The old reliable inline six-cylinder engine was gone,
replaced by a V-6. Lockup torque converter clutches arrived on automatic transmissions.
Over the past few years, the entire Chevrolet line had been downsized, signaling the begining of a new era of smaller, lighter, fuel-efficient automobiles.
In an attempt to boost gas milleage, both full-size models got a lighter weight standard engine: a 229 cu. in. (3.8 litter) V-6 with Dualjet carburetor and aluminum manifold.
That powerplant replaced the old inline six. Wagons came with a
standard 267 cu. in (4.4 litter) V-8, also with Dualjet carburetor, introduced a year earlier on mid-sized. For the first time, Wagons
could get an optional 350 cu. in. (5.7 litter) Oldsmobile-built disel V-8 (except in California). All models could also get a 305 cu. in (5.0 litter) gas V-8 with 4-barrel. Sleek new aerodynamic styling on full-size models showed a lower hood, higher rear deck and restyled sides, along with a 100 pound weight loss.
Caprice gained a new eggcrate grille design and three-lens taillamp assembly (with working center light). The new taillamp rear-end panel was removable. Unlike prior versions, the grille pattern was not repeated down in the bumper area. Landau models gained new roof moldings. Also new were one-piece door beams, aluminum components in raidiators and wagon bumpers, highpressure easy-rolling tires, side-lift frame jack, and a 25 gallon fuel tank (formerly 21) to boost cruising range.
Automatic transmission added a new lockup torque converter clutch. New options included:
Self-Sealing Tires, plus Cornering Lamps that worked with turn signals when headlamps were lit.
EPA ratings of 18 MPG city, 26 highway, were the highest ever for a full-size Chevrolet.
Full-size models came in 14 body colors:
Beige - Black - Cinnabar - Gray - Silver - White - Yellow
plus Metallic Dark or Light Blue - Light or Medium Camel
Dark Claret - Dark Green.
Ten two-tone combinations were offered, plus seven vinyl top colors.
Standard front bench seats had cloth upholstery, but vinyl was available. Caprice could get an optional 50/50 split front seat.
Standard equiptment included: Turbo Hydra-Matic, Power Front Disc/Rear Drum Brakes, Power Steering, Easy-Roll Steel-Belted Radial Tires, Acoustical Headlining, One-Piece Carpeting, Front Stabilizer Bar, and New Compact Spare Tire (Mickey Mouse).
Full-size models had a Built-In Engine Diagnostics Connector, Foot Parking Brake, Cigarette Lighter, Heater/Defroster, Luggage Compartment Light, Freedom Battery, and Column Lever for Turn Signal and Dimmer.
| Series Model - 1B |
|---|
| Body Style - N47 |
| Body Type & Seating - 2 Door Sports Coupe, 6 Pass. |
| Factory Price - $6,579 - $6,759 |
| Shipping Weight - 3376 - 3484 |
| Product Total - 13,919 |
| Series Model - 1B |
|---|
| Body Style - N47/Z03 |
| Body Type & Seating - 2 Door Landau Coupe, 6 Pass. |
| Factory Price - $7,029 - $7,209 |
| Shipping Weight - N/A |
| Product Total - 8,857 |
| Series Model - 1B |
|---|
| Body Style - N69 |
| Body Type & Seating - 4 Door Sedan, 6 Pass. |
| Factory Price - $6,710 - $6,890 |
| Shipping Weight - 3410 - 3518 |
| Product Total - 91,208 |
| Series Model - 1B |
|---|
| Body Style - N35 |
| Body Type & Seating - 4 Door Station Wagon, 6 Pass. |
| Factory Price - --- - $7,099 |
| Shipping Weight - --- - 3930 |
| Product Total - 9,893 |
| Series Model - 1B |
|---|
| Body Style - N35/AQ4 |
| Body Type & Seating - 4 Door 3S Wagon , 8 Pass. |
| Factory Price - --- - $7,266 |
| Shipping Weight - --- - 3962 |
| Product Total - 13,431 |
| 90-Degree, Overhead Valve V-8 |
|---|
| Cast Iron Block and Head |
| Engine VIN Code - H |
| Engine No. Cyl. Displacement: 305 Cu. In. |
| Liter - 5.0 |
| Engine Mfg. - Chevrolet |
| Carburetor Type - 4bbl |
| Horsepower @ rpm - 155@4000 |
| Torque @ rpm (ft. lbs.)- 240@1600 |
| Bore x Stroke (in.) - 3.74 x3.48 |
| Compression Ratio - 8.6:1 |
| Oil Pressure @ 2000 rpm - 45 |
|
Five Main Bearings Hydraulic Valve Lifters |
Chassis Data
| Wheelbase - 116.0 in |
|---|
| Overall Length - 212.1 in - (Wagon) 214.7 in |
| Height - (Coupe) 53.3 in, (Sedan) 55.9 in, (Wagon)57.7 in |
| Width - (Caprice) 75.3 in, (Wagon) 79.3 in |
| Front Tread - (Caprice) 61.8 in, (Wagon) 62.2 in |
| Rear Tread - (Caprice) 60.8 in, (Wagon) 64.1 in |
| Standard Tires - (Caprice) P203/75R15/B SBR, (Wagon) P225/75R15/B SBR |
Dimensions Interior
| Head Room - Front - Coupe 38.5 - Sedan 39.2 in |
|---|
| Head Room - Rear - Coupe 37.8 in - Sedan 38.0 in |
| Leg Room - Front - Coupe 42.4 - Sedan 42.4 in |
| Leg Room - Rear - Coupe 37.3 in - Sedan 39.0 in |
| Hip Room - Front - Coupe 55.0 - Sedan 55.0 in |
| Hip Room - Rear - Coupe 57.6 in - Sedan 55.3 in |
| Shoulder Room - Front - Coupe 60.8 - Sedan 60.8 in |
| Shoulder Room - Rear - Coupe 58.8 in - Sedan 60.8 in |
| Usable Luggage Capacity - Coupe 20.9 cu. ft. - Sedan 20.9 cu. ft. |
| Fuel Tank Capacity - Coupe 25 gal. - Sedan 25 gal |
CHEVROLET POWER TEAMS
| Engine | Ordering Code | Displacement cubic inches | Sedans & Coupes | Station Wagons | Automatic Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All States Except California | |||||
| 3.8 Liter 2-Bbl V6 (A) | LC3 | 229 | Std | NA | Std |
| 4.4 Liter 2-Bbl V8 (B) | L39 | 267 | EC | Std | Std |
| 5.0 Liter 4-Bbl V8 (B) | LG4 | 305 | EC | EC | Std |
| 5.7 Liter Diesel V8 (C) | LF9 | 350 | NA | EC | Std |
| California Only (With California Emission Requirements) | |||||
| 3.8 Liter 2-Bbl V6 (D) | LD5 | 231 | Std | NA | Std |
| 5.0 Liter 4-Bbl V8 (B) | LG4 | 305 | EC | EC | Std |
| 5.7 Liter Diesel V8 (C) | LF9 | 350 | NA | EC | Std |
| Produced by GM |
|---|
| (A) Chevrolet Motor Division |
| (B) Chevrolet Motor Division and GM of Canada |
| (C) Oldsmobile Motor Division |
| (D) Buick Motor Division |
| Std-Standard, NA-Not Available, EC-Available at Extra Cost |
EXTERIOR COLORS
| EXTERIOR COLOR | INTERIOR COLORS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beige | Black | Blue+ | Camel | Claret | Green+ | |
| Black | Black | Blue | Camel | Claret | Green | Oyster |
| Dark Blue Metallic | Black | Blue | Camel | Oyster | ||
| Light Blue Metallic | Black | Blue | Oyster | |||
| Cinnabar | Black | Camel+ | Oyster | |||
| Light Camel Metallic | Black | Camel | ||||
| Medium Camel Metallic | Black | Camel | Oyster+ | |||
| Claret Metallic | Black | Claret | Oyster | |||
| Dark Claret Metallic | Black | Camel | Claret | Oyster | ||
| Gray | Black | Blue | Camel | Claret | Oyster | |
| Dark Green Metallic | Black | Camel | Green | Oyster | ||
| Silver | Black | Blue+ | Claret | Oyster | ||
| White | Black | Blue | Camel | Claret | Green | Oyster |
| Yellow | Black | Camel+ | Oyster+ |
CUSTOM TWO-TONE COLORS
| Black/Gray Int. Black Claret or Oyster | Black/Medium Gray Int. Black, Claret or Oyster | Black/Silver Int. Black, Claret or Oyster |
|---|---|---|
|
Dark Blue Metallic/Light Blue Metallic Int. Blue or Oyster | Light Blue Metallic/Medium Blue Metallic Int. Blue or Oyster | Light Camel Metallic/Beige Int. Camel |
| Light Camel Metallic/Medium Camel Metallic Int. Camel | Dark Claret Metallic/Claret Metallic Int. Camel, Claret or Oyster | Dark Claret Metallic/Gray Int. Claret or Oyster |
| Gray/Medium Gray Metallic Int. Black, Claret or Oyster |
INTERIOR COLORS - Caprice Classic Sedans/Coupes
| Standard Front Bench Seat | Cloth (Std) | Black | Blue | Camel | Claret | Green |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Front Bench Seat | Vinyl (Avail) | Blue | Camel | Claret | ||
| Available 50/50 Split Front Seat | Cloth (Std) | Black | Blue | Camel | Claret | |
| Available 50/50 Split Front Seat | Vinyl (Avail) | Blue | Camel | Claret | ||
| Available Special Custom Interior w/ 50/50 Split Front Seat | Special Custom Cloth | Blue | Camel | Claret | Oyster |
VINYL ROOF COLORS
| White | Gray | Black | Light Blue | Dark Green | Light Camel | Dark Claret |
|---|
TECHNICAL
|
Transmission Three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic standard on Caprice.
Automatice Gear Ratios |
|---|
| Steering/Supension/Body Same as 1976 - 1977 |
| Brakes Front Disk, Rear Drum |
| Ignition Electronic |
| Standard Final Drive Ratio Caprice V-6 - 2.73:1 Caprice V-8 - 2.41:1 Caprice Wagon - 2.56:1 |
|---|
| Fuel Tank Caprice - 25 gal. Wagon - 22 gal. |
Drivetrain Options
| Engines 267 cu. in. 2Bbl V-8 - $180 (Caprice) 305 cu. in. 4Bbl V-8 - $295 (Caprice)- $115 (Wagon) |
|---|
Transmission/Differential
| Sports Shifter - $73 |
|---|
| Performance Axle Ratio - $20 |
| Suspension - F40 H.D. Shoch Asorbers - $25 |
| F41 Sports Suspension - $45 |
| Inflatable Rear Shock Asorbers - $59 |
| Heavy-Duty Raidator (cooling)- $37 - $64 |
| Engine Block Heater - $16 (Wagon) |
| H.D. Alternator - $33 - $68 |
| The first digit ("1") indicates Chevrolet Division |
|---|
| Next is a letter identifying the Series (car line): N=Caprice Classic |
| Symbols 3-4 indicate Body Type: 47=Caprice 2-dr notchback hardtop coupe 35=4-dr station wagon |
|
Symbol five is the engine code: L=V8-350 4Bbl H=V8-305 4Bbl |
| Next is the code for the Model Year: A=1980 |
|
Symbol seven indicates Assembly Plant A=Lakewood, GA B=Baltimore C=South Gate, CA D=Doraville, GA J=Janesvill, WI K=Leeds, MO U=Lordstown, OH L=Van Nuys, CA N=Norwood, OH R=Arlington, TX S=St. Louis, MO T=Tarrytown, NY W=Willow Run, MI Y=Wilmington, DE Z=Freemont, CA 1=Oshawa, Ontario 6=Oklahoma City, OK |
| The final six digits are the sequential serial number. |
CAPRICE CONVENIENCE APPEARANCE OPTIONS
| Option Packages (prices) |
|---|
| Estate Equipment: Wagon - $280 |
| Value Appearence Group: |
| Bodyside & Wheel Opening Moldings |
COMFORT CONVENIENCE
| Four Season Air Conditioning - $647 |
|---|
| Comfortron Autotemp Air Condition - $738 |
| Rear Defogger, Forced Air: Coupe/Sedan - $61 |
| Rear Defogger, Electric - $109 |
| Cruise-Masterspeed Control - $118 |
| Tinted Glass - $90 |
| Comfortilt Steering Wheel - $83 |
| Power Door Locks - $95 - $135 |
| Six Way Power Driver's Seat - $179 |
| Power Windows - $149 - $221 |
| Power Trunk Release - $27 |
| Power Tailgate lock: Wagon - $43 |
| Digital Clock - $33 |
| Gauge Pkg - $58 |
| Intermittent Wipers - $42 |
LIGHTING, HORNS & MIRRORS
| High-Intensity Highbeam Headlamps - $27 |
|---|
| Corning Lamps - $50 |
| Aux. Lighting - $37 - $54 |
| Drivers Remote Mirror - $20 |
| Dual Remore Mirrors - $60 |
| Dual Sports Mirror Left Remote - $47 |
| Dual Remote Body Color Sports Mirror - $27 - $74 |
| Visor Vanity Mirror - $7 |
| Lighted Visor Mirror - $44 |
ENTERTAINMENT
| AM/FM Radio - $156 |
|---|
| AM Radio - $99 |
| AM/FM Stereo Radio - $195 (with digital clock) $358 - $384 |
| Stereo 8-Track Tape Player with AM Radio - $253 |
| With AM/FM Stereo Radio - $276 |
| Cassette Player with AM/FM Stereo - $289 |
| AM/FM/CB Radio and Power Antenna - $480 |
| AM/FM Stereo with CB and Power Antenna - $533 |
| Rear Speakers - $21 |
| Dual Front/Rear Speakers - $44 |
| Power Antenna - $52 |
| Windshield Antenna - $28 (inclu. with radio) |
EXTERIOR TRIM
| Power Sky Roof - $670 |
|---|
| Vinyl Roof - Coupe/Sedan - $155 |
| Roof Carrier - Wagon - $123 |
| Two-Tone Paint - $60 |
| Custom Two-Tone Paint - $128 |
| Pin Striping - $35 |
| Bodyside Moldings - $48 |
| Door Edge Guards - $15 - $22 |
| Bumper Rubber Strips Front/Rear - $60 |
| Bumper Guards - $56 |
INTERIOR TRIM/UPHOLSTERY
| Vinyl Bench Seat Coupe/Sedan - $29 |
|---|
| Cloth 50/50 Seat - $229 - $276 |
| Vinyl 50/50 Seat - $247 - $276 |
| Custom Cloth 50/50 Seat Coupe - $412, Sedan - $437 |
| Delux Load-Floor Carpet: Wagon - $80 |
| Delux Cargo Area Carpet: Wagon - $114 |
| Color-Keyed Mats - Front $15, Rear - $11 |
| Litter Container - $9 |
| Delux Trunk Trim - $49 |
WHEEL COVERS
| Full Wheel Covers - $47 |
|---|
| Sport Wheel Covers - $58 |
| Custom Covers - $78 |
| Wire Covers - $128 |
|
Coupe/Sedan Tires - P205/75R15 SBR WSW - $51 P215/75R15 SBR WSW - $82 P225/70R15 SBR WSW - $124 |
| Wagon Tires - P225/75R15/B SBR WSW - $55 |
| Puncture-Sealant Tires - $85 |
HISTORICAL FOOTNOTES
While auto sales fell overall, Chevrolet remained GM's top seller.
Full-size Chevrolet production fell by a whopping 66.3 percent.
