1981 Corvette Pricing, Factory Options, & Colors

• The base price of the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe without any optional equipment.
• A 350 cubic inch, 190 horsepower engine, 4-speed manual transmission or automatic transmission, leather/vinyl or cloth/vinyl interior trim, tinted glass, AM/FM Radio, power windows, air conditioning, tilt telescopic steering wheel, and T-tops were included in the base price.

Power Door Locks (AU3)

• Factory installed power door locks.

Power Driver Seat (A42)

• Six-way driver’s side power seat

Removable Glass Roof Panels (CC1)

• Tinted glass lift-out roof panels

Rear Window Defogger (C49)

• An optional rear window forced air defogger.

Electric Sport Mirrors (DG7)

• Electric, twin remote, sport mirrors.

Two-Tone Paint (D84)

• Two-tone exterior paint scheme from the new Bowling Green plant included the following choices: Silver/Dark Blue, Silver/Charcoal, Beige/Dark Bronze, Autumn Red/Dark Claret

Gymkhana Suspension (FE7)

• An optional, heavier-duty suspension system for higher levels of performance.
• The Gymkhana rear leaf springs contained 9 leafs, though the top leaf is very small. GM identifies the rear leaf springs as an 8-leaf spring.
• Included a stiffer front sway bar and stiffer springs.
• There were no restrictions on ordering this option – it could be ordered with any engine/transmission combination.

Heavy Duty Shock Absorbers (F51)

• Not available with Trailer Package ZN1.
• Not available with Gymkhana Suspension FE7.

Performance Axle Ratio (G92)

• Requires MX1 Automatic Transmission and YF5 California Emissions

Cruise Control (K35)

• Cruise control allowed the car to maintain a set speed without the driver depressing the accelerator pedal.
• The cruise control option was only available with MX1 automatic transmission.
• Included “Resume” control. Resume allowed the driver to return to a preset speed.

4-Speed Manual Transmission (MM4)

• 4-speed manual transmission.
• MM4 was a no-cost option.

Aluminum Wheels (4) (N90)

• Included four aluminum wheels and a conventional steel spare

White Letter Steel Belted Radial Tires, P225/70R15 (QGR)

• Optional size tires with special raised white lettering.

White Letter Steel Belted Radial Tires, P255/60R15 (QXH)

• Standard size tires with special raised white lettering.
• Radio Delete (UL5) – Radio deletion for a credit of $118.00
• Deletes standard radio and speakers.

AM-FM Radio, electronically tuned Stereo with 8-Track Tape (UM4)

• The standard/stock radio equipped with an 8-Track Tape Player.
• The radio received broadcast in FM 2-channel stereo, FM monaural, and AM monaural.
• Includes 8-track tape deck.

AM-FM Radio, electronically tuned Stereo with 8-Track Tape and CB (UM5)

• The standard/stock radio equipped with a 8-Track Tape Deck and CB Radio.
• The radio received broadcast in FM 2-channel stereo, FM monaural, and AM monaural.
• Includes 8-Track Tape Deck.
• includes Citizens Band Radio.

AM-FM Radio, electronically tuned Stereo with Cassette (UM6)

• The standard/stock radio equipped with a Cassette Tape Player.
• The radio received broadcast in FM 2-channel stereo, FM monaural, and AM monaural.
• Includes Cassette Tape player.

AM-FM Radio, Stereo with Cassette and CB (UN5)

• The standard/stock radio equipped with a Cassette Tape Player and CB Radio.
• The radio received broadcast in FM 2-channel stereo, FM monaural, and AM monaural.
• Includes Cassette Tape player.
• Includes Citizens Band Radio.

AM-FM Radio, Stereo (U58)

• A standard/stock dealer installed Corvette radio.
• The radio received broadcast in FM 2-channel stereo, FM monaural, and AM monaural.

Power Antenna (U75)

• A rear deck antenna that retracts and extends when the radio or ignition is powered off and on respectively. The power antenna extends 31 inches.
• Not available with UL5, UM5 or UN5.

Roof Panel Carrier (V54)

• A carrier mounted to the rear deck for external transport of the removable roof panels.

California Emission Certification (YF5)

Trailer Package (ZN1)

• Factory installed trailer package.
• The trailer package included the FE7 Gymkhana Suspension and a heavy-duty radiator.
• The hitch could support approximately 100 pounds of tongue weight.
• Requires MX1 Automatic Transmission.

Notes

• The 1981 Corvette was built in two seperate locations. Chevrolet transitioned production from St. Louis, MS to Bowling Green, KY. The last production day in St. Louis was August 1, 1981. The Bowling Green plant began production on June 1, 1981.
• Only one engine was available for the Corvette in 1981 – the L81. The L81 was certified for sale in all 50 states.
• New fiberglass-reinforced Mono Leaf rear spring was standard with an automatic transmission. The design eliminates interleaf friction to help reduce ride harshness. The steel multi-leaf spring is retained with the manual transmission and optional Gymkhana suspension.
• The automatic transmission included a converter clutch feature in 2nd and 3rd gears.
• The Advanced Computer Command Control Center became standard in 1981. The system automatically adjusted ignition timing and air-fuel mixture.
• Lightweight magnesium valve rocker covers in black with bright ribbed surface was standard.
• New stainless steel, free-flow exhaust manifolds replaced the previous years cast iron manifolds offering a weight reduction of fourteen pounds.
• New auxiliary electric fan cuts in if supplemental cooling is needed. This allowed a smaller fan with fewer, lower pitched fan blades for reduced fan drag and a quieter operation.
• The standard anti-theft system was improved for 1981 by adding a starter-interrupt feature that disables the starter circuit if a forced entry is detected. Arming of the system is obtained by using the manual lock or power door control on the driver’s door. Simply unlocking the driver’s door with the key will disarm the system.
• The headlight and windshield wiper switch bezel was painted the interior color as apposed to the standard black on the previous model year.
• A quartz crystal-movement clock was standard. it was a more accurate and durable timepiece than the conventional mechanical-movement clocks.