454/4 Speed: 1971 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

The owner of this 1971 Corvette Stingray rightly points out that if this car were immaculate, it would be offered at a far higher price than he has set. However, it needs some cosmetic work, so he has priced it accordingly. What makes it an attractive proposition is what resides under the hood. This is a numbers-matching classic, and it would suit someone who feels like tackling a hands-on restoration project. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Rocco B for referring the Stingray to us. It is located in Houston, Texas, and has been listed for sale here on Craigslist. All you need to do is hand the owner $29,000, and you could be taking the Corvette home.

I admit that I’ve been thinking pretty hard about this Corvette. The color that it wears isn’t original, because it started life finished in War Bonnet Yellow. The green that it wears had me for a while because it doesn’t look like Brands Hatch Green. By process of elimination, I have concluded that it is actually Donnybrooke Green, which was offered during the 1970 model year. It probably isn’t that relevant, because the car is in desperate need of a repaint. That will leave the buyer to choose whether to return it to its original shade, apply a fresh coat of green, or select another color entirely. I’m usually a stickler for originality, but I wouldn’t object if the buyer doesn’t reapply War Bonnet Yellow. It doesn’t rate as my favorite color in Chevrolet’s palette, but that’s purely a matter of personal preference. The fiberglass generally looks good, with no signs of major flaws or defects. The seller provides no information on the state of the frame or birdcage, but years residing in Texas should hopefully have protected it from the ravages of rust. The majority of the trim looks good, although a few items would benefit from a trip to the platers. The original owner ordered the Stingray with Soft Ray glass all around, and there are no problems with this.

The Corvette’s interior is an undoubted high point because it does present well. There are no major problems to report, and if the owner’s claim of originality is accurate, that makes it all the more impressive. There is no wear on the seats, especially on the prone outer edges. The carpet looks excellent, while the dash and most of the plastic is just as nice. The armrest on the console is warped, which is one of the few faults of any consequence. One aspect of this interior that I find particularly attractive is its originality. I know that when I was younger, I didn’t think twice about ripping out a factory radio to fit something more modern and upmarket (if the budget allowed). This Corvette still houses its factory AM/FM radio. It is a bonus that the original owner ordered the Corvette with air conditioning because things can become pretty warm in a car of this type under the Texas sun.

The Stingray is a numbers-matching classic, and it offers the buyer a fairly potent package. The LS5 version of the 454ci V8 produced 365hp when it was new, and that’s what we find occupying the engine bay of this classic. It is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission, and the pair promise an entertaining driving experience. The ¼ miles should be able to be dispatched in 14.3 seconds, which is a number that stands up quite well even by modern standards. The odometer on this car shows 24,000 miles, and the owner entertains the possibility that these could be genuine miles. Some aspects of the Corvette, such as the interior, tend to support this. Other areas call this claim into question. One factor that is worth considering is the originality of the mechanical components. The owner claims that most of the items like the exhaust, hoses, and belts are original. If this is true, it offers some support for the claim, although it is far from conclusive evidence. The one thing that the seller doesn’t tell us is how well the Stingray runs or drives. The text in the listing suggests that it hasn’t seen much use in recent years, so it might need a thorough check before it is considered roadworthy.

A chrome-bumper C3 Corvette is a classic that will always generate some interest when it comes onto the market. This interest increases dramatically if the car in question has an original big-block under the hood. That means that this car has already ticked two of the right boxes in the desirability stakes. Factor in the 4-speed transmission and the lack of major modifications, and that makes this a tempting proposition. The question is whether it is desirable enough to justify the asking price. There’s no doubt that if the paint were shiny and original, the $40,000+ figure that the owner quotes is a real possibility. It isn’t shiny or original, but returning it to that state would seem to be a straightforward undertaking. That means that the asking price is probably quite realistic and makes it well worth considering if a big-block Corvette has been on your radar.