Vehicle Description
You might glance at this 1981 Corvette and figure that it's been
comprehensively restored and deserves a hefty price tag, but we
assure you that it's a very honest, highly original car with an
under $20k price tag. Featuring a strong 350 L81 V8, a smooth
shifting automatic transmission, and great options that include
cold A/C, this C3 allows you to get in on the Corvette craze for a
very reasonable investment. This turn-key coupe represents one of
the best bang for your buck introductions to the classic car hobby,
and it should easily continue to appreciate in value for years to
come.
Light and earth-tone colors were all the rage in the early '80s,
and this Corvette still proudly wears code 10 White paint on its
beautifully sculpted design. Second only to red in popularity, it
speaks to the era in which it was built and if you like your
Corvettes subtle, this is a great choice. I suppose that low-key
color is why it has enjoyed such an easy life and why its previous
owners have maintained it all these years. From what we can tell,
it looks like this is an older respray on this coupe, but it does
show well today. It isn't perfect, of course, and has plenty of
patina and "acquired character" spots, but it's nice to see that
nobody felt the need to change the color to suite personal tastes.
The White paint also tolerates factory specs pretty well and you'll
be pleasantly surprised by how well this one fits together. There
are signs of use, but certainly nothing requiring immediate
attention; just keep it clean and tidy and enter it in some
entry-level class judging at your local cruise-ins and you'll be
pleased with the results.
The Medium Red leather interior appears to be all original, and
it's almost shocking how clean it is, especially all of the soft
parts. The leather seats are still comfortable, supportive and very
inviting, and the upholstery is supple without splits or tears, so
you can enjoy it without a second thought. As I said, the A/C is
nice and cold thanks to a R134a refrigerant upgraded inside, and in
1981 the flagship Corvette included just about every power
accessory you could want, including power windows and locks, cruise
control, a power driver's seat, and a tilt/telescope column with a
leather-wrapped wheel. The T-tops seal up well and include locks
and fit neatly under the hatch. That is a stock AM/FM/8 track
stereo still in the dash (along with a CB radio), a cutting-edge
piece of entertainment equipment three decades ago (has it been
that long already?), and seemingly appropriate for the vintage
'Vette. And with a black chin spoiler up front, black lower body
molding, and that built-in ducktail spoiler out back, it has a
clean, chiseled look that still works well today.
There were no optional engines in 1981, all Corvettes got a torquey
L81 small block that was rated at 190 horsepower. A Quadrajet
4-barrel carb keeps it reliable and it's reassuring to know that
this 350 still has plenty of life left in it, despite three decades
of use. It starts quickly and easily, runs beautifully, and has a
fantastic V8 exhaust note that makes every drive an exciting one.
It's almost all original under the hood, including that
dual-snorkeled air cleaner and those killer finned valve covers,
which is always a good sign on easily-modifiable cars. It's backed
by a 3-speed automatic transmission with a lockup torque converter
for improved efficiency (part of Corvette's CCC system), and the
exhaust system is OEM style and still has a catalytic converter,
something rarely found on classics. Original chassis don't come
much more solid than this, and even the bright polished slotted
alloys are in great condition and wear newer 225/70/15 Primewell
white-letter radials that fit right.
For the Corvette fan who cherishes originality and value, this C3
has a lot to offer that's beyond the run-of-the-mill 'Vette.
Documented with maintenance receipts and plenty of original
manuals, this 1981 Corvette is about as good as it gets at this
price point. Call today!