1981 CORVETTE
Production: 40,606 coupes

Abbreviations: at=automatic transmission, ce=california emissions, ci=cubic inch, hp=horsepower, mt=manual transmission.

• A 350ci, 190hp engine, 4-speed manual transmission or automatic Transmission, T-tops, and leather/vinyl or cloth/vinyl interior trim were included in the base price.
• There were no optional Corvette engines in 1981.
• All optional radios except U58 were new style Delcos with electronic tuned receivers (etr). Available with 8-track, 8-track plus citizens band, cassette, or cassette with citizens band, the radios featured digital station tuning readout and had built-in clocks. If a 1981 Corvette had one of these radios, the standard quartz instrument panel clock was replaced with an oil temperature gauge.

• Suggested interiors shown. Other combinations were possible.
• Color quantities shown are for St. Louis production and should not be relied upon as exact because the total is 21 less than actual production. All two-tone combinations were painted at the new Bowling Green facility and precise paint quantity records are not currently available.

Interior Codes: 152=Sg/L, 19C=Ch/C, 192=Ch/L, 29C=Db/C, 292=Db/L, 64C=Cm/C, 642=Cm/L, 67C=Dr/C, 672=Dr/L, 752=Mr/L.

Abbreviations: C=Cloth, Ch=Charcoal, Cm=Camel, Db=Dark Blue, Dr=Dark Red, L=Leather, Mr=Medium Red, Sg=Silver Gray.

1981 FACTS

• The 1981 Corvette was the first model year to be built simultaneously in two locations. The first Corvette was completed at the new Bowling Green, Kentucky, assembly line on June 1, 1981. The last Corvette to be built at St. Louis was completed on August 1, 1981.
• Although there were no engine options for 1981, the base 350ci, 190hp L81 engine was certified for sale in California, and was available in all states including California with both 4-speed manual and automatic transmissions.
• Exterior styling carried over from 1980, but emblems did change slightly. The tubular stainless steel exhaust manifolds, used for 1980 Corvettes sold in California with the LG4 305ci engine, were standard with the 1981 base engine.
• Chevrolet's "computer command control" used on 1980 Corvettes sold in California became standard equipment on all 1981 Corvettes. The system automatically adjusted ignition timing and air-fuel mixture.
• Chevrolet introduced a fiberglass-reinforced monoleaf rear spring for 1981 Corvettes equipped with automatic transmissions and standard suspensions. The plastic spring weighed eight pounds compared to forty four pounds for the steel unit it replaced.
• The anti-theft alarm system was improved in 1981 by the addition of an ignition interrupt to prevent engine start.
• All 1981 valve covers were magnesium for weight reduction.
• For improved fuel economy, 1981 Corvettes with automatic transmissions had torque converter clutches for second and third gears.
• A detail change to the 1981 Corvette interior was the color-keying of the head lamp and windshield wiper switch bezel is to the interior color. In1980, they were black regardless of interior color.
• The 1981 Corvette was the last model to have a manual transmission available until well into the 1984 production year.
• The St. Louis Corvette assembly plant continued to use lacquer paints through the end of 1981 production in that facility. Meanwhile in Bowling Green, a new paint process was developed which used enamel base coats followed by clear topcoats.
• A power driver seat became available in Corvettes for the first time in 1981 as RPO A42. It was not available for the passenger side.