There is much to be said for buying a classic that isn’t pristine. The new owner can enjoy their purchase, safe in the knowledge that an errant stone won’t mar perfection as they revel in motoring pleasure. That makes this 1971 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible an attractive proposition. The seller admits that it isn’t perfect, but it seems to fulfill the criteria for a high-end survivor. It needs nothing and features some desirable factory options. Somebody can hand over the cash and head into the sunset behind the wheel of this turnkey classic. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Mitchell G. for spotting the ‘Vette listed here on Craigslist in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. You could become its new owner for $28,500, and it appears that the seller is fairly firm on that figure.

Chevrolet adopted an evolutionary approach when it released the 1971 Corvette. It was virtually indistinguishable from the previous year’s offering. The Coupe remained the popular choice among buyers, with the Convertible accounting for under 33% of sales. The first owner ordered our feature car in Mille Miglia Red with a contrasting Black soft-top. The seller confirms that the deal also includes a color-matched factory Hardtop. The Convertible’s presentation is quite impressive for a genuine survivor of this vintage. The seller admits there are flaws and imperfections, but the paint retains a very healthy shine. There is no mention or evidence of rust in the frame or birdcage, and the lack of corrosion in areas like the engine bay is an encouraging sign. The trim looks acceptable for a survivor, and the original tinted glass is excellent.

It may have been “business as usual” on the surface, but the first signs of the most dramatic changes to the Corvette, and every American model, began to show below the surface. The first owner ordered this classic with a 350ci V8, hooked to a four-speed manual transmission. This is the ZQ3 version of the small-block, producing 270hp. The company had lowered the engine’s compression ratio for 1971 to cope with lower-octane unleaded fuel. The result was a drop in engine power of 10% from the previous year’s 300hp. That was the tip of the iceberg because things would become far worse as the decade progressed. The seller confirms that this Convertible is numbers-matching and that the engine, transmission, and rear end were rebuilt prior to them becoming its custodian in 2021. The car runs and drives extremely well and is a turnkey proposition. They don’t supply any interior shots, but reveal that it is trimmed in Black leather. They state that the air conditioning was removed by the previous owner, although the engine bay shot shows the compressor is intact. We’re flying blind on the interior condition, but with the exterior presenting so nicely, we can only hope that the story is the same inside this classic.

I’m sure that we will have many readers who like what they see with this 1971 Corvette Convertible, and I understand those feelings. It presents well for a survivor-grade car with fifty-four years of service under its belt. Its mechanical specifications aren’t the most potent offered in that model year, but its performance will still be pretty impressive. Throw the factory options into the mix, and the seller’s price looks realistic in the current classic market. If you’ve previously owned a C3 or would like to make that dream a reality, could this ’71 Convertible be a contender?