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| 1976 Corvette History Home Page | Factory Price Guide | | Body Codes | Engine Specs | Trans./Chassis Specs | | 1976 Corvette Serial and Production Numbers | 1976 Corvette History 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 120 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). Corvette was "America's only true production sports car." 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. - Introduced October 2, 1975 - Model-year production: 46,558 - Calendar-year production: 47,425 - Calendar-year sales by U.S. dealers: 41,673 - Model-year sales by U.S. dealers: 41,027. - The Corvette set a new sales record. - The L82-Corvette of this year could go from 0-to-30 in 2.8 sec. - The L82-Corvette of this year could go from 0-to-6O in 6.8 sec. - The L82-Corvette of this year could go from 0-to-100 in 19.5 sec. - It did the quarter mile in 15.3 seconds at 92.1 mph. - Top speed was 124.5 mph. Content May Not Be Copied Or Reproduced Without Written Permission. |