1971 Chevrolet Corvette

1971 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible — Ontario Orange, 350ci V8, Turbo-Hydramatic, Dual Top

The 1971 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray sits at an interesting crossroads in Corvette history. It was the fourth year of the C3 body that Chevrolet introduced in 1968, and in many ways 1971 represented the high-water mark before emissions regulations began to seriously chip away at horsepower. Chevrolet lowered compression ratios across the engine lineup that year to run on lower-octane regular fuel, which actually makes 1971 Corvettes more practical to drive today than their 1970 counterparts. Total Corvette production for the 1971 model year came in at 21,801 units, split between coupes and convertibles. The convertible body style would survive only through 1975 before being discontinued, making open-top C3s like this one a distinct and increasingly scarce configuration.

The VIN on this car decodes to confirm it is a genuine 1971 Corvette convertible, built at the St. Louis assembly plant. The model year designator, body style code, and plant code all check out correctly for an authentic, numbers-relevant example.

Ontario Orange is one of the more visually assertive colors Chevrolet offered during this era, and it suits the aggressive fender flares and long hood of the C3 body particularly well. Paired with a black soft top and black interior, this is a high-contrast combination that was clearly chosen by someone with a good eye for how the car would look in use.

This is not a museum car. It is a well-optioned, driver-quality 1971 Corvette Stingray convertible with a solid undercarriage, a running and driving drivetrain, and a usable interior. The options it carries — air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, and the Turbo-Hydramatic automatic — reflect exactly how buyers ordered Corvettes when they intended to put real miles on them comfortably.

Key details
Exterior: Ontario Orange
Transmission: 3-Speed Automatic (Turbo-Hydramatic)
VIN / chassis: 194671S120577

Offered by Skyway Classics, 10420 Portal Crossing, Bradenton, FL 34212. Taxes, title and fees not included.

Photos courtesy of Skyway Classics.