1981 GMC Sierra: trims, real prices & how to pick yours
49 builds left the factory as a 1981 Sierra, each a different combination of engine, transmission and body identified by the first eight characters of its VIN. The 6 main configurations sell for $13,800–$44,995 today. Page 1 of 2.
- 6 main configurations
- 4,430 vehicles built
- 135 for sale right now
- $13,800–$44,995 typical price range
Which Sierra 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 Sierra
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Most common — 67% of 1981 Sierras
Fleet/Base · 4WD 1GTV2LEC-J5.3L 8-cyl, Four-wheel drive. 2,981 built.
$13,800 great deal $20,830 typical $34,795 top of marketFull specs, prices & VINs → 61 for sale now -
SLT · 4WD 2GTEK39J-95.3L 8-cyl, Four-wheel drive. 38 built.
Full specs, prices & VINs → 1 for sale now -
Elevation-L · 4WD 1GTPUJEK-P2.7L 4-cyl, Four-wheel drive. 882 built.
$29,690 great deal $39,214 typical $44,995 top of marketFull specs, prices & VINs → 59 for sale now -
SLT · 4WD 1GT121C8-E6.6L 8-cyl, Four-wheel drive. 266 built.
Full specs, prices & VINs → 10 for sale now -
What actually differs
| Fleet/Base · 4WD | Elevation-L · 4WD | SLT · 4WD 1GT121C8-E | SLT · 4WD 2GTEK39J-9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5.3L 8-cyl | 2.7L 4-cyl | 6.6L 8-cyl | 5.3L 8-cyl |
| Fuel | Gasoline | Gasoline | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Typical price today | $20,830 | $39,214 | $25,901 | — |
| For sale right now | 61 | 59 | 10 | 1 |
| Vehicles built | 2,981 | 882 | 266 | 38 |
Same on every 1981 Sierra
- Drivetrain Four-wheel drive
- Body Pickup
- Doors 4-door
What people actually pay
133 price observations · updated Sep 6, 2026
Fleet/Base · 4WD
$20,830
Elevation-L · 4WD
$39,214
$13,386
$21,626
$29,866
$38,105
$46,345
Safety, in plain English
What 1GT11ZE8-F means
1GT
11ZE8
·
F
- 1GT
- the World Manufacturer Identifier GMC registered — assembled in the United States
- 11ZE8
- together encode the Sierra line — Pickup, 6.6L 8cyl, Rear-wheel drive — as GMC filed it, these five characters are read as one block, not letter by letter
- F
- in position 10 — model year 1981
- 9, 11–17
- differ on every car: check digit, plant code and the serial number
42 rare configurations — mostly fleet, export or irregular VIN patterns. Fewer than 20 known vehicles each.
- Base configuration 1111TCL1-8 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Work Truck/Fleet/Base 6.6L 8cyl Incomplete - Chassis CAB (Single CAB) 1GD322C8-D Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration TCL448Z5-3 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration N0V1N0NB-D Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration TCF448A5-5 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- C2500 5.7L 8cyl Pickup 1GTFC24K-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 0000TCS2-7 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration ZGTV2UEC-F Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration M10893A1-1 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration TRK149Z5-2 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 0000TCL1-6 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Fleet/Base 6.6L 8cyl Incomplete 1GD29LE7-L Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration CE10DPB6-5 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration TCL248S7-7 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00000CE1-4 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration TKL147S5-7 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration TCL14AZ5-9 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Fleet/Base 6L 8cyl Incomplete - Chassis CAB (Double CAB) 1GD52VCG-J Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration TCE33215-9 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 2022M0T0-G Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration ZGTJK392-5 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Fleet/Base 6.6L 8cyl Incomplete - Chassis CAB (Double CAB) 1GD19LE7-M Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration M17763A1-7 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- SLE 6L 8cyl Pickup 1GT110EG-B Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- 6L 8cyl Incomplete - Chassis CAB (Single CAB) 1GDJC34U-4 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration TCS246S5-6 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 0000TKL2-7 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration TCL247J5-2 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration TCS448A5-5 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 1111T19C-9 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 00000CS1-C Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration TKR248J5-9 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- K3500 5.7L 8cyl Pickup 1GTHK34K-S Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- C3500 RWD KY112602-4 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration TCL146F7-4 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration M17182A1-1 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 0000TKL1-7 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration TCL449S5-5 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration 0000TKL1-8 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration TCD149S5-4 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- 1500 2D - Home OF THE Zero Down Zero Interest 0000TCL1-9 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- Base configuration XGTU2PEJ-J Fewer than 20 known vehicles
Already looking at a specific Sierra?
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