1978 was a banner year for Corvette. David McLellan took over from Zora Arkus-Duntov three years earlier in 1975, and inherited an emasculated, heavy sports car that began gestation all the way back in the late-fifties.

Yup, the C3 shared mechanicals and running gear with the C2 that debuted in 1963, which probably hit the drawing board in ’59 or ’60.

It took McLellan several model years to get his improvements through and when the new for 1978 hit the market, it created quite a sensation. The most obvious change was a midyear-esque glass backlight, a revised interior and many tweaks to the ancient chassis and motors.

Some dealers were getting twice MSRP for the white hot Indy Pace Car Corvette in 1978.

Amy Carter all grown up.

Corvette turned 25 in 1978 and although all 1978 Corvettes were Silver Anniversary models, a new optional two-tone paint schemes as well as a commemorative Indy Pace Car model really pushed Corvette fans to the brink of orgasm. The Pace Car in particular was controversial as speculators and dealers drove the price up to almost double MSRP.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Carter was president, daughter Amy Carter was the first kid in the White House in years, disco was raging and America was in the middle of the “Energy Crisis.”

And from across the pond, a multi-racial band from the UK named Hot Chocolate was topping the US charts.

Created in 1968, Hot Chocolate originally consisted of vocalist Errol Brown, guitar player Franklyn De Allie, drummer Jim King (shortly thereafter replaced Ian King, no relation), percussionist Patrick Olive, and bassist Tony Wilson; with keyboardist Larry Ferguson coming on board the following year.

The band was originally named “Hot Chocolate Band” by Mavis Smith, who worked for Apple Corps, the Beatles record label. This was then shortened to “The Hot Chocolate” and then to “Hot Chocolate” by Mickie Most.

By 1970 the band’s line-up had changed again to include Harvey Hinsley and Tony Connor (who was also a member of Audience at the time) replacing De Allie and King respectively.

Hot Chocolate was first noticed with a reggae version of John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance.” They were contacted by Apple Records and discovered that Lennon liked his version, and the group was subsequently signed to the label. The link was short-lived as the Beatles were starting to implode and consequently, the Apple connection soon ended.

Later in 1970s, Hot Chocolate, with the help of record producer Mickie Most, began releasing tracks that became hits, such as “You Sexy Thing” and of course the infectious “Every 1’s a Winner” that we highlight here.

Sadly lead singer Errol Brown passed away from liver cancer not too long ago.

So in memory of Errol and the C3 Mako Shark, bluetooth your phone or hit play on the YouTube link here…

Either way, TURN IT UP.