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Going to pick up a ratty 71 tomorrow that mainly has one thing going for it. I believe it's a real LT1. It doesn't have the original engine but most of the LT1 specific items appear to be on the car. It has sat outside for years so the interior/exterior are rough. I haven't been able to actually check it out in person, just going on pics from the owner. But for the price I'm getting it for I'm not too concerned as I believe the parts are worth much more than the purchase price. The engine plate on the console shows 330hp and the tach has a 6500 redline. I realize these could have been changed out but from the crusty look of it looks OG. The owner assures me that the birdcage is sound but if that turns out not to be the case how valuable would it be as a parts car? The body looks pretty decent and bumpers and trim look good. Original hood is on it also. So, ball park, is a LT1 parts car worth that much more than a regular coupe?
I hate to see a great car parted out. Parts cars that are LT-1's are no more valuable than any other 1971 Corvette when you are just cutting them up and selling the dismembered chunks.
With no paperwork its a near impossible thing to document the restoration like an expert, and ultimately to restore a car is an expensive proposition, though a 71 is pretty easy to do. I have restored cars from much worse, and an engine for one of these is a pretty cheap deal. with less than 2000 made, its rarer than most Big Blocks...
I would hope you could offer the car to someone who would appreciate it and work to save it rather than breaking a rare Corvette just to make a few side bucks on parts. These great cars deserve better.
I hate to see a great car parted out. Parts cars that are LT-1's are no more valuable than any other 1971 Corvette when you are just cutting them up and selling the dismembered chunks.
With no paperwork its a near impossible thing to document the restoration like an expert, and ultimately to restore a car is an expensive proposition, though a 71 is pretty easy to do. I have restored cars from much worse, and an engine for one of these is a pretty cheap deal. with less than 2000 made, its rarer than most Big Blocks...
I would hope you could offer the car to someone who would appreciate it and work to save it rather than breaking a rare Corvette just to make a few side bucks on parts. These great cars deserve better.
Hey, don't get me wrong. My intent is to get it back to life and slowly improve it's condition. The only reason I mentioned parting it is if the birdcage is toast and it has frame damage. I've wanted a LT1 forever and this is a good project car from what I can see of it from the pics. I got a pic of the trim tag today and it's a War Bonnet Yellow with Saddle leather car which is a combo that I really like. Fingers crossed that the seller is being straight with me on birdcage/frame condition. Will know more later today when I pick it up.
I was more like a generous offer disguised as sarcasm.
Vague thread with a vague description of the car with no pictures of the car about the value of said car?
I understand where you are coming from. I will be posting pics and a better description after I get the car home and have a real look at it's condition. I've bought a few cars sight unseen and they often don't add up to the description from the seller. Stay tuned for more as I get a chance to dig into it.
Well guys, let's just say that I'm very pleased with the car. It has always been a SE Washington car and the frame is rock solid. I haven't had a chance to get a good look at the bird cage yet but I'd be surprised if there are any major issues there. I understand this will never be a high dollar car without it's OG engine but I don't want a garage queen as I intend to "Drive it"! I'll start another post as I get into it to document what I find and my progress but for now, this is most definitely not a "Parts Car"!
I tried to upload some pics but it won't allow the pics I have on my phone as they are heic. Anybody know a work around for that? I'm not that computer literate
Not my intension to modify it that much although that's a hell of a build. Being that they started with a run of the mill 270hp it wasn't that much an issue in my mind. Being this car is one of less than 2000 cars built in 71 I would probably look for a og engine if I could find one that wasn't made out of gold. For now, I plan to see if the current engine will fire up and go from there.
I only ever upload from my computer. In a pinch, you can upload a video to YouTube, and post the link here. A 2 minute walk around would be great to see. Congratulations on the restorable car!
Someone here once posted - which I had to agree: A LT1 without it's original engine is no longer a LT1. (you can argue about a 72, I suppose)
I continue to operate with this in mind as I come across opportunities to own one. Obviously, you can recreate what it once was and a whole lot more, but you can do that with any other non-LT1 car.
Someone here once posted - which I had to agree: A LT1 without it's original engine is no longer a LT1. (you can argue about a 72, I suppose)
I continue to operate with this in mind as I come across opportunities to own one. Obviously, you can recreate what it once was and a whole lot more, but you can do that with any other non-LT1 car.
I agree that the car will never be worth what it would with its OG engine. But matching numbers aside, it's got a lot of the stuff that a big block has that you would have to add to any base engine car to make an LT-1 clone. IE: bigger radiator and fuel feed line. Stronger half shafts, more clearance underhood with the big block hood. The other thing is if I was to ever come across the OG engine it would be a real deal car. That's not totally out of the question as the car has always been in my local area. As LT-1 values have sky rocketed in the last few years they are in my mind getting into that area where you might not want to drive them as much as you might otherwise. I want a car that I'm not scared to drive and drive hard when the opportunity presents itself.
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by gccch
Someone here once posted - which I had to agree: A LT1 without it's original engine is no longer a LT1. (you can argue about a 72, I suppose)
I continue to operate with this in mind as I come across opportunities to own one. Obviously, you can recreate what it once was and a whole lot more, but you can do that with any other non-LT1 car.
If a LT1 without original engine is just a Corvette does that go for L88's and ZL1's too ?
It's really just an opinion, and preference. For me, any Corvette holds a very different value proposition without the original engine. Not that it would have no interest, just different.
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by Eric P
If a LT1 without original engine is just a Corvette does that go for L88's and ZL1's too ?
CORRECT My opinion, ( not that it matters ) it's just another corvette. What made it so rare, important & sought after is the motor, it's very limited production & high performance, NOW GONE.
Value of a 71 LT1
110%
