SRQStingray

Tomorrow I'm looking at a 1971 black coupe. It has original 350, 4 speed, AC, power windows. Has 59,000 original miles. Asking price is $22,900. I have a C7 and want a C3 as a stablemate. What should I look for? I read that black was not on the standard order sheet. Is it a special order color?
Any input, advice from C3 forum members will be very appreciated.

Alan 71

Hi S,
Maybe a 71 for you. NICE.
You're right in thinking black wasn't one of the exterior colors offered for the 71 model year.
If the car was painted black at St.Louis, left St.Louis in primer, or was painted one of the available colors the 'Trim Tag' riveted to the driver's side hinge pillar would indicate that in the area where the exterior color was stamped.
Additionally a code for the month and day the car was on the production line and the code for the color of the interior will be on that tag.
Really the first thing to determine about a Corvette of this era is the condition of the frame and body 'birdcage'. Rust can be a small, medium, or big problem and the car needs to be carefully examined to look for signs of rust. Look for rust around the windshield, in the door jambs and on the frame just forward of the rear wheels. There's no reason to buy a rusty car.
There are some lists at the top of this page as stickies that will help you learn some of the things to look for.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

Here's a typical trim tag.
F14… January 14
973 Mille Miglia Red
400 Standard black.

SRQStingray

Alan,

Thanks, your reply is helpful. I am still confused as to whether a 71 could have been painted tuxedo black in 71 as a special order. I am a bit nervous about missing something, but the owner, on the phone, seems like a straight shooter. He also is selling a 65, but I have wanted a C3 since 1968. Besides the C2 is more than double in price with automatic and no AC. I will look at the tag in the door and will try to determine whether the motor is the numbers match 350? There should be a stamping on the block, right?

71 Green 454

Looks like a great deal....I saw it advertised. Very nice!
Be sure to check the engine stamp on the passenger side for the vin #, along with the transmission.
Good luck.

jr9170

Very nice looking. Be sure to post trim tag pics....

Easy Mike

Ask the seller what documentation he has for the black paint.

Eljay

I think those tires are pretty old, I don't think they have made them for a while.

midigike

You will see in the drivers door opening a trim tag near the dash. It will have numbers that represent body color and interior color. I believe and others will chime in here, that there was no option for black in 71. This does not mean it could not happen. The trim plate where it reads body color, instead of numbers, it would be stamped SPEC for specific paint option.

crawfish333

Related Question: Assuming original paint; would it be unusual for the paint in the drivers door opening area to have a crinkled appearance. It is this an indication of a re-spray?

midigike

Not necessarily, as I have a 68 and the body quality was abysmal that year and got better as the years went by. We would need to see a picture to be sure.

crawfish333

This is on a 72. The owner swears it has never been repainted and the exterior is very nice. There is no overspray in the trim tag, if that means anything.

Alan 71

Hi SRQ,
"I am still confused as to whether a 71 could have been painted tuxedo black in 71 as a special order."
Yes, the car 'could' have been painted black at St.Louis.
The trim tag would indicate that in some way.
A picture of the tag, and what is stamped at the 'Paint' location, will likely start to clear this question up.
Regards,
Alan

Alan 71

Hi Craw,
The Trim Tag was installed on the car shortly after it was painted so TYPICALLY it wouldn't have paint or overspray on it.
BUT, many cars were 'touched up' so paint on the tag is possible.
The door jambs were very quickly painted after very little or no preparation or finishing, so they can be quite ugly as midig described.
It's difficult to make an informed comment on the jamb you describe without seeing a picture.
Regards,
Alan

crawfish333

Thanks Alan. In the past I had heard that the door jambs on C3s could be rather sloppily done, but I did not know what to expect. I am buying a 1 owner car, and the gentleman who I am buying it from is a retired physician. His late wife owned the car since new. This gentleman married the lady in 1981 and he says the car is original. I will admit that considering the beautiful condition of the exterior paint, I was taken aback by the door jambs, but I think he is telling me the truth as far as he knows.

20mercury

My 2 cents, ....

1. Pretty decent asking price.

2. Agree with Alan's rust comment, ask if the windshield leaks or has been replaced and if so, any rust repair, bring some knowledgeable person with you to look for rust problems.

3. Decide how much originality you want and/or willingly to pay for. Nothing wrong with NOM and generally less cost. I am very happy with both my NOM 454 68 and all original 72 LT-1. So you just have to decide what you really want (and can afford, ha!)

4. Bring a knowledgeable person with you because a. these are emotional purchases (no logical and rational reason to buy one, eh? ) and b. even if you know as much as the knowledgeable person, you want to make sure you make an informed/studied/objective offer/purchase.

Hope this might help and good luck! Nice Corvette!!!

BTW, with a modern Corvette, you do good to change the oil and maybe a little more. I think with a C3, you will need to work on it from time to time unless you want to pay somebody to do everything which will very much increase the cost of ownership. I enjoy working on my C3's and I mostly just change the oil in my C6!

71 Green 454

My '71 has original paint and I always keep the door jambs clean and waxed.
Here's a picture of mine for comparison:

Alan 71

Hi,
The lock pillar as 71 Green shows was less 'ugly' than the hinge pillar.
Because of the fact that the hinge pillar is steel, fiberglass, and weatherstrip and was prone to leaking there is often lots of poorly applied sealer under the paint.
On some cars the area is pretty surprising!
Regards,
Alan

This is a 46k, 71, no hit, original paint car.

crawfish333

Thanks Alan. This makes me feel better because the area where the trim tag is looks a lot like the one in the picture. The passenger side door jambs the paint looks "incomplete" for lack of a better word. The exterior paint is amazing though. I am now 90% sure the paint is (as the owner claims) original. I will post some pictures next week when I pick it up.

Alan 71

Hi c,
You must be pretty excited!
Be sure to start a new thread when you get it!
People always like to see what people have added to their garage.
Regards,
Alan

SRQStingray

Well, I bought it. I pick it up Monday. Car is very visceral compared to my C7. Original color was Elkhart green. I like the black, but I am a fan of green. Car is from Ohio and I'm a Buckeye, so it seems fitting. The undercarriage looks good. I could find no rust where Alan suggested that I look. Owner is a real car guy and seems real honest. Everything works, car goes down the road real straight. I will be changing out the tires. They look like new for tires from the 90s. I will get radial BF Goodrich redline tires, if I can find them. Any suggestions? I will be detailing it Monday afternoon, right after I get it home.