The Newport 82 was the lowest of the three models in the Newport model family of map-shaped guitars.

It was initially called the Val-Pro 82 (a play on the name of National’s parent company, Valco), but a year after it’s introduction, National decided that Newport –  beach town in California as well as a seaport in RI – would have more appeal. The finish changed, too, but only nominally from Scarlet to Pepper Red.

National claimed that REs-o-glas (it’s term for fiberglass) was easier to work with than wood, and that was probably true. Bodies were produced in a mold, and the finish color could be sprayed into the mold, so skilled work – shaping, sanding, finishing – was minimalized.

Unfortunately, though, fiberglass guitars were still not any cheaper to make than wood-bodied instruments.