I visited a friend today who has a '71 convertible in his driveway. Has the ZR1/LT1 hood, sway bars, M22 Muncie (apparently). Console plate is engraved with 350ci/330hp. The car was used as a weekend track racer in the 70s and put a conrod through the block, and now has a newer 350. Previous radiator was aluminum ex-factory, apparently no shroud. Front callipers were removed and replaced way back due to leaking. No a/c, manual windows, but now has antenna. Chassis # 194671S101924. Was metallic blue. Now red. Was it a ZR1? Is it the lost 2nd ZR1 convertible?

A 78 Indy Pace Car at left, the '71 right, and my 350/350 '69 at the back.

 

No expert here but I think the ZRI and LT1 used the same hood, and I am pretty sure you could get an M22 with an LT1. I know my friend had a 70 LT1 that had an M22.
Console plates can be easily swapped however 330hp is correct for a 71 LT1.
Does it have a radio or AC?

 

All info much appreciated. Car has no AC, and do not know if radio was supplied as new.

 

ZR1s were stripped on creature comforts so I am pretty sure they would originally be a radio delete and no AC.

 

Darn, I hate when a guy with a claimed rare car blows it!

 

ZR-1s, no shroud,radio,antenna, or ac, everyone claims they have a M-22. which were not available on LT-1s

 

The only 1971 ZR-1 convertible that I am aware of is Steel Cities Gray. The ownership history and documentation for that car is without question.

As far as the M-22, the only Corvettes that got it in the 1970-1972 time frame were the 1970-1972 ZR-1s, 1971 ZR-2s (mandatory) and 1971 LS-6s (optionally). One of the reasons why people often think that they have a 1970-1972 (or late 1969 for that matter) M-22 equipped Corvette is the presence of a drain plug in addition to a fill plug on the side of the transmission case. Prior to around October 1969, one of the quick ways to identify an M-22 was the presence of two plugs (drain and fill) on the side of the case while M-20/M-21 cases only had the fill plug. Around October 1969, Chevrolet switched cases on the Corvette from the 3925660 casting to the 3925661 casting. When that occurred, the drain and fill plugs were added to ALL cases regardless of the final application (M-20, M-21, or M-22). The only way to be absolutely sure if you have an M-22 is to remove the side cover

As noted, LT-1s as well as their ZR-1 counterparts used the same hood. The data plate is the same for both. There are other items to check… Some photos of the engine compartment and interior would be helpful.

Regards,

Stan Falenski

 

Post a pic of the transmission vin and assembly stamp.

 

Engine gone.., radiator gone, .radio, puke tank? HD rear end? J56? F41?

 

Does it have the J56 two pin calipers and caliper reinforcement brackets, was the first thing I thought when reading the OP's post. While the two pin calipers often get replaced because Corvette calipers are so prone to leaking, most people don't bother removing the J56 reinforcement brackets when replacing the calipers.

 

Car was just added to the registry and claimed to be 330HP "Under Restoration"

 

I would support congressional legislation to prevent red paint from being used to color change Corvettes.

 

Apparently had aluminum radiator, no shroud, no ac, and currently has antenna.

 

Thanks. Will check what is there. But the callipers themselves were removed and replaced way back. It was once a weekend racer way back.

 

I guess it helps the overall C3 history to add the VIN- perhaps I will add more detail if and when I am permitted to!

 

Apparently this is exactly what happened way back. Will see if it has the brackets.

 

No puke tank, will check on the rear end. Thanks.

 

Thanks Stan. Will check.

 

Fair point! That blue is what the '71 should have looked like. My '69 was Riverside Gold, then bronze/silver 2 tone in '73, then red in '88.

 

Fair point! That blue is what the '71 should have looked like. My '69 was Riverside Gold, then bronze/silver 2 tone in '73, then red in '88.