My interest in Corvettes stem around the '70 -'72 years. I've owned three 1970's, three 1971's and two 1972's and currently have two '1971's. I've been collecting original factory paperwork on these cars since March 1987 and have amassed a fairly comprehensive collection of various pieces of documentation that were produced when these cars were being assembled at the St. Louis plant or other Chevrolet offices. These include window invoices, car shipper copy's, scheduled price sheets, corvette order copys, protect-0-plate w/pamphlets, dealer sales invoices, etc, etc.

I've attended Corvette shows all around the country for years and conversed with many owners of LT-1's, LS6's, etc. I've collected a lot of factory literature and dealer paperwork on these cars and researched for many years. I may not be the most knowledgeable individual on all things 1971, but the information garnered over the last 24 years indicates that there hasn't been 1 example of a non ZR1 ordered LT-1 Corvette surface that has any original unaltered GM paperwork to substantiate the M22 transmission option ordered.

 

Early Shark, When I read your post you make it sound like that if you haven't seen one it can't possibly be. Have you seen them all ?

 

No, I haven't. I have however kept track of the '71 LT-1's that have appeared at car shows, on the internet, at auctions, etc. There were 1949 (minus the 8 ordered with the ZR1 option) leaving 1,941 examples. I've eliminated an awful lot of them. After 40 years since production, the nature of these cars doesn't necessarily lend itself to being treated gently, the rate for their survival in factory built trim is probably not real high.

 

Does the NCRS have someone who is the authority on LT1 info , kinda like Al Grenning is on stamp pads ?

 

Al Grenning became an authority simply by studying and researching stamp pads and the process by which the cylinder cases were hand stamped.

To answer your question, both Eddie Hammer-Huber and Scott Lindee have conducted '70 - '72 LT-1 surveys and published articles about these cars in the NCRS Restorer magazine. You might check with former team leader for the '70-'72 years, Terry McManmon (ordered and is still original owner of an LT-1).

 

Amazing that you think that Al Grenning came by his authority "simply" !

I say again that the 71 LT1 M22 that I refered to came out the door from Chevrolet with that combination and 411 gears . If owning Corvetts , attending car shows , swap meets ect for 40 years makes one an expert on this subject then I qualify too.
My first Corvette was a 71 LT1 coupe and I have owned many C-2 and C-3 corvetts over the years.
My opinion is just what it is and I make no broad statements about cars I have not seen . I have seen this one and in my "opinion" it is real.
Regards

 

I'd trust an opinion with evidence over an opinion without it.

Unfortunately, with re-stamps so popular in the Corvette world, "matching-number" stamps are not conclusive evidence; matching-number stamps plus a tank-sticker and original invoice and window-sticker would be.

 

Never say never. You will want to scare up all the documentation you can find, but it could have been possible to get the M22 with the LT-1 if enough strings were pulled. It would have required a new Corvette order (almost certainly with a down payment being made) requesting the M22; zone office would have contacted the dealer to confirm it. Possibly corporate office had to give the okay. St. Louis would have been notified.

Technically, installing the M22 would not have cost GM anything. They were already making Corvettes and they already had the M22 available. Giving the customer what he/she wanted (and banking the profit) was good for business.