1971 Chevrolet Corvette

1971 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible â?" 350ci V8, Matching Blue, Factory AC Why This Car Is Special The 1971 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible sits at an interesting crossroads in Corvette history. It was the last model year before GM mandated a significant compression ratio reduction across its entire lineup in response to the coming transition to unleaded fuel. That means 1971 was effectively the final year you could order a Corvette from the factory with the higher-compression small-block tune that defined the muscle car era. The following year, 1972, saw horsepower ratings drop considerably across all Corvette engines, and the high-compression big-blocks were gone entirely. Buyers who understand that context know exactly why a well-optioned 1971 Corvette Stingray convertible carries real significance.