FEATURE CAR FOR THE UPCOMING COLLECTOR CAR AUCTION IN BRANSON, MISSOURI ON OCTOBER 16th AND 17th, 2026. THIS COLLECTOR CAR AUCTION WILL BE HELD IN DOWNTOWN BRANSON, MISSOURI, AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. THIS CORVETTE WILL CROSS THE BLOCK ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17th, 2026. LOT # 535. Visit BRANSONAUCTION.com for all details.

1981 Chevrolet Corvette T-Top Coupe. Finished in Red with matching Red leather interior. Only 33,500 actual miles and completely documented back to 1981. This was a one-owner car until January of 2026, when we acquired it from the original owner. This Corvette was sold new locally at Reliable Chevrolet and has never left this area. Always garaged and driven on occasion to keep the car in great running condition. You do not find many one-owner cars these days. The car is mostly a Survivor with a few parts changed over the years due to routine maintenance. Such things are the belts, hoses, battery, brake calipers, etc. A brand new set of BF/Goodrich Radial White-Lettered T/A Tires has just been installed, and the optional aluminum wheels have been polished out to a mirror finish. The car runs and drives out as nice as it looks and is one of the nicer examples that you will find. The engine and drivetrain are original to the car, and all of the smog equipment and original exhaust system are still intact. The original AM/FM optional 8-track stereo is also still in the car.

The paint, body, engine compartment, and chassis are still very nice and show well. The original T-Top storage bags are behind the seat in the compartment and the original jack and lug wrench have never been removed. The interior does not have any fading or real wear showing, as this car was kept inside and out of the elements. The glass is all in excellent shape, and the optional removable glass T-Top roof panels are absolutely like new condition.

OPTIONS AND FEATURES INCLUDE:
L-81 5.7L 350 C.I. V8 Engine
MX1 Automatic Transmission
K35 Speed Control W/Resume
C49 Electric Rear Window Defogger
CC1 Removable Glass T-Top Roof Panels
AU3 Power Door Lock System
A42 Power Six-Way Driver Seat (A very first on a Corvette)
N90 Aluminum Wheels
QGR P225/70-R-15 Tires
NA5 Standard Emission System
UM4 Electric Tuned Stereo W/8-Track Tape Player
U75 Power Antenna
75L Paint Code For Corvette Red
752 Interior Code for Red Leather Bucket

Some of the standard equipment in 1981 includes air conditioning,
Power windows, tinted glass, power steering, power disc brakes,
Leather-wrapped Tilt/Telescopic steering wheel, limited-slip rear
Axle, independent front and rear suspension, anti-theft alarm
System, full instrumentation, and more!

This Corvette is documented with the following:
The original window sticker
Original purchase agreement
Original Finance Papers
Original Pre-Delivery Inspection
Original Warranty Book
Original Build Sheet
Original Owner’s Manual & Delco Radio Manual
Original Tire Brochure
Copies Of The Original Title From The First Owner
Clean CarFax Vehicle History Report
Registration Papers
Receipts For Some Maintenance
Assembly Manual For A 1981 Corvette

This Corvette was sold new at:
Reliable Chevrolet Co.
3655 S. Campbell
Springfield, MO 65807

The car sold new on 2/20/1981
The Original Sales Price was: $17,345.52
The Original base price in 1981 was $16,258.52
The AM/FM 8-Track Stereo was a $386.00 Option
The original owner traded in a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am
for this Corvette back then.
This Corvette was built on Wednesday, December 31st, 1980.
A total of 40,606 Corvettes were built in 1981.
There were only 4,310 Corvette Red ones made in 1981.
VIN # 1G1AY8768BS415167

1981 FACTS:
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 350ci, 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 with the LG4 305ci engine, were standard with the 1981 base engine.
Chevrolet’s “Computer Command Control”, used on 1980 Corvettes sold in California, became standard equipment on all 1981 Corvettes. The system automatically adjusted ignition timing and air-fuel mixture.
Chevrolet introduced a fiberglass-reinforced monoleaf 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 in 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 interior color.
The 1981 Corvette was the last model to see a carburetor on a Corvette.
A power seat became available in Corvettes for the first time in 1981 as an RPO A42 option. It was available for the driver’s side only.
All optional radios except U58 were new-style Delcos with electronic tuned receivers (etr). The radios featured digital station tuning readout and built-in clocks. If a 1981 Corvette had one of these optional radios, as this Corvette does, the standard quartz instrument panel clock was replaced with an oil temperature gauge.