Guide for the 1978 Corvette

The 1978 Corvette is the Chevy’s roadster’s 25th-anniversary edition.
Written by Jason Tushinski
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The 1978 silver anniversary Corvette was no ordinary ‘vette—it featured a new fastback design, a base L48 engine sporting 185 horsepower, increased cabin and cargo spaces, and a muscle car mystique straight out of the 1970s. So dust off your polyester pants, shoo the moths away, and strap in for the ride of your life.
In ‘78, Corvette regained some mojo with its 25th-anniversary edition, swapping the vertical rear window for a larger, compound curved one and opting for a fastback style not seen on this car since 1967. This fast ride offers up robust muscle-car power with some very smooth curves.
You might be surprised how reasonably you can get this blast-from-the-past onto your driveway. A fixer-upper ‘78 can be had for a song, while a higher-end ‘78 Corvette is priced closer to a new mid-tier car—not a huge price to pay for a piece of American driving glory.
For everything you need to buy a 1978 Corvette, the
car insurance
broker and comparison shopping app
Jerry
is here for you. Here are the cost of owning one of these bad beasts and their pros and cons, as well as how to save on
Corvette insurance costs.
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Ownership costs for a 1978 Corvette 

The cost to own a 1978 Corvette will depend on what you can find, what condition it's in, and whether you locate a base model, a Stingray, or a Pace Car.
Finding a 1978 Corvette on the market will likely cost you at least $11,000, while a ‘78 in great condition can cost about $28,000 on the high end. You should be able to find the silver and black 25th Pace Car edition on the used market, but in good condition, its price will be considerably higher.
And what about the real costs of owning and maintaining a 1978 Corvette? Well, it's not 1978 anymore, and no matter how well-taken care of your ‘78 might be, problems can crop up quicker with older cars than with newer models. Be sure to maintain your Corvette and take it in for regular service checks, where a mechanic will be able to spot anything troublesome and, hopefully, keep bigger issues at bay.

Where to buy a 1978 Corvette

If you’re on the hunt for the sinewy, snarling, track-eating machine that is the ‘78 Corvette, stretch out these fingers and start Googling—try
Edmunds
or
AutoTrader
to find inventory near you. It’s always a good idea to go to the true Corvette aficionados amongst us, so check out Corvette
forums
online for listings, information, tips, and more.
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What does the 1978 Corvette bring to the table?

As mentioned, the 1978 Corvette was the model’s 25th anniversary—this meant a retro fastback style that improved its appearance, rear visibility, and interior space. There was also a new silver paint scheme along with a commemorative striping package, not to mention the Pace Car’s unique black over silver paint job. 
The ‘78 also featured a commemorative badge, replacing Corvette’s classic rally flag badge, at least on this particular year’s model.

Strengths and weaknesses of the 1978 Corvette

No doubt the ‘78 ‘Vette is a sweet, sweet ride, but it's not quite perfect. Here are the highlights (and lowlights) of this Corvette.

The good: speed

While not as quick as today’s Corvettes, the 1978 version can still fly, going 0 to 60 miles per hour in 7.8 seconds and capable of reaching a top speed of 123 miles per hour.
Both the 4-speed manual and the automatic transmission will give you the kick in the pants you’re no doubt looking for.

The good: cargo capacity

The ‘78 Corvette’s new compound rear window and fastback design brought something much needed to this model—more space. True, it’s a sports car, so a cramped cabin isn’t exactly surprising, but the ‘78 features a larger cabin as well as more trunk space, courtesy of the new rear window, in contrast to the ‘77 Corvette’s flat rear glass.

The bad: tight cabin

While the ‘78 has more room than earlier years, make no mistake, it's still a cramped fit inside this classic sports car. 

The bad: uneven weight distribution

Driving a ‘78 Corvette is a pleasure, but you’ll likely find an uneven front to rear axle weight distribution. This means the car can step out when making tight corners, so beware.

The bottom line—which 1978 Corvette to buy

So the 1978 Corvette only came in one trim level—the base L48 coupe, though an optional L82 engine was offered, along with the option of the silver paint scheme or the black over silver pace car skin. 
Whichever ‘78 you do find, make sure to get a qualified and licensed mechanic to give it a good once over before purchasing. Be sure to ask if there were any major issues with the car, if anything has been rebuilt or replaced, accident and repair records, and anything else you’ll need before making your decision.

How to save money on car insurance for the 1978 Corvette

Whichever ‘78 Corvette you get your hands on, be sure to protect that dream ride with a robust and affordable car insurance policy by using
Jerry
!
Sign-up takes just 45 seconds, and then Jerry will compare and analyze more than 50 top quotes on your behalf so you can choose the best one for you. As a
licensed broker
, Jerry will sign you up to your new policy and cancel your old one. Best of all, Jerry automatically searches for better rates before every renewal period!
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had a super simple app that was easy to navigate. And their terrific customer service made everything even easier. Plus I saved $700 in a single year.” —Lucia M.
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