Car Model History

Third generation · C3 "Stingray" · 1968–1982

1978Chevrolet Corvette

The Coke-bottle 'shark' body — the longest-running Corvette generation. Big-block muscle early, then detuned through the 1970s emissions era; the original ZR1 option appeared 1970–1972.

Third generation · C3 "Stingray"

1978 Chevrolet Corvette, C3 third generation — maroon fastback coupe, front three-quarter view

Photo: MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.

The 1978 model year

Overview

The 1978 Chevrolet Corvette was the C3 Stingray model-year specification for the U.S. market. Its documented factory range comprised 350 cu in small-block V8 with 3-speed automatic or 4-speed manual.

Specifications

Engines
  • 350 cu in small-block V8
Transmissions
3-speed automatic, 4-speed manual
Body styles
Coupe with removable roof panels

Year over year

What changed

  • The coupe-only C3 continued with year-specific emissions, trim and equipment revisions.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • This page records the U.S. 1978 factory powertrain and body-style range rather than borrowing a nearby model year's specification.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • For a 1978 Corvette, verify the VIN, installed powertrain and service history against the exact-year GM document; age, modifications and deferred maintenance are more useful evidence than generation-wide reputation.
  • Check the NHTSA VIN lookup for unrepaired safety recalls before purchase or road use.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1978 Corvette on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1978 Chevrolet Corvette. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
13
Scheduled topics
12
Applicability stated
13
Exact references
1

Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil and filter — changeView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil and filter — change

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1978 · United States

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12 months · Whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

  • Chassis — lubricate; fluid levels and clutch-pedal free travel — checkView intervals, applicability and sources

    Chassis — lubricate; fluid levels and clutch-pedal free travel — check

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1978 · United States

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12 months · Whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

  • Rear-axle lubricant — change; manual-transmission lubricant — checkView intervals, applicability and sources

    Rear-axle lubricant — change; manual-transmission lubricant — check

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1978 · United States

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12 months · Whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

  • Cooling system — checkView intervals, applicability and sources

    Cooling system — check

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1978 · United States

    Published interval: 15,000 mi / 12 months · Whichever occurs first; follow the manual's service explanation.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

  • Wheel bearings — repack; steering-gear seals — check; clutch cross-shaft — lubricateView intervals, applicability and sources

    Wheel bearings — repack; steering-gear seals — check; clutch cross-shaft — lubricate

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1978 · United States

    Published interval: 30,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

  • Automatic-transmission fluid and filter — changeView intervals, applicability and sources

    Automatic-transmission fluid and filter — change

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1978 · Automatic · United States

    Published interval: 100,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

  • Tires, wheels, disc brakes, exhaust, suspension, steering, brake hydraulics, power steering, and parking brake — checkView intervals, applicability and sources

    Tires, wheels, disc brakes, exhaust, suspension, steering, brake hydraulics, power steering, and parking brake — check

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1978 · United States

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12 months · Whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

  • Drive belts — checkView intervals, applicability and sources

    Drive belts — check

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1978 · United States

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12 months · Whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

  • Fuel and evaporative-control filters — replaceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Fuel and evaporative-control filters — replace

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1978 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

    Fuel filter

    Applies to: 1978 · United States

    Published interval: 15,000 mi / 12 months · Whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

    Evaporative-control filter; also check fuel cap, tank, and lines

    Applies to: 1978 · United States

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 24 months · Whichever occurs first.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

  • PCV system, valve, and filter — checkView intervals, applicability and sources

    PCV system, valve, and filter — check

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1978 · United States

    Published interval: 15,000 mi / 12 months · Whichever occurs first; follow the manual's service explanation.

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

  • Spark plugs — replace and wires — checkView intervals, applicability and sources

    Spark plugs — replace and wires — check

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1978 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

    Emission Control Maintenance Schedule I

    Applies to: 1978 · United States · Use the vehicle's emissions documentation to identify the applicable schedule.

    Published interval: 22,500 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

    Emission Control Maintenance Schedule II

    Applies to: 1978 · United States · Use the vehicle's emissions documentation to identify the applicable schedule.

    Published interval: 15,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

  • Air-cleaner element — replaceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Air-cleaner element — replace

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1978 · United States

    Published interval: 30,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1978 Corvette Shop Manual maintenance schedule · Maintenance and Lubrication, Figure OB-1 — Vehicle Maintenance Schedule · checked

  • Engine oil filter — catalog fitmentView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil filter — catalog fitment

    Exact reference available

    Manufacturer-catalog fitment only; no service interval is inferred.

    Baldwin B27 cataloged fitment

    This manufacturer application record establishes replacement-filter fitment only; it does not alter Chevrolet's service interval.

    Applies to: 1978 · United States · Baldwin's exact 1978 Corvette 5.7-liter application row assigns B27; confirm the installed engine and filter before ordering.

    Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · Chevrolet 1978 Corvette V8-350 (5.7L) application row — Lube — B27 · checked

    Verified ordering references

Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Sources

  1. General Motors Heritage Archive — 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Vehicle Information Kit
  2. NHTSA — VIN recall lookup

Other Third generation years

Explore the C3 "Stingray" generation →All Third generation · C3 "Stingray" years →

Documented lineup

Find your exact 1978 Corvette

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

2factory configurations
Exact factory pairings documentedHow this lineup was verified

These source-backed records identify published body, engine, and transmission combinations. Exact pairings do not by themselves assert that every factory option or special edition is represented.

2versions shown
Browse 2 documented records — use the filters above to narrow the list
Coupe with removable roof panels

Corvette Coupe with removable roof panels — 3-speed automatic

Body
Coupe with removable roof panels
Engine
350 cu in small-block V8
Gearbox
3-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Coupe with removable roof panels

Corvette Coupe with removable roof panels — 4-speed manual

Body
Coupe with removable roof panels
Engine
350 cu in small-block V8
Gearbox
4-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

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