For Sale: 1982 Chevrolet Corvette in Clifton Park, New York

Vehicle Description

This 1982 Collector Edition Corvette was purchased new at Dutch Miller Chevrolet in Huntington, WV, by Mr. Call. Mr. Call had purchased this Corvette as an investment and drove the car around town and to local car shows.A family member would later purchase the Corvette from Mr. Call's widow and brought the car home to Upstate New York, where he also used the car sparingly, preserving the Corvette's originality. He would take the Corvette to a massive show once a year, put on by the local Corvette club in Sylvan Beach, NY, which attracted over 500 Corvettes. This Corvette went on to place in each of the last two years in the Top 30 Corvettes awarded.

To celebrate the departure of the third-generation Corvette, Chevrolet offered a final commemorative "Collector's Edition" model. Recalling their experience with the 1978 Pace Car replicas-namely, the number of bogus Pace Cars created by consumers who converted base-level coupes into Pace Car "clones"-Chevrolet decided that the 1982 Collector Edition Corvettes would be built only "as needed" to satisfy customer orders. Additionally, unique vehicle identification plates were affixed to further deter anyone from turning a standard car into a Collector's Edition knockoff.

For many enthusiasts and critics alike, the 1982 Collector Edition Corvette was considered the best C3 of them all. David McLellan stated that it was "a unique combination of color, equipment, and innovation (resulting in) one of the most comprehensive packages ever offered to the Corvette buyer."

The Collector Edition Corvette was the first to feature a rear-lifting glass hatchback, which has since become standard on all Corvettes built after 1982. (Image courtesy of GM Media.)

First and foremost, the 1982 Collector Edition Corvette introduced a frameless, lifting rear-glass hatchback-a Corvette first-in place of the customary fixed backlight, which had been standard on the C3 since its introduction in 1968.

The introduction of the rear hatch on the Collector Edition C3 was a definite precursor to the next-generation C4 Corvette. Aside from the glass hatch, the Collector Edition also featured many unique accouterments that set it apart from other 1982 Corvettes.

Outwardly, the car featured cloisonne emblems, including a special crossed-flag emblem on the hood that read "Corvette Collector Edition" around the rim. Additional emblems were located on the rear deck and steering wheel.

The car was finished in a special silver-beige metallic paint with graduated shadow-like contrast striping on the hood, fenders, and doors. It received special bronze-tinted glass T-tops and featured finned "turbine" alloy wheels like the ones first introduced on the 1963 split-window Stingray.

Inside, the Collector Edition featured silver-beige leather upholstery and door trim that matched the car's exterior paint. The steering wheel also received a matching hand-sewn leather wrap, including the horn cap.

High-end, color-matched luxury carpeting was installed in all Collector coupes. An optional radio was offered at a reduced price to consumers purchasing the Collector Edition package.

The 1982 Collector Edition Corvette Coupe carried a special VIN code, which could be used to uniquely identify a real car from a clone. This was represented by the number "0" in the sixth digit, though the Collector Edition Corvettes did not have a separate serial number sequence.

In addition to its unique VIN, the 1982 Collector Edition Corvette was the first Corvette to break the $20,000 price barrier. The new coupe, which listed at $22,537.59, was considerably more advanced-and more expensive-than a well-equipped 1968 coupe, which would have retailed for around $4,600. In total, Chevrolet sold 6,759 of the Collector Edition Corvettes.

Included with the sale of this Corvette are the original owner's manuals, original warranty book, original finance contract through GMAC, original title dated 6/24/83, an application for personalized plates, vehicle pre-delivery inspection report, and service records and receipts.

PLEASE NOTE: SALE PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE APPLICABLE SALES TAX, LICENSE, REGISTRATION FEES AND $499 SERVICE AND RECONDITION FEE

Vehicle Details

  • 1982 Chevrolet Corvette
  • Listing ID: CC-1899444
  • Price: Contact Seller
  • Location:Clifton Park, New York
  • Year:1982
  • Make:Chevrolet
  • Model:Corvette
  • Exterior Color:Silver Beige
  • Interior Color:Collector Edition Silver Beige
  • Transmission:Automatic
  • Odometer:16677
  • Stock Number:V-5123C
  • VIN:1G1AY0786C5123522
Listed By:
Verrillo Motor Car Co.
1926 US 9
Clifton Park, NY 12065

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