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All About The
1982 Camaro
Dealer Introduction Date:
N/A
For the third time ever and the first time in 12 years, the Camaro got a new lease on life as it underwent a major make-over. It had entirely new boxy-looking outer sheet metal and featured a new lift-up rear glass panel. The front had a sinister look with a low-mounted grille and tucked-in headlights. New aerodynamic side mirrors added flair, and a side-mounted gas-fill location replaced the previous behind-the-license-plate version. Camaro's incorporated a host of new suspension modifications (including a modified MacPherson strut front-end that produced a great-handling car. Chevy said it captured "the essence of the contemporary American performance expression."
Out back, the 1982 Camaro model year had a new rear suspension that used a torque arm, trailing arms, and coil springs. Sporty 15-inch aluminum wheels were commonplace. Overall weight of the third generation Camaro was about 500 pounds less than the portly '81 Camaro. With their lighter weight and improved suspension, the 1982 Camaro's were great road cars.
The Camaro's interior space was similar to before, even though the outside was smaller. The all-new fast-back body was nearly 10 in. shorter than that of the previous Camaro. It rode on a 7-in. shorter 101-in. wheel-base. Each model had its own styling features, including a specific front air dam and rear fascia. The Z28 front end had no upper grille opening, its "ground effects" hugged the ground and it rode on special five-spoke aluminum wheels.
The flush-mounted 62-degree windshield produced one of the lowest drag coefficient readings ever measured by GM. The new Camaro was 10 in. shorter and 470 lbs. lighter. Instead of a rear window, it had a new lift-up hatch back with a huge piece of curved glass. A hatch release lock was located behind the license plate. The fuel filler door was on the driver's side quarter panel.
A 151-cid inline 4-cylinder with electronic fuel injection (EFI) was the base engine. Options included a 173-cid 102-hp EFI V6 and a 305-cid 145-hp V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor. Z28 buyers could pay $450 for an optional 305-cid 165-hp Crossfire fuel-injected V8.
The Z28 was fully-loaded with a twin-TBI V8 and available T-Top. All Z28's came with "fiberglass" hoods. These hoods were not real fiberglass but instead was lightweight SMC (Sheet Molded Compound).
The RPO LU5 optioned Z28's also came with functional hood air induction flaps.
Inside, the third generation Camaro had a totally redesigned interior, complete with comfortable, fully adjustable front bucket seats and fold-down rear seats. The dashboard was redesigned and great-looking, especially with its new gauge cluster that was easy to read.
The results were a success as Camaro was selected to pace the Indianapolis 500, also for the third time. It added $900 to the cost of the Z28.
The new body featured unit construction with bolt-on front sheet metal. The front suspension was of a modified MacPherson strut design with coil springs and a stabilizer bar. At the rear, coil springs replaced leaf springs and the suspension used longitudinal torque tubes, short control arms ahead of the solid axle and lateral track rods. Z28s added a link-type rear stabilizer bar.
There were Sport Coupe, Berlinetta and Z28 models.
A Z28 paced the Indy 500 and 6,360 commemorative editions of the Z28 were sold on a one-per-dealer basis. They were silver and blue with Indy 500 logos, red-accented silver aluminum wheels and Goodyear Eagle GT white-letter tires.
1982
Camaro Model Year
Facts
The 1982 Camaro was nearly all-new, the first of the third Camaro generation. Auto media had predicted a front-wheel-drive configuration, but Chevrolet retained the Camaro's traditional front-engine, rear-drive layout. Nearly all dimensions were reduced, including a seven-inch shorter wheelbase, and weight was reduced by nearly 500 lbs as compared to the 1981 model. But, as the Camaro had grown in weight over the years, the 1982 model was within 70 lbs of the original 1967 Camaro.
For the first time in Camaro's history, a four-cylinder engine, the "iron duke" built by Pontiac, was used. It was the standard engine for the Sport Coupe. The Berlinetta was equipped with a V6 as standard, the Z28 with a 305ci V8. A higher-performance 305ci was available for Z28s only.
The 1982 Camaro was Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year.
All 1982 Camaro's had consoles with gloveboxes. But there were no gloveboxes in the traditional instrument-panel location.
All 1982 Camaro's had power steering, and power brakes with front discs and rear drums as standard equipment. Four-wheel discs were optional for all models.
For 1982, the 4-speed manual with wide ratio was the base transmission.
Front bucket seats for all models had reclining mechanisms for both driver and passenger. Base trims came in vinyl and extra-cost cloth. Custom interiors came in vinyl and cloth, and a multi-adjustable "conteur" driver seat made for Chevrolet by Lear Siegler, was available in both base cloth and Custom cloth, but available only with Z28 models.
The Berlinetta Coupe model included Custom Interior, aluminum wheels, deluxe seatbelts, deluxe luggage compartment, dual horns, P205/ 70R14 steel-belted radial blackwall tires, quartz clock, quiet sound group, special instrumentation, and specific trim.
The Z28 Sport Coupe had its own style aluminum wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel, P215/65R15 steel-belted, white-letter radial tires, rear spoiler, special instrumentation, and specific trim.
For the third time in its history, Camaro was selected to pace the 1982 Indianapolis 500 auto race. The actual pace car and a backup were assembled at the Van Nuys, California, Camaro plant, as were 6,360 replicas for sale to the public. It added $900 to the cost of the Z28. All were silver and blue Z28 models with Indy 500 accents and decals, sport mirrors, and red-accented silver aluminum wheels with white-letter Goodyear Eagle GT tires. All had, at a minimum: RPO U21 Special Instrumentation, RPO YE1AM-FM Stereo, leather-wrapped steering wheel, RPO B48 Luggage Compartment Trim, and a blue cloth and silver vinyl interior with the Conteur driver seat. Replicas could have either of the 305ci V8 engines available in 1982 Z28s, though the actual pace cars had all-aluminum 350ci motors.
A special Z28E export model was available with revised taillamps, no spoiler, a "scoopless" hood, headlamp covers and special instrumentation. Left-hand drive was retained.
The 1982 model's rear glass was the largest of any production car of its era and featured compound curves.
Shown:
1982 Camaro Z28 (Indy 500 Pace Car Replica)
Available Models
Click For Breakout
It had a retail value ranging from : $7,631us - $7,925us.
The CAMARO Base (Coupe) is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Coupe with seating for 4. It is available in 4 different variations with engines ranging from the 2.5L I-4, 151-cid. - 5.0L V8, 305-cid.
It had a retail value ranging from : $9,266us - $9,436us.
The CAMARO Berlinetta is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Coupe with seating for 4. It is available in 2 different variations with engines ranging from the 2.8L V6, 173-cid. - 5.0L V8, 305-cid.
It had a retail value ranging from : $9,700us - $10,150us.
The CAMARO Z28 (Coupe) is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Coupe with seating for 4. It is available in 2 different variations with engines ranging from the 5.0L V8, 305-cid. - 5.0L V8, 305-cid.
It had a retail value ranging from : $10,600us - $11,050us.
The CAMARO Z28 (Indy 500 Pace Car Replica) is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Coupe with seating for 4. It is available in 2 different variations with engines ranging from the 5.0L V8, 305-cid. - 5.0L V8, 305-cid.
The CAMARO Z28 (Official Indy 500 Pace Car) is a 2-Door, rear wheel drive Coupe with seating for 4. It is available in only 1 variation and the 5.7L V8, 350-cid. engine.
Date:
March 1st, 2007
