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
Position
Character
Description
1
1
US built
2
G
General Motors product
3
1
Chevrolet Motor Division vehicle
4
A
Type of non-passive passenger restraint system
5
Y
Corvette car line series
6 & 7
87
Body style number: two-door plainback special coupe
07
Collector Edition two-door hatchback coupe
8
8
5.7-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
10
C
The model year where C = 1982
11
5
Bowling Green, KY
12-17
100001 and up
production 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:
Code
Engine
Horsepower
Compression
Transmission
Fuel Supply
Emission Control System
ZBA
L83 350-cid
200-hp V-8
9.0:1
automatic
cross-fire fuel injection
ZBC
Early production L83 350-cid
200-hp V-8
9.0:1
automatic
cross-fire fuel injection
California
ZBN
L83 350-cid
200-hp V-8
9.0:1
automatic
cross-fire fuel injection
California
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
Color
Cloth & Leather Upholstery
Leather Upholstery
Dark Blue
29C
222
Camel
64C
642
Dark Red
74C
742
Silver Gray
132
Charcoal
182
Silver Green
402
IDENTIFICATION
Model
Model No.
Body/Style No.
Body Type
Factory Price
Shipping Weight
Production Total
Corvette
1Y
Y87
2-dr. Coupe - 2 passenger
$18,290
3213
18,648
Collector Edition
1Y
Y07
2-dr. Hatch Coupe - 2 passenger
$22,538
3222
6,759
ENGINE
Feature
Standard Engine (RPO L83)
Type
V-8, 90-degree Overhead valve
Block
Cast iron block
Displacement
350 cid (5.7 liters)
Bore & Stroke
4.00" x 3.48"
Compression ratio
9.0:1
Brake horsepower
200 @ 4200
Torque
285 lb-ft @ 2800
Main bearing
five
Valve lifters
hydraulic
Fuel supply
Cross-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
Feature
Coupe
Wheelbase
98 inches (2.489 m)
Overall length
185.3 inches (4.704 m)
Overall width
69.0 inches (1.753 m)
Overall height
48.4 inches (1.219 m)
Ground Clearance
4.5 inches (11.4 cm)
Front tread
58.7 inches (1.491 m)
Rear tread
59.5 inches (1.511 m)
Wheel size
15 x 8 inches
Tires (Base Corvette)
P225/70R-15 SBR (steel-belted radial)
Tires (Collector Corvette)
P225/60R-15 SBR (steel-belted radial)
Positraction
standard
Steering
recirulating ball (power assisted)
Front suspension
Upper/lower A-arms, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Rear suspension
Fully independent with half-shafts, lateral struts, control arms, and transverse leaf springs
Brakes
Hydraulic, vented four wheel discs; 11.75-inch diameter, single calipers
Ignition
electronic
Body construction
Separate fiberglass body and box-type ladder frame with cross-members
RPO UM4 AM-FM electronic tuning stereo radio with 8-track tape system ($386).
RPO UM6 AM-FM electronic tuning stereo radio with cassette ($423).
RPO UNS AM-FM electronic tuning stereo radio with cassette and CB system ($755).
RPO U58 AM-FM stereo radio ($101).
RPO U75 Power antenna ($60).
RPO V08 Heavy-duty cooling ($57).
RPO V54 Roof panel carrier ($144).
RPO YFS California 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).