Late-model C3 Chevrolet Corvettes are an interesting bunch, as they might have been rather low on power (below the 200-hp threshold), but they’re also among the best-looking for the particular generation, mostly because of those spoiler-integrated front and rear bumper covers. They were also quite popular, and so GM obliged with lots and lots of examples built.
Still, if one searches the whole wide web for long enough, there’s always the possibility to get surprised with a very rare and desirable factory option that makes even a slightly less interesting white 1980 Corvette worthy of any fan’s attention.
Back in the day, “America’s sports car” was very much up for neat rides with the wind in your hair, but only if the owner was ready to gamble against the outside weather and leave the T-Top panels home. You see, the C3 didn’t have a special place inside the car that allowed (easy) storage and transport of the roof elements.
Interestingly, the company did offer the Corvette with an integrated roof panel carrier option, but we’re pretty sure many folks didn’t even know this existed, let alone ever set sight on a C3 equipped with it. Luckily, here’s a New Haven, Connecticut-based dealer proving it real. It’s called Tommy Autos (a.k.a. Tommy’s Gillespie Car Care 1 by its full name, another thing you need to see to believe), and it has this white example on consignment for just $16,800.
It’s not a bad price indeed for the well-taken-care-of Corvette but considering this rare option, it basically turns into a bargain find. As far as the option goes, it’s not exactly something taken from the pages of a genius book, as we’re just dealing with a few strategically placed holes, a luggage rack-like mount, and a few straps to hold the roof panels in place.
Meanwhile, the car isn’t too shabby either, especially considering the pristine-looking glass panels that also show up in the gallery above secured to the carrier or the fairly low mileage of 42,560 miles (68,494 km) for a Corvette that’s been around for more than four decades.
Unfortunately, the seller’s description isn’t too complex. But, aside from providing the essentials like the automatic transmission choice for the 5.7-liter V8 engine or the info that we’re dealing with a neatly contrasting white over blue interior color scheme, there’s also an extensive video (embedded below). And that one is easily worth a thousand pages as far as this “not a racecar, but comfortable cruising machine” saying goes.
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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