Corvettes on eBay: Unrestored 1971 Corvette Stingray with LT1

Nov 6, 2018

6671

Corvettes on eBay: Unrestored 1971 Corvette Stingray with LT1

Here’s an unrestored 1971 Corvette on eBay just begging for a new home. Can you help?

This 1971 Corvette T-Top Coupe features a numbers-matching 350/330-hp LT1 V8 engine that’s coupled to a manual four-speed transmission. The eBay ad claims it’s a two-owner Corvette that was purchased by the second owner in 1975.

The exterior of the Corvette is Steel Cities Gray and features a Black interior.

With 83,767 miles on the odometer, the Stingray has seen its share of roads in its time. The seller says the motor spins freely which tells us that the LT1 probably hasn’t been started in some time. The overall condition of the car leads us to believe that it’s been stored for several years or even longer.

It does appear to be a complete car and other than the weathered patina, we can’t see any real damage to the car’s exterior. Holes in the rear deck lead us to believe a luggage rack was installed at one point. A light coat of surface rust in the engine compartment will have to be dealt with, but even the ignition-shielding is still in place. Photos provided by the seller show the correct VIN sequence number and suffix codes for the LT1 on the engine’s stamp pad.

In 1971, Chevrolet produced 1949 Corvettes with the 2nd-year LT1 small block engine. The 350 ci solid-lifter engine utilized aspects of what was learned from the big blocks V8 that preceded it including a generous cam, larger 2.5-inch exhaust pipes, a Holley 850 CFM carburetor, and Delco’s transistorized ignition.

In 1970 the engines were rated at 370-hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, but for 1971 the horsepower ratings were updated to show the net horsepower which took into account power loss from the operation of the engine. Consequently, the LT1 specs were changed to 330-hp in 1971 and they would drop to 255-hp in 1972 for its final year.

A check of past Mecum auctions show the 1971 LT1s selling in a range from $40,000 to $50,000 while other low-mileage and judged examples in the three-year series (1970-1972) sold as high at $125,000.

This Steel Cities Gray LT1 Corvette is being offered with a “Buy it Now” of $9,500 and so that does leave some room for restoration costs and not be completely upside down in the car when it’s finished.

The auction closes on Thursday, Nov. 8th at 6:57 pm ET.