1982

[Paul DeGuiseppi]

Does anyone know what the AM/FM mono radio that came as the standard base unit in 81s and 82s EXACTLY looks like? Specifically, were the knobs chrome or black? Was the bezel that surrounded the dial satin chrome or black?

I have obtained an almost new AM/FM stereo unit which has black knobs and a black bezel, but my car originally came with a mono unit, and that's really what I want to get if possible. I just saw a mono radio for sale that purportedly is for an 82 Corvette, but the knobs and bezel are chrome, not black. To my way of thinking, if the stereo unit is black, so would be the mono unit. I wonder if this radio is from some other GM car?

By the way, YES, a mono radio was indeed the type these cars came with if no optional radio was specified at the time of order, you just may have never seen one; as best as I can tell (using the extrapolation method from the Corvette Black Book), only about 460 cars were so equipped over these two model years. As such, not so easy to find.

It is definitely an AM/FM Mono, non-stereo, non-digital, non-electronic, non-8-track or cassette, plain-Jane, mechanical pushbutton, AM/FM Mono unit that I require.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1982

Paul-----

My recollection is that the knobs and faceplate trim were mostly black. However, I can tell you this, for sure:

The 1982 mono radio was GM #16001801. This number will appear on the chassis of a correct 1982 mono radio, most likely on a paper tag glued to the unit. This radio was NOT used exclusively for 1981-82, though. It was first used in early 1979 and continued to be used for U69 (mono) Corvette radio applications right through 1982. As far as I can tell, this radio was not used in any other Chevrolet or GM cars. However, very similar radios, save for trim elements, likely were used in other Chevrolet and GM cars.

The knobs used for the U69 (mono) and U58 (stereo) radios were the same for 1981-82 and these knobs were unique to 1981-82 Corvettes. The stereo radio included a fader control knob and the mono radio used a spacer in its place. Otherwise, they were the same.

The knobs on either side were GM #14032043. The tone control knob was GM #14032044. The spacer used for U69 applications was GM #14032045. ALL of these items are GM-discontinued and are difficult to locate in NOS form. I don't know if they are reproduced, or not.

[Tom R.]

Re: 1982

Paul:

Joe has give you the numbers and you've guessed correctly that knobs and rings are black...more like a glass black than a plastic black. And indeed the base radio was the mono as you indicate.

Also, Corvettes equipped with non ETR would have a clock...just to confirm what you've been told was original equipment. ETRs came with a oil temp gauge.

[Paul DeGuiseppi]

Re: 1982

Joe, thank you for the incredibly detailed information. I think I'm going to have some dificulty obtaining exactly what I'm looking for!

[Paul DeGuiseppi]

Re: 1982

Thank you, Tom. Yes, I do have a clock in place of the oil temp gauge. Also, I retreived my build sheet, and it does indeed list the mono radio asa original installation. Also, there are no rear speakers in my car, which (I believe) one equipped with a stereo radio would have had. All of these things are why I'm so hot on trying to locate a mono unit. It ain't gonna be easy!