1969 435 L71 Identification

[Kevin D.]

I am pondering the idea of purchasing a 1969 435 L71 corvette coupe. The present owner has the original tank sticker, no motor, no trans and a different rearend. Tuxedo black, side exhaust with very few options.

I will be inspecting the car on 6/12/08. What can I look for to tie the tank sticker to the body or chassis? Is there a vin# on the frame and where would it be located?

I do not want to buy a fake car.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 435 L71 Identification

Kevin-----


This is one of the widely misunderstood notions regarding the tank sticker. If one has the tank sticker as a singular piece of documentation, there is NOTHING that ties it to a particular car. If one also has the original window sticker, the order number found on it and also on the tank sticker will tie both documents to the car. However, if one has the original window sticker, then the tank sticker is relatively "moot". The window sticker is the only document supplied with the car that contains both the order number AND VIN number.

The VIN derivative is stamped in 2 locations on the frame. One is on the top surface of the upper left side frame rail at about the location of the driver's seat. This one is impossible to see with the body on the frame. The other one is on the top surface of the left side frame rail APPROXIMATELY at the centerline of the rear wheel. There is space between the body and the frame at this point. If the frame is carefully cleaned with a small brush, this one can usually be seen with the aid of a mirror.

[Greg L.]

Re: 1969 435 L71 Identification

Kevin,

Joe is right in that there is no way to confirm that the tank sticker in question belongs to that car. But there is a way to confirm it within a reasonable doubt or at least end up with a warm and fuzzy feeling about it.

Check out these two posts...

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...icker&uid=5429

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...icker&uid=7441

Hope this helps.

[Kevin D.]

Re: 1969 435 L71 Identification

Ok, I inspected the car yesterday. The tank sticker is in good condition and looks to be 40 years old including the dirt. Hand written to the right of the 435hp engine size is the last three digits of the vin# of the car.

The car is tuxedo black and I found evidence on the doors, door strike and top that the body was originally black. The trim tag matches the tank sticker and looks to be undisturbed. The interior looks to be original to the car.

The car originally had side exhaust but was hit in the rear. The repairs have been completed but they used an early 70's rear clip sectioned above the tail lights and filled in the rear exhaust bezel openings. The car was hit in the front and a poor repair job was performed. The frame shows all signs of big block but I would rather try to tie the tank sticker to the car.

He is asking $6,500.

Give me some feedback!!!!!

[Peter M.]

Re: 1969 435 L71 Identification

Ok, I inspected the car yesterday. The tank sticker is in good condition and looks to be 40 years old including the dirt. Hand written to the right of the 435hp engine size is the last three digits of the vin# of the car.

The car is tuxedo black and I found evidence on the doors, door strike and top that the body was originally black. The trim tag matches the tank sticker and looks to be undisturbed. The interior looks to be original to the car.

The car originally had side exhaust but was hit in the rear. The repairs have been completed but they used an early 70's rear clip sectioned above the tail lights and filled in the rear exhaust bezel openings. The car was hit in the front and a poor repair job was performed. The frame shows all signs of big block but I would rather try to tie the tank sticker to the car.

He is asking $6,500.

Give me some feedback!!!!!

And the car had no engine, tranny or rear differential, correct?

[John M.]

Re: 1969 435 L71 Identification

Kevin, For the side exhaust, check for insulation between the body and frame on the side rails, check for signs of exhaust hanger bolts on the frame in the back and also check for threads in the holes in the tranny crossmember. The splash shields should have no rubber on them AND no staple holes. The back panels for side exhaust cars are specific so you've lost that with the new rear clip.
You've checked the tach for the 6500 redline and all the other BB stuff like rear end codes and u-joint caps? Is the gas line there and correct?

Some BB cars have been (re)built 30 years after the fact using the "original" tank sticker.
Good luck,
John McRae 30025

[Kevin D.]

Re: 1969 435 L71 Identification

Peter,

Yes, no engine, tranny or dif.

[Greg L.]

Re: 1969 435 L71 Identification

Condition wise this sounds very much like a car that I was looking at last year.

It showed ALL the concrete signs of an original black 68 L71 or L89 vert but no tank sticker. I think it had the original tranny and diff but the engine was now a 396 or 402. It had been tagged in the front and rear at one time so needed serious work to repair it properly. It also had some 69 interior parts that didn't impress me because of the 68 parts being harder to find.

Anyways, other than that it was a running driving car that needed tons of dollars and labor to make it what it once was. I added his asking price to what it would cost to replace the front and rear clips with proper assembled clips(not the one piece ones) as well as what it would cost to find and buy the correct engine from air cleaner to pan including rebroaching and stamping. Now that I would have then had a good, complete "original" car to restore I added in what it would cost to restore it. ...I passed on it because the car would almost have to be free just for me to break even.

On a side note about 10 years ago I was GIVEN a rust free but tough 65 GTO with doc to show it was a real tri-power 4spd car with good colors. Once I"m done with the resto on my 69 Corvette I was going to start on the ole goat but I'm reconsidering that. Once I factor in all to costs of the body(I'd farm out the body work) and mechanical along with general restoration costs I think I'll be farther ahead to sell this the way it is to someone that thinks it's a deal and then just buy one already done up.

I'm not trying to disscourage you from that L71 but rather have you look at it for what it is and not for what it probably was. Tank stickers are easy to have redone. Add a little creative aging and it will fool the vast majority of us including myself so I personaly wouldn't pay anymore for that car than what it's worth for parts...maybe 3k...4k tops.

I might be out to lunch so others please correct me but instead of using the tank sticker to document the car I'd use the inked date stamp on the back of the tach face if it's still visable. If you could make a condition of the sale to check this date and if it was a few weeks or so ahead of the body build date then it's a very good chance that the 6500 rpm tach is original to the car.