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This page is in support of my L79 Registry, this Corvette section will only pertain to 1965 through 1968 Corvettes with the RPO L79 engine option.

1953 through 2006 Corvette GM Information Kit. Filter by MAKE = Chevrolet and MODEL = Corvette

GM Heritage Center Information Kits - 1965-1968

The GM Heritage Center now has the GM "information" kits available online in .PDF document format. Note that .PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

As most Corvette owners know, the Corvette began life in 1953 and was introduced early in 1953 at the GM Motorama as a concept show car but went into production on June 30, 1953. All 1953 Corvettes were done in Polo White and only 300 were built. This "first generation" Corvette, so called due to its basic styling and solid rear axle, was to continue through the 1962 model year with the top engine of the era being the 360 horsepower fuel injected 327 engine.

The "second generation" or C2 Corvette brought on a complete restyling of the car. A new name, "Sting Ray" was coined for the 1963 through 1967 Corvette. Available in two body styles, a roadster with either a soft convertible-like top or removable hardtop and the new fastback design coupe. Engine choices for these years ranged from the basic 250 horsepower 326 cubic inch engine all the way to a whopping 435 horsepower 427 cubic inch engine in 1968. Oddly enough, the 1968 model year saw the name "Sting Ray" dropped from the Corvette, i.e., there were no 1968 Corvette Sting Rays built. The name did return for the 1969 model year but came back as one word "Stingray."

The "third generation" or C3 Corvette design was, again, totally revamped and patterned after the Mako Shark II concept car. The fastback coupe was gone in favor of removable T-tops and removable back glass. Odd the "Sting Ray" named was dropped for the 1968 model year but did return in 1969 as the "Stingray" with the change from two words to one word.

The only years of the Corvette of interest here are the model years 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1968 with the optional 350 horsepower 327 cubic inch RPO L79 engine.

The 1965 model year saw 4,716 L79 engines ordered, the 1966 model year saw this jump a bit to 7,591, 1967 saw the sales dip a bit to 6,375 but 1968 saw a bump up to 9,440.  The L79 engine was only available with a manual 4-speed transmission and could be ordered in both body styles, fastback coupe (1965-1967) and roadster/convertible (1968).

All Corvette L79 engines came with hydraulic lifters so air conditioning was available with the L79 engine option. The 1965 model year was the only year the L79 engine option mandated the M21 close-ratio Muncie transmission; 1966 through 1968 could order either the M21 close-ratio or the M20 wide-ratio Muncie transmission.

Camshaft specifications

RPO L79 Production Figures in the Corvette