1961 Corvette

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

Position

Character

Description

1961

2 & 3

body series: Corvette

4 & 5

convertible

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	CQ = 283-cid 230-hp V-8 with 9.5:1 compression ratio, three-speed manual transmission, and four-barrel carburetor CR = 283-cid 275-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, three-speed manual transmission with fuel injection CS = 283-cid 315-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, three-speed manual transmission, high lift camshaft, and fuel injection CT = 283-cid 245-hp V-8 with 9.5:1 compression ratio, three-speed manual transmission and dual four-barrel carburetors CU = 283-cid 270-hp V-8 with 9.5:1 compression ratio, three-speed manual transmission, high-lift camshaft and dual four-barrel carburetors DG = 283-cid 230-hp V-8 with 9.5:1 compression ratio, Powerglide automatic transmission and a four-barrel carburetor DJ = 283-cid 245-hp V-8 with 9.5:1 compression ratio, Powerglide automatic transmission and dual four-barrel carburetors

1 to 7

0001001

sequential production number

F or T

Flint, MI or Tonawanda, NY

9 to 10

Carburetion and transmission

CQ = 283-cid 230-hp V-8 with 9.5:1 compression ratio, three-speed manual transmission, and four-barrel carburetor
CR = 283-cid 275-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, three-speed manual transmission with fuel injection
CS = 283-cid 315-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, three-speed manual transmission, high lift camshaft, and fuel injection
CT = 283-cid 245-hp V-8 with 9.5:1 compression ratio, three-speed manual transmission and dual four-barrel carburetors
CU = 283-cid 270-hp V-8 with 9.5:1 compression ratio, three-speed manual transmission, high-lift camshaft and dual four-barrel carburetors
DG = 283-cid 230-hp V-8 with 9.5:1 compression ratio, Powerglide automatic transmission and a four-barrel carburetor
DJ = 283-cid 245-hp V-8 with 9.5:1 compression ratio, Powerglide automatic transmission and dual four-barrel carburetors

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

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

Series No.

Body/Style No.

Body Type

Factory Price

Shipping Weight

Production Total

0800

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

Feature

Standard 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

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)

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

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

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

HISTORICAL NOTES

1961 Corvette Notes

Most 1961 Corvettes, 51.98 percent, came with a detachable hardtop and 64.1 percent had a four-speed manual transmission.
This was the last year wide whitewall tires were available.
A 1961 Corvette with a 283-cid 315-hp solid-lifter fuel-injected V-8 and the 3.70:1 rear axle could go from 0-to-30 mph in 2.6 seconds; from 0-to-60 mph in 6.0 seconds and from 0-to-100 mph in 14.2 seconds.
It did the quarter mile in 15.5 seconds at 106 mph and had a maximum speed of 140 mph.
This was the last year a contrasting color could be ordered from the factory for the side coves.

Chevrolet Corvette Service Repair Manuals

1961 CORVETTE

V.I.N. NUMBERS

IDENTIFICATION

ENGINE

TRANSMISSION

CHASSIS

OPTIONS

HISTORICAL NOTES

1961 CORVETTE PHOTOS

Auto Service Repair Manuals on Motor Era