Re: 1971 LS6 Chevelle SS Production
 

------And,,,Dont forget Skip Slaton up in Lauderdale, Jim!!! Slaton Chevrolet ordered a bunch of rare stuff during the Hi-Po years. Not so rare, but I bought a white/black 70 El Camino SS396 off the floor there. The sweet part was that it had every available option you could order on a 70 El Camino. I used to stop there all the time and just walk around the lot.........Bill S

Re: 1971 LS6 Chevelle SS Production
 

[ QUOTE ]
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!

[/ QUOTE ]

Why would they designate auto or 4 speed unless they were slated for a car on the assembly line?

Did Chevrolet do this with crate engines?

Is it because the end of the crank is drilled for or has a bushing?

Re: 1971 LS6 Chevelle SS Production
 

[ QUOTE ]
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!

[/ QUOTE ] Agreed, except the 67 L79 Novas, there are atleast two documented real cars. Ron... P.S. One was at the MCCN show in Nov. Jack Duer's.

Re: 1971 LS6 Chevelle SS Production
 

They were certainly built for road-testing. Motor Trend tested one with two aboard and 3.31s in their October 1970 issue saying "The new low-compression LS-6 lacks the punch of the original SS454 we tested last fall, running .9-second and 9 mph slower in the quarter..." It went 14.7... I have the issue, looking at it now.

The 'Hi-Performance Cars' Supercar Annual changed to 4.10s - they went 13.65. I do not have this issue so I do not know if it is the same car in the motor trend. The press pool may have had a couple cars.

So the test car is at least one, maybe two.

Re: 1971 LS6 Chevelle SS Production
 

[ QUOTE ]

So the test car is at least one, maybe two.

[/ QUOTE ]

There's no saying a test car was an actual production car.

Re: 1971 LS6 Chevelle SS Production
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

So the test car is at least one, maybe two.

[/ QUOTE ]

There's no saying a test car was an actual production car.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very true. It does not mean it made production. But if you owned that test car today - say someone hauls it out of a barn next week with some of the road-tester's handwritten notes in the glovebox - it would be considered a factory built 1971 LS6 Chevelle. That is all I am saying.

Re: 1971 LS6 Chevelle SS Production
 

I honestly don't see why these cars can't exist. I mean, it's a reasonable combination in my mind.

It's not like some dope claiming he went to the Plymouth dealer in 1970 and bought a new Hemi Valiant because the salesman was in his dad's bowling league so he had "special pull".

I don't see any physical or legal reason why this couldn't have happened, so why not?

Re: 1971 LS6 Chevelle SS Production
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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!

[/ QUOTE ]

Why would they designate auto or 4 speed unless they were slated for a car on the assembly line?

Did Chevrolet do this with crate engines?

Is it because the end of the crank is drilled for or has a bushing?

[/ QUOTE ]


I'd say you are right - that and the appropriate carburetor selection/calibration which also changed with trans selection.

Re: 1971 LS6 Chevelle SS Production
 

[ QUOTE ]

Very true. It does not mean it made production. But if you owned that test car today - say someone hauls it out of a barn next week with some of the road-tester's handwritten notes in the glovebox - it would be considered a factory built 1971 LS6 Chevelle. That is all I am saying.

[/ QUOTE ]

But that's where I disagree again - there's no saying what the car started out as. For all we know, it could have been a regular Malibu 350 that was converted to an SS454 for more promotional purposes.

Re: 1971 LS6 Chevelle SS Production
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

So the test car is at least one, maybe two.

[/ QUOTE ]

There's no saying a test car was an actual production car.

[/ QUOTE ]


No. Your grasping at straws to try and prove a point and I believe you are wrong.

I have never seen a magazine test car that was a "factory" conversion that it was not noted as such.

As most everyone knows, high performance magazine articles from back in the day were to alert the public of latest hipo offering from the factory.

I think from what has been shown here is proof enough that the cars WERE built.