Corvettes for Sale: Custom 1981 Corvette Convertible Offered on Craigslist

Jul 29, 2025

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Corvettes for Sale: Custom 1981 Corvette Convertible Offered on Craigslist

Here’s something you don’t see every day: a 1981 Corvette convertible for sale. No, that’s not a typo. We all know that Chevy briefly ended production of Corvette ragtops after the ’75 model year, picking up where it left off in 1986 with the C4 version.

But a few companies out there decided that the world wasn’t just spinning right without a new C3 Corvette convertible, so they came up with their own conversions, including this 1981 red-on-red example currently being offered on Craigslist out of Frederick, Maryland for $22,500 or best offer.

No word on which company did this conversion, but the current owner does say the quality of the conversion of his car is “very good,” noting that the frame was also reinforced at the same time.

The result is a stunning 1981 Corvette that’s been maintained well over the years, with the seller able to provide receipts from nearly $11,000 worth of work done a few thousand miles ago by Tony’s Corvettes, including new brakes, calipers, rotors, brake hoses, stainless steel emergency brake cables, master cylinder, spark plugs, spark plug wires, water pump, motor mounts, rebuilt carburetor, belts, all fluids, vacuum canister, and “too much more to list.”

More recently, many other new parts have been installed, including four KYB shocks, a Cold Case aluminum radiator, upper and lower radiator hoses, a set of BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires, alternator, and belt. A custom Alpine sound system with CD, USB, satellite radio, Bluetooth, Kicker speakers and new rear custom speaker boxes by Innovative Corvette Products have also been added (though the original radio is included with the deal).

The car, with just 49,000 miles on the odometer, is one of just 5,757 (out of a total run of 40,606) equipped with a four-speed manual transmission, and the 350/190 horsepower 350 V8 engine is said to still run “good.”

That doesn’t mean a few things still don’t need to be addressed, including an air conditioning system that “probably needs a charge,” the seller says. After all the other work that has been done, was it too much to ask for a recharge?

In addition, the power antenna motor still functions but the antenna won’t move so it’s been uplugged. A bushing for the rear end mount is included and just needs to be installed. Same for the new Al Knoch convertible top that needs to be put on after the frame has been adjusted.

All in all, though, the owner calls this “a very unique Corvette” that “turns heads every time I take it out.”

We love the look of these ’80-’82 Corvettes and have owned a few of them, including a red-on-red ’80 coupe that was my first ‘Vette ever. Wish I still had it so I could consider adding this convertible to create an interesting pair.