Does LESS power equal LESS Corvette? - 1981 Chevrolet Corvette - Raiti's Rides 

The Corvette c3 is a legendary piece of art on four wheels!!

I see many people hating on these cars for the lack of horsepower, or because they are old, smelly, creaky, etc. I recently turned 30 years old and decided to purchase a fine 74 C3 as a present to myself. I've been dreaming of owning a stingray ever since I was very young. Speaking from experience, the one thing I never hear people talking about is the amount of attention these rides get, especially from women... To me, that is priceless.

This is a beautiful car, great colour, great interior, great engine, and fantastic styling - one of the best Corvette's ever - simply stunning.

I owned an 80 metallic brown with the L48. I loved that car, it was a blast to drive.

I picked up an 80 corvette in 2018. My first one. I restore classic and antique cars for a living so I'm very familiar with C1, C2 and C3 corvettes. Our shop has Duntov'ed and top flighted quite a few of these cars. The BEST THING you can do to a C3, especially an 80-81, is install an overdrive transmission. They came with an 82, so the parts are there. A manual car converts to a 5 speed just as "easy". It is by far the best bang for the buck modification you can do to make the car a real driver. My car went from 3000 rpm at 72 mph to 3000rpm at 104 mph!! 80mph is 2400rpm. Oh....plus a 4L60/700R4 has a lower first gear....

Have a beautiful all stock, ceramic coated, 81 Silver, and it is by far one of the nicest Corvettes you will ever see, I park it right next to any newer Corvette and ppl go straight to mine, it is one of a kind.

Even though the horsepower sucked on the 80 to 82 Vettes, I still think these are beautiful bodies and would buy one in a heartbeat. Get it, the Heartbeat of America

new cars need more curves like this.

Classic corvettes are where it's at!

Agree. I love every Corvette. The curvy C3 style is my favorite!

I am happy to say I have a 1981 Corvette I bought it a year 1/2 ago from the original owner with 48,000 miles it's a red on red it did not come with very much horsepower but drop a 383 stroker motor in with 400 HP make it out of a restomod as I did. From the outside it looks totally original until you open the hood it's a fun car and thank you for sharing your 1981 Corvette video I enjoyed it

Not all built in Bowling Green Kentucky. The first 300 Corvettes were built in Flint, Michigan in 1953. Production was moved the next year to St. Louis, Missouri and then finally ended up in 1981 at the Bowling Green Plant for production on June 1, 1981. Last St Louis built Corvette was July 31, 1981. Yes, not manufactured with any other GM model in any past or present Corvette plants.

Love this one, used to dream of having one as a kid. It’s crazy to look at all the gauges in there and compare it with the type of instrumentation of today. Great review joe

Joe ,Everything you said in this review rings true to me as well. I own a 1996 and I love it but all corvettes and all years have a special place in my heart. Thanks.

I have a gorgeous '82 and love it. I believe the '80 through '82 Vettes were the best looking of the C-3 bodies because of the newer wheel-well flares and front body spoiler.....not to forget the mirrored glass T-Tops. Mine is "Steel Blue Metallic", similar to the above. (Don't forget the "396" was a "big block" used in '65-'67 Corvettes, but not mentioned in your video above). I've owned 7 Corvettes over the years (1962-1984) and enjoyed them all. As we used to say "A Vette is a Vette" and all us kids growing up back in the day wanted a Corvette in our driveway someday!! ;-)

A very good balanced review. Have a 1980 C3, love the style and driving set up. Have some new cams in it to give it a bit more go.

First! Love gen 3 vettes. Always wanted one. That’s a beautiful color. Great review as always Joe

Love the 81, such a sexy corvette. I don’t care about how much power an engine has because America has so much emissions restrictions over the years. I appreciate every corvette as my favorite years are the C4, especially the C4 ZR-1 my all time favorite. Great video bud love the Vette.

The C3 is beautiful in it’s own way. It is special.!

0:37 Everything you said about the Corvette is everything I Love about this car, I really like the long front end also. C3's are the best, my favorites are the 1980 thru 82 because of the rear spoiler. Great video. I'm interested in the 82 collector edition . But this 81 is beautiful !

Beautiful car..each year is a piece of art.

Hi Joe. Still catching up on your older videos. Now THIS C3 really catches my eye! What a wonderful example of what it looked like new at the dealership. Who knows, maybe even better. The owner of this Vette should be super proud. Maybe as time permits, you might sneak in more Corvette reviews, if you can ever get that wandering Mustang eye of yours under control. LOL Save the Wave.

Been driving and owning at least one Corvette 3 months shy of 50 years. I still own 4 Vintage Corvettes that I believe are 4 of the greatest examples of great looking Corvettes that Chevrolet ever built all Coupes. I own a C2 1967, C3 1973, C5 1999 and C6 2006. It became my Dream Car ever since I saw the first 1963 Split Window Coupe shown to the world back in ‘63. I was 12 years old in Grammar school back then in the 6th grade. Purchased my first Corvette Vert. a 1967 a year out of High School in 1970. Have owned one just about every year since. No regrets at all. I have lived my American Dream.

Beautiful car. I agree 100%. Thanks for posting.

I remember seeing this era corvettes for sale in the U.K. auto trader weekly magazine back in the early 90s They were around £10000 I was in absolute awe as a young teenager and as a result I’ve had a few Chevy g20 vans and a ram Love old American iron !!!!

Awesome video!! I had a 1980 Vette I restored.

I love C3 Corvettes I own a 1975 Convertible. I have to agree with you the look of the 80,81,82 they look great with the front air dam Nice looking cars .

I love my 1980 C3 4 sp, smooth and fun to drive.

People tend to get hung up on the horsepower numbers, and that is really not how these years of Corvettes should be judged. All, good running Corvettes are fun to drive no matter the year. These cars are made for taking the tops out, and enjoying the sound of the engine while you cruise around listening to your favorite tunes.

i love the 81s. nose clip is awesome! I too have an 81, i think they're the best looking year..

Additional info, these Corvettes are coming into there own now. At the Barrett-Jackson auction, they had the same color vette' w/ the 4spd, 40k original miles and original raised outlined tires. It sold for 30k!

I always liked 1981 they really finished them off nicely.

Nope a Corvette is still a Corvette at the end of the day,maybe not the fastest car on the road but a still a Corvette nonetheless,

I just got a nice 78 Corvette with a 496 ci, full roll cage and it just looks right with a BBChevy engine. This will be my last hot rod with dual stage NOS. Just plain fun. Even if the gas is $10 a gallon. It's like perfume to us of the 12 to 1 compression generation! Gas, tires, and oil oh what fun. 66 yrs old with a 40 yr old car.... that's like new to me! Fix your ride your style and enjoy! Really miss GTO, Boss mustang, Cyclones with 426 wedge, 429 Torino's carrying families to church! Also AMC, Road runners, Charger RT with 440 ci. Don't miss the draft and funerals of our high school members. But it was a different time and people were nice!

Enjoying the oldies, Joe and Lori

Beautiful car and color, but I think the 68 threw 72 with the chrome bumpers and the slight tail/spoiler is the best looking years. Like a work of art. Besides, the dash, gauges the seats, the door panels with the twist locks in 68 threw 77 blows 78 threw 82 away.

I have an 81 and it’s low mileage true survivor and she is a beautiful ol girl

Nice review, brings me back to 1981 when I was station in Homestead AFB and had a 81 Corvette L-48 in Mahogany Metallic paint and those same rims. It has Glass mirror T-Tops, Cloth Beige interior and a AM/FM Radio with Cassette Player and Tilt/Telescopic steering wheel. Use to race them Datsun 280ZX's in Miami.

Only because that cars in different era has there own great looks for many years

Actually with the C3 you had the St Louis plant in opeation as well with the last one completed in the 1981 MY on 8/1/81. I agree that the 80-82 models finally got the front and rear clips right after the awkward mid year C3's with no spoilers (pace car excepted). The interesting thing is the sales of those late C3's got stronger as the years went on and the more hardcore C4 started off strong and got weaker.

I have a 1981 White Corvette. Love it. 68,000 original miles. Good job explaining the Corvette history on this one.

Great job ..... Thanks

That’s a beautiful car. Love the t-tops on this one. Glad they got rid of the chrome bumper on the front, sleek

That body is known as the Maco Shark design by General Motors as inspired by Marcus Dontov. The first year of the Neoprene front bumper was 1973, I had one, but it still maintained the back spoiler flip for one more year.

I have a L 48 1976 c3 stingray, my grandfather let me drive it to high-school... now I'm restoring it... oh the joy!

The value of the 1974-1982 C3 might stay the same but one thing is C3 will turn heads

The difference between a small block and big block isn't the engine size - it's the distance between the cylinders. You can have an over-bored small block that's got a larger engine capacity than a big block.

Only one c3 vette in Guyana. A couple of c4s, c5s and c6s no c7 yet. Great cars!

Small vs big block is more about bore spacing than displacement. The greater bore spacing (basically length of the engine) allows for greater displacement, BUT there is a 400 cubic inch small block (largest iteration of the original 265 SBC) and a 348 cubic inch big block (little brother to the legendary 409) and also a 366 and 396 from Chevrolet, so 3 big blocks displace less than the largest small block.

I had a 1980 identical to this one. I would love to find and just like it

I don't know if I can nitpick without coming across as an arse, but so much of what you said was off just a little bit! Still a great vibe to the video though. Honestly just constructive criticism, Jay Leno says things that make me facepalm all the time and I love the guy's attitude. This style was 80-82 rather than 81-82. Not all big blocks have a larger displacement than every small block. The 396 is a big block, and the 400 was a small block. What I would say is that all small block chevy's are the same size on the outside, but displacement varies. Big blocks are bigger on the outside to make more room for bigger displacement. The 400 small block was actually a lousy engine because with bores that big there was no space for water jackets between cylinders which lead to trouble. This is why "383 stroker" SBC's are so popular. You put the 400 SBC crank in a 350 block (with a bit of modification) and you get the biggest practical small block without the problems of the 400 SBC. T-Tops were in production at least all the way until 2002 in the F-bodies, Corvette was until 82 with T-tops. IIRC, the reason pop up headlights have gone away wasn't that they are inferior as headlights, I think it was decided that they were more likely to injure pedestrians who get bumped at low speed but don't quote me on that without checking it out. Don't know about that explanation of why the Corvette hood opens backward, everything on a C3 is harder to get to than anything with a front opening hood from the same era I've ever had to work on! On a personal note I agree with you 100% about the front end design being fantastic, second only to the chrome bumper C3's. Again, great content overall and sorry to nitpick... just a bit of OCD on my part!

I had the opportunity to attend The Barrett-Jackson auto auction at Mohegan Sun in CT. While looking around, walked into one of their shop displays with the Fords, Dodge, and Chevy's. The one display area I liked was of course the Chevy display. They had a new 2018 Corvette there with the 700 hp engine. One of the Corvette guys comes over and says "you want to sit in it"? I said hell yes! What a machine! , everything wraps around you. He was explaining all the options and how they are just about equal to some of the European cars. I said that I have an 81" stick at home with 35K original miles. I then said it's really to bad it only has a 190 horsepower. The chevy guy then said you have an 81" ? Yep, only 190 hp. He then said "no, it has 225hp!" I then said no, it's 190 according to all "the books." He then stated, "I work at the Bowling Green plant!, an 81" 350 cid, non Califorinia car has 225 hp"!. He then stated that in 1980 - 1982 Corvettes, they had to "write in that it was detuned low hp" because of EPA and emmision regulations and insurance regulations that were placing restrictions on policies for High Performance cars. He assured me twice it was 225. So, according to the "Bowling Green factory guy", the 1981's have 225hp! OR it's 190hp wink-wink, nod nod!!!

Corvettes until this model year were not made in Bowling Green but St. Louis. Split between the two locations in ‘81 depending on color.

There's no argument,it's a truly beautiful,classic shape.

A Corvette is a Corvette. They were all awesome. It depends on the generation as what you like. I own a C5, but that is wanted as a 16 year old me. I love it and would not trade it for a newer one.

I love my ‘82 C3. It turns far more heads than my ‘16 C7.

Last year for St.Louis Missouri location. Only a few thousand were produced in Kentucky. 1981 was the only year in Corvette history where they were produced in both locations simultaneously.

I had a pretty rare 4 speed '81. Bought it from a dealer in Ventura CA in in 1989 with 30K miles on it. It had to have come from out of state because all CA '81s were automatics. Even though I have a pretty nice C5 now I keep thinking I'd like another C3. The C5 does everything better than a C3 but I love the styling of the C3 and the more rough around the edges feel of them. I had a '70, '72, '73 and the '81. The '81 was loaded and had a much nicer interior but I do prefer the metal bumper cars. Metal bumper cars sell for about double of a rubber bumper car though so I may have to settle for a rubber car if I want to have one and keep the C5 too.

you touched on it, but to say it concisely for Less than the price of an older muscle car, you can do some inexpensive mods and get an awful horsepower out of that car, If that's your only Concern... Great looking simple easy to work on and won't break the bank to purchase one in good shape!!!

Beautiful Vette, beautiful color...good video!

Man, this is beautiful. Just swap an newer LS motor to get about 400hp and you'll be good

beautiful color

Beautiful 💯🔥

I love the corvettes so much that’s why I bought my 2003 Z06 corvette I didn’t care much about anything else I’m just like you even the corvettes didn’t have the power like other cars but I love it

Looking at ‘69 Vettes. The later neutered ones are still fairly cool.

Always loved that c3 style. The speedo is a laugh at a rocking 85-mph top limit. Different times for sure. One thing about the emblem I wanted to ask for awhile. There is the "fluer de li "on the red flag. Where did that come from? Keep up the good work!

I have a 1980 Corvette, Original 4 speed car but not the original motor (not my fault). Lo lost power now with a custom ZZ4 Crate engine with 455 HP. This car is an absolute blast to drive.

私も日本でc3所有してます。キャブ最終＆軽量化された81大好きです。日系アメリカ人ラリーシノダがデザインにかかわっていたのも嬉しいです。

These vettes are nice ! the humps in the front fenders are gorgeous, the duck bill spoiler is awesome too! just needs a lil more HP, I think they were down to 200 hp in 81, sad.

The 2003 and 2004 Z06 corvettes are the best ever made because it’s future looks and very beautiful cars it’s nice to have 405 horsepower thank you

I used to not like the back window because it looks like a camaro. but I guess it's OK. Nice presentation, Thanks.

Nice color. Disco-era smog motor Vettes are why God created crate motors. Throw in a ZZ4 and a beefed-up 700R4 auto trans and you've got a quick car that will get decent mileage. Need to get a stronger rear end too.

The "Molded" front & rear began in 1980. Hello In 81 they were made in St. Louis & Bowling Green. Hello.

They had that mako shark body style.i liked them to,cool wheels also.

I'm with you bro, I don't know why they don't have oil pressure and battery gauges in cars any more

The 81 was built at both St. Louis and Bowling Green. The two toned ones came from the latter. (trivia)

Where'd you get the hood cover from?

Last year and first year for being manufactured at two factories due to the changeover to the new modern plant from St. Louis to bowling green . In 81 you could usually spot a St. Louis car due to more body flaws

Love the c3. I want one but the garage is full. 🥺

It's a beauty

The 1981 Corvette was made in St. Louis. How do I know? I picked a silver and blue one up new at Kaiser Chevrolet that was very near to the Corvette factory. Kaiser Chevrolet had hundreds of new 1981's on its lot mostly going to be picked up by Military Members returning from Overseas.

Believe me I had two only because I could afford them ,now that I am 57 I am buying c6 2008-2013 now that's a car with looks and get up an gooooo,the 1981 is a beautiful car but that's where it ends

I love the late 60s early 70s cars

It's actually called a t-top because Targa was already trademarked. That's what they said at the Corvette Museum.

Thats a beautiful car ! What is the name of the color ? Ive never seen that color before.

This one is to prowl in. I’d get an 80-82. Black. Tinted windows. Would be so fun. Bet chicks like it better than my C4

How much car can you use legally on the road? It should look, sound and handle great. If it pushes you back in your set a little, that's great! I always thought 350-350-350 was all you need.

C3, vettes, are visually amazing!! Fun to drive too!! Does not need to be fastest, It was lots of fun to drive.

I recently bought an 81, just turned 18 and decided to spoil myself with a new daily driver :p

Not all corvettes were made in Kentucky back then. My 81 was actually St Louis. Midway through the 81 production all of them went to Kentucky. Mine is number 72 off the line in the 81 models.

My favorite c3 I shoe horned a 454 LS6 450hp making 600hp w/Doug nash 5 spd & widebody

Is that original color how much for the car?

I've been told those 80 ones with the huge hump Wheels unless they have like a 454 in there or very slow due to the EPA regulations. Which I believe really put an end to the 454 for a short time

1981 was the last year they built them in St. Louis, with this being the transition to Bowling Green happening that year. You can tell where it was built by looking at the VIN. St Louis built cars will have an S.

Gotta disagree with you on the bumpers, chrome is much nicer than the plastic bumper. Still a nice ride though 👍

My '80 vette is from St Louis (she sits in the netherlands now)

love the C-3 model corvette. however, in your video, you state that the new sports cars don't give us the info like the older sports cars did. This is not entirely true. On the newer cars, the info is from a on-board computer and is displayed in a digital readout, instead of a cluster of gauges, just need to scroll down the list to see what's going on with the vehicle. being an old-school type of guy, I do prefer the gauges, looks better, and the info is there, at a glance. towards the end of the C-3 models, the horsepower did drop to below 200, at one point.

they look nice but the earlier chrome bumpers looked nicer on them

Small blocks and big blocks are different engines. Chevy still made big blocks in '80 but didn't offer it in the Vette.

I love my “weak” lil ‘68 327 coupe. Still sounds better than a fuggen Supra. Change my mind.