Sadly, age seems to be one of the equalizers for the human race, and that’s particularly true for older Corvette owners when the time arrives that drivers can no longer comfortably enter or exit their ride.  We hear that a lot at Barn Finds, and unfortunately, that’s the reason this 1971 Chevrolet Corvette is looking to exchange hands.  This one was cared for by the same owner for many years, and over the decades it received a few custom mods outside, making this C3 a nice example from a now mostly bygone era.

It’s not specified exactly how long ago the fiberglass underwent expansion, but the seller mentions that the fender flaring was done years ago, although the extensions are said to remain in good shape and show no obvious flaws.  The paint job is an older application as well, with the finish stated to have some imperfections, but I’m not spotting very much on the body that would make me want to take any action immediately.  Instead, I’d probably just carefully preserve the outside and be thankful it’s as nice as it is.

Judging from the hood’s shape, one might speculate that there’s some real muscle underneath.  However, this one’s 350-powered, with the small block having at least a couple of aftermarket performance items, including a non-stock cam and headers.  The seller says this Corvette runs as it should and sounds great, although one of the headers is leaking, believed to originate at the gasket.  It’s always fun to find exhaust exiting through a pair of side pipes, a once somewhat popular phenomenon that’s now sort of a relic, as are the big-and-little 5-spoke Cragar S/S wheels.

We only get to view a couple of photos from the inside, which seem to show a mostly driver-quality interior, although there is a recently added new carpet below.  However, a look in here should make most potential buyers smile in a hurry when they see the shifter, as this one’s a 4-speed, making desirability go up a notch.

This 1971 Corvette appears to have plenty of positives to offer, so if you’ve been searching for an early seventies C3, this one might be worth checking out.  It can be viewed here on eBay, where bidding has reached $11,400, so head on over to Elkton, Maryland, if you want to see this one in person before making a higher offer.  Should this one stay as-is for a while and just remain a cool driver, or is it better to go ahead and take everything to a higher level immediately?