Corvette LT1 Convertible, Matching Number, Outstanding Driver

1971 Corvette LT-1 Convertible. Maybe I’m just not a Corvette guy. which will be great news to those who are. (You'll see. ) Have had a few over the years. always intrigued by the immense power. great looks. and serviceability. This car was no different. I figured an LT-1 convertible would do it. Great. free revving small block. and rare enough to not blend totally into the crowd. Though it’s fun and good-looking as heck. as I trim back on cars. this one is on the block. Very nice Warbonnet Yellow (which is ‘gold’ in anyone’s book) with complete new saddle interior. Car has power windows. power steering. power brakes. later Corvette AM/FM. Rallye wheels. new brakes and tires. Runs and drives fantastically with full recent tune. Miles are hard to say but shows 12k. Crisp 4-speed. excellent matching number engine. starts easily. pulls strong. stops straight. This is a wonderful clean. original LT1 in better than ‘street driver’ condition. This car has just had over $8k of recent work to make it a wonderful 'hop in and enjoy' car. EXTERIOR: Paint is really good driver quality. done many years ago. still shows nicely. Photos honestly make it look better than it is. but I’m a perfectionist. No one would say this car needs paint; it's pretty strong. Chrome is excellent front. good rear. unbent and unrusted. Grill is good. side gills good. rocker trims very good. Lights. emblems. license plate surround all good. Glass is good. all there. Top is in good shape. rear window is super clear. Every time I’m in the car. people come over to talk about it. so this car is definitely attractive. UNDERNEATH: The frame looks nice. If it has ANY corrosion. it is extremely minor. I can’t find it. Was told to look in the dog-legs behind door pillar. and I see nothing there. My technician said it looked VERY sound to him. though it has a one-piece front end done years ago. and decently. (He owned a Corvette restoration facility for 16 years. ) With the new exhaust. no apparent rust or leaks. it is generally tidy underneath. INTERIOR: Just had a complete Corvette America interior done at significant expense. (Original was a mess. ) It looks. feels. and even smells fantastic. New seats. seat backs. hardware. door panels. weatherstripping. New dash top (this was a job!). sound barriers. full carpet (floor. door panels. rear luggage area). The seats fold. lock. and slide like new. This isn't a quickie 'seat cover slap job'. this was a detailed 3-week job and it shows. Also had gauges pulled and either repaired or replaced. Now all work – tach. water temp. amp gauge. even clock works. Horn. blinkers. park lights. all that is fine. The radio comes on and plays 'sort of'. but is junk really. I have a factory AM/FM from this car I'll give the new owner. ENGINE. MECHANICALS – I’m no ‘Vette expert but this IS the matching block for the car. that I know. (Please don’t ask me about date coding every screw and nut; I have no idea on that. ) The car starts. idles. runs. and sounds great. It fires right up. near instantly. (It should. about $2grand was spent on light mechanicals 4 months ago. made a big difference. ) Oil pressure is excellent – about 35 psi at idle - so the motor seems very healthy. New stainless exhaust was just put on the car front to rear. and it sounds. looks wonderful. I also just had new ignition shielding. plug wires. coolant hoses. valve cover gaskets. carburettor (kept the OEM one that came off of it) PCV. and other bits done to the car (another $1900). The motor is dry. sounds good. pulls strong. Thought it looks fine in the photos. the engine needs detailing. seems rather clumsily done. To most people it looks fine (see perfectionist comment earlier. ) This is a job I’ll leave to the next owner. though I’m half itching to do it. SUSPENSION. TIRES. BRAKES. TRANSMISSION – Right before I got the car. the previous owner (ER doctor who'd owned it 8 years) had the brakes rebuilt. so they’re fine. Soon as I got the car. I put new BF Goodrich Comps all the way around. plus full dynamic balance. I also just put on a new steering box (power) to tighten up the formerly very sloppy feel. It helped a ton and needs no attention. My tech said the car may NOT have come with power steering. but its on there now. and believe me. you want it. Any suspect suspension or steering bits were replaced. The steel wheels are in good shape. chrome rings and centers also good. Shocks seem fine. car rides nicely. Rear end has no howling. just hooks up and goes. Power brakes are great on the car. Stops sure. straight. no drama. Car sits nice. low. and level. It shifts great. You’ve got to love a good ‘ol US 4 speed gearbox! Oh. I also had the shifter renewed. retaining OEM appearing shift shaft. knob. and new shifter boot. Really tidy and tight. This car is so much fun to pull up through the gears. hear the engine reach. then click into the next gear and do it all again. Bullet proof mechanicals are something I’ll miss in this car. OTHER: The vacuum stuff has given me fits and though they do ‘work’. it’s iffy. I could send you a video of the wiper door and lights behaving perfectly. then if you turn your back. they do a lazy half dance or slow motion wink. Next time they’ll be fine. I have replaced lines. servos. and my tech is about 90% certain we’ve exorcized the demons. but I don't trust it. Honestly. I’m kinda done here. so consider finishing this off as part of your to-do list. OVERALL – Basically. this is good. solid. largely original LT-1 convertible with a matching engine that presents beautifully. My price should be fair for those facts alone. I’m not a dealer. not that interested in extracting every last dime. so somebody’s going to get a deal. Once it’s sold. its sold. Gone. Probably better to make the decision to bid now. Including what the previous owner spent just recently ($2400) plus what I just spent ($6840). that’s about $9200 you WON’T have to spend on it. If you subtracted that from this car. there’s a chance you may be getting a matching LT1 drop-top for under 20 grand. Yet I’ve just had this work done and am ready for the next owner to jump on this appreciating American classic to enjoy top down driving for many years. PRICE : The twin to this car in year. color. options – though in #1 condition – was listed on ebay at a $78. 00 Buy It Now. Another one – though a less desirable 72 model - that’s a very nice driver brought $48. 00. The SCM Price Guide lists a 71 LT-1 Convertible in the “middle” range at $37. 00. with a ‘low’ at $28. 00 and a high of $67. 00. (Personally. I think the price guides are a little behind on this car. ) When I decide to sell something. I’m ready to move to the next thing. SOMEBODY is going to recognize this as a legit car and a true bargain. You can hear about it at the next cruise-in or you can be the guy telling the story. your choice. The reserve on this car is below the 'average' price listed above. Plus. I'll give the buyer whatever extras I have. Don't ask me what my 'buy it now' price is unless you're making me an offer. Not trying to be rude. but I don't have time unless you're serious about moving forward with a purchase. I will say that the price of this car will leave you plenty of room to have fun as is. play with over time. bring the value higher with every dollar invested. This will be a very good buy for someone. an even better future investment. Plus this sale will make room for me to buy another toy. Calls or emails returned in order received. First person to commit to an offer I can accept or the acceptable offer at the end of the auction is the new owner. I have tried to give a good. accurate and honest description of the car. but feel free to have someone come look at it. Possible trade toward a BMW Z8. Ford GT. Porsche 930 and that’s it. I am not interested in hot rods. motorcycles. Vegas time shares. BIT coins or abandoned projects. Bid to own this fun. appreciating. great-looking American icon. On Mar-29-15 at 18:25:54 PDT. seller added the following information:Many of you have asked for the numbers referenced:VIN (unable to enter as this is a pre '81) is 194671S102968Engine number is C11S102968