A Look Back At The 1971 Corvette LS6

The 1971 Chevrolet Corvette LS6 was one of the very few Corvettes that went unnoticed and started gaining traction way after its production ended.

1971 was an exciting year for Corvette as the changes on the new car mainly occurred under the skin. The cosmetic changes to the vehicle were fairly negligible, as it was carried over from 1970. The team at Chevrolet spent a lot of time and money perfecting the driving feel of the Corvette, and in the process, they neglected the exterior of the car, which is a crucial aspect of any car. It was one of the last few Corvettes that had the headlights flush with the body, along with the neat chrome bumpers.

1971 was an exciting year for Corvette as the changes on the new car mainly occurred under the skin. The cosmetic changes to the vehicle were fairly negligible, as it was carried over from 1970. The team at Chevrolet spent a lot of time and money perfecting the driving feel of the Corvette, and in the process, they neglected the exterior of the car, which is a crucial aspect of any car. It was one of the last few Corvettes that had the headlights flush with the body, along with the neat chrome bumpers.

A Coca-Cola bottle inspired the shape of the 71 LS6 Corvette, as it was narrow upfront and bulged towards the end. The front of the Corvette has small chrome bumpers, which were in fashion back then. There were also these small egg-crate-shaped inserts below the bumpers which were functional air intakes, and the design was mimicked on the lower part of the front fenders, which functioned as heat extractors behind the front wheels. The coke bottle styling of the C3 Corvette was highlighted in this car with a chrome rocker trim that accentuates that shape.

The car's rear was flared upwards, with the spoiler being molded into the design seamlessly. The inspiration of the modern-day Corvettes comes from this era, as the quad tail lamps with reverse lights surrounded by reflectors are an iconic Corvette design. The use of chrome is amplified at the rear bumpers, which sit above the two exhaust pipes at either end of the vehicle.

What is unique to the 1971 LS6 Corvette is that it was sold as a coupe and as a roadster. Overall, there were 14,680 coupe Corvettes built and 7,121 convertible roadsters. The name of the colors was also iconic back in the day. The majority of the Corvettes sold were yellow, not just any yellow. It was the signature War Bonnet Yellow. There were ten different colors to choose from, with 3,706 of them being the war bonnet yellow followed by the Hatch Green. All of these design elements, along with the signature reverse-opening hood of the car, made the LS6 special.

Traditionally speaking, Chevrolet always used to have the biggest possible engine in their Corvettes, and they produced the most power. The 1971 Corvette came as a surprise to the people as it was low on power at 425 HP compared to 450 which it had in its previous year. The engine produced its peak power at 5,600 RPM, and the torque output was 475lb-ft. The LS6 engine was offered in the Chevelle, making it the fastest car in the Chevrolet lineup for 1970. In 1971, it was put in the Corvette to make sure it suits the vehicle's character. The engine was made out of cast iron and featured aluminum heads. It made the LS6 the most powerful engine to be produced in 1971. It was more powerful than any engine ever except the L88, which was no longer in production.

The 1971 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe LS6 is one of the rarest cars in the world. It was in production for a year, and during that time, only 188 were made in 1971. The rarity of the LS6, along with its unique styling and powerful engine, has made it a crown jewel among classic car collectors. The car was originally priced at $6,717. Today, one of these vehicles in top condition can cost $200,000 or more. There was also a performance pack of the 1971 Corvette called the ZR2, and only 12 of those were ever built. One can only imagine how much they would cost in today's market.

The classic car world is ever-expanding because of all the modern-day electrification and the latest trends in owning an SUV. Cars like the 1971 Corvette LS6 were purpose-built and made the owner and the rider feel very special. The car had a timeless design with an engine whose character and performance, even 50 years later, put a smile across anyone's face. The LS6 Corvette of 1971 is undoubtedly a legend in the automobile world.



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Source: HotCars - Vrushali Padia

Posted 2/25/22