1982 4 Speed?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by Mark_Milner
By the time the '82 was made, the C4 was leaked in many areas and almost everyone knew a new Corvette was coming out. It may have contributed to the decline in sales from '79s 54,000 to the 25,000 in '82.
Many people are interested in having the "last" of an era.
The first year of an era is what shy's me away.
All new bugs to iron out.
Plus the coming C4 was no secret, the missing 1983 model wasnt because GM was on an extended coffee break.
Last edited by Bob Onit; Sep 27, 2006 at 02:03 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Read these two pages.
(Corvette from the Inside-The 50 Year Development History, Dave McLellan; Bentley Publishers-2002, pp 78-79)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...fy97/1982a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...fy97/1982b.jpg
(Corvette from the Inside-The 50 Year Development History, Dave McLellan; Bentley Publishers-2002, pp 78-79)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...fy97/1982a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...fy97/1982b.jpg
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Originally Posted by Bob Onit
Many people will not buy a Corvette with an automatic transmission, myself included.
A lot of people dislike the Corvettes from 76-82, but in the grand scheme of things, they were kind of important in the evolution of the vehicle to it's current state. Even the auto only '82.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 924
Likes: 15
From: DFW Metroplex Texas
I own a 1982 and love it for what it is.
I love the automatic 4 speed, the 85MPH speedo. So what?
I love the way people that pass me when I drive by them point and stare and wave.
I love it when I punch the gas and the old gal takes off like a bat out of hell.
It is as much a Corvette as any other year. It commands attention.
To dismiss a Vette because it is a automatic is just plain silly.
I love the automatic 4 speed, the 85MPH speedo. So what?
I love the way people that pass me when I drive by them point and stare and wave.
I love it when I punch the gas and the old gal takes off like a bat out of hell.
It is as much a Corvette as any other year. It commands attention.
To dismiss a Vette because it is a automatic is just plain silly.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,413
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Originally Posted by paul67
Read these two pages.
(Corvette from the Inside-The 50 Year Development History, Dave McLellan; Bentley Publishers-2002, pp 78-79)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...fy97/1982a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...fy97/1982b.jpg
(Corvette from the Inside-The 50 Year Development History, Dave McLellan; Bentley Publishers-2002, pp 78-79)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...fy97/1982a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...fy97/1982b.jpg
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
It's a fascinating book. I recommend it highly.
http://www.amazon.com/Corvette-Insid...e=UTF8&s=books
http://www.amazon.com/Corvette-Insid...e=UTF8&s=books
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by TexasYankee
To dismiss a Vette because it is a automatic is just plain silly.
It all comes down to personal choice
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by paul67
Bob,
I rather like the automatic. Some of the young people here will experience arthritis in the left leg some day and know what I mean.
I rather like the automatic. Some of the young people here will experience arthritis in the left leg some day and know what I mean.
In my younger days I drove Dump tucks and did the service on a good size fleet for about 10 years
Shifted duplex/triplex and quad boxes (20 speed)
I destroyed my left hip in a motorcylce accident in 1984, have had 3 lower back surgerys.........I'm no stranger to pain.
I have arthritis in both hips and thats just touching ths surface.
My everyday driver is a V8 Ford Explorer which is an automatic and it rides very nice.....
There are only 6 or 7 months here in New England where you can enjoy driving a Corvette.....And I choose to do it with a standard shift
If I wanted to drive an automatic I would have bought one...
ps: you own my dream car
I have not seen many with the (Medium saddle?) interior
Except mine would be a 4 speed.....
Respectfully
Bob
Last edited by Bob Onit; Sep 27, 2006 at 04:18 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 2
From: MS
Originally Posted by gq82
A 4sp was offered in 84 and out of 51,547 sold only 6,443 ordered one.
True, but the Manual was a late option and many buyers who wanted the 4-speed could not get it. For the 85 full production the number was 24%, which is a more accurate indication of demand.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Originally Posted by wfo76
True, but the Manual was a late option and many buyers who wanted the 4-speed could not get it. For the 85 full production the number was 24%, which is a more accurate indication of demand.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
lil side note
Originally Posted by Bob Onit
the missing 1983 model wasnt because GM was on an extended coffee break.
There was no "83" Corvette but there also was no break in production. The 82' was actually produced until Feb 83' and starting March of 83' the "84" went into production.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Bob,
No lack of respect from this end either. I just don't mind the Powerglide. I was thinking of a 200R4 this summer but for some reason my interest in the hobby has waned. I am sure it will perk up again next spring. In case people think I don't belong here, this is a pic of my two Corvettes I have owned over 20 years.
And yes, the interior is saddle. The exterior is Goodwood Green.
No lack of respect from this end either. I just don't mind the Powerglide. I was thinking of a 200R4 this summer but for some reason my interest in the hobby has waned. I am sure it will perk up again next spring. In case people think I don't belong here, this is a pic of my two Corvettes I have owned over 20 years.
And yes, the interior is saddle. The exterior is Goodwood Green.
Last edited by Paul L; Sep 27, 2006 at 05:41 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by JaxFl82
Just a side note to the discussion...
There was no "83" Corvette but there also was no break in production. The 82' was actually produced until Feb 83' and starting March of 83' the "84" went into production.
There was no "83" Corvette but there also was no break in production. The 82' was actually produced until Feb 83' and starting March of 83' the "84" went into production.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2000...ry/83/83p1.asp
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 691
Likes: 68
From: Juneau AK
Originally Posted by Mark_Milner
Also, something happened in Nov. 1981, as there were less than 30 Corvettes built. Only 564 in Oct. 81, and the production was not consistent from month to month after that.
And as mentioned before, the absence of a manual transmission in '82was directly due to qualifying for emissions requirements (CAFE, etc).
Also true that automatics were WAY more popular that 4 speeds. That's why you see so many '80 and '81's advertised as "rare" 4 speed cars. Dealers knew the automatics had a better chance of being sold, so that's what they ordered.....much like automatics in pickups these days. I grew up in farm country where pickups had manual transmissions... now walk a new dealer lot and they're hard to find.
kdlp
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
As a general fact, any vette with a TH400 will accelerate faster than the same vette with a 4spd!
What was the point of this thread if not to dog folks with AT?
What was the point of this thread if not to dog folks with AT?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,413
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Originally Posted by kdlp
Dealers knew the automatics had a better chance of being sold, so that's what they ordered.....much like automatics in pickups these days. I grew up in farm country where pickups had manual transmissions... now walk a new dealer lot and they're hard to find.
kdlp
kdlp
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by dosoctaves
As a general fact, any vette with a TH400 will accelerate faster than the same vette with a 4spd!
What was the point of this thread if not to dog folks with AT?
What was the point of this thread if not to dog folks with AT?
And I'm pretty sure that most people are aware of the fact that the Auto will accelerate faster than a standard.
I'm not looking for an argument, It just caught my curiosity.........Period.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
I can understand why less people wanted the 4 speed on the later C3s, though. What a pain in the a$$ transmission to freaking drive. Plus the TH-350 is so damn reliable why bother?
Also look at what type of people can usually afford a vette. Older folks that usually want to just drive it.
Also look at what type of people can usually afford a vette. Older folks that usually want to just drive it.