OK, I’m a sucker for a green car. Want to look at a three-cylinder Saab? No! It’s Green! Oh, OK. A 2003 Durango? No! It’s green! Well Ok then. So you can see my weakness and dilemma and of course when it comes to a car like this 1971 Chevrolet Corvette, that just happens to be green, you know I’m gonna say, Yeah, let’s look at it. This ‘Vette is located in Chicago, Illinois and is available here on craigslist for $14,500. Thanks to Pat L. for this tip.
The year 1971 brought some important but subtle changes to the Corvette. A restyle occurred in 1970 but it was an abbreviated year that saw only 17K units produced. For ’71, identifiable changes were minimal at best but being a full production year the number rebounded to about 22K copies. Where the change occurred was under the hood. Reacting to Federal rules imposed by the 1970 Clean Air Act, horsepower and efficiency started to trend downwards to meet the increasingly more stringent emissions regulations. At the time it looked like the beginning of the end for going fast, obviously a bit of an overreaction, at least taken in the context of 2020’s reality.
This being the case, this ’71 Corvette is equipped with a 270 gross HP, 350 CI V8 engine, down 30 HP from its ’70 predecessor. The seller claims that this 350 was rebuilt 7K miles ago at the 100K mile mark. He gives no indication as to how this Chevy runs and drives but we’ll go with the assumption that it performs as a rebuilt engine with 7K miles is supposed to. Gear selection is handled by a Turbo-Hydramatic 400, three-speed, automatic transmission.
I get double green-stamps on this ‘Vette, not only is the exterior green but so is the interior! The interior, which appears to be in excellent condition, is slathered in green vinyl material pretty much everywhere. I miss these times when there were so many choices for interior hues. Nothing in the Corvette’s cockpit looks out of place. There is no word regarding the instruments and their functioning but it is noteworthy that in ’71, the Corvette still employed a mechanical tachometer drive. Also, the rear window in this coupe is removable which at some point in the near future would be eliminated. This interior would seem to need nothing.
Brands Hatch Green! What a color. The lead image does show what appears to be some spotting or oxidization on the header panel and hood but the seller states that this is the original finish so I would expect some degradation in 49 years. The bonding seams, however, all look fine and with the images provide, there is no evidence of finish crazing. The seller advises, “All the chrome on the car is original and in good shape.” And I would agree. An unusual feature adorning this ‘Vette’s exterior are the optional P02 Deluxe Wheel Covers. Generally, a Corvette of this vintage would be equipped with Rally Wheels, complete with a center cap and a trim ring. This ‘Vette would still possess the 15″ X 8″ rally rim but with turbine-styled covers in place of the trim rings and center caps. Corvette statistics state there were about 3,000 units produced in ’71 with these wheel covers which is more than I would have anticipated. These deluxe covers were also found as an option on the full-size “B” body Chevy and I have been told that they are quite heavy.
This is a fine, original example of an early C3, steel-bumper equipped Corvette. In spite of this ‘Vette’s complete greenness, the only thing holding it back for me is the base engine with an automatic transmission; a four-speed manual would be more appropriate methinks. But that’s a minor concession in the scheme of things. This is a very tempting example don’t you think? After all, it’s good to be green.
The spotting on the cowl appears to be peeling clear coat, which I don’t believe was used in 1971. So, repaint. As to the “rebuilt” motor, I’ve been told that enough times that unless they have documentation; no it isn’t. That engine bay is awfully grungy for a supposed engine out 7k miles ago, and if they DID do it (they didn’t) I wouldn’t trust it as it appears they also reused hoses too.
Check the frame and birdcage, the upper a frames are rusty, and that might not indicate anything, but the history of the frames on these isn’t good. In contention for worst ad of the week but he does say the underneath is solid. FWTW. Looker over good, says its near Chicago. Good luck. That green in the gut would take some getting used to, unless its the lighting.
Stay safe and wash your hands.
Cheers
GPC
Green on green!!! Swap out those wheel covers (what were they thinking….its a Vette, not a Caprice) for some Ansen slots, Cragars or torque thrusts and it would look really sharp.
GLWTS
The are stock, probably original. You either love them or hate them.
I know they are stock….to my point. What was GM thinking? Doesn’t do anything to add to the appeal of the car IMO.
Switch out to the basic rally and the chrome would make that paint pop.
Love them a lot more than the ralleys
Could be a diamond in the rough if there is no rust present.
For the price, this is a great summertime “let’s head out for dinner” car. They don’t all have to be fire breathers to be enjoyable. Automatic means that the wife can drive in case you’ve been a bad boy!
I agree with the author, what’s wrong with green, I have a legend lime mustang gt and love the color, I don’t understand all the green hate !
I think Kermit used to sing “It’s hard to be green !!” I like green. I actually like this dark green. Now, having said that, I had a Blue on Blue 72 Stingray 454 M21 car (LOVED IT -recession bought it UGH !!) and liked the Blue in & out. I can’t say I am loving this green INTERIOR. Just saying, they are kind of clashing.
Anyway, I live in Chicago so heed Gaspumpchas warning on the birdcage and the frame especially in front of the rear wheels from the TOP DOWN.
Just because the car is fiberglass does not mean that it can’t have major rust / ROT issues.
Automatic means I am out. Agree with the engine rebuild thing too, if you are going to do that, detail the engine and the engine bay and use NEW stuff, don’t reuse the old stuff. Again, 2 cents.
“Bernard, when I count to three, you will drive the car into the lake.”
I had a ’71 Stingray convertible, same engine as this, but manual transmission. The body was much rougher than this one, but original paint. All numbers matched, about 70,000 mileage, ran great. Was simply 36 years old when I sold it in 2007. No rust. Sold it for $14,000 so I’d say if this one is okay on the rust issue, it’s probably priced about right.
The price is right but I would have the frame inspected first salt on the roads….
Take those PO1 wheel covers and throw them into Lake Michigan or the Chicago River if its closer, they need to be on a Monte Carlo or a Caprice/Impaler. Nothing sweeter then the Rallye Wheels with trim rings and center cap, in my estimation anyway, thank God it has no luggage rack, but whats up with the missing A/C compressor, the fitting that hooks up to the rear of it is there laying on the exhaust manifold. But yeah, check for frame and birdcage rust, a nice car for the price.