1961 Corvette Pricing, Factory Options, & Color

CODE	DESCRIPTION	QUANTITY	RETAIL PRICE
867	Base Corvette Convertible	10,939	$3,934.00
101	Heater	10,671	$102.25
102	AM Radio, signal seeking	9,316	$137.75
242	Positive Crankcase Ventilation (California)	–	$5.40
276	Wheels, 15 x 5.5 (5)	337	$0.00
290	Whitewall Tires, 6.70 x 15	9,780	$31.55
313	Powerglide Automatic Transmission	1,458	$199.10
353	283ci, 275HP Engine (Fuel Injection)	118	$484.20
354	283ci, 315HP Engine (Fuel Injection)	$1,462.00	$484.20
419	Auxillary Hardtop	5,680	$236.75
426	Power Windows	698	$59.20
440	Two-Tone Exterior Paint	3,351	$16.15
468	283ci, 270HP Engine (2×4 Carburetors)	2,827	$182.95
469	283ci, 245HP Engine (2×4 Carburetors)	1,175	$150.65
473	Power Operated Folding Top	442	$161.40
675	Positraction Rear Axle	6,915	$43.05
685	4-Speed Manual Transmission	7,013	$188.30
686	Metallic Brakes	1,402	$37.70
687	Heavy Duty Brakes and Special Steering	233	$333.60
1408	Blackwall Tires, 6.70 x 15 Nylon	–	$15.75
1625	24 Gallon Fuel Tank	–	$161.40

Base Corvette Roadster (867)

• The base price of the 1961 Chevrolet Corvette without any optional equipment.
• This base option price included a 283 cubic inch, 230 horsepower V8 engine, 3-speed manual transmission, vinyl interior trim, and a soft top.

Heater (101)

• An interior space/ cockpit heater.

AM Radio, signal seeking (102)

• A standard Delco, signal seeking AM radio with conventional volume and selector bars.

Positive Crankcase Ventilation (242)

• This PCV was applied to all Corvettes sold and delivered to California.

Wheels, 15×5.5 (276)

• Optional wheels that were one-half inch wider than stock.
• Featured small, passenger car hubcaps instead of standard, full wheel disc covers.

Whitewall Tires (290)

• Original tires were either U.S. Royal Air Ride, B.G. Goodrich Silvertown or Firestone Deluxe Champion.
• All tires were wide-whitewall type, with whitewall widths varying from 2.5 to 3 inches.

Powerglide Automatic Transmission (313)

• An “optional” two-speed automatic transmission developed by GM.

283 CI, 275 HP Engine (Fuel Injected) (353)

• A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine.
• 118 of the 1961 Corvettes were built with this engine.

283 CI, 315 HP Engine (Fuel Injected) (354)

• A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine.
• 1,462 of the 1961 Corvettes were built with this engine.

Auxiliary Hardtop (419)

• An optional hard-top that replaced the standard convertible top.
• Although the Auxiliary Hardtop is shown as an option, customers could swap the convertible top for the auxiliary hard top at no additional cost.  Of the 5,680 Corvettes sold with this option,  2,285 of them were the result of this substitution.

Power Windows (426)

• Electronically controlled windows which could be raised or lowered during vehicle operation.

Two-Tone Paint Combination (440)

• A second, optional paint color that was used to highlight the bodyside coves.
• A total of 3,351 Corvettes featured the two-tone paint scheme in 1961.  Of these, 954 were painted Roman Red/White, 647 were painted Honduras Maroon/White, 385 were painted Ermine White/Silver, 358 were painted Fawn Beige/White, 429 were painted Tuxedo Black/Silver, 419 were painted Jewel Blue/White, and 159 were painted Sateen Silver/White.

283 CI, 270 HP Engine (2×4 Carburetors) (468)

• A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine.
• 2,827 of the 1961 Corvettes were built with this engine.

283 CI, 245 HP Engine (2×4 Carburetors) (469)

• A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine.
• 1,175 of the 1961 Corvettes were built with this engine.

Power Operated Folding Top (473)

• Electronically controlled convertible top that could be automatically raised/lowered.
• Unlike the 1953-1955 Corvette Roadsters, which had an optional top that could be attached to the car, this convertible top was an integral part of the design, allowing the 1961 Corvette to be classified as a true convertible.

Positraction Rear Axle (675)

• A “limited slip” rear axle that engages both rear wheels as drive wheels.
• For 1961, RPO 675 required that the Corvette have a manual transmission.

4-Speed Manual Transmission (685)

• An optional four-speed, close ratio, syncromesh manual transmission.
• This option included a “T” handle with positive reverse lockout.

Metallic Brakes (686)

• Optional sintered-metallic brake linings which increases braking effectiveness.
• They comprised of three pairs of lining segments that were riveted to the primary brake shoes and five pairs of slightly thicker segments for the secondary shoes.
• Drums were finless with this option but were flared at their open ends to enhance cooling.
• The sintered linings made braking less harsh than the Cerametallic material and needed far less warming up to provide maximum braking effectiveness.
• They were developed by GM’s Delco-Moraine Division.

Heavy Duty Brakes and Special Steering (687)

• This option was designed to increase brake and steering performance and included the following:
• Special front and rear shocks
• Air scoops/deflectors for front brakes and air scoops for rear brakes
• Metallic brake facings
• Finned brake drums with cooling fans
• Quick steering adaptor
• Required: RPO 354 or RPO 468, and RPO 675

Blackwall Tires, 6.70×15 Nylon (1408)

• Optional black sidewall tires to replace the standard white sidewall.

24 Gallon Fuel Tank (1625)

• A special fiberglass fuel tank that allowed for greater fuel mileage by reducing weight.
• Replaced standard tank.