1981 Chevrolet Corvette Market Value & Price History
The 1981 Chevrolet Corvette has a current market value of $17,639 as of Oct 13, 2026, based on 252 verified auction sales tracked by DriveIndex, with half of the verified USD sales since 2004 between $13,200 and $19,500. Based on US sales through Sep 25, 2026. 30 have sold in the past 12 months, and 63 are listed for sale from $10,999 to $84,699. The median sale price is up 7.8% over the past 12 months versus the prior year.
Data: DriveIndex. 252 verified auction sales for the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette (250 in USD, the basis for every dollar figure here), latest sale Sep 25, 2026. Value as of Oct 13, 2026. Methodology
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Last checked Oct 11, 2026, unless a listing shows its own date
1981 Chevrolet Corvette Price History
The median 1981 Chevrolet Corvette sold for $19,625 in 2026, against $15,400 in 2012. Each row is the median of the verified sales recorded in that calendar year, so it moves with the mix of mileages and options that came to market as well as with the market itself.
| Year | Median sale | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $19,625 | 24 |
| 2025 | $17,600 | 24 |
| 2024 | $16,500 | 25 |
| 2023 | $19,800 | 15 |
| 2022 | $18,700 | 27 |
| 2021 | $18,000 | 17 |
| 2020 | $14,850 | 11 |
| 2019 | $14,850 | 6 |
| 2018 | $16,060 | 16 |
| 2017 | $15,675 | 16 |
| 2016 | $13,750 | 13 |
| 2015 | $14,025 | 7 |
| 2014 | $14,300 | 13 |
| 2013 | $13,200 | 13 |
| 2012 | $15,400 | 19 |
Years with fewer than three verified USD sales are omitted — a one-sale “median” is a single car, not a market.
Recent 1981 Chevrolet Corvette Auction Results
| Sold | Price | Mileage | Gearbox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25, 2026 | $18,700 | 43,558 mi | Automatic |
| Sep 23, 2026 | $10,593 | 38,400 mi | Automatic |
| Sep 23, 2026 | $20,900 | 45,526 mi | Automatic |
| Sep 2, 2026 | $14,927 | 10,900 mi | Automatic |
| Jul 23, 2026 | $16,500 | 25,738 mi | Manual |
| Jul 22, 2026 | $15,400 | 12,416 mi | Automatic |
| Jun 30, 2026 | $19,250 | 37,000 mi | Automatic |
| Jun 9, 2026 | $18,500 | 34,100 mi | Manual |
| May 15, 2026 | $25,300 | 9,138 mi | Automatic |
| May 12, 2026 | $15,400 | 59,162 mi | Automatic |
| May 1, 2026 | $12,000 | — | — |
| Apr 10, 2026 | $23,100 | 32,215 mi | Automatic |
| Apr 3, 2026 | $22,500 | 6,000 mi | Automatic |
| Mar 28, 2026 | $24,750 | — | — |
| Mar 27, 2026 | $11,000 | — | — |
Verified results from the world's leading collector-car auction houses and marketplaces.
All Chevrolet Corvette auction results →See the full picture on the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette
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Chevrolet Corvette by Year
Which Corvette year should you buy? Every year compared →1981 Chevrolet Corvette: Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a 1981 Chevrolet Corvette worth?
A 1981 Chevrolet Corvette is worth approximately $17,639 as of Oct 13, 2026, based on 252 verified auction sales tracked by DriveIndex. Based on US sales through Sep 25, 2026. Half of all verified sales fall between $13,200 and $19,500; the full verified range is $9,900 to $74,800. Condition, mileage and options move an individual car within that band.
How much did a 1981 Chevrolet Corvette cost new?
The 1981 Chevrolet Corvette carried an original MSRP of $16,259. Verified examples now trade around $17,639.
How much has the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette depreciated?
It hasn't depreciated. The 1981 Chevrolet Corvette is worth about 8% more than its original MSRP of $16,259, with verified examples now trading around $17,639. That compares today's value with the sticker price, not adjusted for inflation.
How many 1981 Chevrolet Corvette sell per year?
30 have sold at auction in the past 12 months. DriveIndex has tracked 252 1981 Chevrolet Corvette sales in total.
Are 1981 Chevrolet Corvette sale prices higher or lower than a year ago?
The median 1981 Chevrolet Corvette sale price is up 7.8% over the past 12 months versus the prior year, based on verified auction sales. That figure tracks the median of what actually sold, so it moves with the mix of mileages and options that came to market as well as with the market itself. The full Value Signal classification (appreciating, stable, bottomed, or depreciating) and its 1–5 year projection are part of DriveIndex Pro.
Where can I buy a 1981 Chevrolet Corvette?
DriveIndex lists 63 1981 Chevrolet Corvette for sale, priced from $10,999 to $84,699 (last checked Oct 12, 2026). DriveIndex aggregates for-sale listings and auction results from the world's leading collector-car auction houses and marketplaces.
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