Rare 1971 car selling for just $1,971 after being abandoned in garage – it’s rusty but there’s a huge win under the hood

A SELDOM-seen classic car has gone up for sale – having seemingly been hidden away for a number of years.

A Chevrolet Chevelle Greenbrier from 1971 has landed on eBay courtesy of Western Classics, in a condition that suggests it’s been off the road for a rather long time.

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While the Chevelle is one of GM’s best known models, the Greenbrier iteration is more of a rarity.

Indeed, only 6,128 similar configurations were built in 1971, according to Auto Evolution.

The Chevelle Greenbrier was a station wagon model, produced in the late 1960s to early 1970s and was Chevrolet’s attempt to offer a stylish yet affordable option in this segment.

While the Greenbrier was not a high-performance model like the SS 396 or SS 454, today it holds certain appeal among collectors and enthusiasts due to its unique position in the Chevelle lineup.

This version, while in need of a thorough restoration, comes with its factory 5.7-liter V8 engine still intact – which reportedly starts and runs correctly but will require further repairs before it can be considered road-worthy.

Aesthetically, the vehicle boasts a black vinyl interior that is original to the car, but it shows its age.

However, brilliantly, it comes with many of the most desirable options of the time, including the factory air conditioning system, the dash clock, and the Delco AM radio.

Outside, the car’s bodywork has signs of damage and has clearly been resprayed – having left the factory painted in gold, then Ascot Blue.

It does, however, include CA license plates as well as the owner’s manual.

The garage is selling the vehicle without a reserve, which means the highest bidder will take it home when the auction ends in five days – with the auction beginning at $1,971.

This comes as a new law could be coming to California that will greatly benefit classic car owners – even helping them skip a frustrating registration process.

Lawmakers are hoping to pass Senate Bill 712 that will change the state’s smog-check laws – with a little help from world famous comedian and car collector Jay Leno.

According to a report by ABC, Leno recently met State Senator Shannon Grove of Bakersfield at a charity event, which led to a conversation about classic cars.

Senator Grove said: “We are trying to bring back the old rolling exemption for a 35-year exemption to exclude classic cars.”

Currently, the smog check exemption applies to car models from 1975 and older, which has been the standard since 2005.

But under the new proposal, any car 35 years or older would be exempted – although that’s bona fide classics only, not cars used for regular transportation.

Jeff Romm, sales manager at Corvette Mike, said: “Having someone like Jay Leno in your corner is a definite bonus.”

The Anaheim-based dealership, which, naturally, specialises in selling Corvettes and other classics, has seen interest in their cars from the 1970s and the 1980s gain momentum in recent times.