Description

This 1971 Corvette might be the coolest C3 you've ever seen. You don't know it yet and just looking at it gives nothing away, but this is one piece of vintage fiberglass that'll show its taillights to some pretty ferocious hardware, even today. Can a Corvette be a sleeper? You bet!

A '71 Corvette coupe is pretty common in the world of classics, right? Sure, they have that timeless Stingray look, but they've become so ubiquitous that they almost go unnoticed. And I'm quite sure that was part of the plan when this one was on the drawing boards. Painting it Sebring Silver certainly helps, giving it an elegant, understated look that is just different enough to stand out but not send up any red flags about the performance lurking underneath. The hood was treated to a contrasting blue stinger with a cool fade effect, but otherwise it's completely stock. Bodywork was expertly done to show standards and looks fantastic once you get up close and really examine it in detail, with great shut lines and a modern urethane shine. Chrome bumpers give the Corvette a classic sports car look and with a recent refinish on the trim, the brightwork sparkles against the low-key silver bodywork. There's absolutely nothing on the exterior that betrays the race car lurking underneath.

The interior works to keep everything a secret, too. The blue upholstery is a great choice with the silver bodywork, suggesting someone with excellent taste was picking the colors. Most of the soft parts are new, including the seat covers, carpets, door panels, and dash pad, so it all looks fresh and everything matches. Factory gauges still monitor the beast living under the hood, and you'll note that this car is equipped with such niceties as air conditioning, power windows, and a tilt/telescope steering column. Perhaps the most dramatic feature is the under-dash lighting, whose color can be changed to suit your mood, but it seems to really work best in blue. The blue theme continues with the big Hurst shift knob, which now controls five gears instead of four, and even the decal on the console has been subtly altered to reflect that upgrade. A vintage-looking AM/FM radio connects to a CD changer, so the soundtrack can keep up with the rest of the car. And with T-tops, the open-air experience is quick and easy.

The heart of this sleeper is a 383 cubic inch stroker motor built by United Racing Engines. Combining a 4-bolt main block, Bowtie intake, big 4-barrel carburetor, and some serious internal upgrades, it makes a dyno-verified 486 horsepower and 465 pounds of torque. It's also dressed to impress, but by the time you get to that stage, it's already too late and this Corvette has embarrassed you. The 5-speed manual transmission completely transforms the Corvette's personality, and it's content to cruise quietly as well as stomp around the streets. The suspension is a full-race setup with trick inboard coil-overs out back and a rack-and-pinion steering rack up front, so it moves like a far younger car. The custom exhaust system with Flowmasters and an X-pipe give it a howling exhaust note that will make your spine tingle and strike fear into your opponents. Yet, it ties it all to the road with simple 15-inch Rally wheels and modestly-sized 245/60/15 Mickey Thompson radials.

Brutally fast and supremely agile, this is the Corvette GM would have built with unlimited funds. As it stands, over $50,000 was poured into the build and is now available for a fraction of that figure. Call today!