The 1971 Chevrolet Corvette is often thought of as the last of the third-generation bunch that could be considered iconic, but the same holds true for several muscular automobiles from this era that were beginning to lose some of their performance capabilities near this period. While it would be a plus if this 1971 Corvette here on eBay were equipped with a big block, this one’s got a 350, and unfortunately, it isn’t running. However, some good news is that this one will likely stay in a price range that won’t break most bank accounts, and it does have a 4-speed manual transmission. Located in Hialeah, Florida, bidding has only reached $1,175 so far, and there doesn’t appear to be a reserve, so the most optimistic participant will have bought themselves a C3 project.
The seller says this ‘Vette has been with the same owner since 1977, so the car would have only been 6 years old when he took over the responsibilities of caring for it. Unfortunately, this one appears to have been neglected for quite some time, and I’m guessing many seasons have passed since the 350 was last running. There are no hoses, belts, alternator, or distributor cap, and no word on whether the crank will still spin. Probably the most favorable mechanical detail here is the manual transmission, and there’s a good chance it may need some work too. However, this one seems ripe for a big block, if you happen to have one in your garage begging for a fun bay to go into.
Better news is that the exterior appears to be mostly complete, and the ’71 model still featured chrome bumpers on both ends. The blue finish has some fading, and the hood doesn’t seem to fit quite right, but most of the panels appear to be in decent enough shape to work with. It’s also a plus to see the rally wheels still on the car, but is it just me, or does the stance seem a bit off here? It’s reported that a few frame repairs have been made in the past, so I’d check them closely to be sure they were performed adequately before getting too far into the restoration.
Most of the interior also appears to still be there and intact, but the seats are stained, so I hope that doesn’t indicate that there’s been excessive water inside at some point. The door panels also look like they’ve spent years baking in the Florida sun, but hopefully, the price will remain low enough that this one will make economical sense to restore. With all of the needs taken into consideration here, how much would you be willing to shell out for this 1971 Chevrolet Corvette?
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