Rare black 1967 L-71

[Randy K.]

I have seen dealers advertising 67's stating, one of only 815 painted black , and only about 35 were 435 H.P. cars. How do they know this, or is this just car sales B.S. Thanks

[Donald T.]

Re: Rare black 1967 L-71

Randy,

Well, the 1 of 815 painted black may be correct, but there are no GM records regarding combination of options. They use a calculation to determine the production quantity. For example, GM records indicate 10% of all production has options A, and 10% has option B. Therefore 10% of 10% would be 1% of total production. The problem is that this is not necessarily true. If black was a more popular color for big block cars then you can throw that calculation right out the window. If you include enough variables then every corvette is 1 of 1. It's just hype.

[Tom D.]

Re: Rare black 1967 L-71

I suspect they are multiplying the 815 by the percentage of 435s for the whole year.

By the way, there has to be way more than 35 black ones for sale or sold, thanks to "professional restoration experts" all over the USA.

Tom Dingman
4889
MI and WNY Chapters

[Duke W.]

Re: Rare black 1967 L-71

For most model years if you compute the number of option combinations including exterior and interior trim colors, you will come up with a number that is WAAAAAAAY greater than the number of Corvettes built that year. However, certain color/trim combinations (like red with black interior) and options were very popular, so there are lots of Corvettes that are "identical" or nearly so.

But add just one low volume option, like the 36.5 gallon fuel tank - or an unpopluar body color/interior trim color combination - or delete a popular option - and combine this with any popular option combination and you probably have a unique car.

For example a '67 black (The least popular exterior color that year at 815 total.) with white interior trim (Yes, that was an available body and trim color combination - any of the eight interior colors could be ordered with white or black exterior color) coupe with 350 HP, PG, air conditioning, power windows, and NO RADIO option may well be unique - if it even exists, which I doubt. It was rare for "high option" cars of that era to be built with no radio option, which meant no radio was installed since a radio was not part of the coupe or convertible base equipment package. (So please don't call it "radio delete". It's simply "no radio".)

And I can say with certainty that the above combination with a 36.5 gallon fuel tank was never built in 1967 even though the option combination was available. Only two N-03 fuel tanks were installed in 1967, and I think they both went on L-88s.

So 40 years later an unpopular exterior color is suddently "rare". Like previously stated, it's just hype.

Duke

[Bruce B.]

Re: Rare black 1967 L-71

In the example of options the combination of 350HP with PG was used.
I don't believe PG available with a 350HP engine. Was it?

[Duke W.]

Re: Rare black 1967 L-71

You are correct. So let's change the tranmission to the base three-speed manual (424 installed), and I would still bet that the particular combination was never actually built.

The point is that if you start with a Corvette that has popular options and add one low volume option or substitute an unpopular exterior/interior color combination or delete just one of the popular options (like the optional transmissions) you may well have a "unique" car, but I don't think that necessarily makes it more valuable, however, sellers will try to convince you it is.

Duke

[David C.]

Re: Rare black 1967 L-71

I have a black 67 L-71 and I think the way that people come up with the numbers of 1 of 35 or so is by useing a method called "extrapolation" which is explained in the "corvette black book". My book has it on page 15 (my book is for the years 1953 -2006) I dont know if these cars are that rare but I think thats how its figured. Hope this helps

[Richard B.]

Re: Rare black 1967 L-71

Duke You could not get an L88 with a N03. since chevy stoped getting orders for them around Nov of 66 and L88 did not come out until I think Feb, March

[Duke W.]

Re: Rare black 1967 L-71

I agree that L-88 was released well into production. My buddy's was delivered in May.

The Spec Guide shows 2 NO3 in '67. So what engine option did those two cars have?

Duke

[Richard B.]

Re: Rare black 1967 L-71

well I know of the white one that is or use to be owned my LIC is a 300hp. the second one I am not sure. I am sure you could have orderd any engine with the N03

[Mark K.]

Re: Rare black 1967 L-71

No, it wasn't a 300HP, it was a 350HP car. The other was a 435HP car. Both cars were at one time (about 10 years ago) owned by someone in Florida where there was an article written on the cars. I apologize but I don't rmember where the article was written - bad memory I guess.

[Philip C.]

Re: Rare black 1967 L-71

Richard Cohen owner of Long Island Corvette has the only known 67 big tank car. The White/blue one, it was sold new in Long Island New York. The other car has not been found, lots of stories over the years, ALL talk. Phil 8063