Were there any 1981 limited edition coupes with a production number of only 500 or so?
I am looking at a 1981 coupe that is two-tone red. The current owner claims that it is production # 300 something out of 500. Ia m not familiar with any limited edition coupes in 1981. Is this true and if so, what is the estimated value?
The car has around 74,000 miles and is in "ok" condition. The paint is in pretty poor shape and the interior is a little better than average for the age of the car. The motor sounds a little rough but over-all not anything major noticed.
According to this page on Corvette history: http://www.motorera.com/corvette/1980/vet81.htm, the 1981 model year did not include any factory-produced limited editions, although production moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, and all two-tone models were painted there. In 1982, the factory produced a limited Collector Edition, so you may want to check that year's history, too. Hope that helps!
The owner is refering to the paint scheme. In 1981 there were several paint layouts available. They were tu-tone paint schemes. There is a silver and blue and a brown and tan varaint. As with my '81 it is one of 492 of the dark blue metalic made in Bowling Green.
If fact there was four different two-tones colors available for 81'. 33/38 Silver/Dark Blue, 33/39 Silver/Charcoal, 50/74 Beige/Dark Bronze and 80/98 Autumn Red/Dark Claret The only drawback to tone color quantities are not shown in the Black Book for they were included in the 33,50 and 80 paint codes. So there is no exact number. They are unique cars for you dont see the two tone corvettes very often.
I own a collector edition knife 393 of 500 from Bowling Green Kentucky that came with the 393 of 500 1981 Corvette
There were 80 pilot cars produced at the new Bowling Green plant that used the two tone clear coat base coat enamel. Some GM executive in St Louis were able to buy the two tone cars produced in St Louis. Best I can tell around 100. Some but not all had cross-flags on the drivers seat and rocker moldings
