Went to look at a 71 that a friend wanted to buy. 30 feet away it looked good. Up close in needed a new paint job. It was originally green and now painted red; some fading, chips, and light cracking in the paint. Engine was an older replacement done in the mids 80s with an auto parts store replacement 350 block. The overall engine was tired and needed replacement. It fired blue smoke out the back and the owner said it burned a quart about every 500 miles. Oil leaking inside of engine compartment. Auto tranny leaked and shifted fair. Needed a new muffler system. Rear trailing arms were tired. Incorrect color interior replacement many years ago. Now black was originally tan. Interior was fair. Except for the door panels it was black interior paint over the original tan parts. Some rust in the support bar (frame?) under the radiator. Overall condition perhaps a low 4. They guy wanted $9,900. I told him to offer no more than $7,000 as when I looked in the forum you could purchase a nice 70 - 72 with matching numbers for the mid to high teens. If you had to pay to have someone do the work on this car I told him it could cost well over $20,000 and you still have a totally incorrect car. I should have attached pictures, but see if anyone can provide some overall advice. He was sold on it being a chrome bumper car. I told him if he wanted a nice c3 with his limited budget to look at maybe a 76 or 77. Thanks

 

Hi J,
There are many cars available with rust not being a problem. AND RUST CAN TURN OUT TO BE A BIG PROBLEM!!!!
I think it's too much money for a car that doesn't really have ANYTHING going for it. NEEDS rust repair, engine, trans, chassis work, paint, interior and a BIG bucket for your friend to dump his money in as he throws it away. This sounds like a $2K car...maybe!
I love 71s!
Regards,
Alan

 

I agree with Alan, WAY over priced at 9900. To restore it will cost 20+, and if he has 20K to spend look in the Cars for sale section of the Forum as there are some nice bumper cars for that kind of money.

Gary

Collector Car Market Review Value Report
1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 350-270hp (8cyl-4V) AT
Condition #5 #4 #3 #2 #1

Coupe 4325 8175 14125 19825 28425

Add:
350-330hp LT-1 30%
454-365hp V8-LS5 35%
454-425hp (4V) LS6 130%
4spd manual trans 8%
Air conditioning 10%
Power windows 3%
Hardtop 5%
F-41 suspension 2%
Deluxe interior 3%
AM-FM stereo 2%
Tilt/Tele wheel 2%
Deduct:
Manual steering -3%