Mileage claims, particularly those made in the absence of verifying evidence, pose a challenge for potential buyers. They leave those individuals with little choice but to examine the classic with a fine-toothed comb to determine whether the quoted figure is plausible. That appears to be the case with this 1981 Chevrolet Corvette. The seller states that the odometer shows 5,298 miles, suggesting that it hasn’t rolled over. Its presentation is impressive, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder PRA4SNW for spotting the Corvette listed here at Hemmings in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania. The seller set their price at $20,000, and this Corvette has generated some interest since hitting the market.
Chevrolet performed cosmetic upgrades to the Corvette in 1980, restyling the bumpers and making other minor changes. These carried across into 1981, and with the company marking time as the development of the C4 continued, it didn’t perform any further updates to visually differentiate a 1981 vehicle from the previous year’s offering. The first owner ordered this beauty in dazzling Red, and its presentation is first-rate. It seems to support the mileage claim, but I never consider that iron-clad proof that the odometer reading is correct. This is a case where interested parties may attempt to negotiate an in-person inspection as they work to confirm that this Corvette is all that the seller claims. However, the paint holds a wonderful shine, with the excellent selection of listing images revealing no paint or panel defects. The underside shots are equally impressive, with the frame exhibiting no evidence of rust or other problems. The glass is clear, and the aluminum wheels, which were a popular choice amongst buyers, are in as-new condition.
Corvette buyers in 1981 received only one engine, the L81 version of the 350ci V8, which produced 190hp and 280 ft-lbs of torque. This would be the final year that a C3 could be ordered with a manual transmission, although this car’s first owner paired the small-block engine with a three-speed automatic transmission. Power-assisted steering and brakes were standard equipment in 1981, reducing the driver’s workload considerably. The seller indicates that they have recently replaced a large number of components, including the ball joints, suspension bushes, front shocks, and sway bar links. The previous owner also added new rear shocks and trailing arms. Those seeking a turnkey classic will welcome the news that this Corvette runs and drives perfectly.
The luxury leanings of this Corvette are reflected in the factory features, including air conditioning, power windows, cruise control, remote exterior mirrors, and a tilt/telescopic wheel. The Silver leather trim is in good condition, with no evidence of wear on the prone outer seat edges. The same is true of the carpet and the dash, while the console is free from obvious scratches that sometimes accumulate with age. The interior images seem to support the mileage claim, but this is another aspect of this car that requires inspection to help confirm or disprove the figure.
It will be fascinating to gauge your feedback on this 1981 Corvette to learn whether most of our readers find the mileage claim plausible. The seller isn’t definitive about the figure, merely suggesting that it is genuine. They are also sparing in their description, not mentioning verifying evidence or providing much information regarding this classic’s history. Therefore, I have decided to ignore the mileage issue and to assess the car’s relative worth as a survivor. The price falls within market expectations, and the fact that twenty-seven people have added this Corvette to their Watch List confirms that it has grabbed the eye of a few people. Will it find a new home? I think that it probably will.
Well 5298 miles on the dash ? This is the disclaimer, less than 6K on the OD is a walk around the block. There would be no need to replace the trailing arms, upper/lower control arm bushings, upper/lower ball joints, shocks, sway bar links and much more. Appears like a lot of work needed for a very low miles ? From the looks of the paint missing from the oil pan it is way more then stated. I have completely redid a 79 Vette with 125K and it didn’t need all this. Buyer Beware. I wonder what the 8 mounting points look like if it needed all this hardware.
I am with you Jim, was thinking exactly the same thing, even the leather seats have dirt filled cracks all over. I restored a 79 with over 100K also! It was a basket case but had a perfect frame and birdcage. Always wanted one with no spoilers, I was 18 when 78 and 79’s came out and fell in love with the bubble rear window. Not so fond of the 80 thru 82’s with that Indy car front grille.
Too many questions after looking at all the photos. Wow, some people’s kids.
I think that Jim C’s comments are valid. That amount of suspension work makes absolutely zero sense on a car with 5298 miles on it. All that aside, the asking price isn’t too crazy for an ’81 in good condition (even though I think the rear end treatment is really a mistake. I just can’t abide that spoiler) Also, the autoloader would be a non-starter for me.
Unless the owner drove in boots, the wear in the carpet indicates at least one rollover on the odometer. I agree with Jim, too much replaced for such low mileage. I had an ’82 CE with 60K on it and it didn’t need that much work.
The Drivers side carpet on the floor does not reflect 5500 miles. The exhaust does not enhance the look either.
It’s a nice looking car, however…
Definitely a dealer putting a spin on a 105K miles car. They did a great detail job on it.
And, since it is a dealer, you have no way of talking to the previous owner.
If you wanted to negotiate with the dealer, you could pull a CarFax (1981 was the first year for the 17 character VIN) and prove the true mileage. They’ll probably tell you to take a hike and wait for the next buyer.
I don’t care how few miles this car has, that ghetto exhaust has to go. These cars are piled up at this dealership because people no longer want later C3s. You can do much better in a private sale.