1977 CORVETTE

Since the Stingray front fender nameplate departed this year, Chevrolet's sports car technically no longer had a secondary title.

• Changes were fairly modest this year and mainly hidden (such as a steel hood reinforcement) or inside.
• New crossed-flags emblems stood between the headlamps and on the fuel filler door.
• A thinner blacked-out pillar gave the windshield and side glass a more integrated look.
• The Corvette's console was restyled in an aircraft-type cluster design, with individual-look gauges.
• A voltmeter replaced the former ammeter.
• "Door ajar" and "headlamp up" warning lights were abandoned.
• New heater/air conditioning controls, an ashtray, and a lighter were on the horizontal surface.
• A recessed pocket was now seen behind the shift lever.
• Power window switches moved to the new console.
• The manual shift lever was almost an inch higher, with shorter travel.
• Automatic transmission levers added a pointer and both manual and automatic shifters added a new black leather boot.
• A shorter steering column held a multi-function control lever.
• This year's steering wheel had a leather-wrapped rim.
• This year's colors were
  • Classic White
  • Silver
  • Black
  • Corvette Light Blue
  • Corvette Dark Blue
  • Corvette Chartreuse (used on one car)
  • Corvette Yellow
  • Corvette Orange
  • Medium Red
  • Corvette Tan
  • Corvette Dark Red
• The Custom interior, formerly an extra-cost option, was now standard.
• "Dynasty" horizontal-ribbed cloth upholstery was framed with leather (the first cloth trim offered on a Corvette), or buyers could have the customary all-leather seat panels.
• Leather came in ten colors, cloth in six.
• Two new trim colors were available: Red and Blue.
• Door panel inserts were satin finish Black instead of the prior wood grain.
• Both the instrument panel and door trim panels lost their embossed stitch lines.
• New padded sunshades could swivel to side windows.
• Passenger-side roof pillars held a soft vinyl coat hook.
• Power trains were the same as in 1976, but power brakes and steering were now standard.
• A total of 6,148 Corvettes came with the special L82 V-8 engine under the hood, while 7,269 had the optional Gymkhana suspension.
• Only 5,743 Corvettes had the M20 four-speed manual gearbox and 2,060 used the M26 close-ratio four-speed.
• A mere 289 Corvettes came with trailering equipment.
• New options included an AM/FM stereo radio with tape player, cruise control (for cars with automatic transmission only), and a luggage carrier that could hold the roof panels.
• Glass roof panels were announced, but delayed for another year.

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*7S400001 to 1Z37*7S449213

• 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:

• The body number plate was located on the engine side of the cowl.
• The Fisher Body Style Number 77-1YZ37 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 eleven 1977 Corvette exterior colors were:
  • 10 = Classic White
  • 13 = Silver
  • 19 = Black
  • 26 = Corvette Light Blue
  • 28 = Corvette Dark Blue
  • 41 = Corvette Chartreuse (used on one car)
  • 52 = Corvette Yellow
  • 66 = Corvette Orange
  • 72 = Medium Red
  • 80 = Corvette Tan
  • 83 = Corvette Dark Red
• Upholstery Codes

IDENTIFICATION

Model No.	Body/Style No.	Body Type	Factory Price	Shipping Weight	Production Total
1Y	Z37	2-dr. Sport Coupe - 2 passenger	$8648	3448	49,213

ENGINE

TRANSMISSION

• 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
• 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: 3.36:1
• 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: 3.36:1

CHASSIS

OPTIONS

HISTORICAL NOTES