1980

• A complete fiberglass model of the next generation Corvette is completed. [79.49]
• American Custom Industries begins production on Duntov Turbo Corvettes. They start with new 1980 model Corvettes, modifying them with wide aerodynamic bodies, wide tires, new interior, and a range of turbocharging performance modifications. Phase I, I, and III models are produced, ranging from US$26,000 to US$65,000. A 4.0-psi boost turbocharger adds about 70-hp to the L48 engine. (A total of 31-86 are built and sold over three years.) [113.32] [126.49] [214.32] [343.64] [345.60]

February 2

• At the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida, the 18th Annual Daytona 24 Hour Pepsi Challenge race is held, round one of the IMSA GTO series.
  • Placing 12th in GTO class and 30th overall is the Philip Keirn #71 Corvette driven by Philip Keirn, Larry Trotter, and Ed Errington.
  • Finishing 10th in GTX class and 31st overall is the USA Racing #76 Corvette driven by Joe Chamberlain, John Chamberlain, and Richard Valentine.
  • Placing 20th in GTO class and 53rd overall is the Dale Kreider #75 Corvette driven by Dale Kreider, Billy Hagan, and Stephen Bond.
  • Finishing 22nd in GTO class and 58th overall is the Kal Showket #99 Corvette driven by Phil Currin.
  • Placing 24th in GTO class and 61st overall is the Don Yenko #16 Corvette driven by Kim Mason.
  [263] [423]

March 22

• At the Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida, the 28th Annual Coca-Cola 12 Hours of Sebring is held.
  • Finishing 13th in GTO class and 36th overall is the National Jets #99 Corvette driven by Russ Boy and Tom Hunt.
  • Finishing 16th in GTO class and 40th overall is the Bard Boand Racing #84 Corvette driven by Bard Boand, Robert Kivela, and Ray Irwin.
  • Finishing 19th in GTO class and 46th overall is the Joe Cotrone #40 Corvette driven by Joe Cotrone, Emory Donaldson, and Phil Currin.
  • Placing 26th in GTO class and 59th overall is the George Garcia #14 Corvette driven by George Garcia, Vic Shinn, and Daniel Vilarchao. The car is not running at the finish.
  • Placing 18th in GTX class and 63rd overall is the Shulnburg Scrap Metal #50 Corvette driven by R. V. Shulnberg, Michael Keyser, and Tim Morgan. The car is not running at the finish, due to engine failure.
  • Placing 20th in GTX class and 68th overall is the T & R Racing #0.2 Corvette driven by Tico Almeida, Rene Rodriguez, and Gabriel Riano. The car is not running at the finish, due to engine failure.
  • Placing 30th in GTO class and 70th overall is the Dynasales #48 Corvette driven by John Carusso. The car is not running at the finish.
  • Placing 34th in GTO class and 77th overall is the Tim Morgan #61 Corvette driven by Vince Muzzin. The car is not running at the finish, due to engine failure.
  [423]

(month unknown)

• A complete set of 120 issues of Corvette News magazine sells for US$2000. [315.36]

April

• Design work on the interior of the next-generation Corvette is completed. [86.49]

(month unknown)

• In Titusville, Florida, Eckler's Corvette Reunion is held, over two days. Nearly 3000 people and 800 Corvettes attend. [358.62]

May

• For the 1979 model Corvette, several former options are now made standard: air conditioning, tilt/telescopic steering, convenience group. [332.25]

May 26

• At the Lime Rock Park raceway in Lime Rock, Connecticut, the IMSA GT Challenge 90-minute race is held.
  • Finishing 4th in GTO class and 7th overall is the Dynasales #48 Corvette driven by John Carusso.
  • Finishing 6th in GTO class and 9th overall is the Lamber's Corvettes #72 Corvette driven by Murray Edwards.
  • Placing 6th in GTX class and 16th overall is the #27 Corvette driven by Rich Sloma.
  • Placing 7th in GTX class and 17th overall is the USA Racing #68 Corvette driven by Richard Valentine.
  • Placing 11th in GTO class and 18th overall is the #99 Corvette driven by Phil Currin.
  [320.16] [423] [591.136]

June 1

• Corvette production is reduced from 120 hours per week to 90. [326.40]
• At the Hallett Motor Racing Circuit in Hallett, Oklahoma, the CRC Chemicals Trans-Am Championship - Round 1 race is held.
  • Finishing 3rd is the Atlas Van Lines #60 Corvette, driven by John Brandt, Jr.
  • Finishing 6th is the Herb Forrest Racing #88 Corvette, driven by Herb Forrest.
  • Finishing 7th is the Fick Grinding #83 Corvette, driven by Warren Fairbanks.
  • Finishing 9th is the Buist/Syfert #46 Corvette, driven by Jack Broomall.
  • Finishing 11th is the El Camino Auto Parts #12 Corvette, driven by Bob Matkovich.
  • Finishing 12th is the #55 Corvette, driven by Bob Kerns.
  • Finishing 13th is the #80 Corvette, driven by John Tully.
  • Finishing 14th is the #22 Corvette, driven by Bernie Sunier.
  • Finishing 18th is the #50 Corvette, driven by Robert Hampe.
  • Finishing 20th is the Wava Racing #49 Corvette, driven by Brian Utt.
  • In 22nd place, but not finishing the race, is the #47 Corvette, driven by Jack Hodgkinson.
  • In 25th place, but not finishing the race, is the Tephguard #5 Corvette, driven by Andy Porterfield.
  • In 27th place, but not finishing the race, is the Moly Slip #93 Corvette, driven by Michael Oleyar.
  • In 31st place, but not finishing the race, is the Maple Leaf Racing #11 Corvette, driven by Grant Robinson.
  • In 34th place, but not finishing the race, is the #34 Corvette, driven by Jim Sanborn.
  [248] [363.27] [423] [592.124]

June 15

• At the Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon, the CRC Chemicals Trans-Am Championship - Round 2 race is held.
  • Finishing 5th is the FEMSA #91 Corvette, driven by Gene Bothello.
  • Finishing 6th is the B.C. Auto Body #41 Corvette, driven by Bill Craine.
  • Finishing 8th is the Phantom Racing #43 Corvette, driven by Frank Joyce.
  • Finishing 10th is the Rick Stark Enterprises #17 Corvette, driven by Rick Stark.
  • Finishing 13th is the Russett Diesel Service #96 Corvette, driven by Ross Hansel.
  • Finishing 14th is the #72 Corvette, driven by Dan Pearson.
  • In 19th place, but not finishing the race, is the #83 Corvette, driven by Earl Pearson.
  • In 21st place, but not finishing the race, is the Maple Leaf Racing #69 Corvette, driven by Gary Pullyblank.
  • In 22nd place, but not finishing the race, is the El Camino Auto Parts #12 Corvette, driven by Bob Matkovich.
  • In 24th place, but not finishing the race, is the Atlas Van Lines #60 Corvette, driven by John Brandt, Jr.
  • In 26th place, but not finishing the race, is the Maple Leaf Racing #11 Corvette, driven by Grant Robinson.
  • In 27th place, but not finishing the race, is the Little Foreign Car Shop #93 Corvette, driven by Michael Oleyar.
  • In 28th place, but not finishing the race, is the #4 Corvette, driven by Gary Carlen.
  • In 29th place, but not finishing the race, is the Tephguard #5 Corvette, driven by Andy Porterfield.
  [248]

June

• The Corvette Group shows a prototype 1983 Corvette to a select group of Corvette enthusiasts to elicit feedback on styling. [320.14]

(month unknown)

• Richard Buxbaum sells Corvette Grand Sport 001 to Jerome Shinkay of Illinois. [211.48]
• K-Mart releases the 255 Computer Command toy, which is a 1980 model Corvette powered by five batteries, with 16-key keypad under the hood controlling movement and sounds. [628.23]
• Chevrolet's Vince Piggins' advance design engineering group creates the Turbo Vette 3, based on a 1981 Corvette, with turbocharged aluminum engine and throttle-body fuel injection. [117.37]
• Mike Pillsbury buys a 1960 Corvette from a wrecking yard for US$300. It turns out to be one of the Briggs-Cunningham Corvettes raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1960. [205.106] (mid-1980s [526.59]) Pillsbury, Mike

July 4

• At the Circuito di Monza raceway in Italy, the Swiss Corvette Club International holds the fourth Vette-Euro-Meet 80, over three days. [332.16] [353.48] [573.45]

July 6

• At the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Circuit in Watkins Glen, New York, the Watkins Glen Six Hour / CRC Chemicals Trans-Am Championship - Round 3 race is held.
  • Finishing 2nd in Trans-Am class and 15th overall is the Aquilante-Wolpert #11 1967 Corvette roadster, driven by Thomas Aquilante, David Wolpert, and Wade White.
  • Finishing 4th in Trans-Am class and 17th overall is the Keirn Garage #81 Corvette, driven by Philip Keirn, Ed Enington, and Dennis Cubby.
  • In 6th place in Trans-Am class and 20th place overall, but not finishing the race, is the Forrest-Leifheit #83 Corvette, driven by Herb Forrest and Craig Leifheit.
  • Finishing 7th in Trans-Am class and 21st overall is the Little Foreign Car Shop #93 Corvette roadster, driven by Michael Oleyar and Bill Craine.
  • Finishing 8th in Trans-Am class and 22nd overall is the Rynone Industries #18 Corvette, driven by David Kicak and Tom Eastham.
  • Finishing 10th in Trans-Am class and 25th overall is the Auto Barn #64 Corvette, driven by Robert Baechle and David Laughlin.
  • In 14th place in Trans-Am class and 31st place overall, but not finishing the race, is the Buist/Syfert #46 Corvette, driven by Jack Broomall and Catherine Kizer.
  • In 16th place in Trans-Am class and 35th place overall, but not finishing the race, is the Atlas Van Lines #60 Corvette, driven by John Brandt.
  [248] [573.30] (July 6 [423] [593.100])

July

• Late in 1979 model production, the speedometer is changed to one limited to 85-MPH. [339.68]

July 19

• At the Road America raceway in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, the CRC Chemicals Trans-Am Championship - Round 4 race is held.
  • Finishing 5th is the Full Time Racing #99 Corvette, driven by Phil Currin.
  • Finishing 6th is the FEMSA #91 Corvette, driven by Gene Bothello.
  • Finishing 7th is the #82 Corvette, driven by Herb Forrest.
  • Finishing 8th is the #35 Corvette, driven by Bob Kerns.
  • Finishing 9th is the Vettemotion #3 Corvette, driven by Vernon Brown.
  • Finishing 13th is the #17 Corvette, driven by Rick Stark.
  • Finishing 14th is the Flying Tiger #32 Corvette, driven by Bard Boand.
  • Finishing 15th is the Tephguard #5 Corvette, driven by Andy Porterfield.
  • Finishing 19th is the Morenci Rubber Products #46 Corvette, driven by Jack Broomall.
  • Finishing 20th is the #71 Corvette, driven by Bruce Ott.
  • Finishing 21st is the Maple Leaf #69 Corvette, driven by Gary Pullyblank.
  • Finishing 22nd is the A.O. Fick Rotary Grinding #83 Corvette, driven by Warren Fairbanks.
  • Finishing 24th is the Custom Corvette Center #47 Corvette, driven by Jack Hodgkinson.
  • Finishing 25th is the #73 Corvette, driven by Edward Domas, Jr.
  • Finishing 27th is the Rocky Mountain Performance #00 Corvette, driven by Bob Raub.
  • Finishing 28th is the #84 Corvette, driven by Paul Musschoot.
  • Finishing 29th is the D.M.T. Enterprises #96 Corvette, driven by Howard Nardick.
  • In 34th place, but not finishing the race, is the Apex Race Engineering #76 Corvette, driven by Paul DePirro.
  • Finishing 35th is the Auto Concepts #28 Corvette, driven by Ray Irwin.
  • In 36th place, but not finishing the race, is the Pickett Racing #6 Corvette, driven by Greg Pickett.
  • In 38th place, but not finishing the race, is the #44 Corvette, driven by Jerry Hansen.
  • In 39th place, but not finishing the race, is the Ray's Corvettes #22 Corvette, driven by Bernie Sunier.
  • In 43rd place, but not finishing the race, is the #34 Corvette, driven by Gerry Gienger.
  • In 44th place, but not finishing the race, is the B.C. Auto Body #41 Corvette, driven by Bill Craine.
  [248] [593.100]

August 10

• At the Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, the CRC Chemicals Trans-Am Championship - Round 5 race is held.
  • Finishing 2nd is the Pickett Racing #6 Corvette, driven by Greg Pickett.
  • Finishing 3rd is the Tephguard/Harry Mann #5 Corvette, driven by Andy Porterfield.
  • Finishing 4th is the Jepsen Moving & Storage #60 Corvette, driven by John Brandt.
  • Finishing 5th is the #99 Corvette, driven by Phil Currin.
  • In 8th place, but not finishing the race, is the Apex Race Engineering #76 Corvette, driven by Paul DePirro.
  • Finishing 10th is the #93 Corvette, driven by Michael Oleyar.
  • Finishing 12th is the Clausie Racing #91 Corvette, driven by Steve Clausman.
  • Finishing 16th is the Flying Tiger #32 Corvette, driven by Bard Boand.
  • Finishing 20th is the Maple Leaf #69 Corvette, driven by Gary Pullyblank.
  • Finishing 21st is the Rick Stark Enterprises #17 Corvette, driven by Rick Stark.
  • Finishing 22nd is the Jay Kline Chevrolet #7 Corvette, driven by Steve Kline.
  • In 23rd place, but not finishing the race, is the Forrest Racing #83 Corvette, driven by Herb Forrest.
  • In 24th place, but not finishing the race, is the #41 Corvette, driven by Bill Craine.
  • In 26th place, but not finishing the race, is the LSI Special #44 Corvette, driven by Jerry Hansen.
  • In 27th place, but not finishing the race, is the Morgans Garage #61 Corvette, driven by Marcus Opie.
  • In 28th place, but not finishing the race, is the #8 Corvette convertible, driven by Nick Engels.
  • In 29th place, but not finishing the race, is the Corvette America #80 Corvette, driven by Kerry Hitt.
  • In 31st place, but not finishing the race, is the Buist/Syfert #46 Corvette, driven by Jack Broomall.
  • In 32nd place, but not finishing the race, is the #35 Corvette, driven by Larry Gross.
  • In 34th place, but not finishing the race, is the Telesystems/Lancer Stores #88 Corvette, driven by Tuck Thomas.
  [248] [594.94]

August

• Production of 1980 Corvettes ends. [148.74]
• Production of 1981 Corvettes begins. [148.76]

August 23

• At the Grand Prix Molson Trois-Rivieres, in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, the CRC Chemicals Trans-Am Championship - Round 6 race is held.
  • Finishing 2nd is the Pickett Racing #6 Corvette, driven by Greg Pickett.
  • Finishing 3rd is the Jepsen/Atlas #60 Corvette, driven by John Brandt, Jr.
  • Finishing 4th is the #8 Corvette, driven by Nick Engels.
  • In 8th place, but not finishing the race, is the Rynone #90 Corvette, driven by Michael Wiernicki.
  • Finishing 9th is the Auto Barn #64 Corvette, driven by Robert Baechle.
  • In 13th place, but not finishing the race, is the Little Foreign Car Shop #93 Corvette, driven by Michael Oleyar.
  • In 16th place, but not finishing the race, is the #83 Corvette, driven by Warren Fairbanks.
  • In 17th place, but not finishing the race, is the Lamberts #72 Corvette, driven by Murray Edwards.
  • In 19th place, but not finishing the race, is the #50 Corvette, driven by Robert Hampe.
  • In 21st place, but not finishing the race, is the Maple Leaf #69 Corvette, driven by Gary Pullyblank.
  • In 22nd place, but not finishing the race, is the Telesystems/Lancer Stores #88 Corvette, driven by Tuck Thomas.
  • In 25th place, but not finishing the race, is the Western Ave. Auto Parts #77 Corvette, driven by Charles West.
  • In 26th place, but not finishing the race, is the Corvette America #80 Corvette, driven by Kerry Hitt.
  [248] [594.94]

(month unknown)

• Matchbox Models releases the #62 Chevrolet Corvette toy car, in the SuperFast series. The Corvette is a 1974-77 style T-Top. [313.40]
• At the Bonneville Speed Week on the Utah Salt Flats, Duane McKinney's 1968 Corvette takes AA/GT Class with a record 240.728 mph, with a dual-turbocharged 430-ci big-block engine. This speed makes it the world's fastest stock-bodied car. [129.101]

September 7

• At the Westwood Motorsports Pack, Coquitlam, British Columbia, the CRC Chemicals Trans-Am Championship - Round 7 race is held.
  • Finishing 3rd is the Tephguard/Harry Mann #5 Corvette, driven by Andy Porterfield.
  • Finishing 4th is the El Camino Auto Parts #12 Corvette, driven by Bob Matkovich.
  • Finishing 5th is the Rick Stark Enterprises #17 Corvette, driven by Rick Stark.
  • Finishing 6th is the B.C. Auto Body #41 Corvette, driven by Bill Craine.
  • Finishing 7th is the #71 Corvette, driven by Jeff Weymouth.
  • Finishing 8th is the Maple Leaf #69 Corvette, driven by Gary Pullyblank.
  • Finishing 9th is the Forrest Racing #83 Corvette, driven by Herb Forrest.
  • Finishing 14th is the Little Foreign Car Shop #93 Corvette, driven by Mike Oleyar.
  • In 19th place, but not finishing the race, is the #8 Corvette, driven by Nick Engels.
  [248]

September 13

• In Columbus, Ohio, the Bob McDorman Chevrolet 1980 Concours VII show is held, over two days. About 20,000 people attend. [326.60]

September 25

• Chevrolet introduces the 1981 model Corvette. [453.115] [719.29]

October 19

• At the Laguna Seca Raceway in Laguna Seca, California, the CRC Chemicals Trans-Am Championship - Round 8 race is held.
  • Finishing 1st is the Pickett Racing #6 Corvette, driven by Greg Pickett.
  • Finishing 5th is the Jepsen/Corvette America #60 Corvette, driven by John Brandt.
  • Finishing 6th is the Rick Stark Enterprises #17 Corvette, driven by Rick Stark.
  • Finishing 7th is the Phantom Racing #43 Corvette, driven by Frank Joyce.
  • Finishing 9th is the Herb Forrest Racing #83 Corvette, driven by Herb Forrest.
  • Finishing 19th is the Little Foreign Car Shop #93 Corvette, driven by Michael Oleyar.
  • Finishing 20th is the Round Table Racing #14 Corvette, driven by Peter Brallier.
  • Finishing 22nd is the F.E.M.S.A./C.C.G. #39 Corvette, driven by Richard Colombo.
  • In 23rd place, but not finishing the race, is the Full-Time Racing #99 Corvette, driven by Phil Currin.
  • In 24th place, but not finishing the race, is the Flowtech Racing #37 Corvette, driven by Lew Larimer.
  • In 25th place, but not finishing the race, is the El Camino Auto Parts #12 Corvette, driven by Bob Matkovich.
  • In 28th place, but not finishing the race, is the Tele Systems/Lancer Stores #88 Corvette, driven by Tuck Thomas.
  • In 29th place, but not finishing the race, is the B.C. Auto Body #41 Corvette, driven by Bill Craine.
  • In 30th place, but not finishing the race, is the Russett Diesel Service #96 Corvette, driven by Ross Hansel.
  • In 31st place, but not finishing the race, is the Maple Leaf Racing #69 Corvette, driven by Gary Pullyblank.
  • In 32nd place, but not finishing the race, is the FEMSA/Clausie Racing #91 Corvette, driven by Steve Clausman.
  • In 36th place, but not finishing the race, is the Jim Plescher #33 Corvette, driven by Mike Meek.
  • In 37th place, but not finishing the race, is the Metal Craft Racing #23 Corvette, driven by Bob Zulkowski.
  • In 38th place, but not finishing the race, is the Peter G. Shutts #19 Corvette, driven by Peter Shutts.
  • In 39th place, but not finishing the race, is the Ron Haccario #67 Corvette, driven by Ron Haccario.
  • In 41st place, but not finishing the race, is the Engels Racing #8 Corvette, driven by Nick Engels.
  [248] [353.38]

October 20

• At the Road Atlanta raceway in Braselton, Georgia, the Champion Spark Plug Road Racing Classic final races of the SCCA Club Racing series are held, over seven days. Finishing 1st in B Production class is Jerry Hansen, driving a Corvette. This is Corvette's tenth class win in the last twelve years. The class is discontinued after this year. [394.4,13] [631.99]

October 25

• At the Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California, the CRC Chemicals Trans-Am Championship - Round 9 race is held.
  • Finishing 1st is the Pickett Racing #6 Corvette, driven by Greg Pickett.
  • Finishing 4th is the Telesystems/Lancer Stores #88 Corvette, driven by Tuck Thomas.
  • Finishing 8th is the El Camino Auto Parts #12 Corvette, driven by Bob Matkovich.
  • Finishing 10th is the Stark Enterprises #17 Corvette, driven by Rick Stark.
  • Finishing 12th is the Full-Time Racing #99 Corvette, driven by Phil Currin.
  • Finishing 13th is the Phantom Racing #43 Corvette, driven by Frank Joyce.
  • Finishing 17th is the FEMSA/CCG #39 Corvette, driven by Richard Colombo.
  • Finishing 21st is the B.C. Autobody #41 Corvette, driven by Bill Craine.
  • Finishing 22nd is the Round Table Racing #14 Corvette, driven by Peter Brallier.
  • Finishing 24th is the Engels Racing #8 Corvette, driven by Nick Engels.
  • In 27th place, but not finishing the race, is the Corvette America #60 1980 Corvette, driven by John Brandt, Jr.
  • In 28th place, but not finishing the race, is the Herb Forrest Racing #83 Corvette, driven by Herb Forrest.
  • In 29th place, but not finishing the race, is the Maple Leaf #69 Corvette, driven by Gary Pullyblank.
  • In 30th place, but not finishing the race, is the Little Foreign Car Shop #93 Corvette, driven by Michael Oleyar.
  [248]
• Points rankings of Corvette drivers at the end of the SCCA Trans-Am Championship series: 2nd Greg Pickett, 6th John Brandt, 9th Andy Porterfield, 10th Herb Forrest. [248] [363.37]

November 30

• Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Finale 250 Miles, IMSA GT Series (round 14), IMSA GTO (round 15).
  • Finishing ?th in GTO class and 18th overall is the #99 Corvette, driven by Phil Currin.
  • In ?th place in GTX class and 33rd place overall, but not finishing the race, is the #68 Corvette, driven by Richard Valentine and Bill Alsup.
  [423]