When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I saw this ad late Tuesday (01/25). I'm trying to be proactive - it appears decent cars are moving pretty quickly right now. I've requested further info. from seller i.e. trim tag / engine pad stamp / more pics / vehicle history / documents (will post), but wanted to get initial thoughts from more knowledge members to start. My thought is seller is asking a bit much here; not crazy??
See links below:
In case links won't work, here is info. from 1st link:
1971 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe 2D $49,500
Driven 81,304 miles Manual transmission Exterior color: Blue · Interior color: Blue Fuel type: Gasoline Excellent condition Clean titleThis vehicle has no significant damage or problems. 1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY with 330 HP LT1 NUMBERS MATCHING MOTOR! You are looking at a gorgeous 1971 Chevrolet Corvette with LT1 Numbers Matching 330 Horsepower Motor with only 81K Documented Original Miles! This beauty has a $10K+ Premium Paint Job. Recently Full Serviced- Oil/Filter Change, New K&N Air Filter, Rear Differential Oil Change, Brake Fluid Flush, Full Engine Tune-up including new spark plugs and wires, New Rear Mufflers, New Chrome Alternator (Original Kept), New AC Delco Shocks Front & Rear, Tires 95%, like new. Perfect body on this Vette and a rust free undercarriage. Check out the complete walk around video. You get to hear this amazing LT1 Motor purr. Copy and paste this link into your web browser.
This 1971 Chevrolet Corvette LT1 has the original drive train, original tank sticker and the original window sticker! It has one repaint with its original color of Bridgehampton Blue. The leather interior is beautiful with no issues. The 350 cu. in. engine starts right up and runs very strong. The 4 speed manual transmission shifts very easy and smooth. All vacuum operated features such as the headlamp doors and the wiper door function as they should. The undercarriage is very solid with no rust through anywhere! This LT1 is truly an investment as they are going up in value every day and quickly. Classic cars outperform the stock market year after year. And why not own something you can enjoy in the process. This 1971 Corvette has been well cared for and is in perfect 100% cosmetic and mechanical condition. This Vette needs nothing but a new home and driven occasionally. VIN #194371S109171 Title in hand. Price to sell quickly. Tire kickers keep moving. Serious inquires only. Price is firm.
I did get an initial response from him with the following: "I have pics from restoration of the car by prior owner 10 years ago. A guy is looking at it / trying to convince his wife. If he doesn't buy it tonight / tomorrow, I'll let you know / send the info."
Here is the update - sorry for the delay: I have this pesky job that gets in the way. First, I want to again thank you all for the time / knowledge; I really do appreciate your willingness to help me out these last few weeks. Yesterday was an interesting day...
I live in Charlotte, and the seller was in Winston Salem (about an hour & half away). I scrambled and found a shop there to do an inspection for me. I got an incredible referral (actually 3 different people referred me to the same place) - Pats Body Shop. The owner is a lady named Sandra - yep - a lady, who knows her stuff. She owns a towing company / body shop / speed shop; sponsors all the local vette clubs, and owns about 8 vettes currently. She's a character.
The inspection: the seller felt the car was "perfect for a 71". She knew the seller. I realized immediately upon meeting her their connection was not a problem. She started by pointing out a couple bubbles in the paint. He didn't care for that & her explanation of the consequences, so he sort of snapped back with a snarky comment. So, I think that kinda took a bit of her desire for using extra tact to preserve feelings out. She noted several additional problems - uneven shims in the cross-members, exactly where the fender had been worked on from a wreck (just as suspected from one of the very knowledgeable members that spotted that in a photo); and a couple minor things. I then took the car for a test drive (and I took her with me). I drove out / she drove back (he wasn't pleased). I noted a few things; she noted more. Mainly the clutch was worn & she felt the car wasn't tracking right essentially. He wanted 50K; she valued it a 30-35K (a decent driver).
Negotiations - He still thought he was getting 50K; I had a 1K deposit down (and he didn't think I'd walk from it). I told him I liked the car, but couldn't justify 50K; He responded with "you thought the car was worth 50K yesterday". I responded with "actually, no I didn't; I just didn't tell you that; I've sent every bit of info. you gave me and I got to numerous people to help me & she just confirmed / expanded on their opinions. It's a 30K car; nothing wrong with that; I just can't give you 50K." He got mad and left."
When I first got there & met Sandra, she told me she wanted to take me down and show me her collection regardless of how the inspection worked out; so, we went down to her "she-shed", ha. Some damn nice cars in there. As we walked in, I was telling her that I really liked white and Ontario orange the best; I just love the look of those two colors on the particular year body styles I like. She laughed as the opened the door, and said "I wasn't going to bring this up until whatever happened with you two worked out however". In her garage, she had several lifts; sitting on top of one was a '69 C3. She called her guys down there and had them dig it out. I drove it / looked it over / and bought that car from her. It ended up just being one of those funny things that works out.
It's a '69 white / black top convertible (also has the hard top). Manual 4 speed 350. 80K miles; numbers matching; air, in great shape; it's just a way... better car I think than the blue one I went to look at. Now... I'm a bit of a pessimist so I'm always worried about the 'what if' angle, and I immediately thought about "well now my inspection lady is the seller, so I have nobody to inspect". But, I feel quite good about this car. (maybe I get burned.). She provided a 3 ring binder (I went through last night) that includes documentation tracing the car back through 3 prior owners to 1971. It's incredibly detailed: has a bunch of annual registrations showing mileage; it had a restoration at some point (a ton of receipts for every little thing in there); the various bills of sale / titles; etc. I was able to work a solid price with her on the car. When I have a chance, I will post some additional photos. These are all I have for now.
"The leather interior is beautiful with no issues" The ad copy seems to be at odds with the build sheet? Waiting for the interior pics but first thought is a little pricey
Pretty sure this was on Ebay last year for 30's, $10K+- less?
I really appreciate the knowledge and quick feedback here. If you're able to provide a basic explanation to what you see, that'd be great, as I'm hoping to learn what I'm looking at so as not to be completely reliant on others as I go. thanks
Comfortweave not leather.
This is a great car in a nice color combination, (except for the cheesey stripes). A true LT-1 will easily retain its value. This is a much better car than the red big block you were looking at earlier. The price may be a touch high but in a year it might seem very realistic. Corvettes across the board are on the rise, LT-1's are hard to find. You might want to jump on this one. If the seller has a little wiggle room, all the better.
Please keep us informed.
Cheers, Greg
The car is a solid example for the most part. As Ed mentioned the scheduled price sheet is real and the window sticker is an obvious reproduction. The price is high for what it is and the stripes like them or not lowers the value of the car. Should be a mid 30's car IMHO. There is a hood fitment issue on the lower drivers side and would check for previous front end repairs. Previous Listing: https://www.c3registry.com/index.php...JpMjtPlZuVyw==
In regards to the engine stamping I would see if the owner can remove the paint with some lacquer thinner so you can see the pad more clearly and the broach marks. Make sure he doesn't scrape the paint off. With the picture you posted IMHO I would have to say it is original based on other LT1 engine stamps I have from that week but would need to see the clean pad. Notice the consistencies in both stampings including the wide zero and in the misaligned 1 and 1:
Ya know ... 1971 was the initial year of the GCR ...Great Compression Recession ... truly does matter in performance.
Suggest look to 1970 ... even '70 HFT L46 has more giddyup (& compression).
I had a '71 BB Blue on blue Base coupe ... even w/ 270HP gross it was rather bland.
Of course, you can easily find pump gas that works for '71-up OE Chevy ... not so much for '70-back.
I may have been totally mistaken- I was understanding I’d need to ask fuel additives for 68-70 … but not 71-72s. This, I kinda focused search on the later. Am I wrong?
QUOTE=ebbnflow;1604645907]Ya know ... 1971 was the initial year of the GCR ...Great Compression Recession ... truly does matter in performance.
Suggest look to 1970 ... even '70 HFT L46 has more giddyup (& compression).
I had a '71 BB Blue on blue Base coupe ... even w/ 270HP gross it was rather bland.
Of course, you can easily find pump gas that works for '71-up OE Chevy ... not so much for '70-back.[/QUOTE]
I viewed the car myself this evening and did the best I could using what I’ve learned here. Thanks again.. I’m meeting seller tomorrow - high noon - ha - for inspection I have lined up - and to try and beat him up on the price if that goes well. I will post an update.
I will also post photos I took today later tonight - just in case somebody notices something- only thing I saw was a small oil drip at very bottom of the engine. Maybe I can use something you see to knock a few bucks off 👍 or save me if it’s real bad.
again - I appreciate any / all help. Been very helpful.
Good for you 🤙. All I can add is think with your head not your heart when you go back to see it. Don’t be blinded by the fact you want the car badly to cloud your judgement.
If and after you buy the car, that’s when you can think with your heart and fall in love. 😂Ike
Dear ole wise corvette gurus:
As noted earlier, I took a bunch of iPhone pics while viewing the car this evening. They are posted below - hold the snickering - I snapped stuff I thought might be important based on common sense and what I've learned (combined with how bad my knees / elbows hurt from the gravel I was kneeling on). I did note: (1) trim coming off from passenger hood (don't think is a big deal - and he was upfront about); (2) oil dripping from bottom of engine - I'm curious your thoughts on this - though I wasn't suprised; (3) I put my finger in every hole I could find and looked for rust - found very... little evidence - definitely no flakes - the only thing I noted at all was pure powder - like a ultra... fine talcum of sorts - which to me indicated mild surface rust consistent with age - that almost makes me feel better than crawling under there and seeing some undercoat that looks perfect - that I immediately know is new / suspect is hiding something; (4) he replaced 2 parts on engine with chrome variations & has the originals - I'm too tired to recall - want to say maybe... power steering and another component - doesn't feel like a big deal to me - I think it looks good (he says everything else he has essentially done to factory correct when had to do anything); (5) what is this in the "what is this" pic?;
I appreciate any final thoughts if you happen to see anything odd. Otherwise, thanks again. will let ya know. ..
thoughts on this ad please?
