No Reserve: 1971 Chevrolet Corvette

Sometimes a classic car will appear on our desks here at Barn Finds, and it can be hard to determine its greatest attribute. That is the case with this 1971 Corvette because it does tick a lot of the right boxes. It is a tidy survivor with a fresh interior. The engine bay houses a rebuilt V8 that is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. The icing on the cake is that the owner is offering it for sale with No Reserve. Located in Englishtown, New Jersey, you will find the Corvette listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding has rocketed to $18,100, and with no reserve to consider, this is a winner-take-all proposition. Interestingly, the owner does mention a possible price of $26,500 OBO in the text for the listing.

The owner refers to the paint that graces the Corvette’s swooping lines as Torch Red, but Chevrolet didn’t offer this shade on the ’71 Corvette. Mille Miglia Red was the closest, but this looks too bright for that. This suggests that the vehicle may have received a repaint and color change at some point. The paint shines beautifully, with no signs of any flaws or defects. The same is true of the fiberglass, which displays no fatigue cracking or other problems. Delving below the surface reveals a spotlessly clean frame, and if the birdcage is in a similar state, the Corvette should be structurally sound. The chrome and glass are in excellent condition for a classic of this age, as are the Rally wheels, the trim rings, and the center caps. The owner has recently fitted new chrome side pipes, and these add a touch of purpose and menace to the Corvette’s appearance.

The good news keeps coming as we open the Corvette’s hood. A 350ci V8 occupies the engine bay, but it isn’t clear what version it is or whether it is numbers-matching. The power from that V8 finds its way to the rear wheels via a 4-speed manual transmission. Performance figures in 1971 were nothing to be sneezed at. Even the entry-level 350 pumped out 270hp, which was enough to launch the Corvette through the ¼ mile in 15.3 seconds. However, I suspect that the driver may have access to a few more horses with this one. The owner has had the engine rebuilt, and an upgraded camshaft, an Edelbrock intake, a Holley carburetor, and a set of chrome headers have all found their way into the engine bay. With that small block breathing significantly better, I would expect this car to blow that ¼-mile ET about 10-feet in the air. The owner says that the Corvette starts, runs, and drives perfectly and that the transmission shifts smoothly.

The owner has spent quite a bit of money on the Corvette’s interior, but he has left a few tasks for the buyer to tackle. He has replaced the seat covers, door trims, and carpet set. This leaves the interior looking impressive, but there are some flaws. The horn button is missing, so the buyer will need to budget about $60 for a replacement. The dash pad appears to have a significant crack in it, so the buyer will need to find a further $390 for a new one. Those are about the only aesthetic items that need attention. The owner says that the ‘Vette used to feature air conditioning, but it doesn’t anymore. It seems that some of the components might still be present, so reinstating the system would be worth investigating. The original radio has made way for an aftermarket stereo, and speakers have been installed in the kick panels. Otherwise, there have been no other aftermarket additions.

The owner of this 1971 Corvette says that it isn’t a frame-off restoration, but it is an attractive and tidy driver. It is hard to argue with that description, and it seems that a few people agree with this assessment. There have already been 25 bids submitted, and there is still nearly a week left on the listing. That suggests that there might be some way to go before this auction ends. That is unless someone comes along and waves that $26,500 in cash under his nose. If you were the owner, would you take the money and run or hold out to see where the bidding eventually goes?