1976 Chevrolet Corvette 60632 Miles Torch Red Coupe 350 cubic inch L82 V8 Autom

1976 Chevrolet Corvette Description

Real L82 with numbers-matching engine, 60,632 original miles, gorgeous Torch Red paint, new interior, lots of options. Mechanic owned and great to drive. A whole lot of bright red Corvette for the money!
The bright red paint is recent (it’s a color change—the original combination was green with a black leather interior) and the result looks far better than you’d expect on a car costing the same as a 3-year-old Honda. It’s Torch Red from a late-model C5, so it’s a shade or two brighter than the original code 72 Red that you could buy in 1976, but I don’t think anybody will care. Finish quality is very good, with reasonable gaps throughout, headlight doors that fit flush, and no signs of accident damage or previous trauma. Obviously fiberglass doesn’t rust, but with so few miles it’s clear that someone treated this car as something special and not just an ordinary car. Both the front and rear bumper covers fit better than new and match the paint, something the factory never quite mastered, and it’s been fitted with a tail spoiler from a ’78 pace car that gives it a bit of a custom look. Original style emblems were reinstalled on the nose and tail, and aside from a few minor signs of use, mostly on the nose, this car presents extremely well.
The interior has been recently freshened, including new white leather seat covers, contrasting black carpets, and reproduction door panels, so it feels quite fresh inside. The gauges are bright with clear lenses and they’re all fully operational except the clock. The factory AM/FM head unit has those vintage knobs with the note and antenna icons, so it blends with the rest of the vintage Corvette décor and all the gauges work except the clock. Options include factory A/C, power windows, rear defroster, and a tilt steering column, so it remains a very usable car in any climate. The T-tops seal up well and don’t rattle, and they tuck neatly into the carpeted cargo bay behind the seats. Look again at how nicely finished this interior is, then look again at the price. This car gets the important stuff right.
Horsepower wasn’t really on the menu in 1976, but we’ll admit that the matching-numbers 350 cubic inch L82 engine is still a lot of fun to drive. After all, it’s a small block Chevy, so that means a nice hit of low-end torque, great sounds, and bulletproof reliability. It is a correct CKC block with a matching partial VIN, confirming it is the car’s original engine. This one remains almost completely stock, from the air cleaner to the exhaust manifolds, so that means it hasn’t been raced or abused and maintenance is easy. The engine is nicely detailed with correct Chevy Orange paint, an original air cleaner assembly with cold air intake, and even the ignition shields are still in place. Finishes and hardware are largely correct, and you could really take it up a notch with some reproduction decals and correct hose clamps, but for a driver it’s just fine the way it is. It starts quickly and easily, idles well, and it pulls the lightweight ‘Vette around with vigor. You’ll also note a new alternator, fresh master cylinder, and numerous other service parts that all combine to make it look and drive great.
Underneath, you’ll find more confirmation that this is a clean, unabused car that never saw rain or snow. The undercarriage is extremely clean, wearing a light coat of satin black paint but nothing is hidden or disguised. The TH400 3-speed automatic transmission shifts crisply and feeds highway-friendly 3.08 gears, giving this Corvette some very long legs indeed. The exhaust system eliminates the catalytic converter—surely that’s good for a few extra horsepower—and offers a great Corvette-appropriate rumble that never gets annoying. There are also recent shocks at the corners, new front lower control arms, fresh bushings on the sway bars and springs so it has a new car ride, new brake calipers, and it has no signs of rust or damage on the frame just ahead of the wheels where these cars always have problems. Factory Rallye wheels look right and feature correct Corvette center caps as well as a set of fat 225/70/15 Goodyear Eagle radials.
Extras include a lot of spare parts, a photo album of the restoration work, service manuals, and more.
Look at the quality that’s evident throughout this car, then think again about price. A fast, fun vintage ‘Vette with tons of charisma shouldn’t be this affordable, yet here it is. Take advantage of this opportunity and get into the game—sitting on the sidelines is just no fun. Call today!
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