Like the Camaro, Corvette changed little in appearance for 1981. But also like the Camaro, it adopted GM’s CCC emission-control system and a lock up torque converter for its optional automatic transmission.
Underhood, dress-up items such as finned aluminum rocker covers, stainless-steel exhaust manifolds, and a chrome air cleaner hid the fact that 1980’s top power option, the 230-horsepower L82, was gone.
The lone engine, used for all 50 states, was a 350-cid L81 that put out the same horsepower as the previous year’s L48: 190. Again, either a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic was available. Less notable changes included a fiberglass-reinforced rear spring (replacing a heavier steel spring on cars with automatic transmission and standard suspension), while an electrically driven auxiliary cooling fan was added so that the engine-driven fan could be made smaller and quieter.
Despite the lowest available horsepower rating of any Corvette since the early six-cylinder cars – and a near $1300 price increase to $15,248 – sales volume was almost identical to 1980 at 40,606. Yet the Corvette remained one of the fastest cars offered in these emission conscious times, and its sleek looks still managed to turn heads.
Like the Camaro, Corvette changed little in appearance for 1981. But also like the Camaro, it adopted GM’s CCC emission-control system and a lock up torque converter for its optional automatic transmission.
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