Tonyd123

Newbie here with a potentially dumb question. Wife bought me an 81 for my 50th. Drivers side center console panel is broke and I need to buy a new one. Question is this. Apparently that panel differs in the early '81 and the late '81. Production date on my car is 12/80. Any thoughts if this is an early or late 81? I am sure I can determine via the vin #, but not sure how.

Any info wound be great....thanks.

MarkinSETX

I don't know if this will help, but 81 was when they switched from Missouri to Kentucky, that may be the change in console? Mine is a Missouri car. Congrats on the 81, I loved mine, even with fixing this little thing here and that little thing there. Use a vin decoder to find the build plant of your car, but dated 12/80 I would bet Missouri. Good luck.

sullyman56

December 1980 cars were assembled in St. Louis. Bowling Green assemblies began in May 1981. This info is from the Corvette Restoration Guide.

Easy Mike

Offhand, I'm not certain there are early and late consoles for 81s although it's possible there could be a change in the rear window defrost switch. One switch is larger than the other. That said, if you don't have RWD, you don't have to worry about the console.

Tonyd123

Thanks guys. I am referring to the side panel of the center console. Its a thin particle board that covers all the wires and supports the carpet. It would be where the drivers right leg rests. Apparently its a different shape between the early and late 81's. I need to replace it.

Street Rat

I have an '81 also. Produced in August of '80 mine was an early production. I went through the panel replacement as well. I would venture to say yours is an early production model also imo.

Hold on to your old panels and compare them closely between each side and the correct orientation. Believe it or not you can become confused which panel goes where.

lvmyvt76

just make the panels yourself.

Tonyd123

Certainly thought about it, but they are cheap enough to buy, if I can figure out which ones I need

texas jim

I agree with making the panels yourself. My '81 original panels could really fit a little tighter. Eventually I'll cut new ones from a suitable thin panel material. So much for detail work from the GM assembly line... Passenger side top of rocker panel metal strip is a 1/4" long on my '81 and it's original.