Buying an 81Hi All,

[6880 Mike]

No clear coat on the St. Louis cars; they used acrylic lacquer. All the Bowling Green cars were basecoat/clearcost using acrylic enamel. It depends on where the particular 81 was assembled.

 

[Bonnell]

I hope that it turns out well for you. My first vette was a '73 coupe. My second was an '88 coupe. I now have a 2002 convertible.

I have always loved the '78-'82 models except for the lack of power. About two years ago I found one for sale (I cannot remember which year from '78-'82 it was) that had been well cared for. It was black (new and beautiful paint) with a nicely done crate engine creating just under 400HP with 4sp. I believe the price was $15,000. The suspension had been rebuilt (an enhanced) while the couple owned it-it was just a gem-not original, but a gem.

The time was not right or I would have bought it. If I ever run across another like it I will buy it.

I hope you get what you want. Sharks are my favorite!

 

[GerryLP]

No clear coat on the St. Louis cars; they used acrylic lacquer. All the Bowling Green cars were base coat/clearcost using acrylic enamel. It depends on where the particular 81 was assembled.

right...but for the BG L81's that left in non-metallic red, white, or blue what topcoat did they used if it was not a clear coat? Was it a dual base coat? Then sanded and polished?

 

[6880 Mike]

right...but for the BG L81's that left in non-metallic red, white, or blue what topcoat did they used if it was not a clear coat? Was it a dual base coat? Then sanded and polished?

Not sure what you mean. ALL of the Bowling Green cars have always been basecoat\clearcoat. All of them had a factory clear coat over the color coat.

 

[6880 Mike]

...Being a two tone car Id bet its a bowling green car...

Not necessarily.

St. Louis, December 1980, probably Christmas break.

 

[GerryLP]

Not sure what you mean. ALL of the Bowling Green cars have always been basecoat\clearcoat. All of them had a factory clear coat over the color coat.

On that bulletin I referenced above, bulletin's step 4, it says that metallic base coats get the clear top-coat, so I wondered what was the top coat for non-metallic finishes?

 

[6880 Mike]

My guess is the same. I'm betting GM did not go to the expense of stocking and using two different clear coats. I'll thumb through my NCRS 80-82 Judging Manual this evening to see if it says anything different.

 

[JJS]

VERY NICE!!!
Congrats, and welcome to the CAC, Steve.

-John

He is the picture from the dealer. Better than I could take!

Steve

 

[BruceBed]

I have been wanting to buy an '81 for a while because I love the style and look.

LOVE THOSE SHARKS.

 

[KANE]

I have been wanting to buy an '81 for a while because I love the style and look.

LOVE THOSE SHARKS.

I looked at a couple of L81s. I didn't have the heart to remove the computer controlled carb and electronics. I always thought the L81 was a transitional form on the evolution to fuel injection.

 

[Nobody Cares]

Steve, welcome to the . Concrats on the 81. Being in Fla . you can enjoy your vette for a longer season than us northerners. Dave

:bar

 

[iamfine2]

I just keep telling myself it is a 26 year old car!
Helps get through all the rattles and clunks.
It never fails when I wnt to buy a new part for looks or power, something necessary breaks and I have to fix that first!
But the looks it gets and the power when the secondaries open is all worth it!

 

[Tom Bryant]

Steve,

Welcome to the CAC and congrats on your new L81. Ask if you need any help with your car as someone here has probably had the same problem before.

Tom