The ’71 edition of the Corvette was almost a carryover from the prior year as GM had been beset by labor issues in 1969 and 1970. So, the focus at the single plant that built the sports cars was to produce a better car, not necessarily a newer car. This example is available here on Mecum as part of their auction in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 9-11, 2022. It’s a beautiful, original car for which no reserve appears to have been set, so what do you think it could go for?
Due to two years of production issues, the 1971 Corvette is one of the least changed models in the automobile’s entire production history. Engines would begin to feel the impact of the shift to low-lead and (later) no-lead gasoline, which brought the horsepower rating on the base 350 cubic inch V8 down from 300 to 270 hp (lower compression ratios). For the first time, you could fill up a new Corvette with 91 octane gasoline (at about 50-60 cents a gallon, I might add). The 350/270 is the same engine in the seller’s car, whose odometer reading is not included by Mecum.
The seller’s ‘Vette is finished in Ontario Orange paint which could be original given the description of the car. It’s one of 21,800 Corvettes built in 1971, of which two-thirds were coupes with T-tops (storage bags provided). The fiberglass body looks solid, and no immediate issues seem to pop out regarding the fit and finish. We’re told this Corvette is listed in the C3 registry of survivors.
As this ‘Vette has the basic engine and automatic transmission, it was built more for cornering and cruising than outright speed, although these cars were certainly no slouches. When this car was new, the MSRP was $5,096, which should have made it Chevrolet’s most expensive auto. That’s without options, dealer prep, transport, etc. That equals $36,000 or more in 2022 money, far less than with a new mid-engine ‘Vette goes for.
Great looking Corvette. I think that GM should add one of these “legacy” colors to the C8 choices once a year and rotate through them as a nod to the history of the car.
A friend of mine had a 71–ontario orange–rack on the back–black vinlyn top—t-top—545 –auto trans. It would burn your feet up in the summer time . It was not fast. His 66 SS–396 -4 speed-(488 gears) would kick it to the curb anytime. Up to 75—the vete couldnt touch the ss. I even liked the SS more too
I love Ontario Orange and apparently so did a lot of other people. It was the 4th best selling color in 71, and the most popular one in 72. I’m the original owner of a Burnt Orange 71 El Camino, which is basically the same color (the difference being Ontario Orange was a higher metallic Firemist color).
That’s a nice, well equipped 71, though it’s not quite as original as the listing applies. The air cleaner, AC compressor, and other things under the hood are not OEM.
The 91 fuel rating is a little misleading. GM lowered compression ratios in 71 to run on unleaded regular fuel, in preparation for 1975’s catalytic converters. 1971 GM engines were designed to run on 91 unleaded regular, equivalent to about 84 today. The 91 rating was the old RON (Research Octane Number) rating, while fuel today is measured using MON (Motor Octane Number) ratings. This often confuses people new to the hobby, making them think they need to run premium in 71 and new Corvettes, Camaro’s, GTO’s, etc.
gbvette62: Don’t all these classic pre-’75 V-8s need Premium? I don’t mean because the engines have compression ratios that require it–because they don’t. However, at least here where I live, in British Columbia, ALL gasolines except Chevron Premium, have up to 10% ethanol. I have heard that ethanol is deadly for carburettor engines’ rubber parts and gaskets. Do you or anyone else have any feedback concerning carbs and ethanol…meaning put in no-ethanol Premium?… Thanks
Unfortunately just about all gas sold in the US now contains 10-15 percent ethanol, including premium. There are still a few places that sell ethanol free gas, but it’s limited and expensive. NJ has 9 places, one is about a mile from where I live in NJ. Ethanol free premium (91 MON-110 RON) is currently about $9.00 (US$) a gallon there! A list can be found at pure-gas.org.
Ethanol can be bad for older rubber parts, though it seems to have a bigger effect on small engines, like those in lawn mowers and snow blowers. Most new replacement automotive parts are now compatible with ethanol. I run 10% ethanol regular unleaded in my 81 Corvette, 71 El Camino, 62 Corvette (with flat top pistons added years ago) and other cars with no problems (so far).
Thanks gbvette62. I guess one can drive an older car with a carb, without being too frightened about putting in ethanol-laced fuel. Given how expensive food is now becoming, I wonder if it will continue to be economically viable to keep inserting corn crops into our fuel…
This one has a reserve, no reserve cars have a banner in the Mecum listing. Reference the listing for the ’78.
I restored a ’71 Ontario Orange coupe several years ago. It was a 454, 4-spd, with saddle interior. It sat in a dirty old barn, partly disassembled for several years. Several species of animals had taken up residence, and it took jugs of bleach and multiple treatments with a huge heated diesel pressure washer to properly clean the stripped out interior. It came with cartons of new parts, and the drivetrain was in surprisingly good shape. After the usual recommissioning, it ran and shifted really well. I replaced the entire interior, and spent Alot on the Ontario Orange paint /body job at a Corvette body shop. The car was gorgeous. Maybe too nice, as I ended up driving it very sparingly due to worry about stone chips, or leaving it parked anywhere but home. I traded it in on a barn-find basket-case ’57 C1.
The car for sale here looks like a really decent driver. I would expect it to retail somewhere in the $25-30K range.
About ethanol free. I live in the Pocono Mountains near Lake Wallenpaupack. There are many boaters so there is a Sunoco station which sells 90 octane ethanol free gasoline. So, yesterday I drove the 20 miles in my 73 Corvette with original Quadrajet. Filled it up at $5.80 per gallon. It’s all I use in Corvette, snowmobile and lawn mowers. Never a problem. It is well worth the 20 mile drive on a beautiful day. The great part is that this good gas is cheaper than crappy Shell premium.
Gas in 1971 was about 32 to 35 cents a gallon. Didn’t go up to 50 cents till 1974 . I cried when it cost me $5.00 to fill my tank on my 68 SS 396 that got about 8 – 10 mpg…