How do you tell 1976 corvette if its late?

A 1976 Corvette is considered a "late" model if it was built after the approximate mid-year production changeover. There's no precise date, as production ran continuously, but it's generally accepted that the cutoff for "early" vs. "late" is somewhere around August or September of 1976.

There's no single definitive visual indicator to distinguish a very early late-model from a very late early-model. The changes were gradual. However, these are clues to look for when determining if your '76 Corvette might be a late production example:

* VIN number: While not perfectly precise, later VIN numbers generally correlate to later production dates. You'll need a Corvette VIN decoder to interpret this.

* Build date (on the trim tag): The trim tag (located on the driver's side door jamb) shows the car's build date. This is the most reliable method. A build date in August, September, or October will confirm a late-production car.

* Minor detail changes: There might be subtle differences in parts or assemblies. These variations are unreliable on their own, as parts availability could have influenced assembly, even within the same month. However, some later cars might have features or components that earlier ones lacked. This would need careful comparison to known early and late-model parts lists.

In short, the build date on the trim tag is the most accurate way to determine if your 1976 Corvette is a late-production model. Cross-referencing with the VIN number can be helpful but isn't foolproof.