mchaggis

Good afternoon,
I just bought a 1981 coupe and I have decoded the VIN but can't find very much on decoding the trim tag (A pillar on drivers door).
I previously owned a C4 but, I'm learning a whole new concept now. It's a Bowling Green car that's non numbers matching engine and (I think) transmission turbo hyrdo 350 (?). It also has a two tone paint white over garnet (?) again non matching. And a not very well done black (changed from red) interior. It needs a lot of love just to get to a needs TLC stage but, I do love the shark body style, and I couldn't say no to the price. I haven't looked for RPO yet, I understand that it's located on top of the gas tank ?
If any one can help with the decode it would be much appreciated. Thanks. B 08 B L o4774
74I 80L 80U 98N E

Mike Ward

First line B 08B

B=1981
08= 8th month August
B= second week of the month, car production date

Second line 74I 80L 80U 98N

741 is not a code I can find for any interior. Could it be 721 (Red)
80L 80U 98N= Red upper, Claret lower body colour

Easy Mike

It may no longer be there. These are taped on the fronts of the tanks (81 production at St. Louis):


You might get better results by contacting the NCM and see if you can obtain the build schedule for your car. https://store.corvettemuseum.com/ser...buildsheet.asp

gbvette62

The OP's 81 is a Bowling Green build car, which is why you can't find 74I.

For some reason, the Bowling Green codes don't show up in any of the normal places. About the only place you can find them, is in the 80-82 NCRS Judging Manual, and this is because I spent a year researching and verifying them.

74I is the Dark Red interior. It could be leather or cloth, since the Bowling Green trim tags, don't differentiate between the material used. The trim code on all BG tags, follow the color (74) with an "I".

The 80L 80U 98M (I believe it should be an "M", not and "N"?) exterior code on the OP's car, indicates that it is/was a two-tone car. 80L 80U is Claret Metallic upper and 98M is Dark Metallic lower.

qwank

these two tone cars always confuse me. I always thought the U and L after the color codes meant upper and lower, so If i was reading that I would have figured it was solid Claret. Why are there 3 color codes? and what do the U. L and M stand for?

gbvette62

On the 81 order form, the Two-Tone option lists the lower color as an accent color.

I worked as a fleet manager for a company, back in the 80's and 90's. From what I remember, Two-Tones were ordered using the car's primary color twice, for both the U and L color, and the second color as an M code accent color. I'm not 100% sure why, but I think it has to do with GM's uniform ordering system, the fact that some two-tones only painted a portion of the side of the car in the second color, and finally because the whole car was painted the primary color, before the accent color was added.

Some GM models, including most of the pick-ups and vans, featured two-tones that painted the hood/roof/trunk and the rocker area one color, and the upper sides of the car a different color. In this situation, the roof and rocker color was the primary color (U & L) and the side color was the accent color (M).

I'm just guessing here, but I think in the case of the two-tone Corvette, it is coded U & L for the upper color, because the entire car was painted the upper color first, and then the accent color was added to the bottom of the car.

Here is the order form for a 1981 Bowling Green Corvette. You can see how the order form required the two-tones be ordered with the primary color as U & L, and the lower color as an "Accent" color. This order form is dated 6-15-81, which coincides with the beginning of production at Bowling Green on 6-1-81. It is also, the only piece of GM paper work that I've ever found, that shows the paint and interior codes for 81 Bowling Green built Corvettes.

qwank

that makes sense. Thanks for the info!!

Easy Mike

GB is correct. Two toned cars were completely painted in one color first; the codes for upper and lower. These two codes are always the same color on two toned cars. After being painted in the first color, the second color was applied. Hence the appearance of the three codes.

Free trivia: the 78 Pace Cars and B2Z cars were done the same way.

Finally81

I have the same problem. Just bought my 81 and can not find how to decode it. Thanks

Easy Mike

Same as the opening responses. Model year code; time build code; consecutive unit number. Paint and trim codes on the next line. 64I camel leather; 50/74 beige and dark bronze

raingram70

What is the E for at the end? Does this mean it's one of the 80 pilot cars for the new paint process in Kentucky, or was the E for those cars at the START of the paint codes?

I just picked up an 81 with an identical body tag. Go figure, what are the odds.....

raingram70

Except mine was built two weeks earlier than McHaggis.... 5th week of July, which would only be 1, 2, or 3 days long. I guess it could have actually been on the line just a few cars ahead.

B 07E 102710
74I 80L 80U 98M E
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raingram70

Would anyone have an archive photo or a personal photo of this color combo? Mine was repainted, and quite badly. It is literally coming off in big flakes, some as long as my forearm. Stripping it isn't a problem, but it's just bare 'glass underneath. what in the name of all that's holy did this shop do wrong? I'm new to the Fiberglass finishing world, I've only ever had steel cars that needed work. My previous Corvette was pristine.

Easy Mike

Enamel. All St. Louis C3s used acrylic lacquer. Bowling Green used enamel. The E reminds dealers/painters that the paint is not lacquer.

80/98:
https://www.google.com/search?q=1981...07A1UQ_AUIBygC

raingram70

I'm not gonna lie, I feel like a dum bass for asking for a picture in this day and age.... Good info! Thanks Easy Mike!!

PonchoVette

Holy cow! Looks like my car may have followed yours down the assembly line!

Mine is all code '80', autumn red now. It must have been painted at some point.