Corvette flags Corvette flags

Model year 1971

1971 Corvette Colors and Paint Codes

Ten exterior colours were offered for 1971, and Chevrolet recorded the split. Below is the full list with production figures, the interior trims that went with each colour, and where the code is stamped.

Colours offered10for the 1971 model year
Cars built21,801all body styles
Most popularWar Bonnet Yellow3,706 cars, 17% of the year
RarestSunflower Yellow1,177 cars, 5.4% of the year

1971 exterior colors and paint codes

Every exterior colour offered on the 1971 Corvette, how many wore it, and what share of the year's 21,801 cars that was.
CodeColourBuiltShare of production
989War Bonnet Yellow3,70617.0%
983Brands Hatch Green3,44515.8%
976Mulsanne Blue2,46511.3%
987Ontario Orange2,26910.4%
973Monza Red2,18010.0%
972Classic White1,8758.6%
988Steel Cities Gray1,5917.3%
979Bridgehampton Blue1,4176.5%
905Nevada Silver1,1775.4%
912Sunflower Yellow1,1775.4%

Swatches are on-screen approximations to tell the colours apart, not paint matches. Take the code to a paint supplier for an accurate mix.

Where to find your paint code

The paint code is on the trim tag, a small metal plate riveted to the driver's side of the body just inside the door opening. Open the door and look at the hinge pillar area. The tag carries the body style, the body number, the trim (interior) code and the paint code together, so it tells you the original exterior and interior in one go. A repainted car keeps its original tag, which is exactly why the tag is worth more than the paint you can see.

1971 exterior and interior combinations

The interior trims Chevrolet recommended with each exterior colour. X marks a suggested combination; other combinations could be special ordered.
DarkDark
BlackRedBlueGreenSaddle
CodeVinyl400407412423417
Leather403n/an/an/a420
905Nevada SilverXXXX---
912Sunflower YellowX------XX
972Classic WhiteXXXXX
973Mille Miglia RedXX---------
976Mulsanne BlueX---X------
979Bridgehampton BlueX---X------
983Brands Hatch GreenX------X---
987Ontario Orange*X------XX
988Steel Cities Gray*X---------X
989War Bonnet Yellow*X------XX
*Special Firemist Colors
  • Exterior and interior trim combinations were those recommended while other combinations by special order were available. Convertible top colors were Black or White.

What to know about 1971 colours

1971 is visually almost identical to 1970, so paint and trim codes are among the more useful ways to tell a car's year from the paperwork rather than the sheet metal. The palette itself changed more than the car did.

The full colour list for every model year from 1968 to 1982 is on the C3 colour code page, and the interior trim codes are set out on the interior trim page. For the rest of what Chevrolet documented about this year, including production by month, the option list and the engine codes, see the 1971 specifications page.