1980 Chevrolet Corvette

Gateway Classic Cars of Dallas is proud to offer The Batmobile... or that what it feels like. With its sleek, low-slung form clad in dramatic black to provide a stealthy look, this 1980 Chevrolet Corvette offers a pretty compelling proposition - the opportunity to own a true American classic that's equipped with an array of top tier components, including a 1973 Vette big block 454 V8 under its hood built and blueprinted to provide just the outstanding performance its high impact exterior implies.

Getting their inspiration from the Mako Shark II concept car that wowed audiences on the Car Show circuit more than a decade before this '80 came out, third generation Corvettes like this one represented a strong departure from their predecessors - with their flowing curves, long hoods and gradually sloping rear windshields, they appear as if they're moving even standing still. You can only imagine how futuristic the design must have seemed when it was released, and it proved so successful that Chevy wisely saw fit not to tamper much with it over the years, choosing instead to make subtle year over year refinements. With its glossy black paint and well-executed hood scoop, this is a car that absolutely demands attention. A prime dividend of that third-generation design comes in the form of its removable T-top feature, whose lightweight, tinted roof panels are easy to install and remove, giving you the option of either open air motoring or a more sheltered environment as you choose.

The red and black interior is a definite winner. While not the color configuration this Corvette began with, it has a refinement to its application that gives it a factory look, though certainly a dramatic one. With their pronounced bolstering and high backs, the bucket seats provide a lot of support while cornering and are in very nice condition, with no creasing on their surfaces and padding that still stands tall, suggesting that it hasn't borne the weight of many passengers. In the true Corvette tradition of providing extensive instrumentation, no less than seven individual gauges sit beyond the steering wheel and all are easily legible behind clear lenses. With in-dash vents at both sides of the cabin and a compressor that's in very good form, the air conditioning on this classic will cool you off in a hurry. There'll also be no shortage of audio firepower at your disposal - an AM/FM/CD sits in the center console combining with a Pioneer amp and subwoofers positioned in the trunk to fill the interior with sound.

Echoing the long-held belief that "there's no replacement for displacement", a lightly-travelled 454 engine resides under the scooped hood that's been bored out to extract a few more (460) cubic inches and features an assortment of top-name components on this beast of an engine, which has also been blueprinted and balanced and carries a specially ground Comp cam. A Centerforce clutch has been added to the mix to handle the big block's output and a 4-speed manual transmission sits just in back of it to put its power under your total control. A specially constructed Griffin radiator is up front, joined by a pair of electric fans to keep engine temperatures under control. Power steering combines with a low-to-the-pavement stance to provide slot-car-like handling, while power disc brakes at all four corners bring this true American sports car to dependable stops in a hurry as it cruises on its set of stock 15" Corvette wheels outfitted with Firehawk Indy 500 tires.

This 1980 Chevrolet Corvette for sale is located in our Dallas Showroom and can be seen at www.GatewayClassicCars.com, or call 817-310-9400 for additional information. -