As mentioned above you have purchased a museum piece and if you intend to keep it that way IMO it should be on display someplace where any "car-o-haulic" can enjoy seeing it - and that's not tucked away in your garage/storage place.  So unless you plan to open that space to the public I'd recommend loaning it out to an automotive museum or Chevy dealer where it can live out its "life" being appreciated by anyone who has the opportunity to look at it.

 

To drive it means you have to bring its maintenance level up to snuff (also mentioned above) as in its current state it could be a safety hazard to yourself and others on the road or even just driving across a show field.  During the C3VR member gathering last June we toured the automotive museum in Reno, NV where (if memory serves) every car in their collection is deemed road-worthy and most were driven some every year.

 

There are numerous collections of vintage, classic, and military aircraft around the globe, many with examples that are the last of their kind.  The best "caretakers" keep them in flying condition because the only way to truely appreciate, and honor, the planes and their creators is to keep them where they were designed to be - in the air.

 

A year ago we purchased a low build number, low mile, one owner '90 ZR-1.  Even though it was a fairly expensive purchase (from our perspective anyway) it was not our intention to keep this car under cover in the garage.  The car's maintenance was brought to current and this summer the odometer spun almost as much as it had in the previous 16 years (almost all of it on one road trip!).  It even got rained and snowed on for probably the first time in its life (on the same road trip).  Yes it is a relatively rare car, but it is one heck-of-a-fun one to drive...!!!  Will we put that many miles on it again in one driving season?  Not likely, but it is nice to know that the car is ready and able to go any where, any time we want to go.

 

Ultimately the decision is yours, but personally I'd be out driving and enjoying it, sharing it with everyone who you encounter and seeing their reaction (be "tailgunner Charlie" on a string of C3s sometime and you'll know what I mean).  There are already other examples as pristine as yours is currently doing duty in roped-off display spaces or wasting away in dark, locked dungeons.

When I bought my 74 last year, I had been looking for a very particular car.  Had to be a '74 Convertible, L82 4 speed with a black interior, A/C and I wanted less than 50,000 miles on it.  I got all of the above, but the car had less than 9,000 miles on it.  Certainly not the same as your '82, but it put me in a similar predicament.

 

I knew in my heart why I had wanted to buy one in the first place - I wanted to drive it!  In the first year, I almost doubled the mileage, although this year, it barely got 4,000 on it.  I don't drive in the rain if I can help it and it stays covered in the garage in winter.  I drive it to shows and couldn't be happier behind the wheel.

 

Lots of people have given their opinions here and I'm actually quite surprised.  Typically, the response to this sort of question is that "it's your decision - do what you want."  Here, it does seem that most of the folks here agree that the car should not be driven.  I suppose I have to put myself in that group and agree that that car should not be driven due to the significant depreciation it would cause and the possibility of harm coming to the car due to someone else's carlessness in a wreck.

 

However, I know that I personally could not allow myself to have that sort of investment just sit in my garage, or in someone else's museum.  If you can afford it and it makes you happy, then lucky you.  If you can't stand the thought of it not moving, then maybe you can find a collector somewhere who can put it in a museum or a showroom whree it will sit as a museum piece and be enjoyes by the masses.

 

Someday, someone is going to drive that car.  I don't understand those that don't drive their Corvettes, but I'm glad that there are people out there like that - otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten mine in such pristine condition!

 

Good luck in making your decision.  Enjoy driving the Z06 until then!!

 

 

I have updated my original post reflecting my decision.

Yesterday I pulled the car out of the garage, and spent about an hour tinkering around (detailing, etc) but fought the urge to drive it. I have concluded that it is ludicrous. I originally searched for an 82CE to drive and enjoy on a limited basis. I just happened to find an extra special one with super low miles.

I just don't get the point of having a car and not driving it. Life is short. I was 800 feet away from the first plane when it hit the first Tower on 9/11. My town lost 30 people.

I have another Corvette which I drive about 2,500 miles per year. I WILL drive the CE, but just to local shows, or when I have the urge like I did yesterday. It probably won't see 1,000 miles per year, but I am going to drive it. It will stay pristine because I am a fanatic, but it will see the road that it was meant for. I will leave the museum to someone else's car. If it depreciates, big deal.

Thanks guys for your responses. You helped me a lot. At the end of the day you have to do what you believe is right for you, and this is where I am netting out!

See you on the road or at a show!

See you out there...!!!

For you, it is the right decision.

Drive it on those "special" occasions and enjoy it while you can.

454, 1454, 2454 or 3454 won't make that big of a difference to the next owner.