1976 CORVETTE

Corvette was advertised as "America's only true production sports car."

• After the demise of the big-block 454-cid, the 350-cid (5.7-liter) small-block engine remained alone to power all corvettes for the next ten years.
• Two V-8s were offered this year
  • The L48 (base engine) had 180 hp (up 9% from 1975).
  • The L82 (optional engine) produced 210 hp. It had special heads with larger valves, impact-extruded pistons, and finned aluminum rocker covers
• The standard V-8 was linked to a lighter automatic transmission: the Turbo Hydra-Matic 350, which was supposed to improve shifting at wide-open throttle.
• The optional V-8 kept the Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, but with a revised torque converter
• A wide-range four-speed manual gearbox (with 2.64:1 first gear ratio) was standard and a close-ratio version was available at no extra cost.
• A new Carburetor Outside Air Induction system moved intake from the cowl to above the radiator.
• The convertible was dropped this year, so only the Stingray coupe remained.
• It had the removable roof panels.
• A partial steel underbody replaced the customary fiberglass, to add strength and improve shielding from exhaust system heat.
• A new one-piece bar Corvette nameplate was on the rear, between twin-unit tail lamps (which were inset in the bumper cover).
• Of the 10 body colors, eight were Corvette exclusives:
  • White
  • Silver
  • Bright Blue
  • Dark Green
  • Mahogany
  • Bright Yellow
  • Buckskin
  • Dark Brown
  • Orange Flame
  • Red
• Corvettes had side marker lights with reflectors, parking lamps that went on with the head lamps, lane-change turn signals and two-speed wiper/washers.
• Inside was a new, smaller-diameter four-spoke sport steering wheel with crossed-flags medallion, which actually came from the Chevrolet Vega subcompact.
• Not everyone appreciated its lowly origin, so it lasted only this year.
• A grained vinyl-trimmed instrument panel (with stitched seams) held a 160-mph speedometer with trip odometer and 7,000-rpm electronic tachometer.
• A key lock in the left front fender set the anti-theft alarm.
• Corvettes had fully-independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes.
• Wide GR7O SBR tires rode 15 x 8-inch wheels.
• A total of 5,368 Corvettes had the FE7 Gymkhana suspension installed; 5,720 came with the L82 V-8; and 2,088 had the M21 four-speed close ratio manual gearbox.
• Cast-aluminum wheels were a new option, and were installed on 6,253 cars.
• Standard equipment included
  • bumper guards
  • flush retracting headlamps
  • Soft-Ray tinted glass
  • Hide-A-Way wipers
  • wide-view day/night mirror
  • center console with lighter and ashtray.
• Behind the seat-backs were three carpeted storage compartments.
• Bucket seats had textured-vinyl or leather upholstery and deep-pleated saddle-stitching.
• Interior leather trim was now available in seven colors, while vinyl was available in four colors.

V.I.N. NUMBERS

• The serial number [Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN] was stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.
• Serial numbers ranged from 1Z37*6S400001 to 1Z37*6S446558

Position	Character	Description
1	1	Chevrolet Division
2	Z	Corvette
3&4	37	coupe
5	*	Engine type where * is replaced by the following L = ZQ3 350-cid V8, 180-hp, 4-barrel X = L82 350-cid V8, 210-hp, 4-barrel
6	6	1976
7	S	Assembled in St. Louis, MO
8 to 13	400001 to 446558	production sequence

• Engine serial number began 0001001
• Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block just ahead of the cylinder head on the right-hand side combined with a three-letter engine code suffix
• Also cast into the top rear of the block is a four-symbol code indicating when the engine was built
  • The first letter of the date code shows the month the block was cast
  • The one or two numbers shows the month
  • The last digit shows the year
• Engine suffixes:

Code	Engine	Horsepower	Compression	Transmission	Fuel Supply
CHC	350-cid	210-hp V-8	9.0:1	manual	four-barrel carburetor
CKC	350-cid	210-hp V-8	9.0:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor
CKW	350-cid	180-hp V-8	8.5:1	manual	four-barrel carburetor
CKX	350-cid	180-hp V-8	8.5:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor
CLS	350-cid	180-hp V-8	8.5:1	automatic	four-barrel carburetor

• The body number plate was located on the engine side of the cowl.
• The Fisher Body Style Number 76-1YZ37 identifies a Corvette Stingray coupe
• The body number is the production serial number of the body.
• The trim number indicates the interior trim color and material.
• The ten 1976 Corvette exterior colors were:
  • 10 = Classic White
  • 13 = Silver
  • 22 = Bright Blue
  • 33 = Dark Green (however Dark Green was originally supposed to be code 39)
  • 37 = Mahogany
  • 56 = Bright Yellow
  • 64 = Buckskin
  • 69 = Dark Brown
  • 70 = Orange Flame
  • 72 = Red
• Upholstery Codes

Color	Vinyl Upholstery	Leather Upholstery
Black	19V	192
Firethorn	71V	712
Buckskin	64V	642
White	15V	112
Smoked Gray		152
Dark Brown		692
Blue-Green		322

IDENTIFICATION

Model No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
1Y	Z37	2-dr. Sport Coupe - 2 passenger	$7605	3445	46,558

ENGINE

Feature	Standard Engine (RPO L48)	Optional Engine (RPO L82)
Type	V-8, Overhead valve
Block	Cast iron block
Displacement	350 cid (5.7 liters)	350 cid (5.7 liters)
Bore & Stroke	4.00 x 3.48"	4.00 x 3.48"
Compression ratio	8.5:1	9.0:1
Brake horsepower	180 @ 4000	210 @ 5200
Torque	270 lb-ft @ 2400	255 lb-ft @ 3600
Main bearing	five
Valve lifters	hydraulic
Fuel supply	Rochester M4MC	Rochester M4MC

TRANSMISSION

• Standard Manual Transmission
  • four-speed fully-synchronized
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 2.64:1
    • 2nd = 1.75:1
    • 3rd = 1.34:1
    • 4th = 1.00:1
    • Rev = 2.55:1
  • Final drive ratio: 3.36:1 with L48 and 3.55:1 with L82
• Optional Manual Transmission
  • close ratio four-speed fully-synchronized
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 2.43:1
    • 2nd = 1.61:1
    • 3rd = 1.23:1
    • 4th = 1.00:1
    • Rev = 2.35:1
  • Final drive ratio: 3.55:1 or 3.70:1
• Automatic Transmission
  • Three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 2.48:1
    • 2nd = 1.48:1
    • 3rd = 1.00:1
    • Rev = 2.08:1
  • Final drive ratio: 3.08:1 with L48 and 3.36:1 with L82

CHASSIS

Feature	Coupe
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)
Tires	GR70 x 15
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	18 US Gal (15 Imp Gal) (68 liters)

OPTIONS

RPO	Custom interior trim	$164
RPO A31	Electric power windows	$107
RPO C49	Rear window defogger	$78
RPO C08	Vinyl covered auxiliary hardtop	$350
RPO C60	Air conditioning	$523
RPO FE7	Gymkhana suspension	$35
RPO G81	Positraction rear axle, all ratios	$13
RPO J50	Power brakes	$59
RPO L82	350-cid 210-hp V-8	$481
RPO M21	Four-speed close-ratio manual transmission	no-cost option
RPO M40	Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission	no-cost option
RPO N37	Tilt-telescopic steering wheel	$95
RPO N40	Power steering	$151
RPO QRM	White stripe nylon steel-belted radial tires GR7O x 15	$37
RPO QRZ	GR7O x 15 raised-white-letter steel-belted radial tires	$51
RPO U58	AM-FM stereo radio	$281
RPO U69	AM-FM radio	$187
RPO UA1	Heavy-duty battery	$16
RPO UF1	Map light	$10
RPO YJ8	Aluminum wheels	$299

HISTORICAL NOTES

LITERATURE & LINKS