Hi everyone, I am new here and recently inherited a 1971 Corvette with a 454 with a 425hp engine. I don’t know much about this car and with my research It sounds like these car are more valuable if all the numbers are matching. From what I can tell they do not, I might be wrong but I think the engine is either a late 1971 or early 1972.
this car is in immaculate condition, no rust very very clean. I brought it to a classic car show and the judge at the show said he had never seen one in this good of condition, the car hasn’t seen rain in 30 years apparently.
saying all that what could it be worth? I don’t know much about cars and I’m more of a new corvette kinda guy. So I’m thinking of selling it. It really is in great shape.

 

Matching numbers is important but not the end-all be-all. Do you know where the engine pad is? It is opposite of the alternator on the engine block and it has the engines identification and Vin number that will help verify if it is the original engine that came with the car. That, the Vin number on the driver side pillar and the trim tag, which is the chrome plate when you open the door pins riveted to the frame Will help validate whether the car is correct/ original or not.
Post some photos of these major points and some more photos of the cars and the form can help you get an idea of its value if you’re interested.
Ike

 

With the original engine gone, it is no more special than any other 1971 Corvette. I see it has an after market hood with 454 emblems. Never seen that before. Still a nice looking car and somebody will enjoy driving that LS6...if that is what it actually is.

 

Welcome to the forum.
If it’s a genuine LS6 then it will be worth something to someone who wants to restore it. But not gonna be big bucks, but more than some. However, the chances that your car is a genuine LS6 is pretty slim. They made 188 I think? It takes more than just the 425hp sticker on the air cleaner. You can buy those stickers for a few bucks on eBay or pretty much anywhere. Same with the console ID plate. You would need some real documents to back it up. And its even more unlikely someone would go through the trouble of keeping it so nice but swap out the original hood on one.

But who knows, look for a build sheet on top of the gas tank. Open the gas cap, push down the rubber seal around the fill hole and look for a sheet glued to the tank (I think on the drivers side in ‘71?). If it’s there it will tell you what the car came optioned with. Good luck, hope it’s one of the LS6 cars.

If it’s not a real LS6 with a non matching 454 then the car might be $30k-ish maybe. Not really sure.

 

There are those here that know a lot more about LS6 cars than I do who can help you figure out if it is a real LS6 car or not. You will need a lot more pictures though, like the stamp pad at the front of the block, the date code at the rear of the block, the configuration of the rear end, the code on the differential, among other things. Of course, any documentation you have will be very helpful too. A real LS6 car with its original engine in it will bring a large premium, so figuring out exactly what you have before selling it is a good idea.

Beautiful car, and good luck with it!

 

For sure the top end of the motor is not original, so getting that back to stock will be thousands of dollars.

 

brodix aluminum heads. so a lot may have been altered. more likely a lower perf version with replacement engine or u[grades to orig 454. if super clean still a valuable car. small blocks are approaching 50k these days. so take your time and do a LOT of homework. roll down to post 107. this is a tutorial on what to look for in a vette. but it also helps you know what to look for in one you already own. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ispreloading=1

 

I think he stated that he knows the engine is not original.

 

Nice lookin C3, and enjoy the ride!

 

Keith,
I recently wrote an article on the LS6 for the NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society). Feel free to email me through this site with contact info, and I will do what I can to help you figure out what you have. Mike

 

Hi Mike and thank you, but I can’t seem to be able to send you a message. My e-mail is keith_secord@yahoo.ca if you could let me know what you need I can try to send it to you, I’m assuming pictures, I just need to know of what.

thank you again
Keith

 

I would love to get a copy of that article. Back in the day I owned a 1967 Laguna Blue roadster with a stock L71 435 hp 427. In 1970 I decided it didn't have enough horsepower for me and being aware of the 450 hp LS6 available for the Corvette I ordered a short block from my local Chevy dealer (I had gone to high school with one of their parts guys). When it arrived I took it to a local speed shop where we took it completely apart, blue printed it to the best of our ability and put my tweaked L71 heads, headers, and carbs on it. We measured 12 to one compression and on our engine dyno with the headers open produced 575 hp. Over the next several years I broke most of the drive train including ripping the rear cross member mounts off the frame, clutch, a tooth off the ring gear which thanks to locking up the rear end and my replacement RevLok clutch holding, took every tooth off the transmission input shaft. It was a bit much for the metallurgy of the day. But when it didn't break something in the drive train it was close to unbeatable at the amateur level. I sold it in 1973 to seriously campaign my Norton Drag Bike (B/SS record holder for the next 5 years) but the individual I sold it to had trouble handling the power. Totaled the car 3 months later but he did survive, thank goodness.

My question is as I researched that engine I can find no example that it was ever installed in a 1970 Corvette. I have spotted the Black Book reporting 188 examples of the lower compression 1971 LS6 at 425 HP but none for 1970 with 450 HP. Is that consistent with your findings? A couple of years ago I bought a restored 1970 roadster that has the 390 HP 2 bolt main LS5 as original though mine has been modified to put that much power at the rear wheels (not sure I believe it though), I wonder how many other high compression 1970 LS6's were sold over the counter. I seem to remember the Can Am cars were running modified versions of that engine at the time putting out about 650 HP.

If I am right and the OP has a true 1971 LS6 he is indeed a very lucky man since that is likely a one year option with very limited production.


Thank you for your expertise,
Keith (not the same one who is the OP)

 

OP, welcome to the forum! Enjoy the car for what it is

 

Welcome to the forum! That's a beautiful car.
Are you planning on keeping it or selling it?

 

I am going to sell it once I know what I have and what it is worth. It is a beautiful car, honestly if you saw it it’s like brand new. But i don’t believe it is a LS6. Now trying to figure out what it is and determine a price. I just don’t know enough about cars to take care of it properly.

 

Understood. These will always increase in value, you should keep it. There's enough info on this Forum to educate even the greenest of Corvette owners.
I have yet to hear of a C3 depreciating in value.

Good luck with the sale should you decide to part with it.

 

So spoke to someone who worked on the car, and got some info, the car is a 1971 designed to be like the LS6 but has a 1972 4 bolt block with a steal crank turned down 10,000 x 10,000 with eagle rods, and icon forged pistons. Block has been bored 70 over. It has Brodix aluminum heads. Also has a 4 speed Munchie.

Not wanting to sound stupid, but I don’t know pretty much what any of that means. LOL he said they had it Dinoed ( ??? ) I guess that mean tested to determine what the HP is and it was creating 450hp, which is higher that the LS6.
what he also said is that what I got is basically a new 1971 corvette as the engine has less that 500 miles on it and it has been babied for the last 30+ years. The body is in immaculate condition you will not find one is nicer shape.

so I don’t know, it’s definitely not a LS6 but is really nice, any ideas and thoughts?

 

Simple, keep it enjoy have fun.
Beautiful car nice set up. Nothing much more to say!! Ike

 

188 built?
Theres at max 187 left as i have totaled one of them. The engine and trans had been sold though so it wasnt original