1981 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

It's rare for a C3 Corvette to have a contemporary look, but the clean Charcoal Gray paint on this 1981 Corvette certainly makes it easy to forget about disco and remember that the 'Vette is a sports car first and foremost.

Fortunately, the color is correct code 84L Charcoal Gray so this Corvette looks very authentic as it sits. It was repainted a few years ago but still looks excellent, with that dark metallic paint emphasizing the C3's outrageous curves. The finish quality was quite good when it was finished and has held up well, especially considering that most Corvettes like this get more than their fair share of care. Silver pinstripes flow along the fenders without seeming excessive and certainly not as flashy as some of the '70s designs that flowed out of GM design studios at the time. Fit and finish are about what you'd expect for a hobby-grade Corvette that's ready to drive and enjoy: so nice that it attracts a lot of attention on the street, but not so perfect that you're afraid to drive it if the weather report is sketchy. If you want an entry-level 'Vette that's a little unusual and a lot attractive, this is an excellent choice.

The black interior is also nicely finished and has to be relatively recently restored. The driver's seat shows only minor wear and two small punctures where maybe someone had something sharp in their pocket, but otherwise it looks like it belongs in a far more expensive car. The carpets, door panels, and dash pad are equally nice and the leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel feels great in your hands. The gauges are comprehensive, as they are in any Corvette, and yes, the tach parks itself at about 800 RPM when you shut off the engine, which is perfectly normal. A newer AM/FM/CD stereo fits so well you'd almost think it was designed for the Corvette, and a woodgrained shifter handle warms up the otherwise monochromatic interior treatment. Options include A/C, power windows and locks, cruise control, and a tilt column, which is how most Corvettes came from the factory. The T-tops remain in excellent shape and provide a nice alternative to the convertible, which had been gone for six years by the time this car was built.

A 350 cubic inch crate motor was dropped under the forward-tilting hood and gives this 'Vette a rejuvenated sense of performance. No longer saddled with wheezing emissions controls and low compression, it offers an Edelbrock intake manifold with a Weber 4-barrel carb, an open-element air cleaner, and a recent factory-style paint job that keeps it looking right. Block-hugging exhaust manifolds feed a dual exhaust system that sounds awesome and still uses catalytic converters, so no worries about the smog police with this one. A rugged TH350 3-speed automatic feeds the original rear end, which has a Posi unit inside, and the chassis is impressively clean for being more than 30 years old. Beautiful slotted alloys are some of the most attractive Corvette wheels ever made and they wear fat 255/60/15 Goodyear radials.

This is a very attractive entry-level Corvette that provides the performance and look you've been looking for, and with a little tinkering, it could be a first-rate summer ride. Call today!