1982 marked the final year for third-generation Chevy Corvette production. The third generation was the longest running of any, running some fifteen years, with a chassis that had debuted in 1963. Only one engine was available for the model year, the 350 cubic-inch Small Block fed by twin Chevrolet Computer Command Control throttle-body fuel injectors called Cross Fire Injection. Output was rated at 200 horsepower. Solenoid-activated doors on the hood fed fresh air to the engine at full throttle. This was the first time fuel injection had been available on a Corvette since the exit of Rochester Ram Jet mechanical fuel injection after the 1965 model year. The sole transmission was the new-for-1982 four-speed automatic with overdrive.
The Chevy Corvette Collector Edition Hatchback was offered to mark the end of the Corvette’s third generation. The Collector Edition featured Silver Beige Metallic paint with graduated side and hood decals, pinstripes over the fenders, aluminum turbine-style bolt-on wheels that resembled the knock-offs and bolt-on wheels of the Mid Year Corvettes, Collector Edition badging on the nose, gas door, and horn button, a functional, frameless glass rear hatch, multi-tone Silver Beige leather interior, leather-wrapped steering wheel and horn button, and deep pile carpet. Corvette Collector Edition production was limited to 6,759 copies. With a base price of $22,537.59, the Collector Edition was the first Corvette to violate the $20,000 threshold.
Our featured 1982 Chevy Corvette is finished in Corvette Bright Blue over a black leather interior. It is powered by the Cross Fire Injection 350 Small Block backed by the four-speed automatic transmission. The Corvette is equipped with air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, power windows, power locks, Electric Sport Mirrors, tilt-telescopic steering column, cruise control, glass T-tops, AM-FM/cassette stereo, power antenna, power driver seat, polished slotted aluminum wheels, and rear window defogger.
Comments
This “Crossfire Injection” system was a real issue in both the Corvette & Camaro. Didn’t last many model years at all. Went back to carburetor and later the much improved “Tuned Port Injection “.
The Corvette went straight from Crossfire in 83 to Tuned Port in 84. In 82 & 83 the Z28 was available with the 165 hp Crossfire 305. The High Output 190 hp 305 with a carburetor was added as a Z28 option mid year in 1983. For 84 the Crossfire 305 was replaced by the higher horse L69, and a 215 hp Tuned Port 305 became optional in 85, but only with an automatic.
I personally think the Crossfire is unfairly chastised. While it wasn’t perfect, the big problem with it was finding someone familiar with it to work on it. Today the lack of people who know how to work on it is compounded by the lack of replacement parts available to for it.
This looks to be a pretty decent and unmolested example of an 82 Corvette. Bright Blue Metallic is a rare color with less than 600 being built, and only Dark Blue being rarer (by 5 or 6 cars). The interior color of this car is actually charcoal gray, not black which was not offered in 82.
There were no ’83 Corvette’s. They skipped that year. All ’84 Corvettes were Cross Fire Injection. TPI didn’t debut unit ’85.
“Until ’85”
And like your “unit” “until”, my “83” was a typo too, it should have been “82”. Also, while there were no 83 Corvettes sold to the general public, there were about 50 “pilot line cars” built with 1983 VIN’s. Supposedly all but one were crushed, with the remaining one on display at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green KY. Of course rumors persist that one or two others may have escaped the crusher, but known of these rare unicorns have surfaced yet.
Worst Corvette ever?
They build a few 1983 Corvette during development All were crushed except one that was hidden away for years in the Bowling Green plant. It is now on display in the Corvette museum. Wheels are quite interesting. Don’t know whether from another gm model.
The wheels on Bowling Green’s white 83 were supposed to be the standard 15″ wheel on all 83 and 84 Corvettes. The 15″ wheels were going to come with Goodyear Eagle GT’s on them, and the 16″ “salad cutter” wheels with Goodyear Eagle VR unidirectional radials were supposed to be an optional performance upgrade. The 84 sales brochure has a picture of a gold 84 with the 15″ wheels. I don’t really recall the reason the 15″ wheels were dropped, but I think there were some 84’s sold with them.