1981 L81 (350CI) Engine Guide: Specs, Features, & More

The Corvette has featured numerous engine’s beneath its hood since becoming available to consumers in 1953. During many production years, consumers were provided with multiple engine options to choose from. This was especially true during the late 1960s when multiple small-block and big-block powerplant options were offered during any given year.

However, by the late 1970s, GM had begun to significantly scale back the number of production engines offered for the Corvette, during any year. This trend peaked in 1981, when only one engine, known as the L81, was offered to prospective Corvette owners.

L81 History

By the 1970s, Corvette owners had become quite accustomed to being presented with a wide array of engines to choose from, when optioning their new purchases. At this point, the Corvette had last been offered with a single engine in 1954, just prior to the 265 cubic-inch small-block’s release.

When the C3 Corvette first came to market in 1963, six individual engine codes were available for selection. However, during the C3’s last year of production, only a single engine option remained.