Corvette C3 of the Week

1981 C3 Corvette

Steven writes:

I found this car on a Craigslist posting and I sent the information to a member on the Corvette Forum to have it checked out. The car was located in Ft Pierce, Florida and it looked like a good one.  It is an '81 with computer engine, auto tranny and left the factory with gold color and tan interior.  The second owner hated the color and promptly had it repainted black so that it looked more sinister.  The last owner bought it about 10 years ago and made it into a street and strip car.  He replaced the rear gears with 3:90s, added beefier side yokes and shafts, hopped up the engine and tranny and got it into the 11s.  He liked things to be mechanically perfect and tough.  On this '81, he decided to return it to street trim and replaced the motor with something more streetable.  It now sports a 350 that has been decked and blueprinted.  It has a Z28 spec roller cam, Holley double pumper and Edelbrock manifold. It idles nicely with that classic 60s Z28 sound.  Even though I wanted to buy this car, both parties felt that it best that it be inspected by a third party.  I contacted a Corvette Forum member in the US and gave him my checklist and had him inspect the car.  He was blown away by the amount of work that the owner had put into the car.  New (and not just new - but first class heavy duty parts) included: Fuel tank, shocks, complete brake system to include rotors, calipers, lines, hoses, billet distributor, aluminum pulleys, air conditioner compressor, radiator, water pump, mechanical gauges, Hooker long tubes, stainless 2 1/2" exhaust system, Eckler high rise hood, power steering system, front and rear suspension rebuild and urethane motor and tranny mounts.  The frame was like that of a one-year old car.  The door pins had been replaced along with all weatherstripping.  The paint had no chips with only a small scuff mark on the front and year bumpers that you really had to look hard to spot.  The wheels and tires looked new even though the tires were 10 years old.  The car was always stored inside and had never left the Ft Pierce area.  This was an exceptional example of a 1981 Corvette with 60,800 on the odometer.  I believe the mileage to be accurate.  It runs beautifully, kicked out the rear to the left on the 2nd gear shift at full throttle, steers straight and stops on a dime.  Even though it has a 2,700 stall "Saturday night special" converter in it and drag front shocks it drives nicely, idles decently and does not overheat.

Binnie writes:

This is a wonderful story about how Corvette enthusiasts living in different continents come together to help each other.  Steven and Karine live in Brugge, Belgium.  I have a special place in my heart for Belgium as my wife and I have a very 'special family' living there.  Hey Jasper ole buddy, you better keep your eyes open for this car and if you see it, please say hi to Steven for us!

 

1981 C3 Corvette

1981 C3 Corvette