I have spent years enjoying the Corvette Forum but always on the C2 side since I own a 1966. I am writing here to ask for help. My friend passed away suddenly a while back. His wife has asked me to help value his 1971 Corvette so she can sell it now that the estate is all settled. They have a full folder of receipts and information on this car but I have not seen it in person. It is a 66,000 mile pretty original 1971 Convertible, 468" Chevy with 600 dyno proven horsepower. 4 speed, I don't know the rear axle ratio. In my last conversations with Dan the previous owner I think he had a Roller Cam installed and added a fuel injection system they have a dyno sheet from the first engine build and another after the cam install. It is a wild cam but I do not have the paperwork to give exacts. They pulled it to 7200 RPM on the dyno pull. Again details would need to be verified. His wife wants to sell the car and asked me to help value it. She already has 3 buyers telling her to come up with a number. I know C3 values have really jumped lately but I have no idea what to tell her. Hoping this gives some of you fun Sunday reading and maybe you can offer me some guidance. Thank You
Mark

I should have noted, she pulled it out of storage and took these pictures, it has not been cleaned up yet. I know it can be shown in the For Sale section but I am just trying to establish a value range.







468 Big Block

 

I will take a stab and say low to mid $30's, what this car really has going is the nice paint job and 4-Speed.

 

These are Hagerty's numbers for a born as LS5 '71 Roadster...maybe this can help.
#2 excellent...$63,700
#3 good..$39,900
Looks like a nice Vette....good luck..

 

Did a 71 LS5 have a 5400 rpm redline tach?

 

$45K all day long.

 

driver LS5 27k if excellent condition 30k

 

Assuming the car is as the pictures show it is (pretty nice and well setup).....the number is mid 30's......35-37k......

Jebby

 

Small blocks are bringing high 20's. Don't trust the value guides, they're usually way off base.

 

I don't think anything over $40k and maybe lower $30s is more in line; the paint is carrying the price for the car. The price guides, as I understand them, are basing the values on original engines, interiors, etc. (We don't know if this is the original block.) The interior needs new front carpet, seats and dash need to be freshened up, engine compartment cleaned and detailed but we're still left with wildly non-stock engine components both inside and out. Does the car need anything mechanical as far as brakes, differential, u-joints, etc.? (no under car pics to see overall condition of components or frame).

 

I know I have giving little good information on this car, because I have just what I shared with you. The owner my friend Rita says it is hard to drive, too aggressive for her. That is not much of a description. I do not have the underside photos or the verification if this is an original block. I know Dan (Rita’s husband) had been very busy the past 4-5 years building a new home and chasing his passion of Sailing, 8 mos off the east coast., The car was in storage for a few years so it is not in prime presentable condition. I offered to pick it up, get it ready for sale and sell it but she has decided to do that herself and only asked for a valuation, plus in the Bay Area near San Francisco there is lots of people with money trying to buy it as is. She just wants the maximum fair value. I appreciate the help and advice. Sounds like the C3 market is going up for sure.

 

If memory serves, a '71 LS5 had a redline of 5600. I could be wrong. And I could be right. I'm definitely right of center.

 

I asked for photos of the underside, she is trying to comply but is 120 miles from me so I have not yet gone down there. Some answers, Yes it is an original 454 Car. Now a 468. It has Power Steering, Headers and looks to have some modifications to the suspension. I sent her pictures of the proper Kick up photos I want to see if there is any rust in the kick up on the frame. Should have those later.

 

My '71 LS5 came with a 5600 redline tachometer.

 

I would have the car detailed and list it for $45k. The value is somewhere between $40-$45k. I might find someone would pay more, but that is the value IMHO. The first thing I would do is remove the 68 door/window seals that are cracked up, 71's had the seal on the door panel already.

 

Hmmm, I guess I'm just not seeing what you're seeing, brother?

Paint and interior look great to me. I've never considered a car that only needs a detailing to deserve a severe market hit on price.
This is a chrome bumper, big block, 4 speed convertible in a desirable color combination, from California. And that's top of the food chain in C3 world. C3's are quickly going the way of C2's price-wise and resto mods are bringing outrageously high numbers in the last 18 months so I think think this modded big block will prove to be a plus, whether it's the original block or not.
If it was mine, I'd have it checked and serviced to be sure it's roadworthy all around, then have it detailed front to back and list it on BaT. It will ring the bell.

I realize these are all just personal opinions, with mine being worth no more than any others here, so the OP will just have to sort through all of them and make the best decision he can to advise his friend's widow. But it is interesting to look back on all the cars people have listed here over the last 24 years asking for valuations. Almost every single time, the opinions offered prove to be less than what the car actually realizes at sale.
Cheers, Greg

 

Looking at the 5th photo from the top showing the shift console you can see the torn carpet on the left.

There are so many aftermarket components on this car, which is fine for a "restomod" but the detailed installation just isn't there. The high-dollar restomods show an attention to detail that this car just doesn't exhibit. I just don't think this car should command the higher dollar as if it's a well-done restoration or well-done restomod. I will grant that coming down on price is much better than pricing too low and leaving money on the table.

 

Isn't a 5400 rpm redline the one for a stock 350 L48? Sorry it was 5300 on those.
And the console piece with the fiber optics is from a 71.
So this car is a real mis-mash of parts.

 

I do not know what the 5400 Tach means and I have not seen any paperwork on this car to verify any information given to me. The owner was a car guy and knew and purchased very desirable cars so I expect this was an original 454 but I have not verified. He also had a 68 Charger 440 car that is now a 500 cubic inch engine. It is for sale also. 64 Impalla SS 409 4 speed, Buick Riviera 1965 with the 425 Nailhead just sold and more including a pristine 1978 Lincoln just because he loved the car in the movie Lincoln Lawyer. I do appreciate the thoughts of guys that know these cars. His collection is divided among his wife and children so some are for sale and some are being kept. I am just trying to help her avoid any scam purchases and help get top value for what she has. I will let you guys know what it sells for.
I am surprised that there is not more interest in the 66,000 miles total but I guess that has not been verified either. I do see it has a big block rear differential but I know those can be swapped in easy.

 

Oh, OK, I see it now. I think it just needs to be tucked back under the console.

 

Follow up, this car had a frame off rebuild in 2003 at 60,000 miles on the odometer. Only moved 6000 miles since. In 2016 it had 5,000 invested at a shop bringing it out of storage. There is an invoice but I have not seen it. Rita is in a hurry to move along in her life so I advised her to have it detailed and list it for $45,000 and see what the market offers. I told her to dig into the paper work and find out if it is a true 66K car or maybe 166K. I also advised to check the engine number to see if it matches the serial number. I will report back on her results.

In today’s world a nice paint job on these is 20K so I think this is not out of line. In 10 years maybe these go up to $100K?