if you will - that refused to kneel to the backlash of state-imposed censure. Chief among them, the 1971 454 big-block Corvette. This car was definitely no pal of the local gendarme, much less a comrade of the governmental forces at large.
In spite of the fact the Corvette now had to run on 91-octane fuel (as opposed to the 103 required in earlier variations), the ‘71 big-block was still a monster. Offered in both 365 (LS5) and 425 (LS6)-horsepower trim, the big-blocks still ruled the roost, even though their compression ratios had been whittled down. Armed with its trademark tree-yanking torque and capable of rocketing from 0-60 in a shade under 6 seconds, the LS5
turned the quarter mile in around 15 seconds. With the potential to rocket to a white-knuckle top speed of around 150-mph, the 1971 Corvette was a performance giant in a land of under-powered pretenders.
If you have any doubts, talk to Arnold Aguire of Tempe, Arizona. Arnold purchased his Mulsanne Blue 1971 LS5 in march of 1972, and the course of his ownership would make Zora Duntov proud. Make no mistake, this car is no trailer queen. You would never guess by the sparkling looks of Arnold’s prize, but this is one Corvette that has been enjoyed on the road - to the tune of 117,000 miles. Under Arnold’s care, the Corvette has been autocrossed, run in various rallies and club fun runs and even drag raced.
Outfitted with the LS5 454 big-block (rated at 365 horsepower at 4800 rpm), Arnold’s Corvette
