1979 Corvette Pricing, Factory Options, & Colors

Base Corvette Sport Coupe (1YZ87)

• The base price of the 1979 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe without any optional equipment.
• A 350 cubic inch, 195 horsepower engine, 4-speed wide ratio manual transmission, leather or cloth/leather interior trim, and T-tops were included in the base price.

Power Windows (A31)

• Factory installed power driver and passenger windows.

Power Door Locks (AU3)

• Factory installed power door locks.

Removable Glass Roof Panels (CC1)

• Tinted glass lift-out roof panels.

Rear Window Defogger (C49)

• An optional rear window forced air defogger.
• Requires UA1 Heavy Duty Battery when adding C60 Air Conditioning.

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.

Sport Mirrors (D35)

• Outside driver mirror assembly that included a mechanical linkage to control movement from inside the cockpit.

Spoilers, Front and Rear (D80)

• Functional front and rear spoilers that decreased drag by 15% and increased fuel economy by about a half-mile per gallon.

Gymkhana Suspension (FE7)

• An optional, heavier-duty suspension system for higher levels of performance.
• The Gymkhana rear leaf springs contained 9 leafs, though the top leaf is very small. GM identifies the rear leaf springs as an 8-leaf spring.
• 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.

Heavy Duty Shock Absorbers (F51)

• Not available with Trailer Package ZN1.
• Not available with Gymkhana Suspension FE7.

Optional Rear Axle Ratios (G95)

• A selection of optional rear axle ratios.
• In 1979, these included: 3.36 (Code OM), 3.55 (Code OH), 3.70 (Code OJ).
• Requires L82.
• Not available with MX1 automatic transmission

Cruise Control (K30)

• Cruise control allowed the car to maintain a set speed without the driver depressing the accelerator pedal.
• The cruise control option was only available with MX1 automatic transmission.

350ci, 225hp Engine (L82)

• Optional higher-output, small block V-8 engine.
• Not available in states Florida, Maryland, Oregon, and Washington.
• Not available in Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Des Plaines, Illinois; Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• Not available in the county of Cook, Illinois.

4-Speed Manual Transmission, Close Ratio (M21)

• A close ratio version of the MM4 4-speed manual transmission.
• The gear ratios for the RPO M21 Close Ratio 4-Speed Manual Transmission are: 1st Gear – 2.43:1, 2nd Gear – 1.61:1, 3rd Gear – 1.23:1, 4th Gear – 1.0:1 (Direct).
• M21 was a no-cost option but required the optional L82 engine.

Automatic Transmission (MX1)

• An optional, three-speed automatic transmission.
• The 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 – 2.52:1, 2nd Gear – 1.52:1, and 3rd Gear – 1.00:1.
• MX1 was a no-cost option.

High Altitude Emission Equipment (NA6)

• Alternate emission equipment installed for vehicles operating at high altitudes.
• The high-altitude emission equipment was required for vehicle operation at +4,000 feet.
• Manual transmission was not available when choosing NA6.
• L82 was not available when choosing NA6.

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.
• A new steering column positioned the steering wheel two inches closer to the instrument panel to provide more of an “arms out” driving position, and easier entry and exit.
• Includes color-keyed leather-wrapped Sport Steering Wheel.

Aluminum Wheels (4) (N90)

• Included four aluminum wheels and a conventional steel spare.

White Letter Steel Belted Radial Tires, P255/60R15 (QBS)

• Standard size tires with special raised white lettering.

White Letter Steel Belted Radial Tires, P225/70R15 (QGR)

• Optional size tires with special raised white lettering.
• Heavy Duty Battery (UA1) – Optional, heavier-duty battery with increased cranking amps/capability.
• Required with combination C49 Rear Window Defogger and C60 Air Conditioning.

AM-FM Radio, Stereo with 8-Track Tape (UM2)

• The standard/stock radio equipped with an 8-Track Tape Player.
• The radio received broadcast in FM 2-channel stereo, FM monaural, and AM monaural.
• Includes 8-track tape deck.

AM-FM Radio, Stereo with Cassette (UN3)

• The standard/stock radio equipped with a Cassette Tape Player.
• The radio received broadcast in FM 2-channel stereo, FM monaural, and AM monaural.
• Includes Cassette Tape player.

AM-FM Radio, Stereo with CB (UP6)

• The standard/stock dealer installed radio equipped with a CB.
• The radio received broadcast in FM 2-channel stereo, FM monaural, and AM monaural.
• Full 40-channel Citizens Band radio.
• CB mike is stowed on the center console.

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.

Power Antenna (U75)

• A rear deck antenna that retracts and extends when the radio or ignition is powered off and on respectively. The power antenna extends 31 inches.
• Not available with UP6.

Dual Rear Speakers (U81)

• Dual rear auxiliary speakers.
• Requires UM2, UN3, UP6, or U58.

California Emission Certification (YF5)

• Manual transmission was not available when choosing YF5.
• L82 was not available when choosing YF5.

Trailer Package (ZN1)

• Factory installed trailer package.
• The trailer package included the Gymkhana Suspension, a higher-amp alternator and a heavy-duty radiator.
• The hitch could support approximately 100 pounds of tongue weight.
• Requires MX1 Automatic Transmission.
• Power Windows and Door Locks (ZQ2)
• Factory installed power windows and factory installed power door locks.

Convenience Group (ZX2)

• A group of convenience options available to consumers when purchasing a 1979 Corvette.
• The ZX2 Convenience Group included dome light delay, interior courtesy lights delay, headlight warning buzzer, underhood light, low fuel warning light, floor mats, intermittent windshield wipers and and passenger side visor mirror.

Notes

• High-back bucket seats introduced on the 1978 Pace Car replica became standard in 1979.
• Front and rear spoilers found on the 1978 Pace Car replica became optional equipment (RPO D80) in 1979.
• Manual transmission Corvettes now have the same shock absorbers as Corvettes equipped with automatic transmissions for a more comfortable ride.
• 1979 models equipped with the automatic transmission come standard with a 3:55:1 rear axle ration versus the 3.08 from the previous model year for better performance.
• The L82 engine gets dual snorkel intakes for the air cleaner for a larger volume of air intake into the engine resulting in increased horsepower and torque.
• Also aiding in engine output is is a larger diameter “Y” pipe behind the emission converter and new open flow mufflers to reduce exhaust back pressure.
• Cold engine operation is improved with the trapped vacuum spark advance system and driveability is enhance with a new exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system.
• AM/FM Stereo is now standard equipment.
• High beam headlights were replaced early in production with high intensity tungsten-halogen for increased visibility.