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The general appearance of the car is one that had sat for a while, had started to be restored/refreshed, and then sat some more. Digging through the paperwork in the car I found a letter of appraisal from 2008 and a bunch of receipts from around the same time. My guess is that they had plans, but never went anywhere with them.
If you can, I would highly recommend that you have the car inspected by someone who is very knowledgeable with the nuances of old Corvettes. Lots of areas that can be a potential problem down the road, not to mention areas of authenticity can be addressed. If you can't readily find someone, try checking with a regional Corvette chapter for referrals. Rather than delaying the deal, offer the seller a deposit with sale being contingent on an inspection. Any reasonable Corvette owner should not have an issue with this.
That's a beautiful looking car, love that color. I hope it all works out.
Originally Posted by Florida_Biggs
The interior is completely shot, front carpets are almost completely worn through, driver’s seat has split seams along the bottom and a cigarette burn or two. The passenger seat is only marginally better. The weather stripping looks like it is starting to dry rot in places and looks like it leaks at the back. All of the gauges work but the clock!
This is getting WAY ahead of things, but, if it were me and this car is not intended for any serious judging, when it came time to re-do the interior I would go the deluxe interior route.
This gives you door panels with woodgrain inserts, leather seats and very nice plush carpeting. A substantial upgrade from the standard interior. My '72 came stock with deluxe interior, which I replaced with new door panels & leather seat covers from Al Knoch's many years ago. I sincerely believe you would be happy with that decision and again, if not a trophy car, should not take any type of a hit when selling. Just keep the old parts.
Last edited by seacliffe301; Jul 3, 2020 at 12:45 PM.
I didn’t get pictures of the windshield frame corners because they all looked good. The car is 2.5 hours away, and I’ve already made it back home. I’ll see if the seller can send me pictures, he seems honest and reasonable.
Next question, it’s a ‘71 LT1 coupe with 64k documented miles, PS/PB/PW car, Brands Hatch Green with a green standard interior. All matching numbers, all original and unrestored except for a probably 10-12 year old repaint. Everything is there and correct, drives well. Definitely needs a new interior as it is not salvageable. With the interior redone, it would be a perfect driver. What do you think a fair price would be?
I’m still negotiating with the seller. The car is 2.5 hours away, but my work schedule makes it difficult to negotiate in person. Lot’s of phone tag, hoping to get it done this week.
So, I’ve worked out the deal and will be getting the car this Thursday! I’m pretty excited, think I got a good deal (not great, but good). I’ll post more pictures when I pick her up.
From the pics you posted, I don't see the need for re-doing the whole interior. The carpet needs replacing; the seat covers look good and undamaged but need cleaning and may need new foam stuffed into the channels (I have a paper on how to do that!). But the door panels look to be undamaged.
A good cleaning and maybe some vinyl dye to recolor pieces to be all the same shade of green might go a long way to get the interior up to the "spiffy" point. Let your wallet be your guide, there.........
So, I’ve worked out the deal and will be getting the car this Thursday! I’m pretty excited, think I got a good deal (not great, but good). I’ll post more pictures when I pick her up.
Congrats, great news. You'll have to let us know what your impressions of the car are, from a performance and handling perspective. That's the magic of an LT-1.
Appearance wise, it looks nice, love that color.
Regarding the interior, well... not to be negative, but it's in need of replacement. If it were mine, I would go the deluxe interior route. This gives you door panels with woodgrain inserts, leather seats and very nice plush carpeting. A substantial upgrade from the standard interior. My '72 came stock with deluxe interior, which I replaced with new door panels & leather seat covers from Al Knoch's many years ago. If it wasn't originally equipped with the deluxe interior, I would have upgraded right then. I sincerely believe you would be happy with that decision. BTW, this is much less egregious than applying a non original paint color, which people do all the time. If not intended as a trophy car, you should not take any type of a hit when selling. Just keep the old parts.
Regardless, have fun with the new car, post pics.
Last edited by seacliffe301; Jul 24, 2020 at 10:03 AM.
Congrats, great news. You'll have to let us know what your impressions of the car are, from a performance and handling perspective. That's the magic of an LT-1.
Appearance wise, it looks nice, love that color.
Regarding the interior, well... not to be negative, but it's in need of replacement. If it were mine, I would go the deluxe interior route. This gives you door panels with woodgrain inserts, leather seats and very nice plush carpeting. A substantial upgrade from the standard interior. My '72 came stock with deluxe interior, which I replaced with new door panels & leather seat covers from Al Knoch's many years ago. If it wasn't originally equipped with the deluxe interior, I would have upgraded right then. I sincerely believe you would be happy with that decision. BTW, this is much less egregious than applying a non original paint color, which people do all the time. If not intended as a trophy car, you should not take any type of a hit when selling. Just keep the old parts.
Regardless, have fun with the new car, post pics.
Thanks all for the great feedback, I'm excited to pick it up soon. I was having some paint touched up at a local restoration shop before I brought it home, so hopefully in the next few days. I'm not in any hurry, but I am certainly anxious to get it home! I thought long and hard about the deluxe interior vs. original interior and decided on going the original route. The leather option and nicer carpets/door panels would be nice, but since they weren't an option in that color I decided to stick with stock. It's not going to be a show car, but hopefully a nice, mostly original driver that I can be proudly taken to local shows (and maybe pick up a local trophy!). I don't know why, but I tend to stick to originality whenever possible. I've already started to get a stack of interior parts boxes showing up at the house from Zip Corvette, now just have to get the car in the garage!
Thanks all for the great feedback, I'm excited to pick it up soon. I was having some paint touched up at a local restoration shop before I brought it home, so hopefully in the next few days. I'm not in any hurry, but I am certainly anxious to get it home! I thought long and hard about the deluxe interior vs. original interior and decided on going the original route. The leather option and nicer carpets/door panels would be nice, but since they weren't an option in that color I decided to stick with stock. It's not going to be a show car, but hopefully a nice, mostly original driver that I can be proudly taken to local shows (and maybe pick up a local trophy!). I don't know why, but I tend to stick to originality whenever possible. I've already started to get a stack of interior parts boxes showing up at the house from Zip Corvette, now just have to get the car in the garage!
I did not know that they weren't available in that color, just wrongly assumed.
I do appreciate the "keep it original" rule though. My restored '72 Steel Cities Grey convertible is by all appearances original, with the exception of 2 items. The addition of a passenger side door mirror, which was a dealer installed option back in the day, and the addition of a reproduction teak steering wheel (not original). A good friend of mine, (a purist) upon seeing it for the first time said "you know that wasn't offered on that year, right?). Yea, but it looks so damn good. It really compliments the other woodgrain throughout the interior, and looks great with the black leather. Plus it really compliments the paint color as well.
Best of luck with your new car. Enjoy.
Last edited by seacliffe301; Jul 24, 2020 at 11:25 AM.
LOL, don't make it so perfect that you'll be afraid to take it out of the garage! Drive it. Bring smiles to your face, and others! Leaving a gas station today, "I want to hear it!"
Thanks all for the great feedback, I'm excited to pick it up soon. I was having some paint touched up at a local restoration shop before I brought it home, so hopefully in the next few days. I'm not in any hurry, but I am certainly anxious to get it home! I thought long and hard about the deluxe interior vs. original interior and decided on going the original route. The leather option and nicer carpets/door panels would be nice, but since they weren't an option in that color I decided to stick with stock. It's not going to be a show car, but hopefully a nice, mostly original driver that I can be proudly taken to local shows (and maybe pick up a local trophy!). I don't know why, but I tend to stick to originality whenever possible. I've already started to get a stack of interior parts boxes showing up at the house from Zip Corvette, now just have to get the car in the garage!
Love what you're doing with this car. IMO the original green interior will be both cooler and more valuable than the 'deluxe' interior with faux wood and pile carpet. Post some pics along the way!
So
, one of the things that I wanted put back right was the LT-1 stripes. Got this last night from my painter, who also did some touch ups of some chips on the front clip. Picking it up next week when work finally allows. I can’t wait to drive this thing!
So
, one of the things that I wanted put back right was the LT-1 stripes. Got this last night from my painter, who also did some touch ups of some chips on the front clip. Picking it up next week when work finally allows. I can’t wait to drive this thing!
Looks great! I bet it’s tough having to wait to pick it up. Enjoy your new ride! 😁
Very, very nice. Love that you're keeping it original and agree with an earlier poster that the interior is not that bad. You never know, you might have a "survivor" which means original paint, original interior and original engine compartment. You don't seem that far off if you're careful. And not that it has to be judged but even if close that could be really cool. You can re dye the carpets and the seat covers if faded.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
Let your wallet be your guide, there......... 
