1981 Chevrolet Corvette: trims, real prices & how to pick yours
190 builds left the factory as a 1981 Corvette, each a different combination of engine, transmission and body identified by the first eight characters of its VIN. The 2 main configurations sell for $8,999–$89,699 today. Page 3 of 4.
- 2 main configurations
- 1,569 vehicles built
- 77 for sale right now
- $8,999–$89,699 typical price range
Which Corvette is yours?
Enter a VIN — the 17 characters on the windshield or the title — and we’ll match it to its exact factory configuration, typical price and equipment.
Works with any VIN — a different year or model takes you straight to its own page.
Pick your Corvette
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Most common — 44% of 1981 Corvettes
Base configuration 1G1AY876-B5.7L 8-cyl. 697 built.
$8,999 great deal $19,500 typical $89,699 top of market
What actually differs
| Base configuration | Z06 · RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5.7L 8-cyl | 7L 8-cyl |
| For sale right now | 46 | 2 |
| Vehicles built | 697 | 72 |
Same on every 1981 Corvette
- Drivetrain Rear-wheel drive
- Fuel Gasoline
- Body Coupe
- Doors 2-door
- Typical price today $19,500
What people actually pay
79 price observations · updated Aug 30, 2026
Base configuration
$19,500
$8,729
$29,644
$50,560
$71,475
$92,390
Safety, in plain English
What 1G1YZ25E-9 means
1G1
YZ25E
·
9
- 1G1
- the World Manufacturer Identifier Chevrolet registered — assembled in the United States
- YZ25E
- together encode the Corvette line — Coupe, 7L 8cyl, Rear-wheel drive — as Chevrolet filed it, these five characters are read as one block, not letter by letter
- 9
- in position 10 — model year 1981
- 9, 11–17
- differ on every car: check digit, plant code and the serial number
Real VINs from this run
1G1YZ25E
495113158
46 rare configurations — mostly fleet, export or irregular VIN patterns. Fewer than 20 known vehicles each.
- Base configuration 1287L8S9-2 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00001Z37-4 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration XXXX1Z87-9 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00001237-4 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00001943-5 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 194379S7-8 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 194677S1-7 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00001Z37-3 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration XXXXXXXE-7 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 194678S4-X Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 0001Z37K-S Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 194671S1-2 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00000008-7 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00001964-5 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- - Convertible -SEE Video 89547649-5 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- 'S Match Fuelie CAR E57S1043-2 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 194670S4-6 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Coupe 5L 8cyl 1G1YA487-8 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00001946-6 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration XXXX1Z87-A Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00000108-7 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 30837S11-9 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Coupe 2D 194371S1-8 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00001Z87-8 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Convertible 00000030-6 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 19467551-3 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Convertible 00001946-1 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00001943-8 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 194377S1-4 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration X0X01946-8 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 30867S10-8 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Classic 194371S1-3 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 194376S1-5 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base 100J58S1-5 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00001943-1 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration E54S0028-9 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 30837S11-7 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 11111943-9 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 20867S11-4 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration E56S0033-1 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Sting RAY 11111946-8 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00001Z37-6 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 0000000E-5 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00002086-S Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 000000VE-7 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 194370S4-9 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
Already looking at a specific Corvette?
Paste its VIN — we’ll open that exact car’s page: its configuration, market position and every listing we’ve tracked.