1981 Corvette

1968	1969	1970	1971	1972
1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
1978	1979	1980	1981	1982

Several notables for the 1981 Corvette. There were no optional engines, all were 350-cid, 190-hp engines. California buyers could once again order their Corvette with a manual transmission. The 1981 Corvette was built at two plants this year, St. Louis, MO. and Bowling Green, KY. The final Corvette built at the St. Louis plant was built on August 1, 1981; the Bowling Green plant began production on June 1, 1981.

1981 total Corvettes built - 40,606

Serial Numbers
St. Louis	1G1AY8764BS400001- 1G1AY8764BS431611
Bowling Green	1G1AY8764B5100001- 1G1AY8764B5108995

Engine Identification

Position	Character(s)	Description
1	V	Flint, MI. engine assembly plant
2 to 5	1025	Engine assembly date (month/day)
6 and 7	Code	ZDA - 350-cid 190-hp, manual transmission ZDB - 350-cid 190-hp, automatic transmission, California ZDC - 350-cid 190-hp, manual transmission, California ZDD - 350-cid 190-hp, automatic transmission
All engines were equipped with a single 4-bbl carburetor. Data are from GM's own Information Kit and some engines may or may not have made production.

Engine Specifications - 350 engine

Item	Base L81
Displacement	350 cid
Bore & Stroke	4.00" x 3.48"
Compression Ratio	8.2:1
Advertised Horsepower	190 hp @ 4200 rpm
Torque	280 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
Valve lifter type	Hydraulic
Fuel system	Rochester 4-bbl 17081217 - Manual 17081218 - Automatic

Regular Production Options

RPO	Description	Cost	Units	%
1YY87	Coupe	$16,258.52	40,606	100.0
AU3	Power Door Locks	$145.00	36,322	89.4
A42	Power Driver Seat	$183.00	29,200	71.9
CC1	Removable Glass Roof Panels	$414.00	29,095	71.7
C49	Rear Window Defogger	$119.00	36,893	90.9
DG7	Electric Sport Mirrors	$117.00	13,567	33.4
D84	Two-Tone Paint	$399.00	5,352	13.2
FE7	Gymkhana Suspension	$57.00	7,803	19.2
F51	Heavy Duty Shocks	$37.00	1,128	2.8
G92	Performance Axle Ratio	$20.00	2,400	5.9
K35	Speed Control (requires automatic transmission)	$155.00	32,522	93.3
MM4	4-speed Transmission	$0.00	5,757	14.2
MX1	Turbo Hydra-Matic 3-speed Automatic Transmission	$0.00	34,849	85.8
N90	Aluminum Wheels (4)	$428.00	36,485	89.9
QXH	P255/60R15 White Letter SBR Tires	$491.92	18,004	44.3
QGR	P255/70R15 White Letter SBR Tires	$72.00	21,939	54.0
UL5	Radio Delete	-$118.00	315	0.8
UM4	AM/FM Stereo Radio with 8-Track Player	$386.00	8,262	20.3
UM5	AM/FM Stereo Radio with 8-Track Player with CB	$712.00	792	2.0
UM6	AM/FM Stereo Radio with Cassette	$423.00	22,892	56.4
UN5	Am/FM Stereo Radio with Cassette & CB	$750.00	2,349	5.8
U58	AM/FM Stereo Radio	$95.00	5,145	12.7
U75	Power Antenna	$55.00	32,903	81.0
V54	Roof Panel Carrier	$135.00	3,303	8.1
YF5	California Emission Certification	$46.00	4,951	12.2
ZN1	Trailer package	$110.00	916	2.3
The 350-cid, 190-hp engine, 4-speed manual transmission or automatic transmission, T-tops and leather/vinyl or cloth/vinyl interior trim included in base price.

1981 Exterior/Interior Colors

Code	Color (Quantity)	Percentage	Interior Color Choices
06	Mahogany Metallic (1,092)	2.69	Camel - Dark Red
10	White (6,387)	15.73	Charcoal - Camel - Dark Blue - Dark Red - Medium Red - Silver Gray
13	Silver (2,590)	6.38	Charcoal - Dark Blue - Medium Red - Silver Gray
19	Black (4,712)	11.60	Charcoal - Camel - Dark Red - Medium Red - Silver Gray
24	Bright Blue Metallic (1)	0.0	Charcoal - Camel - Dark Blue - Silver Gray
28	Dark Blue Metallic (2,522)	6.21	Camel - Dark Blue - Medium Red - Silver Gray
33	Silver Metallic (3,369)	8.30	Camel - Dark Blue - Medium Red - Silver Gray
38	Dark Blue Metallic (2,522)	6.21	Camel - Dark Blue - Silver Gray
39	Charcoal Metallic (613)	1.51	Charcoal - Dark Red - Silver Gray
50	Beige (2,239) (St. Louis)	5.51	Charcoal - Camel - Dark Blue - Dark Red
52	Yellow (1,031)	2.54	Charcoal - Camel
59	Beige (3,842) (Bowling Green)	9.46	Camel - Dark Blue - Dark Red - Medium Red
74	Dark Bronze (432)	1.06	Charcoal - Camel
75	Red (4,310)	10.61	Charcoal - Camel - Medium Red - Silver Gray
79	Maroon Metallic (1,618)	3.98	Charcoal - Camel - Medium Red - Silver Gray
80	Autumn Red (1,505)	3.71	Charcoal - Camel - Dark Red - Silver Gray
84	Charcoal Metallic (3,485)	8.58	Charcoal - Camel - Medium Red - Silver Gray
98	Dark Claret Metallic (331)	0.82	Camel - Dark Red - Silver Gray
33/38	Silver/Dark Blue (unk)	n/a	Dark Blue - Silver Gray
33/39	Silver/Charcoal (unk)	n/a	Charcoal - Silver Gray
50/74	Beige/Dark Brown (unk)	n/a	Camel
80/98	Autumn Red/Dark Claret (unk)	n/a	Dark Red - Silver Gray
The exterior/interior combinations are suggested combinations that would be attractive to the average customer. Orders for non-recommended combinations for the coupe models may be submitted provided the dealer initials the appropriate order form block as verification. All two-tone combinations were painted at Bowling Green and quantity records are not currently available.

Interior Trim Codes

RPO	Color/Material	Quantity	Percentage
13C	Silver Gray cloth ⁽³⁾	---	---
15C	Silver Gray cloth ⁽³⁾	---	---
19C	Charcoal cloth	---	---
29C	Dark Blue cloth	---	---
64C	Camel cloth	---	---
67C	Cinnabar Red cloth ⁽²⁾	---	---
74C	Dark Red cloth ⁽³⁾	---	---
132	Silver Gray leather ^{(1) (3)}	---	---
152	Silver Gray leather	---	---
192	Charcoal leather	---	---
292	Dark Blue leather ⁽⁴⁾	---	---
642	Camel leather	---	---
672	Cinnabar Red leather ⁽²⁾	---	---
741	Dark Red leather ⁽³⁾	---	---
752	Medium Red leather	---	---

⁽¹⁾ Coded 131 on trim tag
⁽²⁾ Shown as Dark Red in GM Information Kit
⁽³⁾ Not shown in GM Information Kit
⁽⁴⁾ Coded as 291 on trim tag
Differences in interior trims could be attributed to the change from production at St. Louis to Bowling Green.

1981 OEM Supplier Paint Colors

Color	Valspar Code	PPG Code	DuPont Code	RM Code	SW Code	WA Code
06 - Mahogany	B418	2864	44131	n/a	25025	4759
10 - Classic White	W041	8631	5040	1802	2517	3465
13 - Silver	S028	2953	44716	8680	3782	4963
19 - Black	K090	9300	99	A946	1738	n/a
24 - Bright Blue	L990	3340	B8013	12205G	31034-G	7270
28 - Dark Blue	L758	3074	45209	11206D	3913-G	7193
38 - Dark Blue	MW8101	3473	B8267	n/a	31824	7496
39 - Charcoal	N527	3414	B8265	12661	31825	7420
44 - Silver	S282	3402	B8262	n/a	n/a	7410
50 - Beige	MW8102	3474	B8268	n/a	31826	7498
52 - Yellow	Y419	3236	B8054	11434V	30745	7196
59 - Frost Beige	B116	3087	45205	9380	3902	7084
74 - Dark Beige	MW8103	3446	B8364	n/a	31827	7412
75 - Red	R119	3332	B8115	12229V	31056-H	7211
79 - Maroon	R979	3361	B8126	12232V	31058-E	n/a
80 - Claret	MW8104	3445	B8263	n/a	31828	n/a
84 - Charcoal	N125	3223	B8012	11421	30473	7197
98 - Dark Claret	R797	3452	B8266	12685D	31829	7421

GM Heritage PDF file of specifications/options/etc.

1968	1969	1970	1971	1972
1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
1978	1979	1980	1981	1982