can i tell by the vin if this is a real GS or not,494876H960470. It doesnt have factory dual quads which is throwing me off a little,could you get a GS with a single four barrel in 66? thanks chris
GS didnt mean dual quads in 66. I have a 66 Riviera GS with a single carb. The single carbed 425's were called the Wildcat 465. I cannot answer your original question about the VIN number, but yes, you can have a single carbed 1966 Riviera GS.
The vast majority were wildcat 465s with single quad. Under 180 GS Rivs had the dual quad option in 66.
There's no way to tell by the VIN. Look for a posi tag on the rear end cover( it should say "limited slip lube only"), and the GS logo on the glovebox nameplate. Also, the GS emblems on the fenders should be straight. Another thing is that the GS had alluminum valve covers and a chrome air cleaner........but those parts may have been added on by the owner. Usually, the last thing to be added on is the 3.42 posi if it's a clone. You could also count the turns of the steering from stop to stop, unless it was replaced non-GS was about 3-1/2 turns and GS was about 2-1/2 or 3. Those things were standard on the GS model. Otherwise, it's just another option that can't be identified by the VIN. :bglasses:
Buick discontinued the dual-quad option on the Riv in 1966. They DID reinstate it half way through the year though. For the 1st half of the '66 model year all dual quads were dealer-installed options. Even so, the dual quad option was just that: an option, on a GS Riv.
