1982 CORVETTE

  • For the first time since 1955, no stick shift Corvettes were produced.
  • Every Corvette had a new type of four-speed automatic transmission with lockup function in every gear except first.
  • Under the hood was a new kind of 350-cid V-8 with Cross-Fire fuel injection.
  • Twin throttle-body injectors with computerized metering helped boost horsepower to 200 (10 more than in 1981) and cut emissions at the same time.
  • This was the first fuel-injected Corvette in nearly two decades.
  • It had a much different type of fuel-injection system since mini-computerization had arrived.
  • In the gas tank was a new electric fuel pump.
  • Externally, the final version of the "big" (Stingray-style) Corvette changed little, but the Collector Edition model displayed quite a few special features, highlighted by a frameless glass lift-up hatch in place of the customary fixed backlight.
  • Its unique Silver-Beige metallic paint was accented by pin stripes and a "fading shadow" treatment on hood, fenders and doors ... plus distinctive cloisonne emblems.
  • Special finned wheels were similar to the cast-aluminum wheels that dated back to 1967.
  • The Collector Edition's removable glass roof panels had special bronze coloring and solar screening.
  • The model's crossed-flags emblems read "Corvette Collector Edition" around the rim.
  • Inside was a matching Silver-Beige metallic interior with multi-tone leather seats and door trim.
  • Even the Collector Edition's hand-sewn leather-wrapped steering wheel kept the theme color and its leather-covered horn button had a cloisonne emblem.
  • The tires were P255/60R-15 Goodyear SBR WLT Eagle GT
  • Standard equipment for other Corvettes included
    • power brakes and steering
    • P225/70R-15/B SBR tires on steel wheels with center hub and trim rings
    • cornering lamps
    • front fender louvers
    • halogen high-beam retractable headlamps
    • dual remote sport mirrors
    • tinted glass
  • The body-color front bumper had a built-in air dam.
  • Also standard
    • Luggage security shade
    • air conditioning
    • push-button AM/FM radio
    • concealed wipers
    • power windows
    • time-delay dome/courtesy lamps
    • headlamp-on reminder
    • a lighted visor vanity mirror
    • a leather wrapped tilt/telescoping steering wheel
    • a 7,000-rpm tachometer
    • an analog clock with sweep second hand
    • a day/night mirror
    • a lighter
    • a trip odometer
  • Bucket seats could be trimmed in all-cloth or leather options
  • Standard body colors were
    • White
    • Silver
    • Black
    • Silver Blue
    • Dark Blue
    • Bright Blue
    • Charcoal
    • Silver Green
    • Gold
    • Silver Beige
    • Red
    • Dark Claret
  • Four two-tones were available
    • White and Silver
    • Silver and Charcoal
    • Silver and Dark Claret
    • Silver Blue and Dark Blue
  • Interiors came in Charcoal; Camel; Dark Blue; Dark Red; Silver Beige; Silver Green; and Silver Gray.

I.D. NUMBERS

  • The serial number [Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN] was stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.
  • The Bowling Green Assembly Plant Serial numbers ranged from 1G1AY87*6C5100001 to 1G1AY87*6C512408
    PositionCharacterDescription
    11US built
    2GGeneral Motors product
    31Chevrolet Motor Division vehicle
    4AType of non-passive passenger restraint system
    5YCorvette car line series
    6 & 787Body style number: two-door plainback special coupe
    07Collector Edition two-door hatchback coupe
    885.7-liter Cross-Fire Injection (CFI) Chevrolet V8
    9?A check digit that calculates the characters in the serial number and gives it a single digit code and can be used to verify that the serial number is legitimate
    10CThe model year where C = 1982
    115Bowling Green, KY
    12-17100001 and upproduction sequence
  • Engine serial number began 0001001
  • Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block just ahead of the cylinder head on the right-hand side combined with a three-letter engine code suffix
  • Also cast into the top rear of the block is a four-symbol code indicating when the engine was built
    • The first letter of the date code shows the month the block was cast
    • The one or two numbers shows the month
    • The last digit shows the year
  • Engine suffixes:
    CodeEngineHorsepowerCompressionTransmissionFuel SupplyEmission Control System
    ZBAL83 350-cid200-hp V-89.0:1automaticcross-fire fuel injection 
    ZBCEarly production L83 350-cid200-hp V-89.0:1automaticcross-fire fuel injectionCalifornia
    ZBNL83 350-cid200-hp V-89.0:1automaticcross-fire fuel injectionCalifornia
  • The 1982 Corvette exterior colors were:
    • 10 = White
    • 13 = Silver
    • 19 = Black
    • 24 = Silver Blue
    • 26 = Dark Blue
    • 31 = Bright Blue
    • 39 = Charcoal
    • 40 = Silver Green
    • 56 = Gold
    • 59 = Silver Beige
    • 70 = Red
    • 99 = Dark Claret
    • 10/13 = White and Silver
    • 13/39 = Silver and Charcoal
    • 13/99 = Silver and Dark Claret
    • 24/26 = Silver Blue and Dark Blue
  • Upholstery Codes
    ColorCloth & Leather UpholsteryLeather Upholstery
    Dark Blue29C222
    Camel64C642
    Dark Red74C742
    Silver Gray 132
    Charcoal 182
    Silver Green 402

IDENTIFICATION

ModelModel No.Body/Style No.Body TypeFactory PriceShipping WeightProduction Total
Corvette1YY87
2-dr. Coupe - 2 passenger
$18,290321318,648
Collector Edition1YY07
2-dr. Hatch Coupe - 2 passenger
$22,53832226,759

ENGINE

FeatureStandard Engine (RPO L83)
TypeV-8, 90-degree Overhead valve
BlockCast iron block
Displacement350 cid (5.7 liters)
Bore & Stroke4.00" x 3.48"
Compression ratio9.0:1
Brake horsepower200 @ 4200
Torque285 lb-ft @ 2800
Main bearingfive
Valve liftershydraulic
Fuel supplyCross-fire fuel injection (twin TBI - throttle body injection)

TRANSMISSION

Automatic Transmission
  • Four-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic (TMH 700-R4)
  • floor-mounted gear shifter
  • gear ratios
    • 1st = 3.06:1
    • 2nd = 1.63:1
    • 3rd = 1.00:1
    • 4th = 0.70:1
    • Rev = 2.29:1
  • Final drive ratio: 2.72:1 (except 2.87:1 with aluminum wheels)

CHASSIS

FeatureCoupe
Wheelbase98 inches (2.489 m)
Overall length185.3 inches (4.704 m)
Overall width69.0 inches (1.753 m)
Overall height48.4 inches (1.219 m)
Ground Clearance4.5 inches (11.4 cm)
Front tread58.7 inches (1.491 m)
Rear tread59.5 inches (1.511 m)
Wheel size15 x 8 inches
Tires (Base Corvette)P225/70R-15 SBR (steel-belted radial)
Tires (Collector Corvette)P225/60R-15 SBR (steel-belted radial)
Positractionstandard
Steeringrecirculating ball (power assisted)
Front suspensionUpper/lower A-arms, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Rear suspensionFully independent with half-shafts, lateral struts, control arms, and transverse leaf springs
BrakesHydraulic, vented four wheel discs; 11.75-inch diameter, single calipers
Ignitionelectronic
Body constructionSeparate fiberglass body and box-type ladder frame with cross-members
Fuel tank24 US Gal (20 Imp Gal) (91 liters)

OPTIONS

RPO AU3Power door locks$155
RPO A42Power driver seat$197
RPO CC1Removable glass roof panels$443
RPO C49Rear window defogger$129
RPO DG7Electric sport mirrors$125
RPO D84Two-tone paint$428
RPO FE7Gymkhana suspension$61
RPO K35Cruise control$165
RPO N90Four aluminum wheels$458
RPO QGRP255/70R-15 Raised-white-letter steel-belted radial tires$80
RPO QXHP255/60R-15 Raised-white-letter steel-belted radial tires$542.52
RPO ULSRadio delete$124 credit
RPO UM4AM-FM electronic tuning stereo radio with 8-track tape system$386
RPO UM6AM-FM electronic tuning stereo radio with cassette$423
RPO UNSAM-FM electronic tuning stereo radio with cassette and CB system$755
RPO U58AM-FM stereo radio$101
RPO U75Power antenna$60
RPO V08Heavy-duty cooling$57
RPO V54Roof panel carrier$144
RPO YFSCalifornia emissions certification$46

HISTORICAL NOTES


  • Introduced: December 12,1981.
  • Model-year production: 25,407.
  • Calendar-year production: 22,838.
  • Model-year sales by U.S. dealers: 22,086.
  • All Corvettes now came from the factory at Bowling Green, Kentucky.
  • Production fell dramatically this year, reaching the lowest total since 1967.
  • The 1982 model was the last Corvette to employ the same basic body introduced in 1968.
  • Its chassis dated back to even five years before that.
  • No doubt, some buyers preferred to wait for the next generation to arrive.
  • Still, this was the end of the big 'Vette era: "An enthusiast's kind of Corvette. A most civilized one," according to the factory catalog.
  • Road & Track called it "truly the last of its series," though one with an all-new drive train.
  • The Collector Edition earned the dubious distinction of being the first Corvette to cost more than $20,000.
  • The Collector Edition was built to order, rather than according to a predetermined schedule.
  • It carried a special VIN code with a "0" in the sixth position (Body Code 07), but did not have a separate serial number sequence.
  • The special VIN plates were used to prevent swindlers from turning an ordinary Corvette into a special edition (which had happened all too often with 1978 Indy Pace Car replicas).

1982 CORVETTE PHOTOS


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