1976 CORVETTE
Production: 46,558 coupes

Abbreviations: ac=air conditioning, at=automatic transmission, ce=california emissions, ci=cubic inch, hp=horsepower, mt=manual transmission.

• A350ci, 180hpengine,4-speedwide-ratiomanualtransmission,T-Tops, and vinyl interior trim were included in the base price.
• Custom interior included leather seat trim, wood-grain accents and lower carpet trim on inner door panels, wood grain accents on console, and special cut-pile carpeting.
• The FE7gymkhana suspension included stiffer front sway bar and stiffer springs. There were no engine or transmission order restrictions with FET.
• M40 was no cost with the base 350ci, 180hp engine, but cost $134.00 with optional L82 engine.
• M21 was no cost but required optional L82.
• The only engine-transmission combination available in California was the base 350ci, 180hp engine with M40 automatic transmission.
• Listed as separate options initially, power brakes (J50) and power steering (N41) were included in an increased base price during 1976.
• All 1976 Corvettes had power brakes; all but 173 had power steering.
• RPO C49 used glass heating elements instead of forced air and the terminology changed from "defroster" to "defogger."

• - Suggested interiors shown. Additional combinations were possible.
• - Paint quantities do not add to total production because additional units had non-standard paint, and primer only. - Early Chevrolet order guides show an exterior code 39 for Dark Green Metallic. This code was changed to code 33, but production records indicate one code 39 Dark Green Metallic 1976 Corvette built.

Interior Codes: 11 2=W/L, 15V=WN, 152=Sg/L, 19V=Bk/V, 192=Bk/L, 322=Bg/L, 64V=Bu/V, 642=Bu/L, 692=Db/L, 71V=FN, 712=F/L.

Abbreviations: Bg=Blue-Green, Bk=Black, Bu=Buckskin, Db=Dark Brown, F=Firethorn, L=Leather, Sg=Smoked Grey, V=Vinyl, W=White.

1976 FACTS

• The carburetor air induction system was revised in 1976. Previously, air was drawn in at the rear of the hood, producing a howl audible from within the car.The air source point was moved forward, so that air was pulled in over the radiator. The 1976 hood is unique to the year.
• The aluminum wheels announced for 1973 arrived as a bona fide option with the 1976 model. These were made by Kelsey Hayes in Mexico and the wheels are identified on their inside surfaces as to source and build location.
• The YJ8 option included four wheels and a conventional steel spare, in contrast to the five-wheel sets provided with the knock-off and bolt-on aluminum wheel options of 1963-1967.
• Engineers put a partial steel underbelly in the forward section of Corvettes starting with the 1976 model for added rigidity and to better isolate the cockpit from the heat generated by engines calibrated to run hotter. The hotter engines were intentional, one way to increase efficiency and partially offset emissions-related power losses.
• Vents on the rear deck (just rear of the back window) were deleted.
• A new "sport" steering wheel for 1976 Corvettes was the same unit used for Chevrolet Vegas.
• GM's "freedom" battery, a new sealed and maintenance-free unit, was included with all 1976 models.
• A significant number of late-build 1976 Corvettes received parts normally associated with 1977 production, especially interior components. - Two styles of rear bumpers were used. The first had smaller, recessed "Corvette" letters. The second style had larger letters, not recessed.