In Greek mythology, the Sirens were half bird, half woman creatures that lured sailors into danger by the sweet, beautiful sound of their song. Looking at this gorgeous, but worn Brands Hatch Green 1971 Corvette for sale on craigslist in Kansas City, Missouri, one cannot help to think of just how the beauty of this Corvette could draw a fellow to their financial doom. However, at a $9,500 asking price, does the seller’s siren song make you think this one can be restored for a reasonable price? Thanks to Chuck F. for this chrome bumper catch!
You have to hand it to Bill Mitchell and the styling team at General Motors. The styling on GM products in the sixties and early seventies was totally on point. If you were paying attention and watched the styling cues that emerged on GM show cars, the department formerly known as the Art and Colour Section let you know the direction they were headed. The Mako Shark II clearly showed the direction for future Corvettes back in 1965.
It must have driven Zora Arkus Duntov nuts to see the Corvette grow larger and heavier. Duntov was a sports car purist, and he was constantly fighting the tide at GM. Bill Mitchell was one of the biggest fish in the corporation, and he was going to have his way regardless of Duntov. What emerged in 1968 was a styling masterpiece, and that design would basically last until 1982 with some changes every few years.
However, the early C3 Corvettes with chrome bumpers front and rear are what collectors want even today. These cars command a premium over later cars and some are even approaching the prices of C2 Corvettes. Yet it was this group of Corvettes that had the most teething pains. Starting with the infamous 1968 model that Car and Driver magazine refused to test to the irate owners whose cars kept overheating and whose headlights didn’t go up, that beauty came at a cost.
It is that incredible beauty that makes this 1971 Corvette coupe so enticing. Prices have steadily climbed on these, but this one remains at a reasonable $9,500. The seller warns us that it needs a total restoration and it is just a 327 powered car with an automatic. That and the knowledge that it would take a king’s ransom to bring this one to NCRS standards It is the siren song of the photographs that makes one think there could be a happy middle ground between where it is now and a trophy level restoration.
The issues with these cars are well known. Frames can rust, the birdcage area around the cowl and windshield can turn to red dust, and there are a bunch of Corvette specific parts and pieces that would need to be rebuilt or replaced. It is just that the shape is so beautiflul and the rare Brands Hatch Green color enhances the car’s already good looks. All Corvettes are red may be a saying, but a green one would look awfully nice in any garage. My garage in particular….
What are your thoughts on purchasing a Corvette in this condition? Do you have any experience with a C3? Please share your experiences in the comments.
Sirens indeed. What do you do with this car? It can’t be driven as-is and it has the wrong engine if the seller is correct in stating it has a 327. Do you spend $9500 and put at least double that amount into it ? I guess so if you want to be the fool we always hear about. The Corvette hobby will be dead in a few years. No one can afford to restore one, the average age of the NCRS membership is close to 70 years old, and C8’s are $100,000 despite the “reasonable” MSRP.
Front clip replaced w/ ’73 on vent style?
And hood without windshield wiper door.
Well, the body & floors can’t rust – if u fix the brakes & the front end is ok, can you tell, taking a careful drive, if the birdcage is shot without disassembly?
Nope. It takes quite a bit of dismantling to see. Also, the C3 chassis is very susceptible to rust just forward of the rear wheels and the front crossmember. Remember, visible rust is just the tip of the iceberg. Yes, you can reframe a C3 and yes, this is a desirable year (chrome bumpers, removable rear window), but this is not a desirable car. As someone said this car has a 1973+ front clip. Hard to say why it was replaced and how well the repairs were made.
I’m no expert but I just don’t see an up-side to this car.
This Vette may not be the best candidate for complete resto, but not nice to call out fools like me. Worse ways to waist money. On the other hand anyone with $100000 can have a C8. Wait a bit and they’ll be far cheaper then that.
Ever heard of FOOLS GOLD ? Needless to say anything else. Unless you collect parts cars and you can get this car for less than half of a too high priced car already , lots of hidden headaches.
Money pit. It will cost a lot more to bring this up to a decent driver state than the upfront money to buy it. Forget about the trophy. You’ll never get one with this mutt. Corvette enthusiasts are sticklers for details and correctness. Patina and an incorrect front clip doesn’t play well with the Corvette crowd. I had a 1972 driver quality Corvette from ‘95-‘07. Red of course. It was a lot better than this seller’s car when I bought it and I spent a lot of blood, sweat and money just to correct all the stuff that didn’t work right. Vacuum system is APITA. Service brakes aren’t too bad to fix but the parking brakes are a different story. And I eventually had to sell it because frame rust was entrenched in the area of the rear axle just like ruxvette said. Like Jeff; I’ve always loved the Brands Hatch Green on the C3’s. Maybe that’s enough to motivate a potential buyer. Because I have a soft spot for Corvettes; I hope that this Vette will get back on the road again.
I think $9500.00 is good price would like to see the frame and cage yes probably hit in the front but might be a great project for a hands on guy.
I bought a 75 in Santa Rosa, drive it 3 hours home. Drove it around for another 3 months while I built my 496 to replace the 350 in it. I know it’s not a bumper car, and 1975 is one of the worst years ever, but I have the most fun,, got the most compliments, and love that car to death. All of that plus 670 horsepower horsepower for less than $20000. Need I say more?
Sort it for safety and drivability, then enjoy the open road….
👍🤓
Whenever I see one of those long zip ties, it makes me think Copart car.
Spot On!