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Bloomington Gold: 1971 Chevrolet Corvette LT-1

This 1971 Chevrolet Corvette is claimed to have traveled only 1,333 miles in the past 49 years. It is a true time capsule and Bloomington Gold Benchmark award winner. It is listed for sale here on eBay for $80,000 which seems like a very fair price for such a pristine example of a 1971 Corvette. The car is located in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The car is powered by a high revving LT-1 350 cubic inch V8 backed by a 4 speed transmission.

I am sure the interior of this Corvette still smells original. It is loaded with options including power windows, power steering, power brakes, AM/FM Stereo and a black leather interior. The exterior paint is Steel Cities Gray. The Corvette won the Benchmark Award at Bloomingtons in 1996 and has since only traveled about 30 miles. The seller states that a sufficient amount of documentation comes with the car including the tank sticker, original bill of sale and original title. The car was first titled on December 10, 1970.

As a bonus, the 1971 Chevrolet Corvette was ordered with the LT-1 350 cubic inch V8 engine. Chevrolet rated this special motor at 330 horsepower from the factory. The engine came with a M22 close ratio 4 speed transmission. The car has equipped with factory rally wheels and F70 x 15 white letter tires.

The exterior of the car looks fantastic painted in Steel Cities Gray which shows the elegance of the C3 design. This would be a great car for a Corvette collector or a museum. I am not sure I could bring myself to racking up too many miles on it even though my motto is always that cars are meant to be driven. You don’t get much closer to a survivor than this!

Comments

  1. Avatar RoughDiamond

    What an exciting early Christmas present that must have been in December 1970.
    “Honey I can’t hear “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on TV.” “Why is that?” “That man in that gray sleek looking 2 door car is in the church parking lot across the street again doing circles and smoking up the air.”

    Like 9
  2. Avatar RoughDiamond

    My apologies for the incorrect grammar in my initial post. I forgot on the Early Access submissions there is not an edit option.

    Like 3
  3. Avatar Frank Sumatra

    My $80K goes to a C8 that would be driven every day and twice on Sunday.

    Like 15
  4. Avatar Bud Lee

    If the ring turns your finger green , it aint gold . Maybe I’m color blind .

    Like 3
    • Avatar Nick

      The paint is Steel Cities Gray the standard the car has attained is Bloomington Gold.

      Like 7
  5. Avatar DRV

    That blended front and door color are my only probs with this being a top notch original. For me, this is the iconic C3 and would have it over any other.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar OhU8one2

    Is it me? Or does anyone else see me driving the hell out of this LT-1? If only I had money and space, I could save my wife alot of Christmas shopping time.

    Like 3
  7. Avatar 370zpp Member

    How could anyone ever leave this beauty just sitting for all those years?

    That’s what you do with a stamp collection.

    Like 17
  8. Avatar MXbaum

    The guy who bought this must not like Vettes. Or maybe he bought 2, one to drive and one to look at it. There is no way I could sit and look at this car without driving it. The ad says started and driven regularly, maybe to the end of the driveway and back? And if you calculate the investment side of this, he was making about 3.6% interest on his $5000 initial investment with $50 a month for insurance and other “storage” fees. He could have made a lot more money if he had invested elsewhere. No, I would have driven it, but took care of it. Still would be worth a lot.

    Like 3
  9. Avatar stevee

    Time for this car to hit the road. Like any fifty year old, it’s age is showing. Rust around the hood pins, the radiator surround, the master cylinder cover and the exhaust manifolds. Restored cars are available, for those that like to look at factory new. Time is not waiting for this car— service this old timer up to roadable standards, top up the tank and go!

    Like 9
    • Avatar Frank Sumatra

      And we are rapidly running out of old-timers interested in these cars. A sad fact of life. Nobody under age 30 (40?) has any interest in these cars.

      Like 3
  10. Avatar Mike Adams

    Sorry. Not buying the mileage claim.

    This looks like a meticulously maintained 102,000 mile car, which is not a bad thing at all. But what is bad is passing it off as something it’s not.

    An under 2,000 mile car would look showroom new. This one does not. The seats have wear patterns that they would not get in 2,000 miles. And underhood, the look is of a very well-maintained car, but not one that just let the showroom.

    Like 12
    • Avatar PRA4SNW

      That would be quite the trick to fool the Bloomington Gold judges, who had their eye all over every part of this car, that the mileage is not real.

      Like 3
  11. Avatar A.J.

    1,333 miles? I would have put that on it the first weekend I had it.

    Like 3
  12. Avatar PRA4SNW

    A low mileage, LT-1, Bloomington Gold winner, in one of the most desirable colors of the day – why not try for 80K?

    Like 0
    • Avatar stevee

      I was Bloomingdale judged 26 yrs ago. A lot of cars (and humans) have aged not so gracefully in that amount of time.

      Like 1
      • Avatar Ike Onick

        Bloomingdale? Were you judging Women’s dresses?

        Like 1
  13. Avatar Gary

    I’m looking for a 69 70 here in the near future 40 is my target I want to drive when that one payed for than Ill look for a g t o driver And have 80 in two and have a lot more fun than parking it in my garage

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Bobby W Miller Member

    I knew someone would say the mileage is bogus. Happens every time a low mile car is featured.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Thomas Nemec Member

      Not sure what your comment means? Low mileage SHOULD line up with a lot of aesthetics. This car does not. Below, C5 Corvette commentary is correct, along with may others who have pointed out specifics. This car is WAY overpriced in todays market considering the actual condition for the extremely low mileage is it said to be. For what it is….perhaps, maybe $50K asking. I don’t think I would pay $40K for this one, not even sure I would buy a misrepresentation. Any yes I have owned several of these, yes I am in the industry. Steel Cities Gray is nice, but boring when it comes to other color options in 71. 70 is the more desirable year in MY opinion.

      Like 2
  15. Avatar C5 Corvette

    Something just seems off here. too many things don’t add up to what the claims are. photo from the rear showing under carriage rust, tires are well worn, under the hood too many things not up to standards, interior appears well used. I live in Western NY (where the weather is not the best for collector cars) and my 98 C5 presents much better than this one and it has 45K on it.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Thomas Nemec Member

      After my first comment above yours, I went back and looked at the listing. No way on this on….C5, you are TOTALLY ON TRACK, this car is a mess for 1333 miles. This seller did not provide underbody photos because, as a Rust Expert personally, I guarantee this underbody (anything metal) is a total rust fest….IF LOW MILES it was stored completely incorrectly. That means rust everywhere which IS evident as the engine bay shows great signs of moisture. 80 grand asking and you can’t get the hood and headlamp covers adjusted properly? Exhaust tips are crooked. I take my $40K offer though process off the table. NO THANKS. #1 rule of storing a car….do NOT park the daily driver next to it. A fully saturated daily driver comes in and the “bone dry” classic immediately begins absorbing the moisture. I don’t even care “when” Bloomington Gold looked at this car (owner of BG is a friend of mine) pretty sure the car didn’t look like this at that time.

      Like 3
  16. Avatar z28th1s

    Looks like excellent GM quality control on the exhaust tip alignment!

    It might have gotten Bloomington Gold in 1996 but the car hasn’t aged well since then.

    Under the hood and the seats don’t look like a 1,333 mile car.It also doesn’t look like the paint matches on the driver’s side fender/door/quarter panel.

    The headlight door and hood also don’t seem to line up well, could be GM quality control again.

    Like 4
  17. Avatar 3Deuces

    Still, a very nice example of a desirable C3 in a classic color … wrap your a** in fiberglass!

    Like 1
  18. Avatar Thomas Nemec Member

    After my first comment above yours, I went back and looked at the listing. No way on this on….C5, you are TOTALLY ON TRACK, this car is a mess for 1333 miles. This seller did not provide underbody photos because, as a Rust Expert personally, I guarantee this underbody (anything metal) is a total rust fest….IF LOW MILES it was stored completely incorrectly. That means rust everywhere which IS evident as the engine bay shows great signs of moisture. 80 grand asking and you can’t get the hood and headlamp covers adjusted properly? Exhaust tips are crooked. I take my $40K offer though process off the table. NO THANKS. #1 rule of storing a car….do NOT park the daily driver next to it. A fully saturated daily driver comes in and the “bone dry” classic immediately begins absorbing the moisture. I don’t even care “when” Bloomington Gold looked at this car (owner of BG is a friend of mine) pretty sure the car didn’t look like this at that time.

    Like 1

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