1981 was the first year Corvettes were ever produced in two factories at one time. The new Bowling Green, Kentucky plant produced its first Corvette on June 1, 1981 while the St. Louis plant was producing its last Corvettes. The last St. Louis Vette was produced on August 1, 1981. All St. Louis Corvettes were painted with lacquer paints while the new Bowling Green plant had a brand new paint facility and used enamels with clear top coats. 1981 was the last year a manual transmission was available until late in 1984 with the C4. Automatic transmission Corvettes were equipped with a new fiberglass re-inforced rear mono-spring. This spring was 33 pounds lighter than the steel spring. Cars with the manual transmissions or the Gymkhana supsension package still received the steel spring. A new two-tone paint process was available for the first time from the Bowling Green factory. The computer command control which was used on the California Corvettes in 1980 was now standard on all Corvettes. The stainless steel exhaust mainfold from the California Vettes was also standard, it weighed 14 pounds less than the cast iron manifold and flowed better as well. A new chromed air cleaner cover was added to the engine compartment. California buyers could finally buy a manual Corvette this year. A quartz clock was now standard and a six-way power seat was optional. Electronic tuning radios could have an optional CB radio or an 8-track tape player. 1981 marks the first year that Corvette body style numbers were incorporated into the VIN number instead of being a seperate number.

The "Vehicle Identification Number" (also VIN or serial number) is stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.

1981 Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block after the engine number. The date code the engine was manufactured was also cast into the block. The engine serial number includes a production sequence number starting with 0001001 and one of the suffixes below.

Interior options for exterior colors are suggested by Chevrolet. Any combination could be ordered.