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The 1980 Corvette
The 1980 Chevrolet Corvette was the first since 1974 to have more than one engine
displacement. Unfortunately the new option was a 305 cubic inch destined for the California
market to meet the stringent smog laws. This engine was required for California
and was only available with the automatic transmission. The good news is that the
'80 was 250 pounds lighter than the 1979. The hood and doors were made thinner saving
weight. The tops decreased in density due to the use of microscopic beads in their
construction. The rear differential housing and supports were manufactured from
aluminum which also decreased weight. On the 350 cubic inch cars the intake manifold
was made from aluminum. The California 305 ci engine got a stainless steel exhaust
manifold. The front and rear spoilers from the '78 pace car were now molded into
the front and rear bumper pieces and were standard. All '80 Vettes now had the 85
MPH speedometer. The Turbo-HydraMatic automatic transmissions recieved a lock-up
torque converter which engaged at about 30 MPH. The manual transmissions got new
gearing although it was only available with the base L48 engine. Only two storage bins were behind the seats, this had been three. Power
windows, tilt-telescopic steering and air conditioning were all included in the
base price. The base (non-California) engine lost 5 horsepower this year, the optional
L82 engine gained 5 horsepower. The 1980 colors are also new, the "Corvette" colors
were gone.
Production Options and Build Statistics
Total 1980 Corvettes Built - 40,614
| Serial Numbers |
|---|
| 1Z87xAS400001 - 1Z87xAS440614 |
The "Vehicle Identification Number" (also VIN or serial number) is stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.
Serial Number Decoder
| Position | Character | Description |
|---|
| 1 | 1 | Chevrolet Division | | 2 | Z | Corvette | | 3-4 | 87 | Coupe | | 5 | 8 | L48 350-cid V8, 190-hp | | 5 | H | California LG4 305-cid V8, 180-hp | | 5 | 6 | L82 350-cid V8, 230-hp, Four-Barrel | | 6 | A | 1980 | | 7 | S | Assembled in St. Louis, MO | | 8 to 13 | 400001 to 440614 | production sequence |
Engine Serial Number Decoder
1980 Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block after the engine number. The date code the engine was manufactured was also cast into the block. The engine serial number includes a production sequence number starting with 0001001 and one of the suffixes below.
| Code | Engine | Horsepower | Compression | Transmission | Fuel Supply | Extra Features |
|---|
| ZCA | LG4 305-cid | 180-hp V-8 | 8.5:1 | Automatic | Four-Barrel Carburetor | California | | ZAM | L48 350-cid | 190-hp V-8 | 8.2:1 | Manual | Four-Barrel Carburetor | | | ZAK | L48 350-cid | 190-hp V-8 | 8.2:1 | Automatic | Four-Barrel Carburetor | | | ZBC | L82 350-cid | 230-hp V-8 | 9.0:1 | Automatic | Four-Barrel Carburetor | |
The body number plate is located on the engine side of the cowl. The Fisher Body Style Number identifies the model of Corvette. 80-1YZ37 - Corvette Coupe The body number is the serial number of the body. The trim number represents the color of the interior, the paint color is the exterior paint color.
Production Options
| RPO | Description | Cost | Total |
|---|
| Prod. | % |
|---|
| 1YZ87 | Base Coupe | $13,140.24 | 40,614 | 100.0% | | AU3 | Power Door Locks | $140.00 | N/A | N/A | | CC1 | Removable Glass Roof Panels | $391.00 | 19,695 | 48.5% | | C49 | Rear Window Defogger | $109.00 | 36,589 | 90.1% | | FE7 | Gymkhana Suspension | $55.00 | 9,907 | 24.4% | | F51 | Heavy Duty Shock Absorbers | $35.00 | 1,695 | 4.2% | | K30 | Cruise Control | $123.00 | 30,821 | 75.9% | | LG4 | 305ci, 180hp engine** | N/A | 3,221 | 7.9% | | L82 | 350ci, 230hp engine | $595.00 | 5,069 | 12.5% | | MM4 | 4-Speed Manual Transmission | $0.00 | 5,726 | 14.1% | | MX1 | Automatic Transmission | $0.00 | 34,838 | 85.8% | | N90 | Aluminum Wheels | $407.00 | 34,128 | 84.0% | | QGB | White Letter SBR Tires, P225/70R15 | $62.00 | 26,208 | 64.5% | | QXH | White Letter SBR Tires, P255/60R15 | $426.16 | 13,140 | 32.4% | | UA1 | Heavy Duty Battery | $22.00 | 1,337 | 3.3% | | U58 | AM/FM Stereo | $46.00 | 6,138 | 15.1% | | UM2 | AM/FM Radio, stereo w/ 8-track | $155.00 | 15,708 | 38.7% | | UN3 | AM/FM Radio, stereo w/ cassette | $163.00 | 15,148 | 37.3% | | UP6 | AM/FM Radio, stereo w/CB | $391.00 | 2,434 | 6.0% | | U75 | Power Antenna | $56.00 | 32,863 | 80.9% | | UL5 | Radio Delete | N/A | 201 | 0.5% | | U81 | Dual Rear Speakers | $31.00 | 36,650 | 90.2% | | V54 | Roof Panel Carrier | $125.00 | 3,755 | 9.2% | | YF5 | California Emissions Certification | $250.00 | 3,221 | 7.9% | | ZN1 | Trailer Package | $105.00 | 796 | 2.0% |
Color Options for 1980
Interior options for exterior colors are suggested by Chevrolet. Any combination could be ordered. | RPO | Color | Cost | Interior Color | Total |
|---|
| Prod. | % |
|---|
| 10 | White | $0.00 | B-CL-DB-DS-O-R | 7,780 | 19.2% | | 13 | Silver Metallic | $0.00 | B-CL-DB-O-R | 4,341 | 10.7% | | 19 | Black | $0.00 | B-DS-O-R | 7,250 | 17.9% | | 28 | Dark Blue Metallic | $0.00 | B-DB-DS-O-R | 4,135 | 10.2% | | 47 | Dark Brown Metallic | $0.00 | B-DS-O | 2,300 | 5.7% | | 52 | Yellow | $0.00 | B-O | 2,077 | 5.1% | | 58 | Dark Green Metallic | $0.00 | B-DS-O | 844 | 2.1% | | 59 | Frost Beige | $0.00 | B-CL-DB-DS-R | 3,070 | 7.6% | | 50/74 | Dark Claret Metallic | $0.00 | B-CL-DS-O | 3,451 | 8.5% | | 83 | Red | $0.00 | B-DS-O-R | 5,714 | 14.1% |
Color Codes: B=Black, C=Cloth, CL=Claret, DB=Dark Blue, DS=Doeskin, L=Leather, O=Oyster, R=Red
Interior Colors
| RPO | Color | Cost | Total |
|---|
| Prod. | % |
|---|
| 12C | 0yster Cloth | $0.00 | 1,808 | 4.5% | | 29C | Dark Blue Cloth | $0.00 | 1,040 | 2.6% | | 59C | Doeskin Cloth | $0.00 | 1,616 | 4.0% | | 79C | Claret Cloth | $0.00 | 1,338 | 3.3% | | 122 | Oyster Leather | $0.00 | 7,104 | 17.5% | | 192 | Black Leather | $0.00 | 6,776 | 16.7% | | 292 | Dark Blue Leather | $0.00 | 2,752 | 6.8% | | 592 | Doeskin Leather | $0.00 | 7,310 | 18.0% | | 722 | Red Leather | $0.00 | 7,184 | 17.7% | | 792 | Claret Leather | $0.00 | 3,636 | 9.0% |
1980 Corvette Specifications
Mechanical Dimensions
| Feature | Dimensions |
|---|
| Wheelbase | 98 inches (2.489 m) | | Overall Length | 185.2 inches (4.704 m) | | Overall Width | 69.0 inches (1.753 m) | | Overall height | 48 inches (1.219 m) | | Ground Clearance | 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) | | Front Tread | 58.7 inches (1.491 m) | | Rear Tread | 59.5 inches (1.511 m) | | Wheel Size | 15 x 8 inches | | Tires | P225/70R-15 SBR (steel-belted radial) | | Positraction | Standard | | Steering | Recirculating ball | | Front Suspension | Independent, unequal-length control arms with ball joints, coil springs, and stabilizer bar | | Rear Suspension | Independent, trailing link, transverse semi-elliptic leaf springs | | Brakes | Hydraulic, vented four wheel discs 11.75-inch diameter, single calipers | | Ignition | HEI electronic | | Body Construction | Separate fiberglass body and box-type ladder frame with cross-members | | Fuel Tank | 24 US Gal (20 Imp Gal) (91 liters) |
Engine Specifications
| Feature | Base Engine RPO L48 | Base California Engine RPO LG4 | RPO L82 |
|---|
| Type | V-8, 90-degree Overhead valve | V-8, 90-degree Overhead valve | V-8, 90-degree Overhead valve | | Block | Cast Iron | Cast Iron | Cast Iron | | Displacement | 350 cid (5.7 liters) | 305 cid (5.0 liters) | 350 cid (5.7 liters) | | Bore & Stroke | 4.00 x 3.48" | 3.735 x 3.48" | 4.00 x 3.48" | | Compression Ratio | 8.2:1 | 8.5:1 | 9.0:1 | | Brake Horsepower | 190 @ 4200 | 180 @ 4200 | 230 @ 5200 | | Torque | 280 lb-ft @ 2400 | 255 lb-ft @ 2000 | 275 lb-ft @ 3600 | | Main Bearing | Five | Five | Five | | Valve Lifters | Hydraulic | Hydraulic | Hydraulic | | Fuel Supply | Rochester Quadrajet | Rochester Quadrajet | Rochester Quadrajet |
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