the reserve has been met, Car & Classic will make sure you are the highest bidder using only the bidding increments stated below.
- We will keep you in the lead up until your maximum bid OR the increment closest to your maximum bid, providing your maximum bid is enough to cover the increment value.
| Bid Amount | Increment |
|---|---|
| €0 to €9,999 | €100.00 |
| €10,000 to €49,999 | €250.00 |
| €50,000 to €99,999 | €500.00 |
| €100,000 + | €1,000.00 |
Automatically outbid immediately
When you place a max bid and are outbid immediately that means that another bidder has placed a max bid limit which is higher than yours.
You can bid again and we will use our automatic bid system to try and get you as the highest bidder.
Matching max bids
When there are two max bids of the same value, the one placed first remains the lead bidder.
Pre-authorisation
We may hold a pre-authorisation charge on your card until the end of the auction when the hold will be cancelled. If you win, we'll take a security deposit which counts towards the payment for the vehicle and isn't any extra cost to you.
What are pre-bids?
A pre-bid means you're able to place a bid before the official start of the auction.
You will be notified whether or not you are the highest bidder when the auction starts.
Problem with your bid
Bids are contractually binding. To help protect you, we have some rules in place if we think it's been mistyped. Please check and amend what you have entered.