Clean Corvette with lots of upgrades. Fresh 383 cubic inch stroker motor, 4-speed, upgraded suspension, 18-inch wheels, and more. Cool color combination with stripes. Easily the biggest bang for the buck in our showroom today!

Given the long list of upgrades on this 1978 Chevrolet Corvette, you could be forgiven for thinking it should cost much more than it does. The engine alone was probably a significant portion of the asking price, making this a screaming bargain from any angle. The brilliant Torch Red paint is highlighted by red and blue stripes down the center, giving the car a race-ready look that’s more than just posing—this one has the horsepower to back it up. Finish quality is good all around, not perfect, but more than acceptable for the local cruise nights. With a ducktail spoiler, it looks leaner and meaner than your average 1978 Corvette and it has an ideal stance that looks predatory. The stripes are nicely applied, wrapping around the front bumperettes and stretching over the T-top roof panels and onto the rear deck, and the way they extend into the roof gutters suggest someone took their time with the job. It has a great look that presents really well.

The black leather interior is likely original and in very good condition. The deep bucket seats are still comfortable, and you’ll quickly find that a C3 cockpit is a nice place to spend some time. A tilt steering column makes it easy to get comfortable behind the wheel, and a pair of auxiliary gauges have been added on top to monitor oil pressure and temperature (the factory gauges have been disabled as a result). The factory power windows zip up and down, the fat leather-wrapped wheel feels great in your hands, and the shifter features a Hurst linkage and cue ball knob that racks the Muncie 4-speed into gear like a bolt-action rifle. An updated JVC AM/FM/cassette stereo head unit replaces the original Delco radio, but we’re guessing you’re not buying a car like this because you like the stereo. The carpets are in great condition, the dash pad isn’t badly cracked, and the T-tops lift off easily and seal up well, although the inner headliner on the panels is missing. There’s plenty of storage in the rear compartment, which still carries its original cargo cover to keep your gear out of sight.

The engine is a 383 cubic inch stroker motor, which is a popular upgrade to the familiar small block Chevy. Famous for making big torque, the 383 also loves to rev, making it a great installation in the formerly anemic ’78. There’s a Holley 4-barrel under the chrome air cleaner, cast Chevrolet valve covers, and lots of new hardware surrounding the engine itself, including the radiator, water pump, alternator, and power brake master cylinder. An HEI distributor lights the fires and a set of long-tube headers dump into a great-sounding chambered exhaust system with Magnaflow mufflers so it isn’t too overpowering. The 4-speed shifts cleanly and seems to work better and better the faster you go, and with 4-wheel disc brakes it’s easy to reel things in when they get a bit too hairy. Other notable upgrades include a deep sump oil pan, a steel scattershield for the clutch, a fiberglass transverse leaf spring in back and expensive Bilstein shocks all around. There’s no rot in the birdcage or kick-ups ahead of the rear wheels and it’s remarkably tidy for a car in this price range. 18-inch wheels with 265/35/18 performance radials fill the fenders perfectly and add to the racy look.

I bet if you just add up the parts that went into this build, you get a number bigger than the asking price. This Corvette is nicely sorted, seriously fast, and an absolute blast to drive, making it a lot of performance for not a lot of cash. If that’s your kind of bargain, give us a call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.