71 LS6 rock crusher coupe

[jeffitz]

what do you experts think of this models growth value potential

[waterboy1976]

probably not as high as a 69 ZL1 in Yellow.....

[MoeJr]

I would think being such a rare beast its growth would be excellent

[Vettehead Mikey]

Originally Posted by MoeJr

I would think being such a rare beast its growth would be excellent

Yup, you stand a chance of only losing a little bit of money as opposed to the other cars, where you'll lose a lot of money.

Corvettes are not (good) investment opportunities.

[76L82]

The last "investment" advice I gave went something like this: "...oh yeah, Enron is an ABSOLUTE solid buy at 56 1/3..." Playing with other peoples money is soooo much fun! lol

Buy it 'cause you love it!!

[early shark]

Jeff:

The '71 LS-6 corvette has been appreciating tremendously the last 2 years. It's time has arrived. I have kept track of sales privately and at auctions,(including bids received, but not meeting reserves) for years, as well as assisting in the NCRS survey of these cars.

Coupes are lagging behind Convertibles at the present time, (since there is a growing interest in ragtops at the moment). Prices range from $65,000 to $90,000 for coupes and converts are in the $85,000 to $120,000 currently. I have tracked 7 of the 12 ZR-2 cars ( 4 coupes, 3 convertibles) they run in price from $175,000 to $395,000.

The price spread difference from low to high are due in some part to the available equipment each car was ordered with. An example would be a M21 w/3:08 ZQ8 ratio versus a M22 w/ 4:11.

With rapidly rising prices being paid for L-89 cars presently, the LS-6 cars present themselves to potential buyers as the last bargain remaining. These cars have all the good performance pieces most of us are looking for, transister iginition system , ZL-1 (2nd design L-88) aluminum heads, M22 heavy duty transmission, H/D dual plate clutch assembly.

Very few L-71/ L-89 cars came equipped with the MA-6 option (102 quantity) out of 390 (L-89 quantity) and the L-89 aluminum head was not the exotic, improved version that was produced and used on the awsome ZL-1 engine, as well as adopted for use on later built L-88 cars after June 16th, 1969. These heads flowed 20% better than previous design, due to combustion chamber shape, intake runner port floor contour and exhaust port shape, larger exhaust valve size, etc. These were STANDARD items on the LS-6.

Yes, this is one HELL OF A CAR! Snatch them up, while you can, because they are CHEVROLET'S LAST PERFORMANCE BIG BLOCK RAT produced.

For those that feel the L-89 is a rare option on the L-71 engine, the LS-6 is more than twice as scarce. The engine option was only SECOND to the AWSOME ZL-1 in cost during the big block performance era 1965 thru 1972.

Currently, the survey has information on over 1/3rd of total production of these cars. Coupes vs Convertibles run the same ratio as 1971 production, which is 2 coupes to 1 convertible

[Paranoid]

What he said. The LS6 was the highest HP/TQ rate '70's vette. I'd love to own one and used the LS6 pistons, aluminum heads and rock crusher in my rebuild.

[hodgesgi]

I've had one of my LS6 cars for 4+ yrs (Car Craft car) and the other for 2 yrs, bought one for low 40's, the other cheaper. I was kind of surprised to see someone actually talking about investment potential. I bought mine to drive because I couldn't find an LS5 car that I liked. I always thought of them as a poor man's L88, they don't seem to get the recognition that they deserve.

[1BAD69]

Originally Posted by Vettehead Mikey

Corvettes are not (good) investment opportunities.

i would think that any C1,C2 or chrome bumper C3's are good investments...they have been steadily going up in price..i think it's safe to say that you won't lose any money on them...

[early shark]

hodgesgi:

The reason the LS-6 lagged behind "catching on" sort of speak, was it's lack of identification. The L-88's had the domed, inducted hood, the LT-1's had the big block hood w/special pinstripe graphics.

Unfortuneatley, the LS-6 looked like any other LS-5 car, UNTIL you took a closer look under the hood and elsewhere!

[Fuelie]

Originally Posted by early shark

hodgesgi:

The reason the LS-6 lagged behind "catching on" sort of speak, was it's lack of identification. The L-88's had the domed, inducted hood, the LT-1's had the big block hood w/special pinstripe graphics.

Unfortuneatley, the LS-6 looked like any other LS-5 car, UNTIL you took a closer look under the hood and elsewhere!

I agree early shark,

The LS6 cars do not display any of the serious "street image" that the L-88 cars did with the easily identifiable hood. I beleive that they are a greatly overlooked shark and will surely become more popular in the future.

Regards,
Brian

[hodgesgi]

early shark, to my knowledge, the LS6 option was not advertised much either, couple that with it being offered very late in the production year and not many people even new they were built. As Brian mentioned, a nice flashy L88 hood would have helped.

[early shark]

hodgesgi:

You're are correct in your surmising of the LS-6 situation. Although the option shows up in the 1971 brochure, owners manual and a technical poster (showing a red big block coupe) with data on backside, the option was not given the approval for production until a revision in January '71. This shows up in the Dealers Sales Album, with an appendix page and the revised pages to replace in the album for the Corvette section.

There is also an ad in a Corvette News issue that talks about the 4 engine lineup for 1971, and gives some of the specifications for the LS-6 engine option.

It was indeed an expensive option, but Duntov wanted his beloved 'vette to be the flagship of Chevrolet, and as long as Chrysler was still putting Hemi's in Challenger and 'Cudas, in 1971, it was the right engine for the time.