Rare81, is this your car on ebay??

[pauld]

Saw this on ebay and wondered if it was yours?


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2483036836&category=6168

 

[Yoda]

Saw this on ebay and wondered if it was yours?


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2483036836&category=6168

I guess there are a couple of us "Rare 81's" out there Nope mine is 84L St. Louis with 152 interior.. (Charcoal Metallic Gray, Silver leather interior)

 

[Bender]

Whats so rare about an 81? I have an 81.

 

[1995 RedVette]

I too would like to know what is different on your car. I am not very well versed in the later C3's. Is it the L81 engine option or the 4spd.....?

Brett

 

[Bender]

Well I have a new engine so its no longer a corvette engine and my car is only 3spd..

 

[Yoda]

Bender, Brett,

Let me say "Rare" is a very loose term, and is subjective at best

I always name my cars, wierd as it sounds.. I used to name them after charactors or places from the Trilogy "The Hobbit" e.g. one was the "Hobbit" another was "Gullum" ect... well since this 1981 is 1 of 315 built with the UL5 option (radio delete) and is a 4-speed, I had two names picked out for the plates.. my "Precious" and "Rare 81" I submitted both and ended up with Rare 81

I've had people get really upset that I have a plate that identifies my car as being "Rare" :eyerole I understand it's not 1 of 9 built or that there is anything Rare about her, other than she is mine and that's her name

Even with the 1981 only having one engine, with no other options, does not in it self make the 81's Rare.. there are several other years with only one engine option.. Being a 4-speed, well that may or may not be an item that would stand as being "somewhat rare"

All in all it's just a name I picked for her, it was not my intent to rub anyone the wrong way or to say my Corvette is better than anyone elses. I've owned many, many Corvettes since 1978.. and I named them all

Bud

 

[22229stingray81]

Well this should do until Bud can chime in.. but Rare81 has many rare options for a 1981 corvette. First of all it has the 4-speed manual. It also has the radio delete. On top of this he has a charcoal exterior as well as interior, which are not common colors. All these (and I'm probebly forgetting a few) rare options made naming the car easy, Rare81.

1995 redvette- To directly answer your question; there was only one engine option available in 1981, the L81, rated at 190hp (there was also a california 305 cid engine, but was not an actual option you could pick from). Most '81 Corvettes came with the th-350 automatic transmission, so having a 4-speed at all is rare.

Bender- There is nothing particularly rare about 1981 Corvettes (almost 41,000 made), but Rare81 (Bud) has a rare optioned 1981 Corvette. The reason that there is a seprate forum and registry for the 1981 Corvette is basically because a bunch of fellow '81 owners got together and started it for appreciation of that year. There is nothing super-unique about this year. There are many year-specific corvette forums out there. Look for the 1979 corvette registry, its out there as well.

Hope this helps.
-Tatortot

 

[22229stingray81]

Looks like you beat me to it Bud!

 

[1995 RedVette]

Thank you guys!! From reading other posts around CAC I understood that Rare81 must have some obscure option, color, etc... however, I know very little about those year car, so I had to ask. Thanks for the info.


Brett

 

[Stingray6974]

After having the pleasure of driving "Rare" at Sharkfest I have to say it's one of the finest C3's I've been in. Thanks Bud.

Mike

 

[Yoda]

Hey Mike, coming from you, that is a REAL compliment... I know you KNOW your Corvettes... I'll pass along your message to "Rare"

Thanks Bro..
Bud

 

[Rowdy1]

Auburn Ride

I too had the pleasure of a ride in Rare in Auburn and you can tell her for me, "She's Rare & Fine" like her Master

 

[Yoda]

Lou,

Rare has been hinting that she's never seen the East Coast... I don't know what you two talked about in Auburn, but she's getting a bit Rowdy

Thanks Bro... "ditto"

Bud

 

[Chas]

The car is Rare81

But in our humble opinion , its the DRIVER that really makes her RARE.
Chas & Theresa -n- Kids

 

[Rowdy1]

Now That's A Secret

Lou,

Rare has been hinting that she's never seen the East Coast... I don't know what you two talked about in Auburn, but she's getting a bit Rowdy

Thanks Bro... "ditto"

Bud

I can't tell what we talked about, but it was good for all concerned. As for "Rare" never seeing the East Coast, I understand "somebody" will have mucho time on their hands very soon now. You know how to get in touch.

 

[Tom Bryant]

I enjoy watching people as they notice the dimple where the antenna would be if it had one. I don't think most people know what to think of it. Although I didn't have the time to ride in Rare at Auburn I did get to drive her at Sharkfest. I doubt Bud will let that happen again. :L It is indeed a very nice '81.

My big adventure at Auburn was a nice long cruise in Rowdy's 62.

Tom

 

[Rowdy1]

61?

And here I thought you knew a lot about C1's. Look again, it has an antenna

 

[Tom Bryant]

And here I thought you knew a lot about C1's. Look again, it has an antenna

What can I say? It was late. Post corrected. :L

I was talking about Bud's '81 not having an antenna on the rear quarter where they were mounted at the factory.

Tom

 

[Nut]

Well if we're talking "rare" here I guess mine should qualify as one of the rarest. As many of you know my '81 is the only known and documented (build sheet) 1981 delivered to the dealer in Primer Gray paint. She has never had a factory color and still has the original custom color after 23 years and 204,000+ miles. She also sports a pro installed pop-up rear window kit like the one's in the '82CE's. Neither the engine or tranny TH350 have ever been rebuilt and they pull just as strong as they did a decade ago. I don't mind bragging but she looks pretty good considering. A number of my CAC buddy's have seen it in Bowling Green and Carlisle. I'm even mentioned in the Corvette Black Book after the 2002 edition.

I'll leave the title of "rare" to ole Bud. Anybody that would take a '81 cross country not once but TWICE is a rare lad indeed. Hope to see you in the spring Bud.

later............. Nut