1971 Corvette

1968	1969	1970	1971	1972
1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
1978	1979	1980	1981	1982

The 1971 model year saw very few changes probably due to the labor disputes of 1969 which shortened the 1970 model year production. The biggest change was in engine horsepower ratings due to gasoline octane requirements to meet new emission standards. This would be the last year for the infamous Muncie M22 H.D. 4-speed transmission as well. All 454 engines have orange painted rocker arm covers. A labor dispute in May 1969 caused 1969 production to run long, shortening normal 1970 production by over four months. Chevrolet then treated 1971 Corvette production as an extension of 1970. GM directed its divisions to reduce octane requirements in 1971 engines, an effort which carried a higher priority than appearance changes.

With the exception of the RPO LS6 engine, 1971 engines were detuned variants of 1970 engines. GM's intention in reducing octane requirements to 91 in 1971 was to give oil companies phase-in time for the unleaded fuels needed for catalytic converters four years away.

The 454-cid 435hp LS6 engine was designed to operate on low-lead fuel, but a comparable engine was not available in 1970, so it won the horsepower race for the two years despite its lower octane need. The option featured aluminum heads and could be combined with the TH400 automatic transmission, except when paired with the ZR2 option.

One visible clue to a 1971's outward appearance was amber parking light lenses, although very early 1971s had clear lenses.

The 1971 model year was the last year to feature the fiber-optics light monitoring system. It's thought the cost savings permitted the inclusion of the optional anti-theft alarm system as standard fare the following year.

1971 total Corvettes built - 21,801
1971 Coupes - 14,640
1971 Convertibles - 7,121

Serial Numbers
Corvette	194x71S100001-194x71S121801
Coupe is body style 37 and convertible is body style 67

Engine Identification

Position	Character(s)	Description
1	V or T	Flint, MI. or Tonawanda, N.Y. engine assembly plant
2 to 5	1025	Engine assembly date (month/day)
6 and 7	Code	CGT - 350-cid 270-hp, automatic transmission CJK - 350-cid 270-hp, automatic transmission CJL - 350-cid 270-hp, manual transmission CGY - 350-cid 330-hp, manual transmission, A.I.R. (ZR1) CGZ - 350-cid 330-hp, manual transmission, A.I.R. (LT1) CPH - 454-cid 365-hp, manual transmission CPJ - 454-cid 365-hp, manual transmission CPW - 454-cid 425-hp, manual transmission, A.I.R., A.H. CPX - 454-cid 425-hp, automatic transmission, A.I.R., A.H.
A.H.	Aluminum cylinder head
A.I.R.	Air Injection Reactor - All
Several engine suffix codes changed during the model year. All engines were equipped with a single 4-bbl carburetor. Data are from GM's own "Information Kit" and some engines may or may not have made production.

Engine Specifications - 350 engines

Item	Base	RPO LT1
Displacement	350 cid	350 cid
Bore & Stroke	4.00" x 3.48"	4.00" x 3.48"
Compression Ratio	8.5:1	9.0:1
Advertised Horsepower *	270 hp @ 4800 rpm	330 hp @ 5600
Torque *	360 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm	360 Lb-ft @ 4000
Valve lifter type	Hydraulic	Mechanical
Fuel system	Rochester 4-bbl 7041213 - Manual 7041212 - Automatic	Holley 4-bbl 3989014 - Manual
* Advertised hp is gross rating

Engine Specifications - 454 engines

Item	RPO LS5	RPO LS6
Displacement	454 cid	454 cid
Bore & Stroke	4.251" x 4.00"	4.251" x 4.00"
Compression Ratio	8.5:1	9.0:1
Advertised Horsepower *	365 hp @ 4800 rpm	425 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque	465 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm	475 lb-ft@ 4000 rpm
Valve lifter type	Hydraulic	Mechanical
Fuel System	Rochester 4-bbl 7041205 - Manual 7041204 - Automatic	Holley 3986195 - Manual 3986196 - Automatic
* Advertised hp is gross rating

Regular Production Options

RPO	Description	Cost (verified by paperwork)	Units	% ⁽¹⁾
19437	Coupe	$5,496.00	14,680	67.3
19467	Convertible	$5,259.00 ($6,350.00)	7,121	32.7
420	Leather seats	$158.00 ($196.40)	2,602	11.9
A31	Power windows	$79.00	6,191	28.4
A85	Custom deluxe shoulder belts (standard with the coupe) ⁽¹⁾	$42.00 ($52.40)	677	9.5
C07	Auxiliary hardtop (convertible only) ⁽¹⁾	$274.00 ($240.45)	2,619	3638
C08	Soft trim roof cover for auxiliary hardtop ⁽¹⁾	$63.00	832	11.7
C50	Rear window defroster	$42.00	1,598	7.3
C60	Air conditioning	$459.00	11,481	52.7
---	Optional rear axle	$13.00	2,395	11.0
J50	Power brakes	$47.00 ($58.90)	13,558	62.2
LS5	454-cid, 365-hp	$295.00	5,097	23.4
LS6	454-cid, 425-hp	$1,221.00 ($1,517.85)	188	0.9
LT1	350-cid, 330-hp	$483.00	1,949	8.9
M21	Close ratio 4-speed transmission ⁽²⁾	$0.00	2,387	10.9
M22	Heavy duty close ratio 4-speed transmission ⁽²⁾	$100.00 ($124.95)	130	0.6
M40	Turbo Hydra-Matic 3-speed automatic transmission **	$100.35	10,060	46.1
N37	Tilt-telescopic steering column	$84.30	8,130	37.3
N40	Power steering	$115.90 ($142.95)	17,904	82.1
P02	Wheel covers	$63.00	3,007	13.8
PT7	F70 x 15 white stripe tires	$28.00 ($38.20)	6,711	30.8
PU9	F70 x 15 white letter tires	$42.00	12,449	57.1
T60	Heavy duty battery (standard with LS5 engine)	$15.80	1,455	8.7
UA6	Alarm system	$31.60	8,501	39.0
U69	AM/FM radio	$178.00 ($236.50)	18,078	82.9
U79	AM/FM stereo radio	$283.00	3,431	15.7
YE1	Rear Axle Ratio 3.70:1	$12.65	325	0.1
YE2	Rear Axle Ratio 4.11:1	$12.65	72	<0.1
YE3	Rear Axle Ratio 4.56:1	$12.65	1	<0.1
Z49	Canadian Base Equipment	$4.58	n/a	n/a
ZQ8	Economy Axle Ratio	$12.65 ($16.35)	536	0.2
ZQ9	Performance Axle Ratio	$12.65	1,481	6.8
ZR1	Special purpose LT1 engine package	$1,010.00	8	<0.0
ZR2	Special purpose LS6 engine package	$1,747.00	12	0.1
⁽¹⁾ Percentages are calculated on the number of options sold vs. the number possible. For example, C08 was only available on the Auxiliary Hardtop so the 11.7% reflects the number of Auxiliary Hardtops ordered with the C08 option. Only 12,577 optional transmissions are shown, about 58% of the 21,801 Corvettes sold. ⁽²⁾ The M40 was no cost with the base 350-cid, 270-hp engine but $100.35 with LS5 or LS6 and was not available with LT1, ZR1, or ZR2. It is assumed the remainder were equipped with the base M20 wide ratio 4-speed so no numbers are listed for options. M21/M22 percentages are estimates based on total Corvettes sold less M40 quantities. >> RPO C08 was only available in black >> Convertible folding tops were limited to choices of black or white. >> Interesting to note that many of the MSRP for options were in even dollars for the first time with few exceptions.

1971 Exterior/Interior Colors

Paint Code - Qty	Color	Interior Color Choices *
905 - 1,177	Nevada Silver	Black - Dark Blue - Dark Green - Red
912 - 1,177	Sunflower Yellow	Black vinyl - Dark Green - Saddle
972 - 1,875	Classic White	Black - Dark Blue - Dark Green - Red - Saddle
973 - 2,180	Mille Miglia Red	Black - Red
976 - 2,465	Mulsanne Blue	Black - Dark Blue
979 - 1,417	Bridgehampton Blue	Black - Dark Blue
983 - 3,445	Brands Hatch Green	Black - Green - Saddle
987 - 2,269	Ontario Orange	Black - Dark Green - Saddle
988 -1,591	Steel Cities Gray	Black
989 - 3,706	War Bonnet Yellow	Black - Dark Green - Saddle
Black was not a standard color choice for 1971 although it could be special ordered via the Fleet & Special Order (F&SO) process.

Interior Trim Codes

RPO	Color/Material
Standard (400)	Black vinyl
403	Black leather *
407	Red
412	Dark Blue
417	Saddle
420	Saddle leather *
423	Dark Green

* Deluxe interior in black or saddle offered in leather and included special cut pile carpeting on floor and lower door side walls, wood grain insert on console and wood grand insert with bright die cast molding on door side wall.

The 1971 Corvette is one of the least-changed in appearance from the previous year. A labor dispute in May 1969 caused 1969 production to run long, shortening the normal 1970 production year by over four months. Chevrolet then treated the 1971 Corvette production as an extension of 1970. Plus, GM directed its divisions to reduce octane requirements for 1971 engines, an effort which carried a higher priority than appearance changes.

All 1971 engines were detuned variants of 1970 engines. The LS6 engine with 425hp was designed to run on low-lead fuel so it won the horsepower race even though the rating dropped from 450hp to 435hp. RPO LS6 featured aluminum heads and was available with both the M22 H.D. 4-speed transmission and the Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 although the automatic could not be combined with the ZR2 package.

One visible clue to a 1971's outward appearance was amber parking light lenses, although very early production had clear lenses. The 1971 Corvette was also the last model to feature the fiber-optics light monitoring system. It's thought the cost savings permitted inclusion of the optional anti-theft alarm system as standard equipment in 1972.

General Motors offered a 1971 Corvette LS6, but never installed the successor LS7 454 in Chevelles or Corvettes. Due to the higher gas prices, insurance concerns and upcoming new smog and unleaded fuel mandates, GM only offered the LS7 as an "off road use only" crate engine.

This LS7 engine was supposed to be the successor of the potent LS6, 450-horse Chevy engine that appeared in the 1970 Chevelle LS6 454 line and the following year in just 188 LS6, 425-horse 1971 Corvettes. These Corvettes were "sneaked through" as a $1,221 RPO option even though 1971 found higher gas prices, higher insurance rates and soon to come smog and unleaded fuel mandates that had many manufacturers gearing up for. And it was because of these horsepower robbing mandates and declining condition of the muscle car era that Chevy pulled the plug on inserting the LS7 into Chevelle and Corvette models. Thus, part #3965774 was born, and Chevy sold thousands of these "off road use" only engines to enthusiasts and pre 1972 muscle car owners.

Additionally, part #3965774 454 LS7 engine was a "long block" crate engine, which means it came less intake manifold, distributor, ignition, carb, starter and water pump. The block featured four-bolt mains, and the "XCH" engine suffix ID code. The bottom end finds a forged steel 4.0-inch stroke crankshaft that is externally balanced, meaning Chevy made special flywheels and harmonic balancers weighted specific to the 4.0-inch stroke crank.

1971 OEM Supplier Paint Colors

Color	Valspar Code	PPG Code	DuPont Code	RM Code	SW Code	WA Code
Classic White	W041	8631	5040	1802	2517	3465
Nevada Silver Metallic	S330	2327	5276	2438	n/a	4121
Mulsanne Blue Metallic	L913	2213	5190	2262	n/a	4069
Bridgehampton Blue Metallic	L1945	2199	5132	2263	n/a	4002
Sunflower Yellow	Y1087	233	5283	2422	n/a	4145
Mille Miglia Red	R1127	2349	5291	2460R	n/a	4147
Brands Hatch Green Metallic	G1942	2336	5288	2447	n/a	4146
Ontario Orange Metallic	A324	2357	5293	3469F	n/a	4149
Steel Cities Gray Metallic	N887	5328	5294	2470D	n/a	4150
War Bonnet Yellow	Y777	2351	5292	2464F	n/a	4148

If you own one of the 188 1971 LS6 Corvettes sold, I can make accommodations for it in my LS6 Registry.

GM Heritage PDF file of specifications/options/etc.

1968	1969	1970	1971	1972
1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
1978	1979	1980	1981	1982