Up until the 1980 model year, the Corvette was a fairly bare-bones car. I had basic features, but it wasn’t a car designed for the daily commute. Features like air conditioning and power windows were available, but not standards. As the C3 generation progressed, GM offered more features as standard on the Corvette. In 1980, the manufacturer included power windows, A/C, and the tilt-telescopic steering wheel on the Corvette as standard features. Power door locks (RPO AU3) and the rear window defogger (RPO C49) were still optional. Chevrolet included three different options for the interior on the Corvette. Leather was standard, while cloth and vinyl were no-cost options.

Also new for 1980 was the addition of bumpers with integrated spoilers. Radiator air-flow increased by 50%, and the drag coefficient decreased to .443. This gave the car an elongated appearance. This appearance heralded the soon to come C4, and was a forerunner to modern designs.

The 1980 ‘Vette saved weight by employing lower density and less thick materials at strategic points throughout the car, and GM saved some paint when it installed 85 MPH speedometers in all 1980 Corvettes. The 1980 car was initially priced at $13,140.24, but by the end of the model year, its sticker price rose to $14,345.24.