Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 194371S109653
Period Chevrolet advertising called the new 1971 Corvette an
"expression of everything a sports car should be." Well said,
especially with a pair of increased displacement 454 cu-in
Turbo-Jet V8s, designed to run on 91 research octane no-lead or
low-lead gasoline. As in the past, Chevrolet offered both big and
small block engines with Turbo Hydra-matic and two Muncie
four-speed transmissions. New colors like Nevada Silver, Brands
Hatch Green, and Mille Miglia Red debuted along with recently
introduced updates such as an eggcrate front grille, vents behind
the front wheels, subtle rear fender flairs designed to prevent
stone chips, and additional seat bolstering for passenger comfort.
Many enthusiasts praise the early 1970s big blocks for these
updates and the well-balanced composure they display on the road.
One widely accepted aspect of big block ownership is the
significant radiant heat generated by the LS5 engine, which Bertram
Cohon likely recognized. So, when searching for a new big block in
1971, Chevrolet's 4-season air conditioning was a key consideration
for him - a rare combination with the LS5 engine
According to previous owner notes contained within the
documentation on file, Cohon of Hackensack, New Jersey located this
1971 Corvette LS5 Stingray Coupe at nearby D&C Chevrolet in
Tenefly. According to the original sales invoice, the Millie Miglia
Red Stingray was optioned with power steering, Goodyear white
stripe tires, an AM/FM pushbutton radio, the aforementioned LS5 454
cu-in engine and, yes, 4-season air conditioning. Interestingly,
Cohon did not take delivery himself, but sent his nephew Jay
Burman, a pilot for TWA, instead. An interview of Burman by the
third owner, Richard Peters, notes that Cohon drove the car a grand
total of three times over the next 18 years, yet he allowed Burman
to use it on the weekends with the stipulation it had to be
returned by Sunday evening. As a result, the Coupe was infrequently
driven.
As relayed by previous owners, the car was sold by Burman for his
uncle with approximately 7,500 miles in November 1989 to 31 year
old John Kennedy of Rye, New York. It is said that Kennedy was
unable to afford the insurance and after three months passed it to
Greg Genco with 8,013 miles on the odometer in February 1990. Five
years later the car accrued a scant 114 additional miles and
perhaps most impressive; an NCRS Top Flight award in August of
1992. The accolade was a sure-fire sign of the ascent of Corvette
collectability in the early 1990s with Genco noting that of all of
the Corvettes he had owned, "this was my favorite." In 1995, the
car passed to Richard Peters who held the car for six years selling
the car with 10,400 miles to a short succession of owners beginning
in 2000. In 2004, it landed with Randolph Simon in Plantation,
Florida that April. Simon drove the car as noted by the April 2006
issue of AACA's The Steering Wheel in which the Stingray is noted
to have 11,985 miles.
In June of 2007 it joined The Stingray Survivor Collection as its
youngest member with 12,241 miles. After 36 years on and off the
road it featured an impressive level of originality that would
become the hallmark of all Stingrays acquired for the collection.
In 2009, the car won an award of distinction at the Ault Park
Concours d'Elegance with its current caretaker proud to highlight
its original, well-kept Black Comfortweave interior along with its
factory applied Mille Miglia Red lacquer paint. Naturally, the car
remained an ideal candidate for NCRS certification and, as
expected, it garnered a well-deserved Top Flight award in April
2024 with a score of 95.2/100. Offered to the public for the first
time in 16 years, this 454 cu-in big block four-speed Stingray
Coupe with 12,475 original miles features an arresting color and
two! Top Flight awards. Add to that factory air and a
well-researched ownership history and it's easy to see why this LS5
Stingray Coupe remains a valuable standout example of The Stingray
Survivor Collection.
