Introduced in 1968, the third-generation Chevrolet Corvette is the longest-running iteration of the iconic sports car. It remained in production through 1982 and soldiered on long enough to be part of the golden muscle car era and the dreadful malaise era.
Even though it lost a lot of oomph after the 1972 model year, the Corvette became increasingly more popular toward the end of the decade. Sales surpassed 40,000 units for the first time in 1976 and then moved beyond 50,000 examples per year in 1979. The C3 was also the Corvette that celebrated the nameplate's 25th anniversary.
It happened in 1978 when Chevrolet offered two special-edition models: the Indy 500 Pace Car and the Silver Anniversary. As you might have already guessed, the latter was restricted to a silver finish, as suggested by Bill Mitchell before he retired.
The anniversary cars were finished in silver over a gray lower body with a separating pinstripe, making the special edition the first Corvette with a two-tone finish since 1961. The package also included aluminum wheels and dual sport mirrors. The B2Z bundle came in at $399, while the mandatory wheels and mirrors added another $380 to the sticker.
The anniversary package was quite popular with Corvette buyers, moving 15,283 units. That's almost a third of total Corvette sales that year. By contrast, the Indy 500 Pace Car edition, which came with a 46% sticker over the base model, found only 6,502 homes.
Come 2023, the 25th Anniversary Edition is far from rare, but it remains one of the most popular iterations of the 1978 model year. Sadly, while a few hundred examples have soldiered on as unmolested survivors or restored gems, most of these Corvettes were neglected and even abandoned by their owners.
Some cars, like the one you see here, were modified to the point where they no longer look like 25th Anniversary Edition models. This particular example was refinished in lime green, a hue you're more likely to see on golden-era Dodge and Plymouth muscle cars. All told, it's a one-of-none Silver Anniversary edition that's no longer... well... silver.
Rescued by YouTube's "Vice Grip Garage," this Corvette spent a whopping 20 years off the road. That's usually enough to ruin a classic sports car, but this 'Vette was lucky enough to get a tarp while sitting outside. As a result, it was still in good shape.
Sure, the flashy paint and the reupholstered seats take away the appeal of a 25th Anniversary model, but at least the car is still sound, and the original 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) V8 engine was still under the hood. And amazingly enough, our host managed to get it running without a whole lot of work.
His experience with the Corvette wasn't exactly smooth, though. The vehicle had a few faulty lines and heating issues, so driving it 750 miles (1,207 km) back to his shop was quite challenging. But he eventually made it home safe, which also means this Corvette will become road-worthy soon enough.
There's no info on whether he plans to restore it to its original specifications, but I like the metallic lime green paint. It works well with the C3's muscular lines and makes for a unique Anniversary Edition.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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