Up for your consideration for the first time ever offered is a one-owner 1981 Corvette. This Corvette has only 17,961 actual miles and was sold new here locally in Springfield Missouri at Reliable Chevrolet. The original owner still owns this car as I am helping him sell on consignment so the title is actually a one owner! He is getting older and cannot get in and out of the car like he used to is the reason it is available. He has never offered the car for sale until now and has even been hesitant to do so. The car has always been kept inside and stored properly. The chassis is extremely original and clean showing visible chalk and inspection markings and even the tape that holds the body shims in place to the frame and body are still visible. The paint is still very nice and presentable and it does not need refinishing or restoring. The original owner did recently replace the tires as the originals were still on the car and had the car looked over and replaced anything that might need to be so the car would be ready to sell and the next owner to enjoy. The air conditioning works as most do not and the original owner is available to speak with and ask any questions if desired. The car has never been in any accidents or had issues nor any problems. No modifications and is completely stock down to the exhaust system with all smog equipment and the catalytic converter still intact. The owner does have some nice original paperwork and documentation including an original copy of the 1981 Missouri title when he purchased it new.

EXTERIOR:
The exterior on this Corvette is about as nice as any original as you will find. All window glass is correctly date coded and as new. The removable glass t-tops are in very nice shape as well. The finish still shines well and both the front and rear bumpers are not warped or wavy from being left outside as so many have been. The weatherstripping is nice as well. The factory striping and decals on the hood are in great shape.
This color was called Beige/Bronze two-tone finish and was a Bowling Green built Corvette as the two-tones were and the solid color cars were still built in St. Louis at that time. The Bowling Green assembly plant was a better fit and finish than the St. Louis assembly as the two assembly plants were almost like in a friendly competition to see who could build the better Corvette at that time before the transition completely took place for the 1982 model year. This color was unique and rare thus seldom seen.

INTERIOR:
The interior on this Corvette is in very good condition. The dash pad assembly, door panels, carpeting, center console, are all in original condition and do not need any attention. The lower driver’s side seat cushion had a small tear where the leather and vinyl meet on the edge so that cushion was replaced. We could not buy any material at this time otherwise we would have just had it repaired. That cushion came from Al Knoch and is exactly like what would have come in the car with the center portion leather and the sides the vinyl material. The original cushion was saved and goes with the car. The rest of the seat cushions are original and in excellent condition.
The interior color was called Camel and was the only recommended choice from GM at that time according to the Corvette Black Book.

CHASSIS & ENGINE COMPARTMENT:
For the most part the chassis and engine bay is untouched and original, showing visible signs of factory inspection and chalk markings. Labels, decals, are still visible on many of the components. Once in the air you can tell that this Corvette was not driven in the bad weather nor rain as much of these labels and markings would wash off or fall off from daily driving.
This Corvette would be a perfect candidate for Bloomington Gold Survivor Judging as well as N.C.R.S. Top Flight Judging. They are only original once and how many are left that are one owner cars.

VIN # 1G1AY8763B5106253
Actual Build Date: Monday September 21st, 1981
Bowling Green Assembly Built Corvette
Paint Code 50L 74M Beige / Dark Bronze Two-Tone
Interior Code: 64I Camel Leather

This Corvette was sold new at:
Reliable Chevrolet in Springfield Missouri
The original MSRP was close to $19,000 new back in 1981!

This Corvette has the following options / features:
L-81 350 Cubic Inch V8 Engine (4-BBL)
Automatic Transmission
CC1 Removable Glass Roof Panels
D84 Two-Tone Paint
K35 Cruise Control
C49 Rear Window Defogger
A42 Power Driver Seat
N90 Aluminum Wheels
QGR White Lettered SBR Tires P225/70R15
U75 Power Antenna
UM6 AM-FM Radio, ETR Stereo With Cassette Player
Dual Rear Speakers
Power Windows
Power Steering
Sport Mirrors
Power 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
Air Conditioning
Limited Slip Rear Axle
Tilt/Telescopic Steering Wheel
Computer Command Control
Tinted Glass
Independent Front & Rear Suspension

The 1981 Corvette was the first model year to be built simultaneously in two locations. The first Corvette was completed at the new Bowling Green, Kentucky, assembly line on June 1, 1981. The last Corvette built at St. Louis was completed on August 1, 1981.

Although there were no engine options for 1981, the base 30ci, 190hp L81 engine was certified for sale in all states including California with both 4-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

Exterior styling carried over from 1980, but emblems did change slightly.

The tubular stainless steel exhaust manifolds, used for 1980 Corvettes sold in California, were standard on the base 1981 engine.

Chevrolet’s “computer command control” became standard equipment on all 1981 Corvettes. The system automatically adjusted ignition timing and air-fuel mixture.

Chevrolet introduced a fiberglass-reinforced mono leaf rear spring for 1981 Corvettes equipped with automatic transmissions and standard suspensions. The plastic spring weighed eight pounds compared to forty-four pounds for the steel unit it replaced.

The anti-theft alarm system was improved for 1981 by the addition of an ignition interrupt to prevent engine start.

All 1981 valve covers were magnesium for weight reduction.

For improved fuel economy, 1981 Corvettes with automatic transmissions had torque converter clutches for second and third gears.

A detail change to the 1981 Corvette interior was the color-keying of the headlamp and windshield wiper switch bezels to the interior color. In 1980, they were black regardless of the interior color.

A power seat became available in Corvettes for the first time in 1981 as RPO A42. It was available for the driver’s side only.

The St. Louis assembly plant used mainly lacquer paints through the end of production in that facility, while Bowling Green used enamel base coats followed by clear topcoats. Bowling Green painted two-tones and solids. St. Louis painted mainly solids, but a limited two-tone production run at St. Louis of about 100 cars using Bowling Green enamel-clear coat system has been verified. These were first offered to GM employees and may not have been available to retail customers.