Vehicle Description
This 1981 Chevrolet Corvette is one of those cars that's easy to
love. And why wouldn't you? Low mileage, unusual colors, and a
bargain price. If you're looking to have some fun in a vintage car
without spending a ton of cash, this Corvette looks like a very
smart choice.
If you look around, clean C3 Corvettes are getting harder to find.
Sure, you can always find some tired beater, but with prices
inching steadily upwards, the best original cars are surely to
start appreciating. This 15,700-original mile Corvette (not a typo)
is wearing its original code 50/74 Beige over Dark Bronze paint and
its condition suggests that someone has always loved this car. The
fiberglass is in excellent condition with no evidence of accident
damage, and the finish is nicely preserved thanks to owners who
kept it out of the foul weather. Hailing from down south, it has
also been out of the sun, since there's no UV damage on any of the
soft parts, and even things like the decals and stripes are still
crisp and bright. Urethane bumpers came into vogue a few years
earlier, but unlike many of its siblings, these match the bodywork
pretty well and aren't all cracked and crumbling like many
neglected 'Vettes you'll see in this price range. It's pretty easy
to imagine this car in your driveway, isn't it?
The gorgeous code 64L Camel leather interior is also nicely
preserved, with upholstery that looks almost new. Everything seems
to be in first-rate condition, and these cars only came one way:
loaded. Notable features include cruise control, power windows,
locks, and seats, functional ice cold A/C and a tilt/telescoping
steering column. The door panels and dash pad are in great
condition, again suggesting that the car never spent hours baking
in the hot sun, and we have to believe the carpets are original and
protected by a set of matching floor mats. The gauges are bright
and clear, and yes, the tachometer parking itself at 1000 RPM is
typical of GM cars of this vintage and is not a defect. A
color-matched leather steering wheel has aged slightly differently
than the rest of the interior, more proof that it's original, and a
neatly finished cargo bay with protective cover all make this a
Corvette that's very easy to live with every day.
The engine is the original, numbers-matching L81 350 cubic inch V8,
which made a fairly stout 190 horsepower 1981. The chrome air
cleaner with a cold air snorkel helps feed the energetic small
block and there are signs of proper maintenance and correct
markings throughout, with nothing radical or modified that would
suggest abuse. By 1981, they weren't exactly pretty engines, but
this one has not been hacked or modified in any significant way,
which means that it has been in responsible owners' hands all its
life. Even the exhaust system is the original 2-1-2 setup with
factory catalytic converter. The TH350 3-speed automatic
transmission always seems to find the right gear when you need it,
and the very tidy undercarriage shows off clean living in a warm
climate and that miniscule mileage. Four-wheel discs and an
independent suspension have been standard for decades, and the '81
Corvette was the best-handling 'Vette yet, due in part to alloy
wheels wearing 235/60/15 BFGoodrich radials.
Documented with a factory build sheet, original window sticker, and
owner's manual, this is a high-grade survivor that can win awards
and remain a fun-to-drive alternative to the big-dollar cars. Call
today!