1971 LS6 Chevelle SS Production

[SS427]

The only Chevrolet that received the LS6 engine in 1971 was the Corvette.

[markjohnson]

There's no doubt in my mind that Chevrolet produced a 1971 LS-6 Chevelle. The first major fact is that Tonawanda records show 14 engines being shipped with suffix codes. 10 were intended for TH400 application and 4 additional units were intended for 4-speed applications. This is also in Alan Colvin's books. The other major clue is the existence of 1971-dated #026 open-chamber cylinder heads. Now it could be argued that #026's were intended for the popular crate LS-6's but I've seen several 1972-dated crate LS-6's that were still using the #291 closed-chamber heads. Heck, these 1972 crate LS-6's were even stamped with the TH400 code of "CRR" on the front deck but that's a discussion for another day. Anyway, that's my presentation to the jury for the existence of the much-elusive 1971 LS-6 Chevelle and these are valid points. I'm sure one of these 14 cars will surface one day if it hasn't already. Maybe some collector has one stashed away in his collection next to an L-89 Nova, 1967 L-79 Chevy II, and a 1966 L-88 Corvette! LOL!

[442w30]

Maybe those engines were for inventory and not installed in a car?

I also find it curious that Chevrolet would have built more auto LS6 Chevelles than 4-speeds. I am not convinced.

[BUIZILLA]

what's there to convince you? because you didn't see it yourself?

you weren't even born then..

Larry Costley Chevrolet ordered and had a '71 Chevelle SS built for his son Jamie, he was my roommate, it came off the truck that way, it was light metallic funky green, I was there that day... if it was built elsewhere's I have no clue, but it had less than 10 miles, I personally took all the plastic off the seats and prepped it for delivery... Between Larry, and Leon Sarkisian from Sark Chev, they could order some neat stuff, both had high up_the_ladder connections... I worked PDI for both dealerships in 69-73.. saw some neat stuff... Don Allen Chev also got a couple Z16 ringers, as did Luby Chev. with L72 Impala's,, Costley got a couple '70 LS6 Camino's for construction co. friends and a gold '71 LS6 Vette for himself, Leon ordered multiple truckloads of '70 L78 Nova's and, somehow, even got two '70 LT1 Chevelles/Malibu's, one was dark green/green and one was pale yellow/white, both 4 speeds, the dark green went to one of the Butler Bros... each dealership had their niche' for performance.. Tracy Moyer also had a CRR crate engine that was mentioned above, he bought it locally, and it went in a '72 black short bed Chevy truck that I owned, and I sold it to a charter DC6 pilot in Lakeland... so don't EVER say something never happened..

[Charley Lillard]

I have never seen one but I think I recall Tommy Lee Austin telling me either he or his brother had one with documentation. It has been a few years. I will see him at Barrett-Jackson and ask.

[SS454Elky]

My '71 Camino has a white faced 6500 RPM redline tach. I have owned the car since 1980 or so and I am confident it was never changed. So I know Chevrolet at least planned to put it into production.

[PhilS]

I believe that is the black Camino out of the Pat M collection in Phoenix. It was offered to me in about '01. Supposed to have original engine and docs. I've looked at the car but not the docs. I was told that the Tonowanda records indicated that those '71 engines were for Caminos.

[SS454Elky]

[ QUOTE ]
I believe that is the black Camino out of the Pat M collection in Phoenix. It was offered to me in about '01. Supposed to have original engine and docs. I've looked at the car but not the docs. I was told that the Tonowanda records indicated that those '71 engines were for Caminos.

[/ QUOTE ]

I really need to look for a build sheet in mine one of these days in case that tach has meaning!

[442w30]

[ QUOTE ]
what's there to convince you? because you didn't see it yourself?

you weren't even born then..

[/ QUOTE ]


[ QUOTE ]

... so don't EVER say something never happened..

[/ QUOTE ]

So show me some proof.

I'll believe it when I see it. It's just there's no way you can convince me, although I'm sure someone else can.

[king_midas]

When there is no difference between any of these cars except motor mounts, does it really matter?

What I'm saying is that all through the '70s the over-the-counter stuff was readily available, and whatever someone wanted they could get simply by going to the parts counter and paying the man.