1976 Chevrolet Corvette

1976 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray — Silver over Black, L-48 350 V8, Solid Driver with a Clean Undercarriage


Why This Car Is Special

The 1976 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray sits at an interesting crossroads in the model's history. It was the last year the Corvette carried the Stingray name before Chevrolet dropped it for 1977. It was also the first year since 1968 that a Corvette could not be ordered as a convertible — GM had permanently closed the open-top option after 1975, making the 1976 a T-top coupe exclusively. For collectors who want the classic C3 Coke-bottle shape without the complication of a ragtop, 1976 hits a sweet spot.

Production that year totaled 46,558 units, all built at GM's Bowling Green-predecessor plant in St. Louis, Missouri. Of those, GM records show 6,934 were finished in silver — a color that was popular but well short of dominant in that year's mix. This car is one of them. The combination of silver exterior and black vinyl interior was a clean, straightforward pairing that has aged well and reads correctly to anyone familiar with the C3 generation.

The VIN on this car decodes to confirm it was built in St. Louis in the 1976 model year with the L-48 350ci V8, and the engine identification plaque still present on the dashboard confirms the same — 350 cubic inches, 8.5:1 compression ratio, with the Corvette crossed-flags emblem intact. That plaque is a small but meaningful detail that many cars have lost over the years.

What makes this particular 1976 Chevrolet Corvette worth your attention is the combination of a solid, rust-free undercarriage, an honest and well-preserved interior, and a powertrain that has been given some thoughtful upgrades without being turned into something it was never meant to be.


Features List

- L-48 350ci V8, 8.5:1 compression ratio (confirmed by original dashboard plaque)
- TH350 3-speed automatic transmission with factory console shifter
- Edelbrock polished chrome air cleaner
- Polished aluminum intake manifold
- Factory Delco Air air conditioning compressor
- Dual exhaust with dual rear outlets
- Power brake booster
- Power steering pump and reservoir
- Corvette Rally Wheels
- Goodyear Eagle ST tires, all four corners
- Factory full gauge cluster including tachometer, speedometer, fuel, water temperature, oil pressure, battery, and clock
- Original Corvette 4-spoke steering wheel with Corvette emblem horn cap
- Black vinyl bucket seats, driver and passenger
- Wood grain trim on center console and door panel inserts
- Matching chrome trim on door panels
- Corvette logo floor mats, driver and passenger
- AM radio
- Air conditioning
- Solid undercarriage confirmed on lift


Mechanical

The engine in this 1976 Chevrolet Corvette is the L-48 350ci V8, which was the standard powertrain for the model year. By 1976, emission controls had taken a real toll on output across the industry, and the L-48 was rated at 180 horsepower — a number that looks modest on paper but reflects the net measurement standards that GM adopted in 1972, which calculated power with all accessories installed and running. The engine itself is fundamentally the same small-block architecture that had been powering Corvettes for years, and it remains one of the most parts-supported engines in existence.

On this car, the original air cleaner has been replaced with a polished Edelbrock chrome unit sitting on a polished aluminum intake manifold. These are common and well-regarded upgrades that improve airflow presentation in the engine bay without altering the fundamental character of the drivetrain. The valve covers remain in the correct Corvette red, and the engine bay overall is tidy and correct-looking. The factory Delco Air AC compressor is present and in its correct location, as is the power brake booster and power steering pump with reservoir — all items that are often missing or replaced on cars that have been through multiple owners.

The TH350 3-speed automatic transmission is the cor