History C3 1981

Last Chance, Romance....

Sales reached 40,606 in Model Year 1981 even though the only engine offered was rated at 190 horsepower.  The coupe was the only available model in a year which was unique in other aspects also. 

Corvettes, for a time, were produced at both St. Louis and Bowling Green.  The first "job" rolled out of Bowling Green on June 1, 1980 and included the new base coat/clear coat process.  The last rolled out of St. Louis on August 1, 1981 where the Corvettes were still being adorned in lacquer.   Eleven different exterior colors afforded the buyer one of the largest choices in Corvette's history. 

"Last times" were also recorded in exterior color (last time lacquer would be used), feeding the engine fuel (last time a carburetor was used) and in transmissions (last time a manual transmission was offered in a C3).  Less than 20% of Corvettes (5,785) were equipped with a manual transmission.

Virtually identical, visually, to the previous year...minor changes in the emblems provided the only exterior cues to MY 1981.

Rear window defogger, aluminum wheels and power door locks were the most popular options each ordered on over 38,000 Corvettes.   Less than 6,000 Corvettes arrived at the dealerships with manual transmissions.