The 1982 Corvette Collector Edition (CE), the best of the last of the C3 generation body, had unique options in addition to almost all available options offered in 1982 C3 coupe. This example is a numbers-matching vehicle built for Canadian and European sale; hence it has a kilometer odometer, a speedometer with primary kilometer scale and secondary MPH scale, and metric gauges and “International” legends on some controls and switches. Very few of this limited edition of about 5800 total CEs were built for international sale. The build sheet indicates initial delivery to Bolton Motors in suburban Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where it was sold to its first owner. It was acquired by a NY state dealer, who sold it to its second owner. By report of the second owner’s family, it was stored inside from Labor Day to Memorial Day, thus never exposed to snow or road salt and partly accounting for its low odometer reading. I purchased the car from the family of its second owner, who had died, and trailered it to Florida.
This CE has all OEM equipment except for the tires (Goodyear Eagle GT II RWL radials mounted on the CE-exclusive turbine wheels), the battery, and the radio (the original top-line AM/FM stereo with auto-reverse cassette, clock, and integrated CB radio worked fine, and I still have it, but it was replaced with a modern AM/FM digital receiver with CD; the original radio can be reinstalled easily). The vehicle was repainted in 2009 with the correct Silver Beige Metallic paint with professionally applied gradient-fade chocolate brown decals and pin stripes on the hood and the sides. The only power accessory that does not work is the power radio antenna (needs a new motor, I just pull it up and push it down manually). The Harrison AC unit blows cold even on the hottest Florida summer day, but it is more fun to remove the CE-exclusive bronze mirror glass T-tops and drive it open! The CE package included a first for the Corvette – an openable frameless rear glass hatch with optional defroster grid that surely makes access to the luggage area easier!
This is a clean “daily driver,” but it does have worn leather on the seats and steering wheel cover (those items can be replaced easily with authentic three-tone CE-exclusive leather interior pieces that are readily available from Corvette specialty vendors). The engine starts on the first turn of the key, and runs smoothly after a short idle (typical of the Crossfire injection, it runs slightly rough until past cold idle). It handles with precision, the four wheel discs brake securely, and it accelerates vigorously. It’s great either in town or on the highway. Designed to run on 87 octane unleaded (but I run 93 ethanol-free gasoline). This car has been serviced regularly including full-synthetic oil changes. It is ready to drive anywhere.
Due to advancing rheumatoid arthritis, which makes it very hard for me to enter and exit this low-slung car, and anticipating retirement soon, I must part with my C3 CE and wish to sell it to someone who will either use it and appreciate it as a daily driver or wants a CE to restore to show car status. I will entertain further questions about this Corvette and supply additional pictures upon request.
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$18,000
Location Lakeland, Florida
Mileage: 50,528 kilometers/31,397 miles
Engine: 350
Body Type: 2 door hatchback coupe
Interior: Tri-Tone Silver Beige Leather
Exterior: Silver Beige Metallic
Place Date: 2/9/2015
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