1971 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

This is one of the last of the Corvettes with chrome bumpers front and rear! This car was in the sweet spot of the '70s. Before 5 MPH bumper regulations and before increasingly stringent emissions regulations and the gas crisis. Technology has caught up these days and the world is a better place. But if you want a great looking, old school, American factory sports car, then check out this Vette.

This car is awesome looking for all the right reasons. The Mulsanne Blue paint really pops! Those precious bumpers add a sparkle that only chrome can offer too. The eggcrate grill has matching front fender side vents for air flow, with "Stingray" just above them. Removable T-Tops keep the clean look of a coupe, while offering top-off motoring. On top of that, you could remove the vertical rear glass is this model too. While later models were still notchback designs, they didn't have the removable rear glass anymore. The rear deck has a luggage rack that makes long distance traveling in this car a distinct possibility, and then finishes off at the back edge with a rear spoiler that is molded smoothly into the body of the car, not bolted on as an accessory. Chrome exhaust tips exit the rear valence just below the chrome rear bumper to finish off the look.

A black interior is the perfect compliment to the blue body. Open the door and have a seat in the sport buckets. Everything feels solid in this car. Reach for the 3 spoke steering wheel with the crossed flag horn button in the center. It not only tilts, but telescopes too so that you can find that perfect driving position. The speedo and tachometer are tucked well into their dash shroud so they don't catch glare with the roof off, and a five-gauge cluster in the center console keeps track of critical engine functions. This car is air conditioned, and the A/C controls are just over those gauges, while the stock radio is below them, and in front of the floor shifter for the automatic trans. The roof panels and rear glass stow behind the seats when removed, in their own protective bags.

The engine compartment is neat, clean, and stock. The polished air filter announces that the motor is a 350 Turbo Fire. It's healthy in part because it breathes through a Rochester Quadra-jet carburetor. It feeds the engine through a stock intake manifold. Chevy orange valve covers keep the oil on the inside where it belongs, and the cast iron exhaust manifolds pump out through dual exhaust to those square, chrome tips. A Turbo Hydramatic 3-speed automatic trans multiplies the engine power and sends it on back to the differential mounted in the independent rear suspension. Up front, a control arm front suspension with a beefy sway bar keeps things under control. Of course, there are 4-wheel disc brakes to provide great stopping power. The car sits on factory steel wheels with a Chevy bow-tie center cap and polished trim ring with 215/70R15 white letter tires all around.

Check out this clean, stock example of this classic body style. Take it home with you and drive it to the lake, or beach, or mountains. Or polish up those bumpers and take it downtown.