We see a few C3 Corvettes here at Barn Finds, and while many of these have been really nice cars, none has grabbed me quite as this one has. Actually pinpointing what it is that makes the vehicle so attractive is quite difficult to define, but when you take a look around it, you can’t help but be impressed by how tidy and original it is. This is a classic that needs nothing more than a new owner who will have the chance to build up a bank of fond memories from their classic car ownership experience. The Corvette is located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding on the Stingray has reached $18,600, and the good news here is that the reserve has now been met.

Maybe it’s the color that has grabbed me because while Steel Cities Grey is not the rarest color offered in 1971 with 1,591 buyers ticking that box, it still does remain one of the more unusual choices. The owner describes the paint as being of driver quality, and I have to say that it certainly looks pretty good in the supplied photos. It has a nice shine and consistency, with no signs of any major flaws or problems. The listing features some photos of the Corvette’s underside, and it looks to be really clean and crisp. The exterior trim and chrome seem to be in good condition, while the tinted glass appears to be free from obvious flaws. The headlight and wiper doors can be the source of some aggravation in these C3 Corvettes because so often they either work slowly, or they don’t work at all. That is not a problem with this car, because the owner reassures us that both work properly and quickly. The original wheels and their trim rings appear to be free of any damage, and the vehicle rolls on period-correct Firestone Wide Oval radials.

Lifting the hood reveals the numbers-matching 350ci V8, and this is the baby of the fleet, producing 270hp. Bolted to the back of this is a 4-speed manual transmission, and even though this was the least potent engine in the 1971 range, this Corvette should still be able to despatch the ¼ mile in around 15.3 seconds. The owner has done his utmost to preserve the originality within the engine bay and has resisted the urge to add lashings of chrome or alloy where it really isn’t needed. Everything is essentially as it left the factory, including the correct painted valve covers, the distributor shield, the correct intake and exhaust manifolds, the radiator, and the correct tach-drive distributor. One variation from the original specifications is the fitting of a shiny new chambered exhaust. The appearance here doesn’t flatter to deceive, because the owner does state that the Corvette runs and drives very well.

Maybe the interior of the Corvette isn’t perfect, and maybe it isn’t loaded to the brim with optional extras, but it is completely original. No-one has gotten in there hacking things about to fit an aftermarket stereo, and the overall condition would rate as better than average for a driver-quality car. The Black vinyl upholstery is in good condition, with no signs of any rips or tears. The carpet looks like it might be slightly faded in spots, but there is no appreciable wear. The dash and pad seem to be free from cracks or problems, with the only really noticeable issues being some relatively minor marks on the console. There are no power windows and no air conditioning. If the next owner really wants air conditioning, then removing the T-Top panels and the rear window should achieve the desired effect. The original AM/FM radio is still in its rightful spot, and the owner says that everything, including all of the gauges and the fiber-optics, work as they should.

If you are the sort of person who is hunting for a pristine, show-quality C3 Corvette, then this probably isn’t the car for you. However, if what you are hunting for is a Corvette that is in better than average condition, one that you could comfortably use on a regular basis, and one that should still draw favorable comments wherever it goes, then that could potentially be this car. Given its condition and originality, I wouldn’t be surprised to see bidding start to threaten $30,000. Of course, right now happens to be a very good time from a buyer’s perspective to look at acquiring a classic car, especially if you happen to have access to the required cash. With that in mind, there is also the possibility that it might fall short of that quoted figure. If that is the case, then it could well be that someone might have scored themselves a pretty canny buy.