1978 Corvette VIN Decoder & Specs
Unlock the secrets of your classic 1978 Corvette with our detailed VIN and trim tag decoder. Verify your car's originality and production history. The trim tag analysis will reveal the factory-applied interior and exterior colors, plus the exact build date, essential for accurate restoration. Decoders for other components can be found here.
In 1978, a total of 46,776 Corvettes were manufactured.
Table of Contents
How to Decode Your 1978 Corvette VIN – Full Breakdown & Guide
Explore the original features of your 1978 Corvette with our VIN and trim tag decoder. Input your VIN to uncover engine, body, and transmission options. This tool confirms your car's production specifics. The trim tag analysis reveals original interior and exterior colors and the build date, supporting your restoration projects.
| VIN |
|
|---|---|
| Trim tag 1968–1981 |
|
Having trouble with the VIN decoder? Whether it's an unusual code, missing data, or you need help verifying a numbers-matching car, contact. Happy to help.
| 1978 VIN range |
|---|
| 1Z87L8S400001 – 1Z87L8S440776 |
1978 Corvette VIN Breakdown
| Position | Description | Possible Values |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Make | 1 = Chevrolet |
| 2 | Series | Z = Corvette |
| 3–4 | Body Style | 87 = Coupe |
| 5 | Engine | L = L48 4 = L82 |
| 6 | Model Year | 8 = 1978 |
| 7 | Assembly Plant | S = St. Louis |
| 8–13 | Unit Number | 400001 – 440274 900001 – 906502 (Pace Car) |
All specifications and VIN decoding details on this page are sourced from the official 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Vehicle Information Kit (PDF) published by General Motors.
You can use the Corvette C3 Decoder to decode other Corvette 1978 codes and view Corvette 1978 charts on the Corvette C3 chart article. All specifications and VIN decoding details are based on official Chevrolet data from GM’s 1978 Corvette Vehicle Information Kit .
1978 Corvette Specifications
Verify the factory colors of your 1978 Corvette using this guide. Below is a comprehensive list of available exterior and interior colors, complete with color codes and visual examples. This resource helps ensure accuracy in confirming your 1978 Corvette’s original finish.
Exterior Colors
| Code | Color | Color sample |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Classic White | |
| 13 | Silver | |
| 13U/07M | Silver/Dark Gray (Anniversary) | |
| 19 | Black | |
| 26 | Light Blue | |
| 52 | Bright Yellow | |
| 59 | Light Beige | |
| 72 | Red | |
| 82 | Mahogany | |
| 83 | Dark Red | |
| 89 | Dark Brown |
Interior Colors
The 1978 Corvette offered buyers a choice of leather interior upholstery.
| Code | Color | Color sample |
|---|---|---|
| 15C | Silver Cloth | |
| 152 | Silver Leather | |
| 19C | Black Cloth | |
| 192 | Black Leather | |
| 72C | Medium Red Cloth | |
| 722 | Medium Red Leather | |
| 76C | Saffron Cloth | |
| 762 | Saffron Leather | |
| 59C | Light Doeskin Cloth | |
| 529 | Light Doeskin Leather | |
| 12C | Oyster White Cloth | |
| 122 | Oyster White Leather | |
| 29C | Dark Blue Cloth | |
| 292 | Dark Blue Leather | |
| 69C | Dark Brown Cloth | |
| 692 | Dark Brown Leather |
Color combinations
For the 1978 Corvette, Chevrolet offered a selection of interior color options in leather, allowing buyers to match their interior to their chosen exterior.
| Exterior Color | Interior Colors | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Red | Saffron | Doeskin Light |
Dark Blue |
Dark Brown |
Oyster White |
|
| Classic White | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Silver Metallic | X | X | X | — | X | — | X |
| Black | X | X | X | X | — | — | X |
| Frost Blue | X | — | — | — | X | — | — |
| Yellow | X | — | — | — | — | X | X |
| Frost Beige | X | X | X | X | X | X | — |
| Red | X | X | — | X | — | — | X |
| Mahogany Metallic | X | — | X | X | — | — | X |
| Dark Blue Metallic | X | X | — | X | X | — | X |
| Dark Brown Metallic | X | — | — | X | — | X | X |
| Silver Anniversary | X | X | X | — | X | — | X |
| Note: Pace Car required 15C Silver Cloth or 152 Silver Leather interior. | |||||||
Chassis
| Wheelbase | Length | Width | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98 in | 185.2 in | 69.0 in | Curb: 3,529 lb; Shipping: 3,401 lb |
Curb weight: Weight of the empty vehicle ready to drive. Shipping weight plus the weight of gasoline and water.
Shipping weight: Weight of the basic vehicle with regular equipment, grease, and oil. Weight of gasoline and water not included.
1978 Corvettes were outfitted with P225/70R15 or P255/60R15 radial tires. Learn more about the tires used on Corvettes in the article Corvette C3 RPM Calculator.
1978 Corvette Engine Options
| Engine Code |
Order Code |
CI | HP | Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHW | L48(Federal) | 350 | 185 | 4-Speed |
| CLM | L48(Federal) | 350 | 185 | TH350 |
| CLR | L48(California) | 350 | 185 | TH350 |
| CLS | L48(High Altitude) | 350 | 185 | TH350 |
| CMR | L82(Federal) | 350 | 220 | 4-Speed |
| CMS | L82(Federal) | 350 | 220 | TH350 |
| CUT | L48(Federal) | 350 | 185 | TH350 |
You can read more from the Corvette C3 Engines article.
1978 Corvette Transmission Options
| Code | Type | Transmission |
|---|---|---|
| S6 | Manual | Warner 4-Speed, Wide-Ratio (2.85;1 1st gear) |
| ZU | Manual | Warner 4-Speed, Wide-Ratio (2.64;1 1st gear) |
| ZW | Manual | Warner 4-Speed, Close-Ratio (2.43;1 1st gear) |
| 5WB | Automatic | Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 |
| 5TL | Automatic | Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 |
You can read more from the Corvette C3 Transmissions article.
1978 Corvette RPO Codes and Options
Chevrolet offered a number of options to allow buyers to customize their Corvette to their exact specifications.
| Code | Option | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1YZ87 | Corvette sport coupe | 40,274 |
| A31 | Power windows | 36,931 |
| AU3 | Power door locks | 12,187 |
| BZ2 | 25th-anniversary paint | 15,283 |
| CC1 | Removable glass roof panels | 972 |
| C49 | Electro-clear rear defroster | 30,912 |
| C60 | Air conditioning | 37,638 |
| D35 | Sport mirrors | 38,405 |
| FE7 | Gymkhana suspension | 12,590 |
| G95 | Rear axle ratio selection | 382 |
| K30 | Cruise-master speed control | 31,608 |
| L48 | 350 185 hp engine | 34,037 |
| L82 | 350 220 hp engine | 12,739 |
| M20 | 4-speed standard manual transmission | 4,777 |
| M21 | 4-speed close-ratio manual transmission | 3,885 |
| M38 | Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission | 38,614 |
| NA6 | High altitude emissions | - |
| N37 | Tilt-telescopic steering column | 37,858 |
| QBS | P255/60R15 white letter radial tires | 18,296 |
| QGQ | P225/70R15 blackwall radial tires | 2,277 |
| QGR | P255/70R15 white letter radial tires | 26,203 |
| U58 | AM-FM stereo radio | 10,189 |
| U69 | AM-FM radio | 2,057 |
| U75 | Power antenna | 23,069 |
| U81 | Dual rear speakers | 12,340 |
| UA1 | Heavy-duty battery | 28,243 |
| UP6 | AM-FM stereo radio with CB | 7,138 |
| UM2 | AM-FM stereo radio with 8-track | 20,899 |
| YF5 | California emissions | - |
| YJ8 | Aluminum wheels | 28,008 |
| ZN1 | Trailer package | 972 |
| ZX2 | Convenience package | 37,222 |
| Z78 | Limited edition pace car | 6,502 |
More Corvette C3 Articles
General
- Corvette C3 years
- Corvette Specs, Colors, etc. by year:
1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 - Is the Corvette C3 always a Stingray?
- Corvette C3 charts
- Corvette C3 books
- Mako Shark II
- Corvette L88
- Greenwood Corvettes
- Reader's Wheels: Corvette 1968
- Restomod Corvette C3s
- Corvette C3 Buyer's Checklist
Technical
Interior and Exterior Features
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