I'm looking at what appears to be a very original and virgin '71. It has the following question marks that don't agree with the references I have read:

(1) Built in last week of production, but has fiber optics- no July cars are suppposed to have it.
(2) Has clear front parking lenses- late cars are supposed to have amber, according to some sources.
(3) Heel pad pattern matches early production, not late, but does not look repro.
(4) Should original spare carrier be black or gray?

Every number matches. It has been re-painted, but I see NO evidence anywhere of body work or tampering. Has original shocks even. Item no. 1 is very baffling, if the books are right.

If anyone can provide comments on these items, I would appreciate it.

NCRS would be a good place to touch for a more definitive answer to your questions. But I did find in the 'Corvette Black Book 1953-2003' by Mike Antonick these references to your first two questions.

"The 1971 Corvette was the last year to feature the fiber-optics light monitoring system, although late production 1971s may be missing the fiber optics."

"Production specifications called for amber parking lenses, but most 1971s had clear lenses with amber bulbs as in 1970."

Mid-year or late production changes are always tough to track, especially with the lousy record keeping GM did back then. From what I can tell "The Toy" was built early in Feb. of 1970 so it probably has some parts bin raided stuff on it as they were ramping back up after the strikes extended the '69s production run into December (the '70 began production in Jan. of 1970 instead of the usual August start).

(1) Built in last week of production, but has fiber optics- no July cars are suppposed to have it.
I agree, have read that also.

(2) Has clear front parking lenses- late cars are supposed to have amber, according to some sources.
Also agree, late had amber.

(3) Heel pad pattern matches early production, not late, but does not look repro. Very strange

(4) Should original spare carrier be black or gray?
It should be black.

I would also ask someone at NCRS. Chuck Burge, Ron Goduti and Terry McMannon from NCRS are very knowledgeable about this stuff.

Charles,

Do you know if the rear tail lights were early or late.
The early ones were conical shaped and the later ones were more round. What is the vin# on the car?

My '71 is a late production VIN ends 121221. I believe my build date was July 8, 1971. See my comments below:

(1) Built in last week of production, but has fiber optics- no July cars are suppposed to have it.
**** As I said, I am a July build & I have them! As I understand it -- literally only the last handfull of cars went off the line without them.

(2) Has clear front parking lenses- late cars are supposed to have amber, according to some sources.
**** Here -- I am CLEAR -- NOT AMBER!

(3) Heel pad pattern matches early production, not late, but does not look repro. **** Never gave it a look -- never even heard it discussed. Will check tonight.

(4) Should original spare carrier be black or gray?
I also believe it should be black.

You can also go to www.71corvette.com to see the registry of '71's sorted by VIN. Production ended at #121801. The last number they have on file is #121658. Maybe you can get in touch with that guy!

Through the '71 site, I actually found the car built immediately before mine -- #121220. The guy is in New Jersey & we plan to have an "assembly-line reunion" some time in the future!



PS- my tail lenses are round & not conical per Tom's comment.

|UPDATED|8/16/2003 7:37:05 AM|/UPDATED|

Thanks, Joe. I checked out that website of the '71 registry, but it looked like a lot of contact info was missing, unless I missed something. Can you check your spare carrier color while you're at it? I think very late cars could have been assembled with some odd pieces from old inventory scrounged up to make sure they got rid of it all(?)

What is the VIN# of the '71 you've found?
My spare is black -- although a very dull looking black. However --- I can't vouch that it's original.

|UPDATED|8/16/2003 7:40:04 AM|/UPDATED|

Joe- VIN is 21,467 on the car I am looking at. Your car looks real nice. I had an Ontario Orange '72 way back when.