71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

[Ralph B.]

I have a friend that's looking to buy a 1971 which has 1970 features.

The seller claims the car is 100% authentic and the 70/71 mix is due to a strike

Here are some of the particulars as supplied:

VIN 194371S108062

Stamp pad is CZU ----------- which I believe is a 1970 454 390 HP (4 speed transmission)

Data Plate on console -------- 454 390 HP (1971 version would be 365 HP)

Parking Light lenses is clear, not amber

Trim Tag ---------------- CHEVROLET A14 TRIM 400 986 PAINT

Is there any legitimate reason how this combination can exist?


Thank you,
Ralph

[Michael W.]

Re: 71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

'71 Corvette with VIN serial number 08062 wasn't built till late Jan.1971. How did it end up with an August 14 '71 (A14) trim tag?

986 is not a valid paint code for '71, but is for '70.

My guess is this is a '70 model year car with a '71 VIN.


Run Forrest run.

[Mike E.]

Re: 71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

I concur with Mike, but I'd say RUN FORREST, RUN!!!!

[William C.]

Re: 71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

'71 with 70 engine would NEVER have left GM in that confuguration as all engines were redesigned for '71 and CERTIFED to '71 regulations. No way Jose' as we used to say...in the politically incorrect 70's.

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

I have a friend that's looking to buy a 1971 which has 1970 features.

The seller claims the car is 100% authentic and the 70/71 mix is due to a strike

Here are some of the particulars as supplied:

VIN 194371S108062

Stamp pad is CZU ----------- which I believe is a 1970 454 390 HP (4 speed transmission)

Data Plate on console -------- 454 390 HP (1971 version would be 365 HP)

Parking Light lenses is clear, not amber

Trim Tag ---------------- CHEVROLET A14 TRIM 400 986 PAINT

Is there any legitimate reason how this combination can exist?


Thank you,
Ralph

Ralph------

I don't think there's any way that a 1971 year model Corvette would have been originally built with a 1970 engine. For one thing, I think that emissions control differences would have precluded it. For another, 1971 model year cars had to be able to operate on regular unleaded fuel; the 1970 LS-5 would not have been able to do that (on the unleaded regular available at that time).

It's much more difficult to "swap out" the VIN plates on C3 Corvettes than earlier. However, that does not mean that it cannot be done. I think a check of the frame VIN derivative stamping will bear out that shenanigans are at play here.

[Dick W.]

Re: 71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

Run, Forrest, run

[Mike E.]

Re: 71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

Why is it you never see these issues on base engine cars?

Mike

[Ralph B.]

Re: 71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

Ralph------



It's much more difficult to "swap out" the VIN plates on C3 Corvettes than earlier. However, that does not mean that it cannot be done. I think a check of the frame VIN derivative stamping will bear out that shenanigans are at play here.

I asked my friend to see if he can locate the VIN derivative on the frame --- he knows where to look.

Makes you wonder why anyone would ever to go to the trouble of swapping out a VIN on a 1970 with a 1971?

Thank you all ----- I think "RUN FORREST, RUN" is solid advice!

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

I asked my friend to see if he can locate the VIN derivative on the frame --- he knows where to look.

Makes you wonder why anyone would ever to go to the trouble of swapping out a VIN on a 1970 with a 1971?

Thank you all ----- I think "RUN FORREST, RUN" is solid advice!

Ralph------


It's quite simple. One scenario: If one owns a 1971 Corvette and that Corvette gets wrecked without insurance, one has an expensive problem on their hands. One way out is to find a similar Corvette (a 1970 will do since the vast majority of folks would never know the difference), steal it and swap out the VIN tags. Then, one becomes the "owner" of the 1970 (which has now "become" a 1971). There are more than a few cars like this out there. As I've said many times before, one has to be supremely careful when purchasing an old Corvette. Remember, if a car one purchases is EVER determined to have been previously stolen, one loses that car regardless of whether they purchased it in good faith and regardless of how much they paid for it. Sins of the distant past can come back to bite one.

[Thomas H.]

Re: 71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

I have a pretty original early 71 LS5. The serial number is 1632 and it was built in early Sept of 1970. Yes there are some left over 70 parts on it, chrome valve covers, tail light lenses and a few other things, BUT the entire drivetrain is dated and coded for a 1971 model year, not a 1970.

As was said earlier, run...........

Tom

[Paul D.]

Re: 71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

Just curious, does the VIN stamp on the block match the VIN on the pillar post?

[Ralph B.]

Re: 71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

Just curious, does the VIN stamp on the block match the VIN on the pillar post?

Paul, that was the first question I asked, which he didn't know.

I sent him all the above replies and I believe he's wisely not moving forward.

A car with a NOM is not a problem as long as it's priced accordingly; however a VIN swap is a whole different situation with potentially a bad ending as Joe has pointed out.

Thank you,
Ralph

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

Paul, that was the first question I asked, which he didn't know.

I sent him all the above replies and I believe he's wisely not moving forward.

A car with a NOM is not a problem as long as it's priced accordingly; however a VIN swap is a whole different situation with potentially a bad ending as Joe has pointed out.

Thank you,
Ralph

Ralph-----


It would still be very interesting to know the engine's pad stamping if your friend can determine it even if he no longer wants to buy the car.

[Ralph B.]

Re: 71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

Ralph-----


It would still be very interesting to know the engine's pad stamping if your friend can determine it even if he no longer wants to buy the car.

I agree and will e-mail him and get back to you.

[Reba W.]

Re: 71 with 70 Factory Supplied Engine????

A build date of A14 doesn't line up with the VIN for either year.