# 1978 vs 1982 Corvette

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413>\
**Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\
**Created:** [February 21, 2009, 9:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413 "2009-02-21T09:38:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 9:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/1 "2009-02-21T09:38:05Z")

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My dad is finally going to buy his dream car I think.

We have narrowed it down to a 1978 and a 1982.

Both are silver with mod red leather interiors.

Both have \<50K on them, both autos.

Both are 2nd owner cars.

Pro vs cons of years?

I think the 1978 has a 350 with a turbo 350 3 speed tranny, while the 1982 has the crossfire and a 200-R4 4 speed I think.

1978 is a collectors edition, the 1982 is the last production year of the C3.

Do not turn this into a “get an F-body/civic” thread.

My dad has always loved this car for some reason and wants one.

Suggestions - GO!

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**Author:** ![klug](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/klug/32/5222_2.png) [@klug](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/klug)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 9:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/2 "2009-02-21T09:44:37Z")

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1982 ftw. updated aerodynamics, better performance

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**Author:** ![camarojoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@camarojoe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/camarojoe)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 9:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/3 "2009-02-21T09:44:47Z")

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Honestly not a fan of those styles, but 78 has more of a collector value than 1982.

And CrossFire wasn’t a huge hit with Vette people.

But they aren’t very expensive which is a good thing.

But if he gets a 78, try to get a pace car since those are worth a little more and are more recognizable.

BTW, for not much more, you can probably get a 71-73.

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**Author:** ![Xander](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/xander/32/7597_2.png) [@Xander](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Xander)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 9:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/4 "2009-02-21T09:47:24Z")

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PM L8apex1 he has an 82 and has had it for about a dozen years now.

X…

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**Author:** ![camarojoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@camarojoe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/camarojoe)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 9:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/5 "2009-02-21T09:49:41Z")

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Just posted today  
[http://buffalo.craigslist.org/cto/1044195468.html](http://buffalo.craigslist.org/cto/1044195468.html)

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**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 9:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/6 "2009-02-21T09:52:28Z")

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> [@camarojoe](#):
>
> Just posted today  
> [http://buffalo.craigslist.org/cto/1044195468.html](http://buffalo.craigslist.org/cto/1044195468.html)

That is one of the two he is looking at.

PM sent to L8apex1 thanks x

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**Author:** ![Jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@Jon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jon)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 10:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/7 "2009-02-21T10:00:32Z")

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I don’t understand why anyone would want a vette of that year when you can buy a 97-99 in the ~13k range.I saw a few end on eBay at $10k.

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**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 10:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/8 "2009-02-21T10:10:18Z")

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> [@Jon](#):
>
> I don’t understand why anyone would want a vette of that year when you can buy a 97-99 in the ~13k range.I saw a few end on eBay at $10k.

Thank you, you incompetent fool.

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**Author:** ![bigwoode](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bigwoode/32/5175_2.png) [@bigwoode](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bigwoode)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 10:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/9 "2009-02-21T10:44:54Z")

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My friends father had a 77 4spd and loved it, I would say go 78 over 82, especially due to crossfire… Is he stuck on automatic?

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**Author:** ![camarojoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@camarojoe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/camarojoe)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 10:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/10 "2009-02-21T10:58:00Z")

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> [@ultradriver10000](#):
>
> That is one of the two he is looking at.
> 
> PM sent to L8apex1 thanks x

You see 78 Vettes for sale all the time. I think it was one of the higher production years. I would hold out for a pace car 78 if I was going to do it though.

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**Author:** ![Jack](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jack/32/7613_2.png) [@Jack](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jack)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 11:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/11 "2009-02-21T11:17:23Z")

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The 78 pacecars are ugly.

My dad had a white on white 78 and it was fun to drive… slow, but fun. I could get it sideways in 2nd.

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**Author:** ![2TurboZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/2turboz/32/7577_2.png) [@2TurboZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/2TurboZ)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 11:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/12 "2009-02-21T11:33:19Z")

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I had a black on red 78 auto…sharp to look at but I hated driving it.

Cool cars tho.

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**Author:** ![Pauly](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pauly/32/7493_2.png) [@Pauly](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Pauly)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 11:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/13 "2009-02-21T11:34:51Z")

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I recall alot of trouble with the crossfire set ups.  
I like the style of the 78 better

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**Author:** ![Avatar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avatar/32/5076_2.png) [@Avatar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Avatar)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 11:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/14 "2009-02-21T11:38:44Z")

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I’d go with the '82

IMO better car

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![vt1992s10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/73ab20/32.png) [@vt1992s10](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/vt1992s10)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/15 "2009-02-21T18:37:26Z")

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my dad had an 81, I guess the crossfire (82 was the first year) can be a huge pain if something goes wrong and costly to fix. Best bet is to get on a corvette forum and find out

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**Author:** ![AKasprzyk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/akasprzyk/32/4967_2.png) [@AKasprzyk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/AKasprzyk)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/16 "2009-02-21T18:50:13Z")

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i own a 79, L-82 4 speed, i looked at a lot of cars and ended up with mine, cross fire is what kept me away from 82. then again that wouldn’t of mattered because the org. motor is in my basement on a stand lol and there’s a 355 roller motor with vortech heads and intake and a nice lumpy cam in it. =) from what i under stand lowest production numbers were in 79 due to a strike at gm.

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**Author:** ![joelster](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joelster/32/7258_2.png) [@joelster](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/joelster)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/17 "2009-02-21T19:00:53Z")

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The '82’s look way better. Especially those two-tone color combos. The '78’s aren’t going to ever be worth a lot more than the '80-'82’s. The smog years are just never going to be desireable from an investment standpoint. Even the Pace Car models aren’t worth shit. Get whichever one looks the best. They are both kinda slow, unless he can snatch an L82 from '78. People that rag on them have never driven one. My mom had a 76 L82 that was a blast to drive.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![L8APEX1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/l8apex1/32/7276_2.png) [@L8APEX1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/L8APEX1)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/18 "2009-02-21T19:20:53Z")

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another thing i forgot to add in the pm

don’t bother with any modding on an 82 its not worth it, where as the 78 is easily moddable (is that even a word lol). if he is not going to mod it the 82 has a about 40 more hp than the 78

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Carnut](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/carnut/32/7590_2.png) [@Carnut](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Carnut)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/19 "2009-02-21T19:24:43Z")

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My suggestion is to take his pile of money and light it on fire as it would be a more efficient use of it than buying one of those shit boxes. I have worked on them they are giant piles of shit.

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**Author:** ![misteroman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/misteroman/32/7423_2.png) [@misteroman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/misteroman)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/1978-vs-1982-corvette/63413/20 "2009-02-21T20:12:39Z")

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80 ftw!!! if you can find an L-82 it is a semi rare. no computer either and looks waaaaaay better then the 74-79 imo

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