COLLECTORS EDITION, ONLY 72K ORIGINAL MILES, SLIGHTLY UPGRADED W/ STOCK PARTS

As everyone knows, 982 was the end of C3 Corvette production, ut GM definitely sent it off with a bang. They built 6759 1982 Corvette Collector Edition coupes like this nicely preserved original, hich today are a nice piece of any collection of fiberglass and still a great way to enjoy a vintage 'Vette on a budget.In their usual unexciting way, M called the finish on the special edition Corvette "Silver Beige" which, suppose, ccurately describes the pewter-like hue. Not quite silver and not quite gold, t's one of those instantly-recognizable cars that you'll see far away at a car show and smile to yourself because it's so iconic. This one appears to be largely original, ncluding the paint, hich shows a few signs of age here and there, ut overall looks like it rolled through the decades without incident. Fit and finish are actually quite good, ispelling the myth that these cars were poorly made, nd the darker graphics on the lower doors and hood define some of the Corvette's most dramatic features. The hatchback profile, eep chin spoiler, nd ducktail end cap all add to the distinctive look that was uniquely Corvette. The subtle but well-executed interior is tastefully done, articularly for the era. Original seat covers on the adjustable buckets are showing some age and wear, ut we have a replacement set from a 20,000-mile donor that will look appropriate and offer a big improvement. Door panels with multiple shades of silver beige give it a racy look without being too loud about it and the neutral carpet makes it bright inside without being a pain to keep clean. In all, t's a very well-designed interior that suits GM's flagship just fine. The carpets are in great shape, he dash hasn't been baked by the sun (although there are one or two cracks that are inevitable on any vintage 'Vette), nd there's a trick wood-rimmed steering wheel that really looks elegant, nd the restored original wheel is included with the car. The gauges show crisp markings, he A/C is cold, nd it's loaded with options like power windows, ocks, eats, nd mirrors, tilt column, ear defrost, nd just about anything else GM could invent to include in the top-of-the-line Corvette. Mirrored T-tops mean that there was still an open-air experience with the Corvette, nd they seal up well. For entertainment, here's also a Sony AM/FM/CD stereo in the center stack that sounds great.The only engine in 1982 was the Cross Fire Injected 350 cubic inch V8, hich was torquey, owerful, nd surprisingly efficient thanks to a new 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission as standard equipment. Considering how easy these are to modify and how many Cross Fire cars have received carburetors over the years, t's nice to see one that's almost completely stock under the hood. The offset air cleaner gives it away, ut you'll be impressed by how clean everything is and how well-maintained all the vitals are. It starts quickly and easily, dles well, nd snaps through the gears with authority, aking for an entertaining V8 drive. The undercarriage is mostly original, gain with proper maintenance along the way so it still works like it should. Correct turbine alloys were standard on the Collectors' Edition, ith this one carrying 255/60/15 white-letter radials at all four corners.This is a distinctive, un-to-drive Corvette that's extremely affordable. Maybe GM got it right calling it a Collectors' Edition, ecause we never seem to be able to keep them in stock. Call today!