Vehicle Description
Corvette guys are some of the best old car hobbyists there are.
They love Chevy's plastic fantastic in all its forms, shapes, and
eras, and to join these guys all you need is a few bucks to buy
this Collectors' Edition 1982 'Vette. It grants you instant access
to all the big events and has some rarified status, particularly
with just 2,824 original miles on the clock.
The Collector 'Vettes are some of the most distinctive cars you can
own, and while some were downright wild (I'm looking at you, purple
C5 pace car), the final '82 editions were sophisticated and subtle,
the perfect car for the period. The disco era was in full swing and
the Corvette was the poster child, but that meant soft colors and
the fade graphics along the sides and on the hood, not in-your-face
brashness. Very nicely preserved, this car is wearing its original
paint and it looks fantastic, with a pleasing vintage shine and the
fiberglass bodywork underneath is unmolested. Correct pinstriping
that highlights the many dramatic curves of the C3 bodywork remains
firmly affixed to the paint underneath, the chin spoiler hasn't
been bashed on steep driveways, and it proudly wears those
'crossfire injection' emblems on the front fenders. It's not
perfect, but it's about as close as you'll ever find for a
Collector's Edition Corvette.
The matching interior is definitely a product of the period, but
those deeply sculpted bucket seats are still comfortable and
supportive. There's an inviting presence to the upholstery that's
in excellent condition, and if you take care of it, the leather
should last another 40 years. And if you don't mind adding the
mileage, you can slide behind the wheel of this one, power down the
windows, and head out without a second thought, and that's the
whole point of owning a Corvette. It's loaded with options
including factory A/C, power windows, locks, and mirrors, a tilt
column, and cruise control, so it doesn't feel particularly old
when you're behind the wheel. The A/C is working like it should and
the relatively rare (only 923 were ordered) AM/FM/8-track stereo
sounds decent, even today. The carpets and door panels are in great
order, too, and haven't fared too badly under the sun when the
T-tops were off.
Chevy's Cross-Fire fuel injection debuted in 1982 to mixed reviews,
but if you want a Collector's Edition, that's the only induction
system you get. It's distinctive with its double-wide air cleaner
housing and it definitely looks packed under the hood. As a small
block Chevy, it would have been insanely easy to modify it for more
power, but instead this one has been impeccably preserved and shows
zero deviations from stock. It starts easily with a great V8 bark
from the twin tailpipes and the engine's torque pulls the car
around with genuine gusto. An automatic transmission was the sole
choice in 1982, and it does a commendable job of keeping the engine
in the sweet spot, and for highway cruising, this is a great choice
because it just loafs along at high speeds thanks to 2.87 gears out
back. The underside is all original too, just the way true Corvette
enthusiasts like to see things, and those multi-spoke alloy wheels
are still some of the best-looking shoes ever fitted to a C3
Corvette.
An impressive way to get into a Corvette with a pedigree, this
Collectors' Edition gets a lot of things right without breaking the
bank. This is one of the lowest mileage examples you'll ever find,
and it won't last long. Call today!