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I was looking at a 71 vetted a guy is wanting to sell , the problem is it appears to have a 81 front and rear body parts back windshield and tail lights .title says it's a 71 ..anyone know why or is something fishy going on
Last edited by Jl jones; Sep 27, 2018 at 08:56 AM.
Not only does it have the 80-82 style front bumper cover, it has the 78-82 big back window. You might want to ask the seller more questions about this one.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Sep 27, 2018 at 09:04 AM.
either someone wanted the updated look, or the car was in an accident, or, the car is put together from parts.
see if it has a salvage title.
he has clear title that say it's a 71 with 52000 miles,,, wouldn't it be a enormous job to put the later model rear body and windshield on a 71.. I haven't checked the vin # on the title with the vehicle but it doesn't make since to me ...the car would be worth more with all original parts wouldn't it?
Well, the seats look like 71 seats & the outside mirrors are from 71. I have a hard time believing someone would take a chrome bumper car and make a rubber bumper out of it. What engine does it have? Hood looks like it says 454. If it really is a 71 BB car someone did a fantastic job of turning a car with some real value into a car of lesser value. If you are really interested then I would pay no more than an 81 in that condition would bring. Make sure the VIN numbers all match and that some knucklehead just didn't put a 71 interior in a 81 and called it a 71 because he had a 71 title laying around. Get a NCRS book and see where all the VIN numbers are supposed to be on a 71 and verify every one. Personally you couldn't give that car to me, but you may do as you wish. It would have been less work to restore a wrecked 71 then to convert it to an 81.
I have a hard time believing someone would take a chrome bumper car and make a rubber bumper out of it.
In 1980 it would have made a lot of sense if you had to do some body work. I know it's hard for some to believe but there was a time when chrome bumpers just ment you were driving an old car and you were not one of the cool kids.
...Get a...book and see where all the VIN numbers are supposed to be on a 71...
Same locations as all C3s. Windshield post, certification label (not completely reliable), and the VIN derivative stamps. All 71 coupes were 194371S1xxxxx with the Xs standing for the individual consecutive unit number. If the car for sale is an actual 71, someone did a lot of work on it.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Sep 27, 2018 at 11:04 AM.
I’d guess it was just a wreck that someone decided to update back in the day. I didn’t know many people willing to cut off the nose and real clip just to get to a newer model, but a wrecked car would be an easy candidate.
The title history would be interesting. Many states would require a car with this much extensive repair to carry a branded title and/or a state-issued replacement VIN tag. I’d check both. People routinely “wash” titles of their branding through a state that will give them a clean title, too.
If your question means you are still interested in the car, it’s OK as long as you verify that it’s not stolen, and that you pay next to nothing for it because that’s what it will be worth at resale day.
It is good you asked the question. I have seen a lot of "doctored" cars in my day.
For what ever reason this was done, it diminished the value of the "1971" It could be a wreck brought back to life, a flood car, a parts donor car, with a valid 1971 frame, and the body off of a later car.
The current owner may not even be aware of all of this, he could have bought blind.
It would be interesting to hear the real story, and the truth. if it exists
Last edited by peyc2; Sep 27, 2018 at 01:58 PM.
Reason: fix flood
Thanks for the info guys ,, I am diffently not interested in buying it any more
That's 80's vette for sure, not even close to being a '71. The only remote possibility of anything on it being a 71 would be from the drive train and chassis. I don't even know if its possible to drop an 80's C3 body onto an early 70's frame.
The frames are all the same, 1968 to 1982 which makes it possible to put a 1982 body on a 1968 chassis.
I once worked on a 68 convertible, hit in the rear, and we made it a coupe, by putting a 1972 back half on it. we spliced it in the middle of the door, and 1/2 way down the windshield posts.
You couldn't tell what was done unless you pulled out the weatherstripping on the front of the door frame, and removed the carpet. The actual 1968 frame was fine, all we did was replace the gas tank, and straighten out the rear frame rail that was bent in.
the collision caused the back end fiberglass to basically explode, and tore up the rear deck lid.
Good luck with your search. You shared a very interesting one with us and I appreciate it. Just when you think you have seen it all, someone modifies a bumper car to a rubber bumper car. If that is what they did they did a good job of it. Thanks again for sharing.
David
71 question
