Factory Colors White/Red! L81 350 V8, Auto, Cold A/C, Well Optioned, T-tops!

Description

You might glance at this 1981 Corvette and figure that it's been comprehensively restored and deserves a hefty price tag, but we assure you that it's a very honest, highly original car with an under $20k price tag. Featuring a strong 350 L81 V8, a smooth shifting automatic transmission, and great options that include cold A/C, this C3 allows you to get in on the Corvette craze for a very reasonable investment. This turn-key coupe represents one of the best bang for your buck introductions to the classic car hobby, and it should easily continue to appreciate in value for years to come.
Light and earth-tone colors were all the rage in the early '80s, and this Corvette still proudly wears code 10 White paint on its beautifully sculpted design. Second only to red in popularity, it speaks to the era in which it was built and if you like your Corvettes subtle, this is a great choice. I suppose that low-key color is why it has enjoyed such an easy life and why its previous owners have maintained it all these years. From what we can tell, it looks like this is an older respray on this coupe, but it does show well today. It isn't perfect, of course, and has plenty of patina and "acquired character" spots, but it's nice to see that nobody felt the need to change the color to suite personal tastes. The White paint also tolerates factory specs pretty well and you'll be pleasantly surprised by how well this one fits together. There are signs of use, but certainly nothing requiring immediate attention; just keep it clean and tidy and enter it in some entry-level class judging at your local cruise-ins and you'll be pleased with the results.
The Medium Red leather interior appears to be all original, and it's almost shocking how clean it is, especially all of the soft parts. The leather seats are still comfortable, supportive and very inviting, and the upholstery is supple without splits or tears, so you can enjoy it without a second thought. As I said, the A/C is nice and cold thanks to a R134a refrigerant upgraded inside, and in 1981 the flagship Corvette included just about every power accessory you could want, including power windows and locks, cruise control, a power driver's seat, and a tilt/telescope column with a leather-wrapped wheel. The T-tops seal up well and include locks and fit neatly under the hatch. That is a stock AM/FM/cassette stereo still in the dash (along with a CB radio), a cutting-edge piece of entertainment equipment three decades ago (has it been that long already?), and seemingly appropriate for the vintage 'Vette. And with a black chin spoiler up front, black lower body molding, and that built-in ducktail spoiler out back, it has a clean, chiseled look that still works well today.
There were no optional engines in 1981, all Corvettes got a torquey L81 small block that was rated at 190 horsepower. A Quadrajet 4-barrel carb keeps it reliable and it's reassuring to know that this 350 still has plenty of life left in it, despite three decades of use. It starts quickly and easily, runs beautifully, and has a fantastic V8 exhaust note that makes every drive an exciting one. It's almost all original under the hood, including that dual-snorkeled air cleaner and those killer finned valve covers, which is always a good sign on easily-modifiable cars. It's backed by a 3-speed automatic transmission with a lockup torque converter for improved efficiency (part of Corvette's CCC system), and the exhaust system is OEM style and still has a catalytic converter, something rarely found on classics. Original chassis don't come much more solid than this, and even the bright polished slotted alloys are in great condition and wear newer 225/70/15 Primewell white-letter radials that fit right.
For the Corvette fan who cherishes originality and value, this C3 has a lot to offer that's beyond the run-of-the-mill 'Vette. Documented with maintenance receipts and plenty of original manuals, this 1981 Corvette is about as good as it gets at this price point. Call today!