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Crazy Color Combo: 1971 Chevrolet Corvette

This 1971 Corvette Convertible is something a little bit different. Its paint and trim combination isn’t unprecedented. However, it is not one that you see that often. This is an original survivor, and it is set to go to a new home. The Corvette is located in Gadsden, Alabama, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding currently sits at $20,503. Making the Corvette that bit more tempting is the fact that it is being offered for sale with No Reserve.

On the surface, this Corvette has got a lot of factors working in its favor. Thankfully, things look pretty good below the surface. The owner supplies some excellent photos of the Corvette’s underside. I am happy to note that this is a classic that appears to be completely rust-free. The sound nature of the frame gives us cause to be optimistic about the state of the birdcage. The Corvette’s War Bonnet Yellow paint shines beautifully, with no signs of any chips or scratches. The white convertible top is looking slightly dirty, but I believe that it could be revived successfully. The trim and chrome present perfectly, and the tinted glass is in good condition. So at this point, this looks like an extremely tidy and clean survivor that would turn heads wherever it went.

It’s when we take a look inside the Corvette that things take a slight twist. Buyers who ordered their ’71 Corvette in War Bonnet Yellow could choose interior trim in Black, Saddle, or Dark Green. The vast majority of buyers chose the first two colors, but the occasional buyer chose the latter. That is the case with this car, and it does make for a striking contrast. It isn’t going to be to everyone’s taste, but it is certainly an attention grabber. Sadly, the interior doesn’t present as well as the exterior. If the buyer intends to use the Corvette as an original survivor, there is nothing wrong with the interior trim. However, some work would be required if the interior is to present as well as the extrerior. The door trims show some noticeable wear, as do the edges of the seat. The color has worn off some of the edges on the console, and some plastic trim pieces show similar issues. The carpet is also quite faded and could stand to be replaced. Depending on where the bidding ultimately goes with this car, it might be worth it if the buyer bites the bullet and purchases a few replacement items. A bit of careful hunting might allow them to find a high-quality plastic dye that could address the wear issues on the console. Before I committed to anything, I would spend some time on research. It could save a considerable amount of money when it comes to whipping the interior into shape.

The Corvette is a numbers-matching car that features a 350ci V8, a 4-speed manual transmission, and power steering. The 350 would be producing 270hp, and this combination should be capable of pushing the car through the ¼ mile in 15.3 seconds. That might not make it the fastest Corvette in the 1971 range, but it is still a respectable number. It is even more so when you consider how dramatically performance figures were impacted a few short years from when this car was produced. The presentation of the engine bay isn’t perfect, but it looks reasonable for a survivor of this vintage. The good news is that the owner states that the Corvette runs and drives really well.

This 1971 Corvette Convertible is a generally clean and tidy survivor. It is a shame that the interior is looking tired because it is this color combination that is one of the car’s defining features. If the interior could be whipped into shape, I can guarantee that this would start some conversations at the next Cars & Coffee. Even as it currently stands, the vehicle could be driven and enjoyed as a tidy survivor. That could leave the buyer with the option of using it as-is and accumulating the replacement interior pieces as the opportunities present themselves. After all, the car is listed on eBay. It is a sure bet that every piece of required trim will also be listed there at some point. This could be a case where a bit of patience would pay dividends. Could you be that patient?

Comments

  1. Avatar alphasud Member

    I love the color combination but then again I’m a little odd:) it would be fun to take it to car shows just to watch people scratch their heads.

    Like 16
  2. Avatar Mitchell Gildea Member

    It ain’t easy being a green interior

    Like 20
  3. Avatar Patrick Farmer

    Yikes! This was ordered by a real nut or a colorblind individual. It could be a dealer mistake. Dealerships reguly order Corvettes to sell on the floor. Either way, I would not kick her out of bed for eating crackers.

    This is a classic Corvette that you can get away with putting a new color interior in, or paint it dark green. I would go for the interior and an LSX.

    Like 9
    • Avatar Poppapork

      Thats a chrome bumper convertible – leave it stock. Wanna do an lsx swap grab a 74-82, they can be had for 5 grand in very presentable running condition. And its a real bargain with 4 pot rear calipers right from the factory. IRS is a weak spot in case you want to go straight fast on low pressure slicks
      I wanted to ls swap my c3 initially when i got it over a decade a go but i have grown attached to the vintage engine and will be keeping it retro, thrown out everything down to short block and built back up to double the HP. Next will be a 200r4 trans (direct fit in these). 3 speeds just don’t do these cars justice and i got size 15shoes so no third pedal in a vette for me.

      Idk maybe im getting old but i dont want to hear electric fuel pumps priming and electronic control boards sending digital signals when i turn the key in my c3 corvette

      Like 18
    • Avatar BlackTa

      Unless of course “Crackers” was my dog…

      Like 4
  4. Avatar Skorzeny

    If this was an automatic, I would say pass. But it’s a four speed so get busy on a black interior, some new wheels and tires, and enjoy come spring time!

    Like 9
  5. Avatar Rudy C

    Love it! Perfect color combination for a Green Bay Packer fan!

    Like 23
  6. Avatar OhU8one2

    That color combo has to hurt its value somehow. Never have I seen such awful choices. There is no way I could ever be interested in this Vette. Too bad, cause it looks like it’s been well taken care of.

    Like 6
    • Avatar 67chevelle

      So dont buy it.why hate on it? Some one loved it and someone will love it again.im sure someone hates your car too

      Like 0
  7. Avatar Matt

    To my eyes it looks like the pictures are over-saturated because neither the exterior nor interior colors look accurate. IIRC, war bonnet yellow leans more good and the dark green interior should be almost black looking.

    That being said, it’s still not the prettiest of combos and I think there is definitely a case to be made for changing the interior color to either black or saddle.

    Like 7
  8. Avatar Johnmloghry

    Love the color. Never seen it before. Sure is bright.
    God bless America

    Like 8
  9. Avatar DRV

    It could be original paint, but I’m thinking a repaint 20 years ago because around the headlights area is intact without seeing the bonding strips or cracks.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar 370zpp Member

    Saddle interior + horsepower = the bomb.

    Like 5
  11. Avatar Frank Sumatra

    I will bet that interior looks fine in person. I almost took a hard pass on my white over red 1995 Corvette based on the images in the ad. It looked like it was “Torched” red vs. Torch red. Took the time to go see it in person and it looked completely different. had it delivered a year ago Monday and it has been flawless.

    Like 3
  12. Avatar John L.

    The color looks more like Riverside Gold, than War Bonnet Yellow.

    Like 5
  13. Avatar 86_Vette_Convertible

    Overall I like the car with the exception of the interior color selection. That definitely is not a combination I would have selected had I ordered that car.
    With that exception, I like the rest of the car.

    Like 4
  14. Avatar Steve Hill

    I guarantee you there is rust around that windshield frame. It’s not a cheap repair but there are many who’ve done it.

    Like 1
  15. Avatar jokacz

    Base engine, ugly color combination; I guess that makes it collectible in this day and age…pass.

    Like 3
  16. Avatar CCFisher

    I feel like this color combo exists because someone put an “X” in the wrong column when preparing the 1971 Corvette brochure.

    Like 3
  17. Avatar Phlathead Phil

    Color clash for sure. I dunno if that was a re-paint or not. Seems it would need to be painted green to match or black.

    My brother had a ‘55 Bel-Aire no post that was repainted stock yellow and white.

    The interior was that sea foam green color

    I wonder where that $100.00 car went to?

    Yes, it’s a phact, he paid $100.00 for it in 1965. A bargain on any planet 🌏.

    Since a repaint seems in order a price drop should follow in tandem.

    I love the car and it’s SMOG exempt for California 😆

    Like 2
  18. Avatar Larry

    I don’t know which is more shocking; this color combo or a ’74 Corvette coupe a dealer has for sale on ebay which is Corvette Orange with silver interior!

    A few years ago another dealer had a Monaco Orange ’69 Corvette convertible with dark green interior. It took him forever to sell that car.

    Like 3
  19. Avatar Johnny

    A friend of mine up the road has one like this. I don,t know the interior color. Never been that close,but I,ll ask his wife when I see her. I know its a 4 speed. He,s had it since about 74. In my opinion.When the vet done away with the chrome bumpers. I lost interest. Another friend had a 71 with Ontario orange-black vynlin top–t-top. 454 automatic. I thought it was funny.Everytime it went into reverse.The back end would raise. We went to check on a job one day in Philippi,W.Va. One the way back we decided to come over Point Mountain in Webster County. It had came a snow and the roads were really bad,but that corvette never gave us any trouble and he had wide tires on it. I like the older vets.Don,t care much for the unchromed bumper ones.

    Like 1
  20. Avatar JC

    OMG… that just ruins a beautiful car… its like walking into a used house that you’re interested in buying and getting blasted by the sellers preference in colors… you immediately say “that’s got to change”….

    Like 4
    • Avatar Donald Kress

      lol.

      Like 1
  21. Avatar PRA4SNW

    At the current $21,100 bid, I think that this is a fantastic value for an original numbers matching Corvette convertible.

    There’s 8 hours left, so plenty of time to overbid it.

    Like 5
  22. Avatar Louis Chen

    Thanks for the memory BF! This is the color that I rode on my ’71 H.S. graduation Dance! It was my then H.S. Sweetheart and now my Wife. It was an attention grabber color then and I’m sure is now also, Hers was an automatic also convertble. My father in law used to own some “Funny Fuel” dragster, thus this bright color! My H.S. School Sweetheart was a Love @ First Sight and this Vette was my second! Sadly, by 1981 my F.I.L. crashed and trashed it, luckily he survived! We were able to save the fuel filler door as a reminder of that car! Too bad this one is too far away for us to do a lookie loo and perhaps buy it. My wife and I shared great time in that Golden “Vette!

    Like 2
  23. Avatar Steve

    Does anyone know how much complete NOS/new/used a saddle, black or perhaps white interior would cost for this ‘vette? (And to the point – even this (former) GB Packer fan would not stomach that look as is.)

    Like 1
    • Avatar PRA4SNW

      Relatively speaking, C3 vette interiors aren’t that much cost-wise, and not hard at all to do, even the seat covers. I did my ’70 carpets twice and the seats and door panels once.
      Check Corvette America for pricing.

      I would personally keep this combo, they are only original once and for it to survive this long, I would want to keep it.

      Like 1
  24. Avatar Douglas Threlfall Member

    I would change it to the deluxe saddle leather interior. Replace the seat foam & covers, replace the door panels with the wood grain & carpet lowers, replace the carpet with the thicker cut pile & just re-dye all the hard plastic. I might even add power windows to go with the factory a/c and AM/FM stereo. My brother had a ‘72 Coupe in those exact colors/options.

    Like 2
  25. Avatar George Mattar

    I had a 71 coupe with green interior, but it had the beautiful one year only Brands Hatch Green paint. I believe War Bonnet Yellow was the most popular color ordered in 1971. I now own a silver code 914 73 coupe with 415 medium saddle interior. People question me at shows, but it was ordered new at Hawthorne Chevrolet in New Jersey. Dealer still in business.

    Like 2
  26. Avatar Macfly

    This is a very rare combination and period fabulous!

    Like 1
  27. Avatar RichardinMaine

    1: I once photographed a Victorian Revival McMansion in NJ. The dining room ceiling was metallic gold. I wisecracked to the interior designer, “Why am I imagining a Corvette?” “82 Corvette gold, as a matter of fact,” she replied.

    2: There’s a local woman, pushing 80, who’s “summah cah” is a ‘68 Camaro, light yellow with a light blue interior she ordered new. It’s – ah – an individual taste. Has dog dish hubcaps, a 6 cylinder, and power slide.

    Like 1
  28. Avatar PRA4SNW

    SOLD for $23,400.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Ike Onick

      And the “experts” were wrong again.

      Like 1
  29. Avatar Tennnis Tim

    The original owner picking a green interior with this beautiful exterior color is frightening. However even more frightening is that Chevrolet even offer a green!

    Like 0
  30. Avatar Donald Kress

    The exterior and top look awesome in a period-correct kind of way. That interior though is wa, way too far for me. It’s a psycho version of all those bright red interiors of the ’50s and 60’s. It’s a bridge too far but nevertheless a time capsule of a ’70s moment.

    Like 1
  31. Avatar John Oliveri

    If I were buying this car, I would have to build the cost of a replacement interior and dash, cause as soon as the truck that delivered it drops it off, that interior is going in a dumpster, and it would get a White gut to go with the white top

    Like 0
  32. Avatar Little_Cars

    I believe Strombecker or Processed Plastic made a toy C-3 Corvette toy for years after the real car had stopped being produced. They often combined odd colors between body, top, and interior “tub” which acted at the chassis and held the axles on. At one point, I had one with beautiful harvest gold body and pink interior/top.

    Like 0
  33. Avatar RH

    Green and gold, perfect for a Notre Dame fan.

    Like 0

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