This is a curious find. The seller advertises it as an L-88 big block but it is claimed to originally be LT-1 car and now has a 1972 454 cubic inch engine. This 1971 Corvette is located in Nottingham, Maryland and can be seen here on eBay. The car is bid to $7,100 with 42 bids but the reserve has not been met. The Corvette has been painted black with a black interior.
As we all know, the L-88 Corvette motor was a 427 cubic inch V8 monster. The L-88 was a 12.5 to 1 compression ratio race motor and only 216 were produced from 1967 to 1969. This car has what is probably an LS5 454 cubic that produced 270 net horsepower but it could have a 454 from a station wagon or a truck! Whatever the case, I would think finding an LT-1 high revving motor would make this car more valuable.
The interior is said to be original and the seller notes that he is not sure if the gauges work. The car has surface rust in multiple places and, with the driver window knocked out, there may be mold and other issues. The car is equipped with a M-21 4 speed transmission. The seller states that the data tag has been replaced with a custom made plate so the original color is not known. The ad lists a number of extra parts that come with the car.
The Corvette does come with an L-88 hood so maybe the seller is referring to in the ad. Regardless, this car is a hodge podge of parts and will need a lot of work to get it back on the road. It is being sold by a broker. The body and lines of any 1971 C3 are beautiful. What would you do with this Corvette?
I agree on your LT-1 comment Bruce. And then there is that data plate thing going on.
All of the rust residue in the driver’s footwell is what worries me, regardless of the VIN issues….
Bye-Bye Birdie(cage)
Agreed.
This guy is the “Mr. Mom” of car selling….”Yeah L-87, L-88, whatever it takes! (to sell it !!).
The guy selling it, how can you prove he is lying and knows nothing about Corvette’s? His lips are moving !!
Your a great crowd….tip your waitress and try the veal !!
L-88 HOOD maybe? 454, as was said, L 88 was a 427 and any big block with 2 bolt mains…..was not built as high HP nor would I build one into high HP.
Corvette with missing original numbers matching motor….it’s value is like the current value of oil……LOW.
Only needs about $100K budget for a #1-#2 resto, you STILL don’t have numbers matching which is CULT to this car and you now have a car that will sell for less than your investment. Hmmmm.
“Custom made plate” means someone needed to hide the original data tag. RED FLAG!
Just seems stupid in my opinion!!!
Silly sellers. Color code can be obtained by the VIN? Red flag on the whole deal. Something doesn’t make sense. Buyer beware. Good luck
That car looks like it’s been in a flood, rust stains everywhere in the interior.
The tach has the correct redline for an LT-1, but the car doesn’t have an LT-1 rear end. LT-1 and 454 rear ends used stub axles with malleable steel caps on the u-joints, not “U” straps. The seller also says that he has a new expansion tank, but LT-1’s did not use an expansion tank. Only no air, base motor 4 speed cars, and air conditioned big blocks, came with an expansion tank. The gas tank’s missing, so there’s no way of knowing what engine was listed on the tank sticker, and I’m curious which engine is listed on the firewall emission label.
I’m not really sure the seller knows what he’s talking about. He says the “Data Plate” has been changed, and does not reflect the colors or trim. I think he may be confusing the console engine data plate, with the trim tag attached to the hinge pillar. From the pictures I can see that the console data plate has been changed in this car, but all the data plate listed was the engine size, torque and compression ratio. The paint and interior codes are found on the trim tag on the driver’s side hinge pillar.
At $7800, the reserve has not been met yet, but that seems like all the money in the world for this car to me.
Having already lost one ’71 to rust in the frame and birdcage i’d say good-bye to this one from afar. Anyone want an $8000 parts car?
I love the C3’s, having owned 4 of them. I have moved on from them. this one no thanks!
Have a 71 LS5 car that I converted to an LS 7454 crate. Al. heads,M22, 410 rear. Have owned since 1995. Love it.
I had a nice ’72 LT-1. It went buh-bye when I saw the telltale birdcage rust signs around the window frame. This one looks like a flood car to me. Multitude of sins.
You can not tell the color of a Corvette from the VIN. This heap is a train wreck. I bet that bird cage is Swiss cheese. A real LT1 is worth far more than any boat anchor 454. Except a 71 LS6. I think this junk was stolen and recovered. For you non Corvette people, no black cars from 1970 until 1977. The trim tag was gifted to the A pillar at an angle. It gives the PNT code, interior trim and production date.
My 1975 L-82 was Black from the factory!
TOO MANY RED FLAGS.
RUN , Forrest , RUN