By 1981, Chevrolet’s C3 Corvette was no longer the performance benchmark it had been in years past. The company struggled along gamely, but enthusiasts with gasoline in their veins either had to wait for the ultra-expensive ZR-1 to hit showrooms or take matters into their own hands with an existing C3. The seller chose the latter option with our featured car, ditching the original motor for a big-block with impressive performance credentials. However, they include the removed parts if the buyer wishes to return the ‘Vette to its factory form. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Rocco B. for spotting this potent classic listed here on Craigslist in Coal Township, Pennsylvania, for $14,000.
Chevrolet made no obvious cosmetic changes to the C3 Corvette in 1981, restricting updates to the interior and to some mechanical components. Perhaps the most significant change wasn’t to the car itself, but the company’s decision to relocate production to a new facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This ‘Vette hails from there, and its paint shade is a slight mystery. It doesn’t match anything on that year’s color palette, but the seller describes it as “Burnt Orange Metallic,” which looks close to Ontario Orange. The exterior images are limited, but they paint a generally positive picture. There are no significant paint or panel imperfections, and no evidence of rust. The plastic hasn’t deteriorated, and the car rolls on a set of $425 factory aluminum wheels that almost 90% of buyers chose that year. The hood is the most obvious exterior change, but it is required to accommodate the beast sitting in the engine bay. If the new owner decides to return the car to its factory form, they will welcome the inclusion of the original hood.
Chevrolet adopted a “one size fits all” philosophy with the V8 powering the 1981 Corvette. Everyone received a 350ci V8, producing a modest 190hp and 280 ft/lbs of torque. The first owner paired this car’s 350 with a three-speed automatic transmission, resulting in competent but hardly earth-shattering performance. However, the seller took matters into their own hands, parked the small-block in a corner of their workshop, and dropped a 427ci beast into the empty space. It features an upgraded camshaft, headers, and a dual-quad induction system. We can forget 190hp, because I estimate the output of this big-block to be somewhere in the region of a lot. Hitting the loud pedal would unleash performance that recalls the C3’s glory days, with the seller describing the car as a street-legal drag racer. It appears to be a turnkey proposition, but the deal includes the original 350 if the buyer wanted to return the car to a “stock” state.
Another area of this Corvette needing nothing is its interior. The seller retrimmed it in Saddle leather, and its condition is comfortably acceptable for a driver-grade classic. The seats look excellent, there is no significant carpet wear, and no broken plastic. It should be pretty comfortable, thanks to the air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, tilt/telescopic wheel, and aftermarket radio/cassette player.
I typically prefer my classics unmolested, so you would think I would be rejoicing that, although this 1981 Corvette is heavily modified, the deal includes the removed parts that would let its new owner return it to factory form. You might assume that, but in this case, you would be wrong. I believe the pure motoring joy and exceptional performance from its big-block would plaster a mile-wide smile on any enthusiast’s face. That’s why I wouldn’t change a thing. Do you agree?
Sale pending. Nice price if the car checks out.