There are few sights sadder than seeing someone’s beloved classic that has fallen victim to the worst that Mother Nature can throw at it. Such has been the fate of this 1982 Chevrolet Corvette Collector Edition that found itself trapped in a Florida flood. A lack of insurance meant that the incident was never reported, and the car was never fixed. It has sat exposed to the elements, and many will consider it to be fit for parts only, but let’s take a close look to determine whether that is right. The seller has listed the Corvette here on eBay in North Augusta, South Carolina. They set their BIN at $5,000, and with almost four weeks remaining on their listing, there is plenty of time for potential buyers to consider their options.
Chevrolet released the Collector Edition in 1982 to mark the final year of C3 Corvette production. The company didn’t place a build limit on these cars, with 6,759 buyers handing over the cash to drive one home. One distinctive feature was the opening “hatch” rear window, a unique C3 inclusion that would become standard fare on its successor. It appears that this ‘Vette was in good condition before the flood, and its unique Silver/Beige paint still appears quite presentable. There are no major paint or panel imperfections, raising the possibility that exterior preservation may be a viable option. The limited underside shots reveal no frame problems, although the state of the birdcage remains a mystery. The seller confirms that the windshield, hatch, and top seals all leak, allowing rain to flood the interior. Otherwise, the plastic looks pretty good, and the wheels should respond to hard work with a high-quality polish.
Powering this Corvette is Chevrolet’s 5.7-liter “Cross Fire Injection” V8, teamed with a three-speed automatic transmission. The Cross Fire was Chevrolet’s first genuine attempt to extract improved engine power for its Corvette in the face of emission regulations, with this engine originally delivering 200hp and 285 ft/lbs of torque. Those figures hardly recall the badge’s glory days, but they do represent a net gain over the previous year’s offerings. It is unclear how deep the flood was that engulfed this Corvette, but the seller confirms that it doesn’t run or drive. The seller knows the car’s history but doesn’t indicate whether the engine turns. They state that the engine and transmission fluids are clean and that the buyer may face brake and wiring work as part of the revival process.
The seller’s interior shots are pretty sketchy, but this one best demonstrates the issues facing the buyer. It appears the car may have spent the last four years exposed to the elements. With the roof, hatch, and windshield seals all leaking, plenty of moisture has found its way inside this classic. It has essentially destroyed every soft item, like seat foam and leather. If water has found its way behind the dash, the wiring, relays, and the gauges may all be throw-away items. That’s a shame because, with air conditioning, power windows, power locks, cruise control, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio/cassette player, life inside this classic would have been pretty pleasant in its heyday. Everything required to return the interior to its former glory is readily available, but this is an aspect of the potential restoration that could be driven by the costs involved.
Okay, project or parts? That’s the big question facing the next owner of this ’82 Corvette Collector Edition, and one that is difficult to answer. It appears that the frame hasn’t suffered due to the flood damage, although the state of the birdcage is unclear. Returning the car to its former glory won’t be for the faint-hearted because we are talking about a nut-and-bolt approach that will potentially consume thousands of hours. However, if there are no rust issues, most tasks could be completed in a home workshop by enthusiasts with DIY leanings. That is the only way this would be viable because paying somebody wouldn’t make financial sense. It is possible to buy a spotless ’82 Corvette Collector Edition for under $30,000, and completing a high-end build for a lower figure would need to be the goal. Could you do it for the price, or do you think this ‘Vette will end its days as a parts car?
Clarkey dial 📞 1-800-the-hook 🛻🪝
Stick a fork in it it’s done
This was a top shelf Vette in ’82 and looked great when it was new with the fender flairs and turbine wheels. Its such a shame it got to this point
Bought a couple flood cars for parts. They were unibody cars but all had boxed in areas that were pure rust. Only saving grace here is if it’s not salt water, which it could easily be, the frame should be OK as they are never welded up enough to hold water. After sitting that long I’d guess it wouldn’t make any difference salt or not. Picture shows a rain water car we rebuilt. Lots of welding and new panels on this one.
Woof… 5000. Run… If the gages are digital, run faster… By the time your done dropping 10k into it you’ll be right where these cars are selling mint… If it was hit the weather stripping won’t line up on doors.
I wanna cry here, these were always my fave. A redo of the insides without counting all the rest.would be a money pit unless the new owner would do all the work himself. It’s just sad
The only “parts” worth saving are the wheels.
I was thinking those wheels have to worth a pretty penny. They sure look good, on that style of Vette.
@Danno- The story was they were designed to reflect the wheels used in 1967 which also marked the transition of the C2 era to the C3.
Surprisingly sold 3/29/2025.
Steve R
As P.T. Barnum said, “There’s one born every minute…”
There’s always a buyer no matter what the condition. Stupid is as Stupid does!!
Maybe he got it for alot less then the asking price.
A check with several corvette parts suppliers confirm that the interior pieces such as door trim and seat covers cost 5 times more than a regular ’82’ s parts due to the multi colored leather, pretty but expen$ive.
If someone has a “totaled out” later C-3, the body could be removed & used as a replacement!
Rear hatch and wheels are worth 4k to 5k everything else is freebie if you can find anything else worth keeping.
sad …
Totaled.