This 1971 Chevrolet Corvette, finished in its original War Bonnet Yellow, is a project car with a lot of appeal. The seller states it has 86,000 miles and a clean title, offered here on eBay. Located in the United States, this classic wears a time-earned patina and represents a rare chance to own an unmolested example of one of Chevy’s most desirable big-block C3s. According to the seller, the car runs, shifts, and stops, and has been brought back to its original finish after years of storage and a hasty white repaint. The 454ci LS5 V8 is numbers matching, and according to the seller, the car remains largely original aside from some typical project needs, such as a new fuel pump and minor bodywork at the top of the driver’s door.
Pop the hood and you’ll find the mighty 454-cubic-inch LS5 V8, which was rated at 365 horsepower in 1971. The engine bay shows its age, but all the important original hardware is there, including the GM air cleaner and factory ignition shielding. The seller notes that while the car starts and runs from an external fuel source with an electric pump, the stock fuel pump will need replacing before the car is ready for street duty.
Inside, the cockpit is all business, with black bucket seats, a factory console, and the classic C3 gauge cluster. The interior appears intact and complete, with just the sort of honest wear you’d expect from a survivor. The only real “negative” highlighted by the seller is some body damage at the top of the driver’s door—a straightforward fix for any body shop or handy owner.
The 1971 LS5 was the last of the high-compression big blocks before emissions regulations kicked in. Finding a real LS5 coupe that’s numbers matching and not restored out of recognition is a tall order—especially in a rare color like War Bonnet Yellow. This Corvette’s originality, documentation, and untouched character make it a prime candidate for preservation, restoration, or to drive and enjoy as-is.
The year before the 454 had 390 hp.
I drove a new one my senior year 1970,a 4 speed .
I had 1960 vw my senior year. 40hp. You win!
Given the condition of the car the current Ebay bid of over $11K is way too much given the work needed versus buying a NICE 71 454 T-Top Corvette already DONE in today’s market!
Parts car, says me, or at least it should be. Rust bucket (see driver’s door). ‘Minor bodywork’? That’s just in one picture. Under hood it looks like it was in the weather for decades.
I wish I could attach a photo [S], but this car reminds me of the 1971 Corvette coupe that was driven by Bernie Aggerman of Bayonne, NJ (although Bernie’s car was blue and it was an LS-6). But Bernie Aggerman’s SS/CA 71 Corvette was the N.H.R.A. Super Stock World Champion in 1975 winning over half of the N.H.R.A. National Meets that year. In fact only two other cars won a National Meet in 1975, Judy Lilly’s 1975 Duster 360 SS/KA out of Colorado and a 1963 Pontiac Catalina Wagon out of Texas that ran in SS/U. Bernie’s Corvette was also known as “THE BAYONNE MISSILE”. In a comment by S.E.M.A. that year it was said “We could put all the speed equipment we made for a 360 MoPar and 389 Pontiac in the trunk of a 71 Corvette”. Anyway many years later, my friend Water Kriel purchased a 1984 Camaro GT/DA as a ‘roller’ from Wally Clark, a drag racer from Sydney, Australia who immigrated to Niagara Falls, Canada and started a family. Well on the front spoiler of that Camaro (which in its own right had won four N.H.R.A. National Meets), Wally Clark had painted the outline of the Australian Continent along with three white stars next to the names of of his three young daughters. Well selling the Camaro to my friend Walter, Wally Clark had a body shop take his name off the doors and paint Walter’s name in place. But he also had that Australian Continent outline removed and in its place the words “THE NEW BAYONNE MISSILE’
Given the condition of the motor, you wonder how much rust is on the frame?
Bird cage is probably rusted beyond belief, too.
I think your guess would be accurate: Frame? What frame?
That body damage at the top of the door is rust out. Expect the rest of the metal in the car to be in similar condition. 1970 was the last year for high compression engines in the corvette. This car’s too far gone except for parts like the drivetrain and interior parts, too bad someone let it deteriorate to this condition.
Luckily, this Corvette is located in the United States.
One thing we know for sure is this Vette will require a total restoration and that will be a tall order from what I see. At least it’s numbers match so there’s possibilities of you can afford it. Making sense of that is the question ❓
The condition of that door is a 100% guarantee that the birdcage is roached. Salty water travelled from the top windshield frame rails down into that area and continued its journey into the birdcage.
There is a reason why the seller did not provide a single undercarriage shot, because the frame rails are also wasted away.
Cars for the salty coasts RUST from the top down!
My neighbor has a red 1971 Corvette with this engine, four speed….
He frequents local car shows with it during the summer and was washing it off as I left from lunch. We live just outside of town on a good stretch of blacktop and he likes to run through the gears, so I’ll be listening for him later tonight.
EV’s just don’t sound like this….
Whoever has bid this thing up to $11,500 is greatly optimistic to say the least. As a couple of other folks have mentioned, this thing is basically a parts car with some seriously bad juju going on. I am probably as big a Corvette fan as you would normally find as I have owned one in some form or another for 60 years, and I see absolutely no redeeming qualities in this one. Even if it were a 4 speed, its value as a parts car would be minimal.