1980 vs 1981 ?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
C3RV
Can you tell me where you got those rocker panels. I tried ones for a 78 vette but they are shorter. I want that look alluminum with the black stripe. I put a pair of 80's on mine so they weren't all black
Can you tell me where you got those rocker panels. I tried ones for a 78 vette but they are shorter. I want that look alluminum with the black stripe. I put a pair of 80's on mine so they weren't all black
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
St. Jude Donor '15
Originally Posted by spedaleden
C3RV
Can you tell me where you got those rocker panels. I tried ones for a 78 vette but they are shorter. I want that look alluminum with the black stripe. I put a pair of 80's on mine so they weren't all black
Can you tell me where you got those rocker panels. I tried ones for a 78 vette but they are shorter. I want that look alluminum with the black stripe. I put a pair of 80's on mine so they weren't all black
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,413
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Originally Posted by C3 RV
I was looking at the same model years, but decided I wanted a power seat for comfort. (The stock seat angle is just too reclined for me.) My target vehicles were 81 manual or 82 auto. The low percentage of manuals during the late C3 years makes finding a good one tough. I found an outstanding 81 auto for sale by another forum member in my wife's favorite color and bought it.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
Originally Posted by C3 RV
Sorry, they were on the car when I bought it. I like them, too. I originally thought they were stock, but later learned that stock was black with a bright stripe rather than bright with a black stripe.
I guess I will have to strip mine and have the black stripe painted on
Thanks for the reply
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 6
Yes, 1981 was the split year when the production was moved from St Louis to Bowling Green.
1981 had power driver seat.
1981's, built in Bowling Green, 2-tone paint was an option.
I had a 1981 (used), silver over dark grey, seemed to have most options, including glass roofs. Which I hated, and I put foam rubber inside to black out the light.
The car was an excellent interstate cruiser. 80mph was very smooth, it just seemed to loaf along at that speed. It was low, had a lot of rubber on the ground, and I felt it cornered nicely.
But the motor was basically gutless. Last year of the carbs, and heavily smogged down and detuned. A very pretty, nice driving, slow car.
1981 had power driver seat.
1981's, built in Bowling Green, 2-tone paint was an option.
I had a 1981 (used), silver over dark grey, seemed to have most options, including glass roofs. Which I hated, and I put foam rubber inside to black out the light.
The car was an excellent interstate cruiser. 80mph was very smooth, it just seemed to loaf along at that speed. It was low, had a lot of rubber on the ground, and I felt it cornered nicely.
But the motor was basically gutless. Last year of the carbs, and heavily smogged down and detuned. A very pretty, nice driving, slow car.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
'80 recommended
I chose the '80 because it was the last of the non-computerized years. I have a GM crate engine in it now and that doesn't have any computer controls either, so I didn't have any extra wires in the harness to deal with when I swapped engines.
Also, '80 was the year of the weight reduction effort. The '81 has a couple more weight saving items (such as valve covers), but the changed didn't make much difference.
Also, '80 was the year of the weight reduction effort. The '81 has a couple more weight saving items (such as valve covers), but the changed didn't make much difference.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield PA
Originally Posted by C3 RV
Sorry, they were on the car when I bought it. I like them, too. I originally thought they were stock, but later learned that stock was black with a bright stripe rather than bright with a black stripe.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by tdogg21
81 additions:
1. slight exterior emblem change
2. stainless steel exhaust manifolds standard for CA sold 80s were standard for 81
3. computer command control
4. igniton interrupt added to alarm system
5. magnesium valve covers
6. color-keyed headlamp and windshield wiper switchbezels to match interior color
7. power driver seat.
also automatics got a torque converter clutches for 2nd and 3rd gears to improve fuel economy, and as said before they also had fiberglass-reinforced monoleaf rear spring. also interesting about the 81s, some of them were the last built in St. Louis, so you could get a real collector.
good luck with your choice!
1. slight exterior emblem change
2. stainless steel exhaust manifolds standard for CA sold 80s were standard for 81
3. computer command control
4. igniton interrupt added to alarm system
5. magnesium valve covers
6. color-keyed headlamp and windshield wiper switchbezels to match interior color
7. power driver seat.
also automatics got a torque converter clutches for 2nd and 3rd gears to improve fuel economy, and as said before they also had fiberglass-reinforced monoleaf rear spring. also interesting about the 81s, some of them were the last built in St. Louis, so you could get a real collector.
good luck with your choice!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 39
From: South Central PA
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Originally Posted by bolivar
1981's, built in Bowling Green, 2-tone paint was an option.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,033
Likes: 1
From: Prescott Arizona
Originally Posted by MN80Vette
I chose the '80 because it was the last of the non-computerized years. I have a GM crate engine in it now and that doesn't have any computer controls either, so I didn't have any extra wires in the harness to deal with when I swapped engines.
Also, '80 was the year of the weight reduction effort. The '81 has a couple more weight saving items (such as valve covers), but the changed didn't make much difference.
Also, '80 was the year of the weight reduction effort. The '81 has a couple more weight saving items (such as valve covers), but the changed didn't make much difference.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 829
Likes: 2
From: Scottdale Pa
I vote for 1980, because I love mine. If you decide on a 80 be careful, they made a California 305 cu.in. engine that year only. The fifth digit in the vin will be a H if it is a 305. 8 will be a 350/190hp L-48. 6 will be a 350/230hp L-82.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Originally Posted by Kalway
Autos w/o the gymkhana suspension. 