This was a primary carryover year, with some engine changes, horsepower boosts (and losses) and appearance restyles, but nothing drastic.
The 305 cu. in. V-8 managed to lose 15 horsepower, down to 130.
Full-size appearance changes for 1979 included front and rear refinements plus more subtle differences to
seperate them from the more costlier Caprice.
A new "ladder" style grille with wide, squat holes:
restiled park/signal lamps (inset in the bumper);narrow side marker lamps with horizontal dividers; and front fender end caps.
Otherwise, the two full-size models remained simular, available in the same body styles:
Sports Coupe
Landau Coupe
Four-Door Sedan
and Two or Three-Seat Wagon.
Caprice's new grille, with wide-hole crosshatch pattern,
was seperated into ten side-by-side segments by dominant
vertical bars. As before, the pattern repeated in slots before the bumper rub strip. Front fender extensions were reinforced fiberglass, molded continuously with the grille header for a full width, flowing appearance.
Front side marker lamps now had horizontal strip dividers. At the rear, Caprice had wider three-section taillamp clusters with a central Caprice crest.
Backup lenses sat below each taillamp cluster. Caprice rear side marker lamps were restyled, with horizontal grid detailing.
New paler body colors were offered this year, including:
Soft Blues, Greens and Browns.
Radios could have built-in tape players or CB Transceivers.
All full-size Chevrolets came with Automatic Transmission, Power Steering and Brakes, Freedom Battery, Front Stabilizer Bar, Heater/Defroster,Concealed Two-Speed Wipers, Carpeting, Inside Hood Release, Day/Night Mirror, Locking Glove Compartment,and FR78 x 15 Fiberglass-Belted Blackwall Radial Tires.
Coupes had Automatic Front Seatback Locks.
Caprice Classic added Dual Horns and Wheel Opening Moldings.
Caprice Classic Landau Coupe added
Twin Sports Mirrors (left remote-controlled), a Vinyl Roof, and Bodyside Pin Striping.
| Series Model - 1B |
|---|
| Body Style - N47 |
| Body Type & Seating - 2 Door Sports Coupe, 6 Pass. |
| Factory Price - $5,837 - $6,072 |
| Shipping Weight - 3535 - 3649 |
| Product Total - 36,629 |
| Series Model - 1B |
|---|
| Body Style - N47/Z03 |
| Body Type & Seating - 2 Door Landau Coupe, 6 Pass. |
| Factory Price - $6,234 - $6,469 |
| Shipping Weight - N/A |
| Product Total - 21,842 |
| Series Model - 1B |
|---|
| Body Style - N69 |
| Body Type & Seating - 4 Door Sedan, 6 Pass. |
| Factory Price - $5,962 - $6,197 |
| Shipping Weight - 3564 - 3675 |
| Product Total - 203,017 |
| Series Model - 1B |
|---|
| Body Style - N35 |
| Body Type & Seating - 4 Door Station Wagon, 6 Pass. |
| Factory Price - --- - $6,389 |
| Shipping Weight - --- - 4056 |
| Product Total - 23,568 |
| Series Model - 1B |
|---|
| Body Style - N35/AQ4 |
| Body Type & Seating - 4 Door 3S Wagon , 8 Pass. |
| Factory Price - --- - $6,544 |
| Shipping Weight - --- - 4088 |
| Product Total - 32,693 |
| Engine VIN Code - D |
|---|
| BASE SIX (Nova, Camaro, Impala, Caprice): Inline |
| OHV Six Cylinder |
| Cast Iron Block & Head |
| Displacement: 250 cu. in. (4.1 liter) |
| Bore & Stroke: 3.88 x 3.53 in |
| Compression Ratio: 8.0:1 |
| Brake Horsepower: 115 at 3800 R.P.M. |
| Torque: 200 lb.-ft. at 1600 R.P.M. |
| Seven Main Bearings |
| Hydraulic Valve Lifters |
| Carburator: 1Bbl |
| Rochester 1ME |
| Engine VIN Code - G |
|---|
| BASE V-8 (Impala/Caprice Wagon) OPTIONAL (Mazda, Nova, Camaro, Impala, Caprice): 90-degree, Overhead Valve V-8 |
| Cast Iron Block & Head |
| Displacement: 305 cu. in. (5.0 liter) |
| Bore & Stroke: 3.74 x 3.48 in |
| Compression Ratio: 8.4:1 |
| Brake Horsepower: 130 at 3200 R.P.M. |
| Torque: 245 lb.-ft. at 2000 R.P.M. |
| Five Main Bearings |
| Hydraulic Valve Lifters |
| Carburator: 2Bbl |
| Rochester M2MC |
| Engine VIN Code - L |
|---|
| OPTIONAL V-8 (Nova, Malibu Wagon, Impala, Caprice): 90-degree, Overhead Valve V-8 |
| Cast Iron Block & Head |
| Displacement: 350 cu. in.(5.7 liters) |
| Bore & Stroke: 4.00 x 3.48 in |
| Compression Ratio: 8.2:1 |
| Brake Horsepower 165 - 170 at 3800 R.P.M. |
| Torque: 260 - 270 lb.-ft. at 2400 R.P.M. |
| Five Main Bearings |
| Hydraulic Valve Lifters |
| Carburator: 4Bbl |
| Rochester M4MC |
| Oil Pressure @ 2000 rpm - 45 |
| Engine Mfg. - Chevrolet |
Chassis Data
| Wheelbase - 116.0 in |
|---|
| Overall Length - 212.1 in - (Wagon) 214.7 in |
| Height - (Coupe) 55.3 in, (Sedan) 56.0 in, (Wagon)58.0 in |
| Front Tread - (Caprice) 61.8 in, (Wagon) 62.2 in |
| Rear Tread - (Caprice) 60.8 in, (Wagon) 64.1 in |
| Standard Tires - (Caprice) FR78 X 15/B GBR, (Wagon) HR78 X 15B SBR |
TECHNICAL
| Transmission Three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic standard on Caprice. |
|---|
| Automatice Gear Ratios (Rev) 1.94:1 except standard Caprice (Caprice six) 2.73:1 (Caprice V-8) 2.56:1 |
| Steering/Supension/Body Same as 1976 - 1977 |
| Brakes Front Disk, Rear Drum |
| Ignition Electronic |
| Fuel Tank Caprice - 20.7 gal. Wagon - 22 gal. |
Drivetrain Options
| Engines 350 cu. in. 4Bbl (Coupe/Sedan) $300 (Wagon) $115 |
|---|
Transmission/Differential
| Positraction Axle Caprice - $58 |
|---|
Suspension
| F40 H.D. Suspension - $20 F41 Sports Suspension - $38 Superlift Rear Shock Asorbers - $50 Heavy-Duty Raidator - $40 H.D. Alternator (61 amps) - $31 |
|---|
| Engine all states except California | Ordering Code | Displacement Cubic Inches | Engine Availability Sedans & Coupes | Engine Availability Station Wagon | Automatic Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 Litre 1-Bbl L6 | L22 | 250 | STD | NA | STD |
| 5.0 Litre 2-Bbl V8 | LG3 | 305 | EC | STD | STD |
| 5.7 Litre 4-Bbl V8 | LM1 | 350 | EC | EC | STD |
| All States Except California - with high altitude equipment | |||||
| 5.7 Litre 4Bbl V8 | LM1 | 350 | EC | EC | STD |
| California Only - with California emission requirements | |||||
| 4.1 Litre 1-Bbl L6 | L22 | 250 | STD | NA | STD |
| 5.0 Litre 2-Bbl V8 | LG3 | 305 | EC | NA | STD |
| 5.7 Litre 4-Bbl V8 | LM1 | 350 | EC | EC | STD |
How To Read A VIN #
| 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: 9=1979 |
| 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 T=Tarrytown, NY W=Willow Run, MI X=Fairfax, KS Y=Wilmington, DE Z=Freemont, CA 1=Oshawa, Ontario 4=Scarborough, Canada |
| The final six digits are the sequential serial number. |
EXTERIOR COLORS
| EXTERIOR COLOR | INTERIOR COLORS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beige | Black | Camel | Carmine | Green | ||
| Black | Black | Blue | Camel | Carmine | Green | Oyster |
| Dark Blue Metallic | Black | Blue | Camel | Oyster | ||
| Light Blue Metallic | Black | Blue | Oyster | |||
| Pastel Blue | Black | Blue | Oyster | |||
| Dark Brown Metallic | Black | Camel | Oyster | |||
| Camel Metallic | Black | Camel | Oyster | |||
| Carmine Metallic | Black | Camel | Carmine | Oyster | ||
| Dark Carmine Metallic | Black | Camel | Carmine | Oyster | ||
| Light Green | Black | Camel | Green | |||
| Medium Green Metallic | Black | Camel | Green | |||
| Silver | Black | Carmine | Oyster | |||
| White | Black | Blue | Camel | Carmine | Green | Oyster |
| Light Yellow | Black | Camel | Oyster |
CUSTOM TWO TONE
| Ext-Beige/Camel* Int-Black or Camel | Ext-Black/Gray* Int-Black - Carmine or Oyster | Ext-Black/Silver+ Int-Black - Carmine or Oyster |
Ext-Dark Blue*/Silver+ Int-Blue or Oyster | Ext-Light Blue/Medium Blue* Int-Black - Blue or Oyster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ext-Dark Carmine*/Carmine* Int-Black - Camel - Carmine or Oyster | Ext-Dark Carmine*/Silver+ Int-Carmine or Oyster | Ext-Light Green/Medium Green* Int-Black or Green | Ext-Silver/Gray* Int-Black - Carmine or Oyster |
INTERIOR COLORS
| Caprice - Knit Cloth | Black | Blue | Carmine | Oyster | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | Blue | Camel | Carmine | Oyster | |
| 50/50 Split Front Seat Knit Cloth | Black | Blue | Camel | Carmine | Oyster |
| Vinyl | Blue | Camel | Carmine | Oyster | |
| Caprice Special Custom Interior Special Custom Cloth | Blue | Camel | Carmine | Oyster |
VINYL ROOF COLORS
| Black | Light Blue | Light Green | White | Beige | Dark Carmine | Silver |
|---|
CAPRICE CONVENIENCE APPEARANCE OPTIONS
| Option Packages (prices)
Estate Equipment: Wagon - $262 |
|---|
COMFORT CONVENIENCE
| Four Season Air Conditioning - $605 Comfortron Autotemp Air Condition - $688 Rear Defogger, Forced Air: Coupe/Sedan - $57 Rear Defogger, Electric - $101 Cruise-Masterspeed Control - $108 Tinted Glass - $84 Comfortilt Steering Wheel - $77 Power Door Locks - $88 - $122 Six Way Power Driver's Seat - $166 Power Windows - $122 - $205 Power Trunk Opener - $25 Power Tailgate lock: Wagon - $40 Electric Clock - $31 Gauge Pkg - $54 Intermittent Wipers - $39 |
|---|
LIGHTING, HORNS & MIRRORS
| Aux. Lighting - $35 - $50 Drivers Remote Mirror - $19 Dual Remore Mirrors - $56 Dual Sports Mirror Left Remote - $44 Dual Remote Body Color Sports Mirror - $69 Exc. Landau - $25 Visor Vanity Mirror - $6 Lighted Visor Mirror - $41 |
|---|
ENTERTAINMENT
| AM/FM Radio - $161 AM Radio - $87 AM/FM Stereo Radio - $236 Stereo Tape Player with AM Radio - $265 Cassette Player with AM/FM Stereo - $346 AM/FM/CB Radio and Power Antenna - $503 AM/FM Stereo with CB and Power Antenna - $578 Rear Speakers - $26 Dual Front Speakers - $22 Power Antenna - $48 Windshield Antenna - $28 (inclu. with radio) |
|---|
EXTERIOR TRIM
| Power Sky Roof - Coupe/Sedan - $625 Vinyl Roof -Coupe/Sedan - $145 Two-Tone Paint - $56 Custom Two-Tone Paint - $87 - $120 Pin Striping - $33 Color-Keyed Body Side Moldings - $44 Door Edge Guards - $14 - $21 Bumper Rubber Strips - $56 Bumper Guards - $52 |
|---|
INTERIOR TRIM/UPHOLSTERY
| Vinyl Bench Seat Coupe/Sedan - $27 Sports or Knit Cloth Bench Seat Wagon - $27 Vinyl 50/50 Seat - $240 - $257 Knit Cloth 50/50 Seat: Coupe/Sedan $240, Wagon - $267 Special Custom Cloth 50/50 Seat Coupe/Sedan - $397 Delux Load-Floor Carpet: Wagon - $75 Delux Cargo Area Carpet: Wagon - $107 Color-Keyed Mats - $24 Litter Container - $8 Color-Keyed Seatbelts - $24 - $27 Delux Trunk Trim - $46 |
|---|
WHEEL COVERS
| Full Wheel Covers - $44 Sport Wheel Covers - $54 Wire Wheel Covers - $120 Coupe/Sedan Tires - FR78 x 15/B GBR - $46 FR78 x 15 GBR WSW - $49 FR78 x 15 SBR BSW - $101 GR78 x 15 SBR WSW - $131 GR70 x 15 SBR WSW - $155 Wagon Tires HR78 x 15 SBR WSW - $55 |
|---|
