Verifying a true 71 GSX

[GS-XNR]

I've been doing some research on these cars and it seems it is difficult to verify a true GSX. Apparently only 124 were built so how does one know he has a real one??? :confused:
Thanks
Harvey

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Harvey-

A few things I've learned since joining here and from reading some of the literature out there:

-The option code was WA5 for the ornamentation package:
**Body Side Stripe
**Hood paint
**GSX Emblems
**Rear Spoiler
**Painted headlight bezels
**Black stripe Rocker Panel Moldings
-The front spoiler and hood tach were separate options
-GSX pieces (hood tach, rear spoiler) could be ordered ala' carte for a GS
-The Body number on the cowl tag is generally less than 1000 (crucial clue)
-They came in six colors:
**Stratomist Blue
**Artic White
**Lime Mist
**Platinum Mist
**Cortez Gold
**Bittersweet Mist
-The best way to tell is through a build sheet interpretation, if paper is available

Hope this helps!

[bignastyGS]

Don't forget the red and the black ones in 71.:laugh: I know they were rare, but I bet there are a few more "non built" Gsx's out there some where.I talked to Andy at the Sloan Museum and he said the files for the 71 year are almost non existent.That is why it is so hard to verify them. I wanted to get the Sloan info for my 71 but I guess i'm out of luck.
Pat

[Dan Healey]

But the body plate & vin # will be the best clues (without build or body sheets). You could ask Duane.:bglasses:

[Duane]

Harvey,
The microfilm records for these cars has not seen the light of day, so other then having original paper work, currently I am the only game in town.

If you have a "Production Order Body Final" or "Production Order Chassis Paint" build sheet I can prove the car is a GSX. If you have the big "Body Shop Inspection" build sheet there is a 99% chance I can prove the car is a GSX. If there is no build sheet, then you have no proof, period.

Window stickers are reproduced so they are questionable, and some build sheets have been faked so you need to be careful about them. (I have seen faked 70 build sheets, but not 71-72's.)

The ID plate on the firewall, or the protect-o-plate can prove it is a special car order, but not that it is a GSX.

All the above statements refer to 71 GSX's only, which is what Harvey originally asked about. There is also the Canadian info that was posted below, if you are lucky enough to have a car that was sold in Canada.

Ken was correct with the 6 colors, other then the 1 black and I think 2 red cars. The 72's were available with all GS exterior colors.

Hope this helps.
Duane

[12lives]

Ken - sort'a true, but it depends on the year. Some years it was a package some years it was an option(s). I don't remember the specifics, but they are in the GS book.

- Bill

[Doo Wop]

[QUOTE]Duane said:Harvey,
The microfilm records for these cars has not seen the light of day, so other then having original paper work, currently I am the only game in town.

If you have a "Production Order Body Final" or "Production Order Chassis Paint" build sheet I can prove the car is a GSX. If you have the big "Body Shop Inspection" build sheet there is a 99% chance I can prove the car is a GSX. If there is no build sheet, then you have no proof, period.

Not quite true....if you are lucky enough to have found a 71 GSX(or any other GM car of that era) that you know or think was originally sold in Canada and you have no paperwork or build sheet you can obtain info to verify from GM Canada at the following...

GM Canada Vintage Vehicle Services
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, ONT L1H 8P7 Canada
888.467.6853 (toll-free and only from within Canada)
905.644.4060 or 905.644.3387 (outside Canada)
905.644.5436 fax
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-5:00pm Eastern

All you need to do is supply VIN and for a fee of approximately 50 dollars CDN you will receive all the info pertaining to the car including color, trim and all options.

Probably no more than a dozen 71 GSXs were sold in Canada but all could be verified using the above.

Korrie

[12lives]

Korrie - would these all have the 12 bolt rear?

- Bill

[Doo Wop]

12lives said:Korrie - would these all have the 12 bolt rear?

- Bill

Bill

There were no GSXs of any vintage ever built in Canada. So the answer to your question is, they would have a 10 bolt rear. Any GSX sold in Canada was imported from the U.S.

Korrie

[71GSX455-4SPD]

12lives said:Ken - sort'a true, but it depends on the year. Some years it was a package some years it was an option(s). I don't remember the specifics, but they are in the GS book.

- Bill

Bill-
I was specifically answering Harvey's '71 question. The 70 model was completely different from what I stated, as is generally known, and the '72 specifics I am unaware of. You're probably right that '72 was different.

What I quoted in terms of option and combinations was from the GS book. Specifically, from bulletin 71-7, dated November 27, 1970.

Take care...

[GS-XNR]

Thanks everyone for you help and advice. Unfortunately the car sold last night and it wasn't to me. :ball: I will keep all of this information in mind if another ever shows up.
Harvey

[GSXER]

I had the same questions about the same car..either someone got a cheap GSX or an expensive GS.What I dont understand is who's the one that came up with 124 GSX's for 1971? Where does this data originate? I saw this specific car is listed in the GSX registery yet the owner has no build sheet or solid paper work to back its status.

[Brad Conley]

GSXER said:...who's the one that came up with 124 GSX's for 1971? Where does this data originate?.

Buick Motor Division of the General Motors Corporation.

[GS-XNR]

In looking at the various posts it seems the only "hard way" to possibly identifty a GSX is:
The Body number on the cowl tag is generally less than 1000 (crucial clue)
-They came in six colors:
**Stratomist Blue
**Artic White
**Lime Mist
**Platinum Mist
**Cortez Gold
**Bittersweet Mist
Seems to me that if I want a GSX all I have to do is find a "GS" with a body number under 1000 and a paint code of one of the above colours. Voila! A GSX that no one can dispute. :confused:
Harvey

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Harvey said:In looking at the various posts it seems the only "hard way" to possibly identifty a GSX is:
The Body number on the cowl tag is generally less than 1000 (crucial clue)
-They came in six colors:
**Stratomist Blue
**Artic White
**Lime Mist
**Platinum Mist
**Cortez Gold
**Bittersweet Mist
Seems to me that if I want a GSX all I have to do is find a "GS" with a body number under 1000 and a paint code of one of the above colours. Voila! A GSX that no one can dispute. :confused:
Harvey

Well, it can be disputed if there is no paperwork as noted above.

I agree they can be faked. If I'm not mistaken from reading on this forum, the low body number cars were mostly SCO cars? Maybe someone else knows what other sort of SCO cars (besides the GSX) existed? I wish that '71 microfilm would surface!

[Marco]

71GSX455-4SPD said:Well, it can be disputed if there is no paperwork as noted above.

I agree they can be faked. If I'm not mistaken from reading on this forum, the low body number cars were mostly SCO cars? Maybe someone else knows what other sort of SCO cars (besides the GSX) existed? I wish that '71 microfilm would surface!

Yes, but the body numbers are below 9999, not 1000.

Plus, special car orders (paint, bucket seats in a convertible) contained SCO on the cowl tag, and were assigned low numbers.

GSXs were not labeled as 'SCO'.

[12lives]

Sorry Ken - Of course you are right! I read it as a general answer...:Dou:

How's your 71 doing? Haven't seen any recent pictures!
(hint hint)

- Bill

[stage-x]

Marco is right...While the below 10,000 numbers were for special order cars of all models (not just GS), the GSX cars I have seen and owned were not SCO cars. A very low batch of numbers were used and set aside for these cars (at least that is what I have been told). I believe the e-bay car was the real deal and one heck of a bargain. Sold my 71 non numbers car for 35,000. It was a great car but non numbers matching. I sat and watched the auction go and was going to bid but I have too many projects going at this time (business wise). Did anyone notice that a car dealer from South Florida bought this car?

[12lives]

Korrie - so it was only the cars built in Canada, not just sold there. Got it - Thanks!
- Bill

[71GSX455-4SPD]

12lives said:Sorry Ken - Of course you are right! I read it as a general answer...:Dou:

How's your 71 doing? Haven't seen any recent pictures!
(hint hint)

- Bill

Bill-

I'm due to take some new pics. There's some posted in the Englishtown threads, but I've worked on it since then. I had only washed it up until Saturday. Sunday I did some work buffing it out and bringing the bumpers back to where they at least shine. I'll tell you that car was a shade or two lighter when I was done! It still needs more work, and I'm determined to make the factory paint look as good as it will for it's condition. I even compounded the primered fender to make it look a little bit freshened. :Dou:

Thanks for asking!

[GSXER]

I still dont understand how does this car with NO documentation end up in the GSX register as a bona -fida car??The person that runs the registry must have a Buick production sheet with the vin #'s of the cars that were GSX's...how else can some one claim "my car is GSX 144 or my GSX is the 445 built.There must be a complete list somewhere with the vin #'s of each car built.Also do the red and black "never built GSX's" have real paper work to back them?

[Brad Conley]

GSXER said:Also do(es) the... black "never built GSX's" have real paper work to back them?

Yes, I do.

[Brad Conley]

GSXER said:I still dont understand how does this car with NO documentation end up in the GSX register as a bona -fida car??The person that runs the registry must have a Buick production sheet with the vin #'s of the cars that were GSX's...how else can some one claim "my car is GSX 144 or my GSX is the 445 built.There must be a complete list somewhere with the vin #'s of each car built.

In answer to your first question, I believe that Mark Macoubre (?sp) whom runs the GSX registry will "take you at your word", within reason of course. The car in question has all the correct makings of a true 1971 GSX, right build time frame, right color, low Fisher body number, etc. Is it a real GSX? I cannot say for sure it is unless I could see the paperwork Duane spoke of earlier. But I will say this...it "probably" is. I would withhold final judgement until the proper documentation is presented.

As far as the production number of a GSX, this is only available for 1970 model years. Wayne Roberts has the microfische (? sp again..hey, it's early!) for the last half of the 1970 model year. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe he goes through all the records and counts in order the cars with the GSX package and thus tells you in what production order your car was built. This takes considerable time and effort. It will also cost you $50 to find out, but he puts together a beautiful package that will document your car. Well worth the money.

[gstewart]

any of our buicks or chevelles, etc., can have there build history verified from gm canada if the car was built in canada or imported new from a gm plant in the usa , into canada .
my gs was built in fremont and shipped/imported to claresholm ,alberta, where it was originally sold . i have the gm documentation which of course lists all the options .