1976 Corvette Factory Options
CODE | DESCRIPTION | QUANTITY | PRICE |
1YZ37 | Base Corvette Sport Coupe | 46,558 | $7,604.85 |
— | Custom Interior Trim | 36,762 | $164.00 |
A31 | Power Windows | 38,700 | $107.00 |
C49 | Rear Window Defogger | 24,960 | $78.00 |
C60 | Air Conditioning | 40,787 | $523.00 |
FE7 | Gymkhana Suspension | 5,368 | $35.00 |
— | Optional Rear Axle Ratios | 1,371 | $13.00 |
J50 | Power Brakes | 46,558 | $59.00 |
L82 | 350ci, 210hp Engine | 5,720 | $481.00 |
M21 | 4-Speed Manual Trans, Close Ratio | 2,088 | $2,088.00 |
M40 | Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission | 36,625 | $0.00 |
N37 | Tilt Telescopic Steering Column | 41,797 | $95.00 |
N41 | Power Steering | 46,385 | $151.00 |
QRM | White Stripe Steel Belted Tires, GR70x15 | 3,992 | $37.00 |
QRZ | White Letter Steel Belted Tires, GR70x15 | 39,923 | $51.00 |
U58 | AM-FM Radio, stereo | 34,272 | $281.00 |
U6 | AM-FM Radio | 11,083 | $187.00 |
UA1 | Heavy Duty Battery | 25,909 | $16.00 |
UF1 | Map Light (on rearview mirror) | 35,361 | $10.00 |
YF5 | California Emission Test | 3,527 | $50.00 |
YJ8 | Aluminum Wheels (4) | 6,253 | $299.00 |
Base Corvette Sport Coupe (1YZ37)
- The base price of the 1976 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe without any optional equipment.
- A 350 cubic inch, 180 horsepower engine, 4-speed wide ratio manual transmission, vinyl interior trim, and T-tops were included in the base price.
- The only engine-transmission combination that was available in California was the base 350 cubic inch, 180 horsepower engine with the M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission.
- Listed as separate options originally, power brakes (J50) and power steering (N41) were included in an increased base price in 1976.
Custom Interior ( — )
- Optional interior trim upgrade that included a number of custom modifications to the base interior.
- The custom interior trim includes leather seat trim, wood-grain accents and carpet trim on door panels, wood-grain accents on the console, and cut-pile carpeting.
Power Windows (A31)
- Factory installed power driver and passenger windows.
Rear Window Defroster (C49)
- An optional rear window forced air defogger.
- This option used glass heating elements instead of forced air and the naming convention changed from “defroster” to “defogger”.
Air Conditioning (C60)
- Factory installed four-season air-conditioning.
- System includes evaporator, blower, condenser, receiver-dehydrator, refrigerant (freon) tank, air intake assembly and duct assembly for both systems.
- Includes an integrated heater.
Gymkhana Suspension (FE7)
- An optional, heavier-duty suspension system for higher levels of performance.
- Included a stiffer front sway bar and stiffer springs.
- There were no restrictions on ordering this option – it could be ordered with any engine/transmission combination.
- Optional Rear Axle Ratio – Rear axle ratio selection.
Power Brakes (J50)
- Vacuum power assisted brakes; includes dual circuit master cylinder.
- All 1976 Corvettes had power brakes.
350ci, 210hp Engine (L82)
- Optional higher-output, small block V-8 engine.
- 4-Speed Manual Transmission, Close Ratio (M21)
- A close ratio version of the M20 Muncie 4-speed manual transmission.
- The gear ratios for the RPO M21 Close Ratio 4-Speed Manual Transmission are: 1st Gear – 2.20:1, 2nd Gear – 1.64:1, 3rd Gear – 1.28:1, 4th Gear – 1.0:1 (Direct).
- M21 was a no-cost option but required the optional L82 engine.
- Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission (M40) – An optional, three-speed automatic transmission.
- The Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission consisted of a 3-element hydraulic torque converter and compound planetary gear set. It was equipped with the following gear ratios: 1st Gear – 2.48:1, 2nd Gear – 1.48:1, and 3rd Gear – 1.00:1.
- The M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission was a no-cost option with the base 350 cubic inch, 180 horsepower engine, but cost $134.00 with the optional L82 engine.
Tilt Telescopic Steering Column (N37)
- An optional, adjustable steering column and tilt-angle adjustable steering wheel.
- The Telescopic Steering Column changes the drivers distance from the steering wheel by literally telescoping the steering wheel closer to or further away from the vehicle operator.
Power Steering (N41)
- Hydraulically assisted power steering.
- Magnets were added to power steering units to attract and collect metallic debris caught in the power steering fluid.
- All but 173 Corvettes came equipped with power steering in 1976.
White Stripe Steel Belted Tires, GR70x15 (QRM)
- Standard size tires with a special 3/8″ wide white sidewall stripes.
White Letter Steel Belted Tires, GR70x15 (QRZ)
- Standard size tires with special raised white lettering.
AM-FM Radio, Stereo (U58)
- A standard/stock dealer installed Corvette radio.
- The radio received broadcast in FM 2-channel stereo, FM monaural, and AM monaural.
- 16-transistor 9-diode circuitry.
- Two-speakers.
- Fixed height rear antenna.
- The 1976 Corvette was the last of the era to require a unique Delco radio due to the available console depth.
- In 1976, 1,203 Corvettes were ordered without a radio.
AM-FM Radio (U69)
- A standard/stock dealer installed Corvette radio.
- The radio receives broadcast in FM monaural, and AM monaural.
- 16-transistor 9-diode circuitry.
- Two-speakers.
- Fixed height rear antenna.
- The 1976 Corvette was the last of the era to require a unique Delco radio due to the available console depth.
- In 1976, 1,203 Corvettes were ordered without a radio.
Heavy Duty Battery (UA1)
- Optional, heavier-duty battery with increased cranking amps/capability.
- General Motors “freedom” battery, a new sealed and maintenance-free unit, was included with all 1976 models.
Map Light (on rearview mirror) (UF1)
- Light mounted on inside rearview mirror.
California Emission Test (YF5)
- An assembly line emissions test to conform with California registration requirements.
Aluminum Wheels (4) (YJ8)
- Included four aluminum wheels and a conventional steel spare.
- The aluminum wheels were originally expected for arrival as an option on the 1973 Corvette.
- The wheels were developed by Kelsey Hayes in Mexico.
- The wheels can be identified on their inside surfaces as to source and build location.
Notes
- The carburetor air induction system was revised in 1976. Previously, air was drawn in at the rear of the hood, producing a howling or whining sound in the interior of the Corvette. The source point for the air was moved forward, enabling air to be pulled into the engine compartment over the radiator.
- Two bumper styles were used on the 1976 Corvette – one featured the Corvette logo in small, recessed letters. The other featured larger letters that were surface mounted (not recessed.)
- The 1976 hood is unique to the model year.
- Engineers put a partial steel underbelly in the forward section of the 1976 Corvette for added rigidity, weight reduction, and to better isolate the cockpit from heat generated by the car’s catalytic converters.
- Astro Ventilation was eliminated from the Chevy Corvette in 1976. As part of the deletion of this option, the vents on the rear deck (just aft of the back window) were deleted.
- A new “sport” steering wheel was introduced for the 1976 Corvette that was shared with the Chevy Vega (and other Chevy models.) Because it was not unique to the Corvette, it was not well received by Corvette enthusiasts.
- Some of the late production 1976 Corvettes utilized interior components from the 1977 Corvette model.
- Corvette sales in Canada for the 1976 model year included 4,289 units.
1976 Corvette Exterior & Interior Colors
Exterior Colors
CODE | EXTERIOR | QTY | WHEELS | INTERIOR |
10 | Classic White | 10,674 | Silver | Blue, Black, Brown, Buckskin, Red, Smoked Grey, |
13 | Silver | 6,934 | Silver | White |
22 | Black | 3,268 | Silver | Blue, Black, Red, Smoked Grey, White |
33 | Dark Green | 2,038 | Silver | Black, Buckskin, Red, Smoked Grey, White |
37 | Mahogany | 4,182 | Silver | Black, Smoked Grey, White |
56 | Bright Yellow | 3,389 | Silver | Blue, Black, Buckskin, Smoked Grey, White |
64 | Buckskin | 2,954 | Silver | Black |
69 | Dark Brown | 4,447 | Silver | Black, Brown |
70 | Orange Flame | 4,073 | Silver | Black, Brown |
72 | Red | 4,590 | Silver | Black, Brown, Buckskin |
Interior Colors (Vinyl)
White (Vinyl) | 15 |
Black (Vinyl) | 19 |
Buckskin (Vinyl) | 64 |
Firethorn (Vinyl) | 71 |
Interior Colors (Leather)
White (Leather) | 112 |
Smoke Grey (Leather) | 152 |
Black (Leather) | 192 |
Blue-Green (Leather) | 322 |
Buckskin (Leather) | 642 |
Dark Brown(Leather) | 692 |
Firethorn (Leather) | 712 |
Exterior Colors
Interior Colors
For more 1976 Corvette, see our 1976 Corvette Research Hub and 1976 Corvette Model Guide