At a glance, the ‘71 Vette looked like a “cookie cutter” ‘70 Corvette. There wasn’t much separating the two swoopy sports cars. In fact, the two models looked like the Doublemint Twins on a double date. On the exterior, they were essentially the same car. However, very early in the model year, Chevy switched to amber-colored front turn signal lenses, which then made the 1971 a little easier to pick out in a crowd. A new resin process was used in manufacturing the fiberglass body this year. Chevy claimed it improved the Corvette’s construction and it probably did. Factory quality control was stepped up with additional tests for water leakage and body shaking. These production improvements were pushed through by Chevrolet’s maverick general manager John Z. DeLorean. At least old John Z. did a few things right, though he liked to step on the toes of the big brass.
The Corvette’s fuel door was made easier to open and a new automatic transmission indicator lit up so it was easier to see what gear you were in when it was dark. The interior was redesigned a bit.
Leaded fuel was no longer required for a Corvette The engines had to be de-tuned so that mandatory new no-lead fuel blends could be used without ruining them. This kept the “smog police” happy, but long-time Corvette lovers noticed a difference when they stomped the gas pedal. Three Corvette engines used an 8.5:1 compression ratio, while the hotter LT1 climbed to a 9.0:1 ratio As we said, the lower compression ratios robbed a little performance, but every other American car was going through the same thing at the time, so the Corvette remained one of the quickest machines you could still buy. Standard equipment changed little if all. It was the final season for offering a fiber-optic light-monitoring system.
The de-tuned L48 small-block engine was rated at 270 hp. High-performance engine options included the RPO LS5 V-8. This 454-cid V-8 also had an 8.5:1 compression ratio, hydraulic valve lifters, a high-performance cam and a Rochester 750CFM Quadra-Jet four-barrel carburetor. It was rated for 365 hp at 4800 rpm and 465 foot-pounds of torque at 3200 rpm. 
Buyers willing to part with $1,221 could add the LS6 big-block V-8. It also had hydraulic lifters, a high-performance cam and a four-barrel carburetor. However, the LS6 carb was a big 880-cfm Holley model, which definitely helped in the get-up-and-go department. The motor was rated 425 hp at 5600 rpm and 475 foot-pounds of torque at 4000 rpm.
Again offered to Corvette performance fans was the small-block-based LT1 V-8. This 350-cid engine now had a 9.0:1 compression ratio. It was rated for 330 hp at 5600 rpm and torque was 360 foot-pounds at 4000 rpm. An LT1-powered Vette with the M-21 four-speed manual transmission and a 3.70:1 rear axle was tested by Car and Driver magazine in June 1971. It moved from 0-to-60 mph in 6.0 seconds and from 0-to-100 mph in 14.5 seconds. The same car did the quarter mile in 14.57 seconds at 100.55 mph and its top speed was 137 mph.
’71 VETTE FACTS
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VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
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Corvette convertibles for 1971 were numbered 194671S100001 to 194671S21801; Corvette coupes for 1971 were numbered 194371S100001 to 194371S121801. The first symbol 1 indicated Chevrolet. The second symbol identified the body series 9 = Corvette. The third symbol indicated the type of engine with an even number like 4 indicating a V-8 engine. The fourth and fifth symbols indicate the body style number 67 = convertible; 37 = coupe. The sixth symbol indicates the model year 1 = 1971. The seventh symbol identifies the assembly plant S = St. Louis. The last six symbols indicate the sequential production number.
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ENGINE
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BASE ENGINE
Type: V-8
Bore and stroke: 4.00 x 3.48 in.
Displacement: 350 cid
Brake hp: 270 at 4800 rpm.
Induction: Rochester 4-barrel
OPTIONAL ENGINES:
454-cid/365-hp w/ Rochester 4-bbl
454-cid/425-hp w/ Holley 4-bbl
350-cid/330-hp w/ Holley 4-bbl
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VITAL STATS
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Convertible
Original Price: $5,299
Production: 7,121
Wheelbase: 98 in.
Length: 182.5 in.
Tires: F70 x 15
Coupe
Original Price: $5,536
Production: 14,680
Wheelbase: 98 in.
Length: 182.5 in.
Tires: F70 x 15
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COOL STUFF
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• This was the first year both Corvette body styles cracked the $5,000 barrier as far as base retail price..
• The ZL1 package included the LT1 engine, M22 heavy-duty four-speed manual transmission, J50/J56 dual-pin brakes with heavy-duty front pads and power assist and F41 suspension consisting of special 89 lb./in. ride rate front springs and 121 lb./in. ride rate rear springs, matching shock absorbers and a 0.75-inch front stabilizer bar.
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