True Original Survivor! Collector Grade Corvette

The premier of General Motors' Motorama was held in 1949. Originally, the auto show was held in conjunction with the New York Auto Show to boost sales with displays of prototypes and concept cars, some of which would go on to become regular production cars that would do well and some that would remain as an unfinished idea. Of the concepts and prototypes that gained enough attention from the attendees of the show to warrant mass production, some would fizzle and fade away with changing times and some would become timeless, forever sought after gods of automotive history.

At the 1953 Motorama, GM displayed one such concept, alongside Buicks, Pontiacs, and Cadillacs, that quickly became known as Chevrolet's halo car - the Corvette. Whether or not GM knew it would at the time, the 1953 Corvette concept car shook the automotive industry.

It was the beginning of something truly special and worth celebrating and in 1969 Chevrolet began the tradition of limited runs of special editions of their halo car that would further secure its place in automotive history as a highly collectable car. Among the first of the special editions were the 1969 AstroVette that Chevy provided for the astronauts of the Apollo 12 mission, a 1978 25th Anniversary Edition and an Indy 500 Pace Car Replica in '78, and this striking 1982 Collector Edition Corvette.

As many know, 1982 was the last of the C3 Corvettes, and this 82 is a low-mileage beauty that is loaded with options and documentation. Forget about the garden-variety 82 Corvette's that most have become after many restorations and take a look at this 95% original piece that is just about ready for the field at Bloomington. If ever there was an 82 Corvette that was investment quality, this 100% matching numbers car might be it.

The car was purchased by its second owner on May 8, 1993, with 21,792 miles on the clock. Over the next 13 years, it has traveled only an additional 12,991 miles for a total of 34,173 original miles. It has spent the last 15 years in a private collection where it was treated to a complete climate controlled environment.

The body and paint on this special Corvette are absolutely original and untouched, with no damage ever. There are virtually no dings, no dents, no scratches and no blemishes except for some very slight stone chips on the lower molding of the car. The original Collector Edition paint is in outstanding condition! Every piece of trim on this Corvette is perfect and showroom new, including the tail lamp lenses, side marker lights, driver & passenger side mirrors. Every piece of chrome, including the top chrome and door handles, is like new. All glass in the Corvette is original factory glass, and is absolutely mint, with no scratches, hazing or pitting. Of course it is equipped with factory T-Tops, but they have never been removed from the car!

As evidenced by the broadcast sheet, this Corvette came equipped with the following options: power door locks, power driver and passenger seats, bucket seats, tilt/telescope wheel, 2.87 axle ratio, rear defroster, cruise control, aluminum wheels, P255/60R15WL tires, AM/FM cassette stereo radio, power antenna, dual rear speakers, T-tops with mirrored glass panels, and heavy duty cooling. Additional features include: power windows, air conditioning, power steering and power disc brakes.

The drivetrain in this Corvette is absolutely original and untouched. The engine compartment is like new and largely original, except for some minor maintenance repairs made throughout the years. A recent replacement of the power steering system was completed due to some leaks we observed during our driving and testing. Additional work included a complete replacement of all fluids, a new brake caliper, spark plugs, and the usual oil and filter change. Today it is 100% road worthy.

The original 350 V8 engine with "Cross Fire Injection" and rated at 200 HP is tucked under the hood. Also present is the 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission, which was standard equipment in these cars in 1982. Power gets to the ground via the original 2.87-geared rear axle. Mechanically, this Corvette is a brand new car, and the underside of the car is as clean as a whistle. Also present are the original 15" aluminum wheels, which are as new. In the trunk you'll find the original spare, which has never been used. Talk about a perfectly preserved time capsule!

The interior in the Corvette is absolutely gorgeous, from the two tone leather bucket seats and door panels, to the dash & instrument cluster. All gauges and controls operate perfectly, and there are no blemishes, tears, or rips present. This is truly a mint, original interior, and is visually stunning.

Documentation includes an original owner's manual, original sales contract, service agreement, warranty booklet, ETR sound system manual, maintenance schedule, consumer information guide, Goodyear tire warranty, transmission shift quadrant pamphlet, pre-delivery inspection checklist and the original broadcast sheet. And to top it off, all service records are included as well. Wow! If it came with this car when it was new, it's in the file today. There are also receipts for all the recent work done by Precious Metal Classic Car Sales.

If you are looking for a true INVESTMENT GRADE 1982 Collector Edition Corvette, this is the car you want: original, mint, documented and low mileage. The last few C3 Corvettes we've sold almost overnight for strong money, so don't wait to pull the trigger on this one, as it won't be around long! Contact tris@pmclassiccars.com today!