1981 Corvetes: Trivia Question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Seabeck WA
1981 Corvetes: Trivia Question
I posted this note in the C4 forum because that's whatI drive, but it's probably more appropriate posted as a C3 thread.
The trivia question at my Corvette club meeting last night was: "Besides the VIN and door stickers, what were the only differences between '81 'vettes built at the St. Louis plant vs. those built at the Bowling Green plant?" Answer: "No two-tone painted cars were ever produced at the St. Louis Plant". REALLY? I read someplace a while ago that at least 100 two-tone painted cars were produced at the St. Louis plant before it was shut down. Anyone out there want to weigh in on this?
The trivia question at my Corvette club meeting last night was: "Besides the VIN and door stickers, what were the only differences between '81 'vettes built at the St. Louis plant vs. those built at the Bowling Green plant?" Answer: "No two-tone painted cars were ever produced at the St. Louis Plant". REALLY? I read someplace a while ago that at least 100 two-tone painted cars were produced at the St. Louis plant before it was shut down. Anyone out there want to weigh in on this?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Shamong, NJ
I'm going to try not to look at the avatar, and answer your question instead.
Actually, the big difference between St. Louis and Bowling Green cars, wasn't the available 4 two-tone combinations, but the type of paint used on the cars. St. Louis cars were painted with acrylic lacquer, while Bowling Green cars were painted with a two stage enamel, base coat/clear coat.
The two-tones were only available on Bowling Green built 81's, making them the only option, that was different from what was offered on St. Louis 81's.
Besides the change in paint type, and the available two-tone combinations, many of the interior and exterior colors were different between the 2 plants.
There were 11 exterior colors offered from St. Louis and only 7 from Bowling Green. Only Silver, Charcoal Gray, Dark Blue and Beige, were offered at both plants.
St. Louis cars could be had with 6 different interior colors, while only 5 were offered in Bowling Green. Beige and Dark Blue could be ordered from either plant. A red interior was also offered at each plant, but they were completely different shades.
There were no two-tone cars built in St. Louis in 1981, but there were about 80 two-tones built there in 1980. As a pilot project, in preparation for offering the two-tone option on 81 Bowling Green cars, St. Louis built the 80 two-tone 1980 Corvettes. They were not considered production cars, and there is no indication that any of them were ever released to the public.
St. Louis also built two-tone cars in 1978, the Silver Anniversary's and the Pace Cars.
Okay, time to go look at the avatar again!
Actually, the big difference between St. Louis and Bowling Green cars, wasn't the available 4 two-tone combinations, but the type of paint used on the cars. St. Louis cars were painted with acrylic lacquer, while Bowling Green cars were painted with a two stage enamel, base coat/clear coat.
The two-tones were only available on Bowling Green built 81's, making them the only option, that was different from what was offered on St. Louis 81's.
Besides the change in paint type, and the available two-tone combinations, many of the interior and exterior colors were different between the 2 plants.
There were 11 exterior colors offered from St. Louis and only 7 from Bowling Green. Only Silver, Charcoal Gray, Dark Blue and Beige, were offered at both plants.
St. Louis cars could be had with 6 different interior colors, while only 5 were offered in Bowling Green. Beige and Dark Blue could be ordered from either plant. A red interior was also offered at each plant, but they were completely different shades.
There were no two-tone cars built in St. Louis in 1981, but there were about 80 two-tones built there in 1980. As a pilot project, in preparation for offering the two-tone option on 81 Bowling Green cars, St. Louis built the 80 two-tone 1980 Corvettes. They were not considered production cars, and there is no indication that any of them were ever released to the public.
St. Louis also built two-tone cars in 1978, the Silver Anniversary's and the Pace Cars.
Okay, time to go look at the avatar again!
Last edited by gbvette62; Nov 2, 2012 at 04:31 PM.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Seabeck WA
But thanks for that one legit answer I got while the rest of you were drooling. So those 80+ two-tone pilot run cars were built in St. Louis. That answers that question!
Thanks again
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
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Yes. About eighty 1980 models were painted two-tone as part of a paint pilot project apparently to test the procedure intended to be used at Bowling Green. These cars have E codes on the trim tags.
I've never seen one and would like to know what happened to them.
I've never seen one and would like to know what happened to them.
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
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Heel & Toe
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From: Swansea IL
Melting Slicks
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In another thread, EasyMike posted a link to photos taken inside the St. Louis plant. Interestingly enough, the title of the gallery is "1981 Corvette Assembly in St. Louis", and one of the pics shows a two-tone moving through the line:
http://corvetteactioncenter.com/gall...plant/cat/6049
Perhaps those were 80s rather than 81s in the pics, but either way, interesting photo given the discussion in this thread!
http://corvetteactioncenter.com/gall...plant/cat/6049
Perhaps those were 80s rather than 81s in the pics, but either way, interesting photo given the discussion in this thread!
Last edited by DWS44; Oct 25, 2013 at 06:12 PM.
Heel & Toe
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From: Swansea IL
This is definitely the St. Louis plant. You can tell by the disarray of boxes, etc and the uncleanliness of the surroundings.... The plant was absolutely filthy!!!!! 12" of fiberglass dust on the rafters when we moved everything out!!!!