1961 CORVETTE
- The badge on the front of the 1961 Corvette was a crossed flag over a "V."
- A refined, thin, vertical and horizontal bar grille and duck-tail rear end treatment with four cylindrical taillights quickly set the new 1961 Corvette apart from its predecessor.
- This design was a predecessor to the Sting Ray coming in 1963 and added more space to the Corvette's trunk.
- The rear emblem had a spun silver background with the crossed flags over a "V" design and the words "Chevrolet Corvette."
- The exhaust now exited under the car, rather than through bumper ports.
- Standard equipment included
- tachometer
- seat belts
- sun visors
- dual exhaust
- carpeting
- electric clock
- an outside rearview mirror
- a lockable rear-seat storage area
- a new aluminum radiator
- A temperature-controlled radiator fan was also made standard.
- Seven exterior colors were available:
- Tuxedo Black (Black or White soft top)
- Ermine White (Black or White soft top)
- Roman Red (Black or White soft top)
- Sateen Silver (Black or White soft top)
- Jewel Blue (Black or White soft top)
- Fawn Beige (Black or White soft top)
- Honduras Maroon (Black or White soft top)
V.I.N. NUMBERS
- The serial number (Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN) was located on a stainless steel plate welded to the top of the steering column mast under the hood.
- Serial numbers ranged from 10867S100001 to 10867S110939
| Position | Character | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1961 |
| 2 & 3 | 08 | body series: Corvette |
| 4 & 5 | 67 | convertible |
| 6 | S | Assembled in St. Louis, MO |
| 7 to 12 | 100001 to 110939 | production sequence |
- Engine serial number
| 1 to 7 | 0001001 | sequential production number |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | F or T | Flint, MI or Tonawanda, NY |
| 9 to 10 | Carburetion and transmission |
|
- Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block next to the engine number
- The body number plate was located on the engine side of the cowl.
- The Fisher Body Style Number 61-0867 identifies a Corvette.
- The body number is the production serial number of the body.
- The trim number indicates the interior trim color and material.
- The vinyl upholstery was available in Red, Black, Blue, or Fawn.
- The paint number indicates the color combination.
- The seven 1961 Corvette "Magic Mirror" acrylic lacquer exterior colors were:
- 900 = Tuxedo Black
- 912 = Jewel Blue
- 920 = Fawn Beige
- 923 = Roman Red
- 936 = Ermine White
- 940 = Sateen Silver
- 948 = Honduras Maroon
IDENTIFICATION
| Series No. | Body/Style No. | Body Type | Factory Price | Shipping Weight | Production Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0800 | 67 |
2-dr. Roadster - 2 passenger |
$3934 | 2840 lb | 10,939 |
ENGINE
| Feature | Standard Engine | Optional Engine | Optional Engine | Optional Engine | Optional Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | V-8, Overhead valve | ||||
| Block | Cast iron block | ||||
| Displacement | 283 cid | ||||
| Bore & Stroke | 3.87 x 3.00 | ||||
| Compression ratio | 9.50:1 | 10.5:1 | |||
| Brake horsepower | 230 @ 4800 rpm | 245 | 270 | 275 | 315 |
| Main bearing | five | ||||
| Valve lifters | hydraulic | solid | |||
| Carburetor | Carter four-barrel Type WCFB Model 3779178 | Two four-barrel carbs | Two four-barrel carbs | Rochester fuel injection | Rochester fuel injection |
TRANSMISSION
| Standard Manual Transmission | Optional Manual Transmission | Automatic Transmission |
|---|---|---|
| Close-ratio three-speed manual all-synchromesh transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter | Close-ratio four-speed manual all-synchromesh transmission with floor-mounted gear shifter | Two-speed Powerglide transmission (optional) |
CHASSIS
| Wheelbase | 102 inches (2.591 m) |
|---|---|
| Overall length | 177.2 inches (4.501 m) |
| Overall width | 72.8 inches (1.849 m) |
| Overall height | 51.6 inches (1.318 m) |
| Front tread | 57 inches (1.448 m) |
| Rear tread | 58.8 inches (1.499 m) |
| Frame | Welded steel box-section X-braced type |
| Ground Clearance | 6 inches (15 cm) |
| Wheels | 15" steel bolt-on wheels |
| Tires | 6.70x15 |
| Front suspension | Independent; unequal-length A-arms; unequal-length wishbones; coil springs; anti-roll bar; tubular shocks |
| Rear suspension | Live axle on semi-elliptic leaf springs, tubular shock absorbers |
| Steering | Saginaw worm-and-ball, 17:1 ratio, 3.7 turns to lock; 38.5 foot turning circle |
| Rear axle type | Hypoid semi-floating |
| Brakes | Four-wheel hydraulic, internal-expanding, 11-inch diameter drums, 157 square inches effective lining area (121 square inches with optional sintered metallic linings) |
| Standard 3-speed axle ratio | 3.36:1 |
OPTIONS
| Additional cove color | $16.15 | |
|---|---|---|
| RPO 101 | Heater | $102.25 |
| RPO 102 | Signal-seeking AM radio | $137.75 |
| RPO 276 | Five 15 x 5.5-inch wheels | N/C |
| RPO 290 | 6.70 x 15 White sidewall tires | $31.55 |
| RPO 313 | Powerglide automatic transmission | $199.10 |
| RPO 419 | Auxiliary hardtop | $236.75 |
| RPO 426 | Electric power windows | $59.20 |
| RPO 441 | Direct-Flow exhaust system | no charge |
| RPO 468 | V-8 283-cid 270-hp dual four-barrel carburetor engine | $182.95 |
| RPO 469 | 283-cid 245-hp dual four-barrel carb V-8 engine | $150.65 |
| RPO 353 | V-8 283-cid 275-hp fuel-injection engine | $484.20 |
| RPO 354 | V-8 283-cid 315-hp fuel-injection engine | $484.20 |
| RPO 473 | Power-operated folding top mechanism | $161.40 |
| RPO 675 | Positraction axle with optional ratio | $43.05 |
| RPO 685 | Four-speed manual transmission | $188.30 |
| RPO 686 | Metallic brakes | $37.70 |
| RPO 687 | Heavy-duty brakes and suspension | $333.60 |
| RPO 1408 | Five 6.70 x 15 Nylon tires | $15.75 |
| RPO 1625A | 24-gallon fuel tank | $161.40 |
