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The worst production Corvette of all time. 180HP 1980 305 "California" Disco Vette

20K views 31 replies 23 participants last post by  ...:SRT8:...  
#1 ·
The worst production Corvette of all time. 180HP 1980 305 "California" Disco Vette

On its 30th Anniversary year, a moment of silence please as we ponder the sad state that this automotive icon sunk to...
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"Federal emissions requirements of the 1970s took a big neutering knife to American muscle cars, and no car bled more than the Corvette. The worst of it came in California - dang hippy librels! - where stricter state regs required that the barely adequate 350 cu.-in. smallblock in the 1980 Corvette be replaced with a wholly inadequate 305 V8, putting out 180 hp of pure shame. On top of that, the "California" Corvette sucked its pitiful rivulet of horsepower through the straw of a torque-sapping three-speed automatic transmission. That gave the Corvette - the very totem of hairy-chest, disco machismo - acceleration comparable to a very hot Vespa. These were dark days indeed."

1980 was not a good year for Corvette buyers living in California. They were restricted to one engine choice, a 305 cu in. motor that was common to the other Chevrolet models that year. There was also only one available transmission - an automatic - no four speeds allowed. This was the result of the state's tougher emissions regulations. Automatic transmission equipped cars are easier to pass emissions certification since pushing in the clutch on a manual transmission causes a blip in the pollution output. This is not a problem with smooth shifting automatic transmissions which are equipped with torque convertors instead of clutches.

"The 305 cu. in. motor that California buyers were stuck with was rated at 180 hp, 10 hp less than the 350 cu. in. motor available in the other 49 states. A $50.00 credit was some consolation, but Corvettes sold to California residents came with the California emissions certification option; RPO YF5 for $250.00."

180HP, 14 MPG.
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Check out those exhaust manifold LMAO
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#4 ·
yeah the CA regs started in 1975 so '76 models thru 1982 where crap..

but like everything most people that bought them dropped a 68 - 74 427 or 454 into them and got around the laws..
 
#5 ·
Ever driven a 1953 or 54 Vette? I have. The styling was pretty sweet, but they were crap boxes. The Blue Flame 6 and Powerglide were pretty slow, the ride and handling was like a farmer's hay wagon, and you could see day light between the door and body fit. I actually thought of buying a 1953 back in 1970 for $1,900, till I drove it. The owner had a 1954 for sale for $2,300 as well. Wish I had bought the 53 as they are pretty rare.
 
#6 ·
Thankfully they corrected their mistake in 1983... Total production of corvettes = 0.... The workers were on strike. Good to know next time you talk to a "corvette expert" tell him your fave model was the 1983 and you will know right away who you are dealing with :p
 
#11 ·
Good to know next time you talk to a "corvette expert" tell him your fave model was the 1983 and you will know right away who you are dealing with :p
Thats a good one! My neighbor has a Z06, I'm gonna mess with him later and see if he picks up on it.
 
#7 ·
They did make an 83' Corvette,but not many.

http://www.vetteweb.com/features/vemp_0104_1983_chevy_corvette/index.html

"A handful of '83 Corvettes were built; these were the cars that the media tested-and raved about-in mid and late 1982. Chevrolet actually certified an '83 model Corvette for sale. But, by the time various niggling little problems with quality, reliability, and durability were solved, the initial plan for the new Corvette to be introduced and go on sale in October 1982, proved to be an impossibility.

According to Dave McLellan, a total of 61 serial numbered '83 Corvettes were built. Of these, 18 were "prototypes" and the other 43 were "pilot-line" cars."
 
#12 ·
What did it trap?
 
#9 · (Edited)
Haters, haters!

This 1981 was my car from '85 to '88. Got it when I was 20.

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I loved it. White letter tires and t-tops, Woohoo! Great car to have in the mid 1980's. I "thought" it was fast. You gotta remember the competition: IROC-Z; Dodge Daytona Shelby GT; GT 5.0 box (more legroom in the 2-door); Toyota Supra (Mark III); Datsun 280z. I had the carbureted 350, not the Cali 305 or "cross fire injection".
 
#13 ·
I had the carbureted 350, not the Cali 305 or "cross fire injection".
That carb'd one must have sounded sweet with longtubes. I went on a junkyard run a few years ago with my gf's mechanic uncle and we passed one of those "crossfire injection" and he laughed and said more like "ceasefire injection" lol
 
#21 ·
The Corvette is still here today Right? it survived and is still true to its name -a spotrs car
All the flaws and restrictions it endured killed the Charger and Challenger right?. If Chrysler cars are so perfict why does it go bankrupt every 10 years since the mid 70"s? Oh yea the 99-04 300M 250HP WOW
 
#22 · (Edited)
253hp/250tq out of an all aluminum 3.5 V6 was pretty impressive in '99, especially for a family car. While 180hp from a 4.6 V8 was pretty pitiful in a 2 seater sports car. But the thread was actually more about excessive government regulations, then a brand bash. Me personally I would rather buy a z06 over a v10 Viper
 
#24 ·
I had a 1980 Vette from '93 until '96 or so.

It wasn't the fastest car around, but still got a LOT of looks and comments. I really liked it.

Midnight Blue with White interior.

When the L82 Motor blew up on me I dropped in a 400 small block.

It was quite a bit faster after that. :wink:

-=FLEX=-
 
#26 ·
Yeah, that era had some real turds!

How about the Mustang?

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....or the Challenger

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#31 ·
I remember when those came out, sleek with great wheels. My 383 4 speed '70 Road Runner would spank them, but when you pulled up to the beach everybody would say "man look at the new Vette". When every other car maker was making boxes, chevy made a Vette.
It was however still just a Chevy.