zphantom

I know this is not the proper place for this, but I didn't know where to place it and I wanted it here because I believe I will get the most diversification among Corvette fanatics. I don't think this is a dupe.

I have always been able to tell most years of a Corvette at a glance, there are telltale signs in most years.

I originally was going to make a website for this, but I now believe that this is the best place for it (corvetteforum.com), I guess maybe in the Tools section or something. I think this would be a good way to have a evolving indentification tool of Corvettes for all.

I know there are many out there that know more then me, and each generation's die hard fans will be able to help nail down each year of that generation.

Remember this is upon just looking at the car say from 10 feet away, no hood open or anything like that. Also, factory correct cars.

C1 : RPOZ25 has helped with a few of these, 1COOL60 set the '59/'60 seats straight.
'53 : Black top, shorter exhaust, and I think the plate cover was on '53 only.
'54 : Tan top, longer exhaust.
'55 : If '55 is 6 cyl, this is hard, from reports I heard only six 6 cyl made in '55, as for the V8 the big V on the scripting gives it away
'56 : Okay, so not 10 feet, but the rearview mirror nut is a thumbwheel not hex.
'57 : The aforementioned nut is now a hex locknut, crossed flags mean fuelie.
'58 : can you say chrome, first with quad lights, chrome strips in places not on the others (trunk), and the "washboard" hood.
'59 : Take a '58 minus the extra chrome, and the seats have horizonal stitching.
'60 : Same as the '59 except the seats have vertical stitching.
'61 : Old front, stingray rear, as in all '56 - '61 there is chrome cove trim.
'62 : Like a '61 but always body color cove, and no cove trim.

C2 : Seems to be the simpliest, I once heard each year had different sills even, ctjackster pointed out the grill trick for '65 and '66.
'63 : Looks like all the other C2s except the hood has two side indentions with a fake air grill, oh and (chuckles) I think the rear window might be different on the coupe. Shares '64 side dual louvers. Oh and those knockoffs don't belong.
'64 : Has the indents on the hood, no fake grills.
'65 : 3 grill side louvers on each side, on the coupe still has the vented b-pillar. Black grill.
'66 : The front grill gives it away, it is now bright gray, no b-pillar vent on coupe, black rocker panels.
'67 : 5 grate grill on side, backup lights in center, wheels.

C3 : Still looking for more on C3 if possible, like more differences between '71 and '72 *see note, but I think Captain Morgan ended most questions about C3s. corvetteronw gave us a really good '80, '81 tip.
'68 : 4 gill like louvers on each side, no Stingray name, ignition key is in the dash. Round tail pipes, backup lights in bumper. Pushbutton door keylock for door opening.
'69 : Like a '68, but Stingray name is above the louvers, ignition key is in the steering column, backup lights in taillights. The push plates on the top of the doors now open the doors by pressing down on them.
'70 : New egg grate grill with solid chrome molding around it, square pipes, new side egg grate gill louvers.
'71 : Same as '70 but the chrome molding now has screw holes in it.
'72 : Same as a '71, but lacks the fiber-optic lamp warning system.
'73 : Chrome rear bumper, composite front bumper
'74 : Same as '73, but has a composite two piece rear bumper.
'75 : Same as '74, but has a composite one piece rear bumper.
'76 : Same as '75, but lack of vents behind rear window give it away, first year for italic writing of corvette on the rear bumper.
'77 : Corvette flags replace the Stingray badge from '76
'78 : If it is a pace car then obvious, bubble back window with chrome trim on the non-pace cars.
'79 : Like a '78, but all cars had black trim bubble back windows.
'80 : '80 and '81 are exact except the rocker panel has a stainless strip at the top on the '80, also the emblem is outlined in chrome on the '80.
'81 : '80 and '81 are exact except the rocker panel is full black on the '81, also the emblem is outlined in black on '81.
'82 : Like '80, '81, but with CFI badge, and vented louvers.

C4 : after posts by GDP, Illini Steve, Mr Mojo, 3XBlack and scorp508, I think we got C4 nailed.
'84 : Exhaust tips curve down, black wheel center. CFI logo on molding.
'85 : Exhaust tips point straight out, black wheel center. TPI logo on molding.
'86 : Same as '85, add the CHMSL (Center High Mounted Stop Lamp), wheels now have natural center.
'87 : Argent Gray Radial slots and centers on rims.
'88 : 6 slot rims if base, 12 slot rims if Z51/Z52, as 3XBlack pointed out lack of a pleat between the seat back and the head rest signals an '88.
'89 : 12 slot rims with lugnuts covered, pleat between the seat back and the head rest.
'90 : new interior, old front end, exposed lugnuts.
'91 : new front on all models, rear on ZR1, last year for quad tips.
'92 : same as '91, but the square tips give away the LT1, ZR1 is now marked on side of car for the ZR1s.
'93 : if ruby red, also emblem on the seats, old interior, machined wheels instead of painted as in '91 '92.
'94 : new interior.
'95 : new louver with vent front, black between front and corner parking light.
'96 : same as '95 but body color between front and corner parking light, or if GS or CE.

C5 : they don't change as much anymore, any info is helpful.
'97 - '98 - '99 : unless '99 FRC, hard to tell for me.
'00 : last one with bare exhaust tips, first with thin spoke wheels, first six months of production have different base wheels. What about '00 with mag wheels :eek:?
'01 - '02 - '04 : unless a Z16, hard to tell as well. Oh forgot, '01 Z06 is easy.
'03 : As GDP pointed out, the emblem marks this.

Any help is greatly appreciated, figured we could all learn something.

Thank you.

* Let me address the parking lamp lense color issue of early 70s C3s.
From what I have found in the Corvette Black Book, which was helpful in this case, '71 was supposed to have amber parking light lenses. Though in production they received clear. Now chances are if you spot a amber lense you have a '72, but it is not concrete.

P.S. This is going great, little more information ('71 - '72, C5s) and we can put this up as the definitive Corvette year guide.


[Modified by zphantom, 12:27 PM 11/25/2003]

GDP

What makes the '94 so easy to recognize compared to the '92-'93?

From ten feet away, you can't tell the difference between '92-'94s.
Same with '95-'96.

Now, I believe all '00-'04 C5s are pretty much the same from ten feet away.

The '03 does have the chrome emblem on the hood. :yesnod:

zphantom

'94 : first year with newer interior, pass. airbags, new seats. Last year with '91 - '94 style louvers (four long thin inlets), '95 - '96 has the grate style louvers, which makes them hard to tell.

'00 has new thin spoke wheels ('00 - '04) and non chrome tipped exhaust ('97 - '00) therefore making any factory correct Corvette with thin wheels and bare tips a '00.

Your right GDP, an '03 is then complete. The emblem gives it.


[Modified by zphantom, 4:56 PM 11/18/2003]

SoCal C5

'01 and later have chrome exhaust tips '00 does not.

what year was it that they did away with the passanger side lock cylinder.

presents of a HUD would help distinguish '97-'99 (do not rember the intro date though.)

zphantom

Good point about the key lock, but I think it is also '00. But I'm not sure. A HUD is ok, but only if that car had that option.

Illini Steve

'95 vs. '96

On the '96s the approx. 3"x3" area between the parking lights on the front and the cornering lights on the side is painted body color vs. black on '91-'95.

zphantom

Ooooh, your right, forgot about that, I knew it back in '96 but forgot.

See this is great. Good info.

Hurricane

Don't forget the thinner wheels (non-high polished) for the first six months of 2000!!! Kind of makes them unique... :D

:lol:

zphantom

This post was incorrect, Hurricane is correct about the 2000 wheel issue, see below.


[Modified by zphantom, 11:28 PM 11/18/2003]

vettemaan

and in 2001 they took the key hole off the passanger door :thumbs: :p: i think i know alittle too much about C5's :lol:

BuckyThreadkiller

The telltale on the 78-79 is the rear window moulding. I think it's chrome on the 25th year 78s and black on the 79s. But it's been a long time.

Captain Morgan

This is my specialty. ;)

68 : Has "gills" but no Stingray emblem, also has pushbutton door lock
69: Has "gills" with Stingray emblem and regular door lock
70: Has eggcrate sidevents. Front grill moulding does not have screw holes
71: Has eggcrate sidevents. Front grill moulding has screw holes. Has fiber optics in center console near ashtray.
72: Has eggcrate sidevents. Front grill moulding has screw holes. Does NOT have fiber optics in center console near ashtray.
73: Plastic front bumper, chrome rear bumber
74: Split rear bumper
75: Solid rear bumper, round emblem, vents on back deck
76: Solid rear bumper, round emblem, NO vents on back deck
77: New crossed flag emblem in place of Stingray name, notched back window as previous models
78: Bubble back window with chrome trim, 25th anniversary emblem on all 78 year vettes.
79: Bubble back window with black trim, same crossed flags emblem as 77
80: New crossed flags emblem with chrome trim
81: Same emblem as 80, but with black trim
82: Cross-fire injection emblem above side vents.


[Modified by Captain Morgan, 7:28 PM 11/18/2003]

davidwp97

Don't even THINK about trying to identify Corvettes unless you have this book:



David

Mr Mojo

All '93's have "40th" embroidered on the headrest and the wheels of 91-92 have painted centers where the '93-'96 have a kind of machined finished look.

I believe the gills would be different on these years(ZR1)

Of course the easiest way is to look at the VIN(if you can get close enough)

HummelS

Unless it's a pace car.... :D

I was explaining this subtle difference to someone in my club when another member pulled up in her pacer. White. Here's a link to a FS ad with photo: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=584617

zphantom

First off, that is the best C3 breakdown I ever heard, thanks.

So, if I read right THE only model year difference between '70 '71 is the screw holes in the front grill which by the pics I saw are most noticable on the bottom. Ok, I like that.

But, the ONLY visable difference between the '71 and '72 is the fiber optics in the dash, does that mean the trouble lights? Or is that the lamp warning system introduced in '68?

When did it lose the removable window? It was 73.

When did it lose the cover for the wipers? It was '73

When did they go to amber instead of clear? See above

Thank you again.





[Modified by zphantom, 4:07 PM 11/19/2003]

zphantom

Your right about the gills on the ZR1, I wanna clunk myself on the head for that. Thanks.

Is it the center of the wheel that is different or the whole wheel finish?

Seems to me it is the whole wheel finish. Gray on '91 and '92 and machined on '93 - '94


[Modified by zphantom, 8:31 PM 11/18/2003]

zphantom

very true, but if pace car then for sure '95, good catch though, I will note that.

zphantom

I have 3 copies of that book '95 '98 '2002, the stuff I posted today was by memory, but I have found that the Corvette black book doesn't quite go as deep as were going here, for instance it does not cover the C3 like Captain Morgan did.


[Modified by zphantom, 8:23 PM 11/18/2003]

Captain Morgan

The things I listed are the easiest ways to tell the difference in the model years. I'm sure there are other subtle differences, but I don't know them off-hand. The fiber optics I'm talking about are the indicator lights near the ashtray on the center console. I'll edit the post. I'll have to do some research to answer some of your other questions.