'71 'Vert on eBay.
- Thread starter antijam
- Start date
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
Mufflers too far back pushing the tips into a funky angle and distance. Looks pretty unmolested though, could be a nice Corvette for someone
Roscobbc
Moderator
Perhaps being a Vert and a small block obliviates any real need for A/C here in UK.....but if that was a big block even here in UK it would be difficult to deal with the excess cabin heat in summer weather.
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Roscobbc
Moderator
Its interesting that so many C3's of 'the day' would feature certain options, yet seemingly ignore others, perhaps more user friendly options.
Power steering on a late C2 or early C3 with the shared 16.5" diameter steering wheel perhaps coupled with the E or F sized bias belted or cross ply equivalent 205 or 215 section tyres would have seemed less of a task than if fitted with 'todays' 225 and 255 section 'squidgy' radials.
Power brakes perhaps would had much the same logic - certainly (and as with power steering) if you had the strength to 'turn' the 'unpowered' steering wheel you'd also have enough muscle strength (and big enough boots) to exert the excess pressure needed to operate the C3's non-powered disc brakes in an emergenct situation!
Guess many Americans looking to own a 'sports cars' took their option list 'lead' from European manufactured sports cars of the period where A/C, PB and PAS wasn't even an option except on really high-end cars?
Power steering on a late C2 or early C3 with the shared 16.5" diameter steering wheel perhaps coupled with the E or F sized bias belted or cross ply equivalent 205 or 215 section tyres would have seemed less of a task than if fitted with 'todays' 225 and 255 section 'squidgy' radials.
Power brakes perhaps would had much the same logic - certainly (and as with power steering) if you had the strength to 'turn' the 'unpowered' steering wheel you'd also have enough muscle strength (and big enough boots) to exert the excess pressure needed to operate the C3's non-powered disc brakes in an emergenct situation!
Guess many Americans looking to own a 'sports cars' took their option list 'lead' from European manufactured sports cars of the period where A/C, PB and PAS wasn't even an option except on really high-end cars?
teamzr1
Supporting vendor
In the 1970s due to the oil/gas crisis and feds forcing smog functions and high price of gas with long waiting lines at gas stations
nameplates were forced to produce smog pigs
1970s was tough on us Corvette owners who bought a sports car to race them, but C3 rearwheel HP/TQ stunk, plus the weight of them
made them dogs in racing where even ricers could beat us
GM could see this with less C3s being sold so began a sneaker, in having option deletes
We could order new C3s and option delete functions to reduce weight to better performance since the engines put out such low HP/Tq
Could delete options like no radio, power windows, power seats, A/C, power brakes, etc, to reduce weight
Even then with only about 250 HP rearwheel lucky to get 10 MPG and for the smog crap GM ran these at high temps which
that heat would come up on floor and center console to cook your right leg, worse when racing
Due to that people buying a C3 for street wanted A/C and not having it reduced who would buy non A/C used C3s
As to a ragtop with no A/C, try it in our southern states with 100 F degree weather with a blistering sun frying your brains
so top was left up but still cooking inside with no A/C is less wanted when buying a used one
nameplates were forced to produce smog pigs
1970s was tough on us Corvette owners who bought a sports car to race them, but C3 rearwheel HP/TQ stunk, plus the weight of them
made them dogs in racing where even ricers could beat us
GM could see this with less C3s being sold so began a sneaker, in having option deletes
We could order new C3s and option delete functions to reduce weight to better performance since the engines put out such low HP/Tq
Could delete options like no radio, power windows, power seats, A/C, power brakes, etc, to reduce weight
Even then with only about 250 HP rearwheel lucky to get 10 MPG and for the smog crap GM ran these at high temps which
that heat would come up on floor and center console to cook your right leg, worse when racing
Due to that people buying a C3 for street wanted A/C and not having it reduced who would buy non A/C used C3s
As to a ragtop with no A/C, try it in our southern states with 100 F degree weather with a blistering sun frying your brains
so top was left up but still cooking inside with no A/C is less wanted when buying a used one
Nassau65
CCCUK Member
The first “oil crisis “ was 1973 , up until then the US enjoyed very cheap gas compared to European drivers. I have it written in one of my mustang books about the new for 1971 mustang which states it’s bigger, heavier and thirstier than its predecessor, but gas at 12 cents a gallon, who cares.
Most “general” cars back in the 1960’s and into the 70’s didn’t have A/C due to its cost. It was a very expensive option to have, and most people thought it would be problematic and costly to repair.
Most “general” cars back in the 1960’s and into the 70’s didn’t have A/C due to its cost. It was a very expensive option to have, and most people thought it would be problematic and costly to repair.
teamzr1
Supporting vendor
'73 is when the feds got involved, but gas prices depending on location had already been going high
As it was the feds had already screwed us with smog and as seen the base 350 for MY was only 200 HP (255HP for LT1 or ZR1)
and that was at the flywheel
Back then most of us buying Corvettes were racers and as seen out of about 27,000 1972s were made and only about 26% were ragtops
because tracks limited them as to safety rules
Interesting what functions could be added or deleted
As it was the feds had already screwed us with smog and as seen the base 350 for MY was only 200 HP (255HP for LT1 or ZR1)
and that was at the flywheel
Back then most of us buying Corvettes were racers and as seen out of about 27,000 1972s were made and only about 26% were ragtops
because tracks limited them as to safety rules
Interesting what functions could be added or deleted
antijam
CCCUK Member
My '71 'Vert came with power steering, power brakes and adjustable steering column, all of which I find advantageous - but no A/C, which to date I've had no cause to regret.
I must admit though I can vividly remember an occasion when I realised that dropping the top on a convertible to 'cool down' is not necessarily a viable option.
Some years ago I was on holiday on Rarotonga, one of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific and on a whim decided it would be nice to hire a car. Quite why I can't remember, since there's only one road that circles the island and even at the mandatory speed limit of 30 mph you can complete the round trip in less than 45 minutes. In addition you can't hire a car without a Cook Islands driving licence and the department that issues those was closed on the day I needed it. So, and I still don't quite believe this, I flew to Aitutaki, another Cook Island where the appropriate licensing department was open, got my license and flew back. Only car available for hire was a Mazda MX-5 automatic - with A/C . Excellent I thought, a drive through exotic scenery in an open top sports car, what could be better? If you've never experienced it, take my word for it, the summer weather in the South Pacific is HOT ! It took less than 50 yards for me to realise that slow top down motoring was a short trip to extinction, so my carefree trip was conducted in the confined cabin of the MX-5 with top up and the A/C on full blast - at the end of which I had seen very little of the island and was totally exhausted.
My subsequent holiday car hires have been rather more carefully thought out.
I must admit though I can vividly remember an occasion when I realised that dropping the top on a convertible to 'cool down' is not necessarily a viable option.
Some years ago I was on holiday on Rarotonga, one of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific and on a whim decided it would be nice to hire a car. Quite why I can't remember, since there's only one road that circles the island and even at the mandatory speed limit of 30 mph you can complete the round trip in less than 45 minutes. In addition you can't hire a car without a Cook Islands driving licence and the department that issues those was closed on the day I needed it. So, and I still don't quite believe this, I flew to Aitutaki, another Cook Island where the appropriate licensing department was open, got my license and flew back. Only car available for hire was a Mazda MX-5 automatic - with A/C . Excellent I thought, a drive through exotic scenery in an open top sports car, what could be better? If you've never experienced it, take my word for it, the summer weather in the South Pacific is HOT ! It took less than 50 yards for me to realise that slow top down motoring was a short trip to extinction, so my carefree trip was conducted in the confined cabin of the MX-5 with top up and the A/C on full blast - at the end of which I had seen very little of the island and was totally exhausted.
My subsequent holiday car hires have been rather more carefully thought out.
Nassau65
CCCUK Member
When I’ve used my 65 convertible in the summer months in FL A/C would have been nice for daytime driving as it feels and is hotter in sunshine. Night driving no problem.
In the UK, I’ve never really needed it.
Have always thought about having it fitted as the modern systems are so much better now. Came real close in 2019 but run out of time before shipping. When it eventually goes “home”, I will have it fitted straight away.
In the UK, I’ve never really needed it.
Have always thought about having it fitted as the modern systems are so much better now. Came real close in 2019 but run out of time before shipping. When it eventually goes “home”, I will have it fitted straight away.
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
That's what mine is in the '65 396. Blows ice cold
Nassau65
CCCUK Member
A lot of coupes had aftermarket systems fitted very soon after purchase by their original owners as they got very hot inside even in normal weather.
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
I was told by the PO it didn't leave the dealership until it was fitted so that makes sense
Nassau65
CCCUK Member
If that was the original owner, I wonder why they didn’t just order factory A/C.
Probably many original owners found themselves out of pocket by having it fitted soon after purchase rather than ordering it with it factory fitted.
ie, cost of the system, and the dealer or shop fitting it was probably more than the $400 option cost from the factory.
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
It spent most of its life in the hands of a British Diplomat tear arsing around the Philippines so AC was likely a must have. It still retains a Philippine car club screen sticker
James Vette
CCCUK Member
Absolute bargain!!
Roscobbc
Moderator
Hot weather scenario
In summer months I always run the car without T Roofs and rear window (with door windows wound down). Whilst the car is physically moving cabin temperature are generally bareable and its a nice place to be.
Recalling a return journey from the CCCUK Nats one year in mid/high 20's Celsius and got held-up for perhaps 20 minutes on the return journey by one of the usual issues on the A1 (accident or road works) with, typically a continuous queue of traffic simply edging forward/remaining stationary/sporadically at 5 mph or so.
There was minimal opportunity to turn the engine off for a while whist accident was sorted.......and as most of us with BB C3's (and I'm guessing LT1's and 350/350's - perhaps even worse C2 coupes?) will have experienced......you simply don't turn the engine off when running hot if you are likely to do a re-start within a few minutes (coz' the frigger simply won't crank-over and fire-up, generally due to heat soak).
So, you'll sit in stationary traffic - ambients are perhaps high 20's to low 30's Celsius. If you have headers that are routed close to the floor pan your feet will already be uncomfortable. The gear shifter becomes rather too hot to hold, in fact everything is too hot to hold. Looking forward throught the windscreen and over the hood the queueing traffic becomes remincent of one of those old black and white TV war movies where the Brits' are in the desert and start seeing mirages - and a similar experience happens in the hot cabin of a Vette. With so much heat escaping from the engine compartment forward vision becomes distorted with wavy images of cars perhaps hundreds of yards ahead in the traffic queue seeming to hover several foot or so up in the air.......bizarre! - the fun really starts when the traffic issue is cleared and you start to move forward at nomal speeds........the heat trapped in the engine compatrment heat blasts-out from under the dashboard right into your face and you experience eyes immediately 'water' for a good few minutes until engine compartment temperatures reduce. Unfortunately no A/C in my Vette (it wouldn't fit anyway with headers installed)
In summer months I always run the car without T Roofs and rear window (with door windows wound down). Whilst the car is physically moving cabin temperature are generally bareable and its a nice place to be.
Recalling a return journey from the CCCUK Nats one year in mid/high 20's Celsius and got held-up for perhaps 20 minutes on the return journey by one of the usual issues on the A1 (accident or road works) with, typically a continuous queue of traffic simply edging forward/remaining stationary/sporadically at 5 mph or so.
There was minimal opportunity to turn the engine off for a while whist accident was sorted.......and as most of us with BB C3's (and I'm guessing LT1's and 350/350's - perhaps even worse C2 coupes?) will have experienced......you simply don't turn the engine off when running hot if you are likely to do a re-start within a few minutes (coz' the frigger simply won't crank-over and fire-up, generally due to heat soak).
So, you'll sit in stationary traffic - ambients are perhaps high 20's to low 30's Celsius. If you have headers that are routed close to the floor pan your feet will already be uncomfortable. The gear shifter becomes rather too hot to hold, in fact everything is too hot to hold. Looking forward throught the windscreen and over the hood the queueing traffic becomes remincent of one of those old black and white TV war movies where the Brits' are in the desert and start seeing mirages - and a similar experience happens in the hot cabin of a Vette. With so much heat escaping from the engine compartment forward vision becomes distorted with wavy images of cars perhaps hundreds of yards ahead in the traffic queue seeming to hover several foot or so up in the air.......bizarre! - the fun really starts when the traffic issue is cleared and you start to move forward at nomal speeds........the heat trapped in the engine compatrment heat blasts-out from under the dashboard right into your face and you experience eyes immediately 'water' for a good few minutes until engine compartment temperatures reduce. Unfortunately no A/C in my Vette (it wouldn't fit anyway with headers installed)