Types

• The 1981 Chevy C10 base model was a regular-cab pickup truck with a 5.0-liter V-8 engine. The C10 Blazer Utility came with a 4.1-liter L6 engine, and Chevy offered a new 5.0-liter V-8 engine in its 1981 C10 Suburban Utility model. This model boasted electronic spark control and a four-barrel carburetor to increase its fuel economy.
  
  

Changes

• Chevy's 1981 C10s featured comprehensive changes. These included better aerodynamics, more efficient engines and a loss of excess weight, according to Cars.com's Pickup Trucks website. The redesigned front end, made of sheet metal, allowed for less wind drag and better gas mileage.
  
  

Weight

• Depending on the model, the 1981 Chevrolet C10 was between 115 and 309 pounds lighter than previous models. Weight-reduction features in 1981 included lighter rear bumpers and a new aluminum transfer case. These vehicles averaged about 4,180 lbs. fully equipped.