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Colour code is Chevrolet 59, which is at once known as Frost Beige and Cream Beige.  Interior code is 592, Doeskin leather.  The light colour combination is a good choice to keep cool in the summer, cruising with the T-roofs off.  Model year 1980, while not an obvious breakthrough year for Corvette, saw extensive improvements to the flagship Chevy two-seater.  Tilt and telescopic steering wheel became standard in ’80, as did power windows, exterior sport mirrors and a convenience group, featuring time-delayed dome/courtesy lights, headlight warning buzzer, light with passenger visor mirror, low-fuel warning light and intermittent wipers.  Another change with the start of the ‘80s was the 140 km/h speedometer for Canadian-market cars, piggybacking on the Americans’ NHTSA mandating 85 mph speedo’s in the U.S.  Again, this is a Canadian market car, with metric speedometer and odometer.

The odometer on this Corvette is at 41,000 km, having rolled over once.  Seller reports it as 141,000 km, though we at CCC have to call it TMU.  Engine starts easily, aided by the new Interstate battery installed in August 2021.  The four-barrel carburetor also has it idling smoothly at a low engine speed around 900 – 1000 rpm once warm and the automatic choke has disengaged.  To ready it for the auction, seller has also replaced the driver’s side window regulator and had some vacuum system corrections carried out – the system operates the reflective-of-the-era headlights.  (Corvette had a long run of 1963 to 2004 with pop-up headlights, then went to flush mounts when the C6 came to market for the 2005 model year.)

The factory 15” aluminum wheels are a nice-to-still-have on this 41-year-old Corvette.  They are complemented by BF Goodrich T/A radials, with raised white lettering – also a match for early ‘80s muscle.  T-roofs fit snugly and are easily removed and re-installed, a sign of continued strong structural rigidity of the car.  The gallery features photos of car with and without the tinted T-roofs in place.  Removal is an easy process and dedicated vinyl sleeves come with the car for storage when open-air motoring is on the agenda.  See pictures of the clean underside – including spare tire – in the photo gallery, consistent with the prior ownership of a local businessman having bought the car for his wife, who rarely drove it.

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The leather interior of this car is in nice condition for its age and the thick-pile carpet also presents well for the light colour.  Original “Corvette”-scripted floor mats remain with the car.  There is also an aftermarket “Corvette”-branded head unit in place, with AM/FM/Cassette functionality; true to the car’s era, the cassette player offers Dolby noise reduction and upgraded MEI speakers are installed in the rear of the cabin.  The leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel is consistent with the boyhood-racer theme and the manual transmission is a nice find, fortifying connection of car to driver with the polished chrome shift knob.  Clutch is strong and gearbox shifts easily.  Through the steering wheel, the expected speedometer and tachometer appear, odometer and trip odometer as well; in the centre stack are found temperature gauge, fuel gauge, non-functional clock, oil pressure gauge and voltmeter – the latter reading a strong 13+ volts with engine running.  The car is equipped with an air conditioner, though it is not currently blowing cold.

The 1980 Vette’s modernization continued with executing improvements in the area of aerodynamics.  The bumpers were restyled, more for cheating the wind, though, than for style.  Front and rear spoilers were also integrated to slice through and, up front, to send air to cool the radiator.  Thinner body panels were also used to save on weight, the same reason for Dana 44 independent rear suspension, differential and cross-member in aluminum.  The L82’s aluminum intake manifold and alternator bracket were also used in all ‘80s.  While the L48 at 190 horsepower is the engine choice for fuel efficiency rather than power, these weight savings were implemented with efficient performance in mind.  (A drawback of the L82 is that it was available mated only to an automatic transmission.)

Some form-over-function changes also appear – the iconic Corvette crossed flags were shifted to the nose and fuel door from the openings in the fenders.  One of this car’s badges is a little weathered, there is a new replacement included with the deal.  New seat belts are also included and can be a visual upgrade to the functional originals still in place.  The fastback-style glass first appeared with the Silver Anniversary car in ’78, we profiled that earlier this week here.

Collector Car Canada is pleased to offer this 1980 Corvette 4-speed manual with 350 and T-roofs for auction, available in Perth, Ontario.

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