Time for a rant! One of the worst designs coming out of GM in my opinoin was their power antenna, both in design and placement. I have had to replace 3 antenna cables in the last year on my 82 CE. And the location is difficult to access. Anyone else had this pleasant experience.

 

Yes I’ve had to replace two of them. I finally bought a repo power antenna from Zip and installed a switch on the side of the console to control when it operates. I usually leave it up.
too much cycling up / down wears those cheap plastic cables to break.

 

Stop wasting your time. Does the radio do anything that your phone and a bluetooth amp/speaker can't do better?

I removed the antennas on both cars. I 3D printed a plug for one, the other looks okay with no antenna in it.

If you really need to listen to low-fi radio noise, instead of the sweet V8 symphony, consider a hidden antenna under the back deck.

 

Every Corvette from 53 to 82 (and for a number of years after) always had the antenna in the left rear fender/deck area. It was sort of a Corvette signature item or tradition, like the 4 round tail lights. Is it a pain to get too, especially on the years with power antennas, sure but let's face it, GM didn't design it, build it or expect your 82 to still be on the road 42 years later.

Where else could they have put the antenna, or where would you have liked them to put it? Personally I think it would have looked out of place on a front fender, and the antenna's embedded in the windshield GM tried in the early 70's didn't work well on tin cars and likely would have been worse on a plastic car.

The Corvette is a fairly small car with lots of stuff packed into it, making everything compact and often difficult to service and/or work on. If you think the antenna's tough to get to, wait till you have to replace a heater core.

 

My antenna wip broke and I bought a replacement from “The Antenna Source”. I had my mechanic remove the antenna while he was doing other work, and reinstall after I replaced the wip. I like having original equipment that works but the idea of an override switch is a good idea.

 

How long did the original last? GM does not make the masts any more. They are all aftermarket. Blame the inferior quality on them.
You can get a antenna like I did. Ran it behind the dash and tucked it between the pad and windshield. Virtually an invisible install. I have a radio and no visible antenna. If and when I get the car painted I will just have them fill in the hole for a cleaner look.

 

I’m not sure if you’re asking me or the OP. My C3 is a 1980 and the antenna mast failed in 2022. It appeared to be the original mast when i took it apart.

 

The original lasted about 10 years. Since then I have replaced the entire antenna 4 times and a new cable 5 times.

 

I would like to be next in line if the deal doesn't work out.
Thanks,
John

 

Back in the mid to late 90's we had a mid-sized Cadillac DD which had the SAME exact antenna as the C3. The original antenna mast lasted a long time. I can't really even estimate how long...b/c we bought the car used. But from what I could tell it was either an original antenna, or it would have to have been a factory (used) replacement. This was kind of pre-ebay...but it didn't look old/used/replaced. It could have been 10yrs if it was the original antenna ..before the mast cord broke in our ownership. Anyway, the first replacement mast I bought from GM and that too lasted a few years. But not 5-10. After that, I bought aftermarket masts which were avail for like $14 and said they were from the original supplier. They looked exactly the same as the GM replacement mast, which IIRC were like $45 at the time. They'd go about 2.5-3yrs it seems. But you have to remember, we drove this car in -20*F temps too which can make those plastic nylon masts crack. That antenna would go up and down a lot cause we used the radio (and tape player!!) constantly. It had a great Blaupunkt GM radio in it. Once the plastic gets old/brittle or cracks from the cold, the salt around here would help corrode the wire inside the plastic cord. Or the plastic would break at the plastic hook joint. I got pretty good at replacing them. I eventually started buying multiples at a time.

So, I don't have an explanation why yours would break in short order. The last masts I saw at a Corvette show parts place seemed the same grade/quality as what the original ones I bought ....were. But plastic specs can change...that ya wouldn't 'feel' by hand. But they've always been kind of a short-life units. Ford antenna units had similar issue once they got to a certain age.

 

My 79 has the original power antenna. I operate it twice a year. When I pull the car out in spring, turn on the radio to make sure the antenna goes up. Lube the mast and return it to the down position. Cycle one more time and don't turn the radio on until the next season and do the same process. Would rather listen to my motor than the radio.