Mopars that are so ugly they hurt you eyes!

No it wasnt a good time. Neither was the mid to late 70s either. Yes the 82 vette sucked 150hp out of a wheezer 350. So does motor trend. However the amount of time it takes to retrofit a manual assembly line to automation, then get it to work right would have ate up about 6 months of assembly line time. By then the 1983 model year would be almost over. Might as well make sure you get it 100% right for the incoming all new model.

Had a coworker that had a 1982 vette. I used to ask him how his slow corvette was doing every time i saw him. Yes the 82 corvette was a factor in their decision. But not for reasons motor trend stated. It had beed produced since 1968. So 14 years is a very long time for a vehicle to be produced with minor upgrades every year. By 1982 it did suck, but mostly because it was a 14 year old design by that time.