buick john Thanks you for contacting me today in regard to your Dad's Blue 75 Gran Sport and your Red 75 Gran Sport. This is exactly what I hoped would happen, if I started a thread here, to showcase the rare and special end of the line, 1975 Century Gran Sport. John and I along with Phoenix Graphics in Arizona will be getting the unique, one year only, 1975 Gran Sport stripes reproduced so any enthusiast can properly restore one of these cars.
Ken Ossenfort recently emailed me on two 1975 Century Grans Sports he owned back in the late 80's. First, was a dark Navy Blue, Gold stripe with white bucket seat interior, 350 4 bbl 75 Gran Sport. Second, was a light Green, Gold stripe with green interior bench seat 231 V6 75 Gran Sport. The last pic is circa 1990 of a wrecked Red with white vinyl top 75 Gran Sport with matching white stripes. When you ordered a half vinyl top or painted roof 75 Gran Sport Buick color matched stripes to roof. There were exceptions, that certain color combinations, where color matching stripes to roof could not be done, so either black ,white or standard gold stripes would be applied. I could only upload pic of wrecked red car.
I wanted to give everyone an update, I have been working with Phoenix Graphics to get the 1975 Gran Sport decal stripes reproduced. The stripes are impressive and unique for the 1975 Buick Gran Sports. Attached are a couple pics of me doing rub tracings in my shop. Phoenix Graphics is excited about reproducing stripes and state they will be available very soon.
Thats good news about the stripes. Happy you still have the car. Have you done much with it since you got it?
Yes, I reworked front bumper mounting brackets. These 73-75 Colonade bodies are in my opinion great looking cars, however,the one poor design feature is the positioning of the front bumper. GM over reacted to the Gov't mandated 5 mph bumper regulation back then, so I resolved that problem. I plasma cut off the 2 flat brackets that were attached to the front bumper shock. I then tig welded them back together and remounted everything back on to original front frame bumper bracket. This allowed the front bumper to mount 3 inches further back. It now fits, as Buick design engineers had originally proposed for these cars . Below are pics before and after. It's a subtle change, but really transformed the front of the car. Now, front bumper fits like the rear, nice and tight into body.
Unfortunately, after owning my 73 GS 350 4 speed,it's looking that it possibly be belonging to a new owner.Bought my car on July 2 1992 and sadly,I didn't do much to it but own and drive it. I may be having a new bigger and better project but the one thing is,at least most parts are available for it..It will be a sad day when my 73 pulls out of my driveway for the last time..If parts were readily available,most likely I would keep it,but like I stated,the 70-72 parts are just out there available. I don't know what I will do with all the paperwork on all the 73 things yet,but I hope someone will step up and appreciate the stuff and the work I have done for the 73's the past 20 years..Perhaps Phil Roitman will want the stuff...
That's a bad ride there. Your dad took me for a spin in it a few years ago. I gave him the hood from my '75 Regal and he welded those scoops into it. He does a fantastic job. One of the best body and paint guys I've ever seen.
Pat, Do you have somebody on the hook for the '73 ? As I told you on FB, I would love to see some detailed picx of the car.
Rich, I just came across this thread. You can open up your market for the stripes a bit beyond the '75 Gran Sports. In 1975, my grandfather bought a new Century to replace his '69 GS California. It is not a Gran Sport but has the exact same side and decklid stripes in gold. Red car, white half vinyl top, white bench seat, sport steering wheel, road wheels. My cousin still owns the car, which is a beautiful original paint and stripe survivor. I'll see if I can get some pics from him. Terry
Here's some NOS quarters on ebay Rich. http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-PAIR-RE...S-/181904358600?&_trksid=p2056016.m2518.l4276
