1981 Corvette VIN Decoder & Specs
Unlock the secrets of your classic 1981 Corvette with our detailed VIN and trim tag decoder. Verify your car's originality and production history. The trim tag analysis will reveal the factory-applied interior and exterior colors, plus the exact build date, essential for accurate restoration. Decoders for other components can be found here.
In 1981, a total of 40,606 Corvettes were manufactured.
Table of Contents
How to Decode Your 1981 Corvette VIN – Full Breakdown & Guide
Explore the original features of your 1981 Corvette with our VIN and trim tag decoder. Input your VIN to uncover engine, body, and transmission options. This tool confirms your car's production specifics. The trim tag analysis reveals original interior and exterior colors and the build date, supporting your restoration projects.
| VIN |
|
|---|---|
| Trim tag (St. Louis) |
|
| Trim tag (Bowling Green) |
|
Having trouble with the VIN decoder? Whether it's an unusual code, missing data, or you need help verifying a numbers-matching car, contact. Happy to help.
| 1981 VIN range |
|---|
| 1G1AY876BBS400001 – 1G1AY876BBS440606 |
1981 Corvette VIN Breakdown
| Position | Description | Possible Values |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country | 1 = US |
| 2 | Manufacturer | G = GM |
| 3 | Make | 1 = Chevrolet |
| 4 | Restraint | A = Manual belts |
| 5 | Series | Y = Corvette |
| 6–7 | Body Style | 87 = Coupe |
| 8 | Engine | 6 = L81 |
| 9 | Check Digit | (varies) |
| 10 | Model Year | B = 1981 |
| 11 | Assembly Plant | S = St. Louis 5 = Bowling Green |
| 12–17 | Unit Number | 400001 – 431611 (S) 5100001 – 5108995 (5) |
All specifications and VIN decoding details on this page are sourced from the official 1981 Chevrolet Corvette Vehicle Information Kit (PDF) published by General Motors.
You can use the Corvette C3 Decoder to decode other Corvette 1981 codes and view Corvette 1981 charts on the Corvette C3 chart article. All specifications and VIN decoding details are based on official Chevrolet data from GM’s 1981 Corvette Vehicle Information Kit .
1981 Corvette Specifications
Verify the factory colors of your 1981 Corvette using this guide. Below is a comprehensive list of available exterior and interior colors, complete with color codes and visual examples. This resource helps ensure accuracy in confirming your 1981 Corvette’s original finish.
Exterior Colors
| Code | Color sample | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 06 | Mahogany Metallic | 1,092 (2.69%) |
| 10 | Classic White | 6,387 (15.73%) |
| 13 | Silver Metallic | 2,590 (6.38%) |
| 19 | Black | 4,712 (11.60%) |
| 24 | Bright Blue Metallic | 1 (0.00%) |
| 28 | Dark Blue Metallic | 2,522 (6.21%) |
| 52 | Yellow | 1,031 (2.54%) |
| 59 | Frost Beige | 3,842 (9.46%) |
| 75 | Red | 4,310 (10.61%) |
| 79 | Maroon Metallic | 1,618 (3.98%) |
| 84 | Charcoal Metallic | 613 (1.51%) |
| 33/38 |
Silver
Dark Blue
|
3,369 (8.30%) |
| 33/39 |
Silver
Charcoal
|
n/a |
| 50/74 |
Beige
Dark Bronze
|
2,239 (5.51%) |
| 80/98 |
Red
Dark Claret
|
1,505 (3.71%) |
Interior Colors
The 1981 Corvette offered buyers a choice of leather interior upholstery.
| Code | Color |
|---|---|
| 19C | Charcoal Cloth |
| 192 | Charcoal Leather |
| 722 | Medium Red Leather |
| 64C | Camel Cloth |
| 642 | Camel Leather |
| 29C | Dark Blue Cloth |
| 292 | Dark Blue Leather |
| 152 | Silver Leather |
| 67C | Medium Cinnabar Cloth |
| 672 | Medium Cinnabar Leather |
Color combinations
For the 1981 Corvette, Chevrolet offered a selection of interior color options in leather, allowing buyers to match their interior to their chosen exterior.
| Exterior Colors | Interior Colors | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charcoal | Medium Red |
Camel | Dark Blue |
Silver | Medium Cinnabar |
|
|
Mahogany Metallic
|
— | — | X | — | — | X |
|
Classic White
|
X | X | X | X | — | X |
|
Silver Metallic
|
X | X | — | X | X | — |
|
Black
|
X | X | X | — | X | X |
|
Bright Blue Metallic
|
X | — | X | X | X | — |
|
Dark Blue Metallic
|
— | — | — | X | X | — |
|
Yellow
|
X | — | X | — | — | — |
|
Frost Beige
|
— | X | X | X | — | X |
|
Red
|
X | X | X | — | X | — |
|
Maroon Metallic
|
X | X | X | — | X | — |
|
Charcoal Metallic
|
X | X | X | — | X | — |
|
Silver
Dark Blue
|
— | — | — | X | X | — |
|
Silver
Charcoal
|
X | — | — | — | X | X |
|
Beige
Dark Bronze
|
— | — | X | — | — | — |
|
Red
Dark Claret
|
— | — | X | — | X | X |
Chassis
| Wheelbase | Length | Width | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98 in | 185.2 in | 69.0 in | Curb: 3,307 lb; Shipping: 3,179 lb |
Curb weight: Weight of the empty vehicle ready to drive. Shipping weight plus the weight of gasoline and water.
Shipping weight: Weight of the basic vehicle with regular equipment, grease, and oil. Weight of gasoline and water not included.
1981 Corvettes were outfitted with P225/70R15 or P255/60R15 radial tires. Learn more about the tires used on Corvettes in the article Corvette C3 RPM Calculator.
1981 Corvette Engine Options
| Engine Code |
Order Code |
CI | HP | Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZDA | L81(Federal) | 350 | 190 | 4-Speed |
| ZDB | L81(California) | 350 | 190 | TH350 |
| ZDC | L81(California) | 350 | 190 | 4-Speed |
| ZDD | L81(Federal) | 350 | 190 | TH350 |
You can read more from the Corvette C3 Engines article.
1981 Corvette Transmission Options
| Code | Type | Transmission |
|---|---|---|
| CC | Manual | Warner 4-Speed, Wide-Ratio |
| 8JD | Automatic | Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 |
You can read more from the Corvette C3 Transmissions article.
1981 Corvette RPO Codes and Options
Chevrolet offered a number of options to allow buyers to customize their Corvette to their exact specifications.
| Code | Option | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1YY87 | Corvette sport coupe | 40,606 |
| AU3 | Power door locks | 36,322 |
| A42 | Power driver seat | 29,200 |
| CC1 | Removable glass roof panels | 29,095 |
| C49 | Electro-clear rear defroster | 36,893 |
| D84 | Custom two-tone exterior paint | 5,352 |
| DG7 | Electric sport mirrors | 13,567 |
| F51 | Heavy-duty shock absorbers | 1,128 |
| FE7 | Gymkhana suspension | 7,803 |
| G92 | Performance axle ratio | 2,400 |
| K35 | Cruise control | 32,522 |
| L81 | 350 190 hp engine | 40,606 |
| M18 | 4-speed standard manual transmission | 5,757 |
| MX3 | Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission | 34,849 |
| N90 | Aluminum wheels | 36,485 |
| QGQ | P225/70R15 blackwall radial tires | 663 |
| QGR | P255/70R15 white letter radial tires | 21,939 |
| QXH | P255/60R15 white letter radial tires | 18,004 |
| U58 | AM-FM stereo radio | 5,145 |
| U69 | AM-FM radio | 851 |
| U75 | Power antenna | 32,903 |
| UL5 | Radio delete (credit) | 315 |
| UM4 | AM-FM stereo radio with 8-track | 8,262 |
| UM5 | AM-FM stereo radio with 8-track CB | 792 |
| UM6 | AM-FM stereo radio with cassette | 22,892 |
| UN5 | AM-FM stereo radio with cassette CB | 2,349 |
| YF5 | California emissions | 4,951 |
| ZN1 | Trailer package | 916 |
| V54 | Roof panel carrier | 3,303 |
More Corvette C3 Articles
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- Corvette C3 Buyer's Checklist
Technical
Interior and Exterior Features
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