1971 454 LS5 c3
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1971 454 LS5 c3
Good Afternoon,
Just recently bought a 1971 Corvette with around 8k miles. Previous owner told me that he had it stored in his garage for the past 12 years and he bought it from a Navy pilot who let it sit most of its life. Is there any way to see if the odo was rolled over? i checked the car out and there was no rust at all. Interior was in prestine condition, and the LS4 motor matched the Vin. That trim tag also match the trim with the exterior color. Another question is, when I was looking under the car, the frame didn’t have that black coating on it, it was kinda silver, Idk if back then c3’s came with no coating on the frame. Most c3s that I’ve looked either got restored at some point that’s why they coated the frame.
Just recently bought a 1971 Corvette with around 8k miles. Previous owner told me that he had it stored in his garage for the past 12 years and he bought it from a Navy pilot who let it sit most of its life. Is there any way to see if the odo was rolled over? i checked the car out and there was no rust at all. Interior was in prestine condition, and the LS4 motor matched the Vin. That trim tag also match the trim with the exterior color. Another question is, when I was looking under the car, the frame didn’t have that black coating on it, it was kinda silver, Idk if back then c3’s came with no coating on the frame. Most c3s that I’ve looked either got restored at some point that’s why they coated the frame.
Last edited by rsumpay; Jun 2, 2020 at 06:56 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
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From: Boston MA
an 8k mile car would have little wear on things that get a lot of touch...like gas and brake pedal covers, seat belts, underside of car etc...post pictures of those...or anyplace/anything a person uses on a regular basis in a car.
Race Director
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From: SW Florida.
Odometer numbers lined up correctly. Looks like a seriously nice car. Could well be 50 year old orig paint. Speaking of paint is the wiper panel still with the car? Would suck to have to try to match that color.
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I checked the belts, the pedals, the seats, and the underside of the car. It looked barely used. The frame wasn’t coated, did they come uncoated from factory?
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oh yes I have that panel, the last owner just took it off. The only thing it didn’t come with, was the original AC compressor, it did originally have AC though.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Waterford WI
Hopefully it has an LS5 in it—I suspect that’s a typo. If it is an 8k mile car, don’t do much to it until you assess it for the possibility of it being a bowtie car. That would greatly enhance its value. Best money you can spend is to get an NCRS 70-72 technical manual/judging guide. That is a very nice looking car! Frame came from factory painted semi-gloss black,btw.
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Hopefully it has an LS5 in it—I suspect that’s a typo. If it is an 8k mile car, don’t do much to it until you assess it for the possibility of it being a bowtie car. That would greatly enhance its value. Best money you can spend is to get an NCRS 70-72 technical manual/judging guide. That is a very nice looking car! Frame came from factory painted semi-gloss black,btw.
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Indy Indiana
I see paint on some of the numbers.. the pad was not painted by the factory, so someone painted it. see the over spray and drippings on the hose and fuel line.
why someone would paint it as a touch up attempt with a 8000 mile car makes my spider sense tingle.
or the engine has been removed and painted.. then all bets are off.
these odometers are easy to roll back and while maybe not 108K , I would suggest more than 8000... does the title say actual?
run a nmvtis report, look for previous titles and mileage reports of those titles.
many will say that mileage really means nothing on a 50 year old car... but a valid 8000 claim is worth at least a couple thousand on the total value of the car.
why someone would paint it as a touch up attempt with a 8000 mile car makes my spider sense tingle.
or the engine has been removed and painted.. then all bets are off.
these odometers are easy to roll back and while maybe not 108K , I would suggest more than 8000... does the title say actual?
run a nmvtis report, look for previous titles and mileage reports of those titles.
many will say that mileage really means nothing on a 50 year old car... but a valid 8000 claim is worth at least a couple thousand on the total value of the car.
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From: Forked River NJ
The fuel pump looks like it has overspray on it also. Those also do not look like original hose clamps Why would they be replaced on an 8K mile carLast edited by Gordonm; Jun 3, 2020 at 11:49 AM.
Burning Brakes
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I too have a 1971 LS 5 454.
The car is the exact color combo as mine.
You have the deluxe Interior, with leather.
However, you did not post any under body pictures, of the frame.
My car was made 1 month before this one, but mine has been repainted, and the interior of mine is in much better condition, and it has 115,000 miles on it.
It looks like it was a repaint.
What do the body mounts look like?
You maybe able to check DVM records in your state for a mileage statement at inspection.
I do not think is is an 8,000 mile car, more like a 108,000 mile car
But its a guess, more pics of engine bay are needed as well.
The car is the exact color combo as mine.
You have the deluxe Interior, with leather.
However, you did not post any under body pictures, of the frame.
My car was made 1 month before this one, but mine has been repainted, and the interior of mine is in much better condition, and it has 115,000 miles on it.
It looks like it was a repaint.
What do the body mounts look like?
You maybe able to check DVM records in your state for a mileage statement at inspection.
I do not think is is an 8,000 mile car, more like a 108,000 mile car
But its a guess, more pics of engine bay are needed as well.
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if the engine was resprayed is that good or bad?
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From: Forked River NJ
Le Mans Master
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From: Tampa Florida
Mine
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I too have a 1971 LS 5 454.
The car is the exact color combo as mine.
You have the deluxe Interior, with leather.
However, you did not post any under body pictures, of the frame.
My car was made 1 month before this one, but mine has been repainted, and the interior of mine is in much better condition, and it has 115,000 miles on it.
It looks like it was a repaint.
What do the body mounts look like?
You maybe able to check DVM records in your state for a mileage statement at inspection.
I do not think is is an 8,000 mile car, more like a 108,000 mile car
But its a guess, more pics of engine bay are needed as well.
The car is the exact color combo as mine.
You have the deluxe Interior, with leather.
However, you did not post any under body pictures, of the frame.
My car was made 1 month before this one, but mine has been repainted, and the interior of mine is in much better condition, and it has 115,000 miles on it.
It looks like it was a repaint.
What do the body mounts look like?
You maybe able to check DVM records in your state for a mileage statement at inspection.
I do not think is is an 8,000 mile car, more like a 108,000 mile car
But its a guess, more pics of engine bay are needed as well.
Last edited by rsumpay; Jun 3, 2020 at 02:00 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Forked River NJ
The PB metal part of the hose should not be painted orange
Those metal brake lines looks very new as does the carb for something that has been sitting so long. Check the numbers on the carb.
Those metal brake lines looks very new as does the carb for something that has been sitting so long. Check the numbers on the carb.
Last edited by Gordonm; Jun 3, 2020 at 02:53 PM.