There's a gorgeous '71 LT-1 up for auction right now (item 130286078279).

One odd thing I noticed was that the VIN derivative stamping is on the right side of the pad (you can see the CGZ suffix to the left). I thought all small blocks (including the LT-1) had the VIN stamping on the left side of the pad? This one is stamped like a big block. Thoughts?

 

I'm suspicious...

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...8279&viewitem=

It's not even stamped right.

Should be 71S1XXXXX or C11S1XXXXX so this stamp to me is bogus.

 

I never seen a small block stamped that way. I can't see any broach marks. In my opinion it looks weird and not right.

 

very good point, i didn't pick up on that initially

 

Where is the AIR equipment? Ed

 

Wow. Restamping is one thing, but completely incorrect stamping is... idiotic. Why not use a crayon? Not answering questions, either I imagine.

 

 

Nice picture of his camera strap though.

 

Odd!
As precise as the stamped information is I'd think there'd be some hint of broach marks on the pad's surface.
It's interesting how many LT-1 pads seem to be not typical compared to 350/270 engines. The builders must have gotten very nervous when they saw an LT-1 engine/car come along because they realized how important what they were doing was going to be 35 + year later and thus made some mistakes.
Regards,
Alan

 

I think the stamp pad looks odd also.

It is also my understanding that all small block cars were stamped at Flynt MI on the right side.

Also , my 71 has a C in front of the St.Louis numbers

C11S102689, Built 1 day of December 1970

This could still be the original motor with bad re stamp of the original #??

As for no A.I.R , the lack of this to me is never a ref flag. I do see the AIR holes plugged off on the manifold



It is a nice looking car. But the stamp issue will cause a major reduction in final dollars. A hard core LT-1 buyer will most likely pass.

David

 

Still no answer to questions on the site.

I don't know that I've ever seen someone restamp the numbers in the wrong places.

 

The original wheels and trim rings and caps are available for purchase........

you advertise a well documented LT1 with dates and receipts and withhold the original wheels and don't include them in the auction???

On big blocks I know they stamped the engine plant code first on the left because of the water jacket plug on the head was in the way for the assembly line to stamp the vin# derivative on the left.. the engine Plant code and date were stamped before the head was put on the left side of the pad, that left the right side to be stamped with the VIN# derivative.. the water jacket plug is not on the small block so it is conceivable that either stamp could go on either side...

my judging guide states that small blocks are stamped with the vin#derivative on the outboard side.. that is good enough for me. also, it states that only early 71s up to sept 2, 1970 are stamped 71sXXXXX, later ones are stamped C11S1XXXXX... this one is a very late 71 so it should be C11S1XXXXX..

finally I see no broach marks and the plant code is mysteriously not in the picture.

look for the cast date of the block.. this is many times a dead giveaway for a non original engine, so many people don't look at the block cast date... look at the head dates too...

The bid price of 24K is probably a good high price for it.. if it was a true convertible LT1 the knowledgeable bidders would have it to 30K or more by now...

 

He never states that it's the original engine. Only that it's an authentic LT-1 with matching numbers.

 

TMU , I agree he did not state original motor, But they do refer to the car as an investment grade car.

But you do make a point that you have to read every word and pay close attention to what they really are saying.

BUYER BEWARE

David

 

Matching numbers means matching numbers and a non-matching engine number is not a matching numbers car. Ed

 

A lawyer friend I have told me as long as somone never states it has its original engine is clear in a legal sense, Because matching numbers means just that. No matter if it was a restamp or not. The numbers match. So it really takes the seller to state its the original engine.

 

Typical lawyer hair splitting which we could do without quite nicely. I am sure a lawyer could make the case that if the alternater and the starter matches then it is a matching numbers car. I thank a rational Judge could refer to the accepted interpertation of the meaning of matching numbers car and overrule him. Ask him what is the meaning of is? Ed

 

Sorry Ed, that's not lawyer-speak. That's an incorrect understanding of what the terms mean.

Matching numbers mean the numbers on the block match the number on the VIN. Period. It could be a restamp as easily as it could be original. Original and matching are simply 2 different things.

Been that way forever. Thats why every buyer always has to verify the numbers themselves, and ask the seller what they mean by the silly way they phrase things.

 

So it is OK to stamp a small block with a big block number and be correct and defend it as legally correct and buyer beware? What if the seller says it has power steering and it in fact does not. We cannot defend this type advertising and say if the buyer is taken in it is OK. What about advertising a different year than what the car actually is. How about a very rare one off 1953 with factory installed power steering and brakes with matching paperwork? What am I missing here? Ed