71 GS 'vert, need help

Discussion in 'Cars for sale' started by Thumper (aka greatscat), Aug 7, 2019.

  1. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member

    I found a very nice 71 GS 'vert.GS455,Paint is relativity new, interior is white ,top is white,both in great shape,bittersweet mist, colors match the cowl tag info. Grill is driver quality ,bumper chrome is very nice, AND a rear N-25 ,Bench seat, sport wheel, AC, PB, PS,car is solid, core support and inner fenders solid, good floor and trunk,51000 miles,motor sounds stock,couldn't verify #'s on block or trans, paint covering them, I'm going to take some enamel reducer tomorrow to check those.a few minor things need attention , shroud broke and no air cleaner support.Besides the paint removal going to remove aircleaner and check carb and dist. #'s.
    What are the 71's typically worth if a verifiable 455 car in #3 condition with #'s. If its a converted 350 car I'm probably not interested.
     
  2. Daves69

    Daves69 Too many cars too work on

    Gary,

    Look for the transmission kick down switch on the gas pedal. Not usually changed on a swap.

    Don't know much about about the pricing.
     
  3. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member

    good point,I'll check.
     
  4. 69 GS 400

    69 GS 400 Well-Known Member

    I would say 12 to 15 k if it is a solid mostly complete car for restoration. With those options and color I would lean more to the high side. Up to 25 k if it is a nice driver that you could enjoy and drive as is. Up to 35 k if the paint is nice and the body work (and or original panels ) was done right because you could easily spend more than 10 grand on that. Those would be good fair buys. It is always worth more to the buyer and seller when the love of the car falls into place. Like auction fever and what someone is willing to pay or sell for.
     
    MikeM likes this.
  5. MikeM

    MikeM Mississippi Buicks

    Sounds like my old car but it probably isn't unless it's in New England. It had a replacement engine but was an original 455, at least I think so. I think there are some signs on the frame too but I don't recall the details. BSMmike1.jpg
     
  6. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member

    That looks like it Mike, hes had it several years and it came from Indiana,so he says.What tires are on it?
     
  7. Marv Marksberry

    Marv Marksberry Well-Known Member

    I always check the steering shaft, rag joint as it is different on all big block GS's.

    Marv.
     
  8. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    Rear frame braces for BBB could be an indication. Where they standard in 71 on BBB cars?
     
  9. BUQUICK

    BUQUICK I'm your huckleberry.

    Hey Gary you recently said you were trying to slim down your collection but now you're on the hunt again. Does Sandy know about this? :)
     
  10. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member

    Ha ha ha, I know,she brought it to my attention though,great women. She saw it sitting in a yard about 10 miles from our house.The guy has a large car hauler behind his barn,says he bought several muscle cars together and is flipping them. He got a nice 65 GTO vert 4 speed, tri power too, I don't know if its all real or not but he wants big money for it. I might keep the GS for a while if I bought it,not too long though. Needs to be true or I'm not interested. You want it,lol
     
  11. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member

    I thought they were on big blocks. I'm going to check that and control arms, didn't have a posi tag on it. Couldn't really crawl around yesterday,need to have my work clothes on.
     
  12. BQUICK

    BQUICK Gold Level Contributor

    I had a 71 GS350 conv that had them but it also had the handling package.....

    Looks like my car before I painted it midnight blue pearl.....I guess someday it can go back to bittersweet mist...a color that has grown on me...used to think it looked like rust.
    Gary, I thought you were "thinning the herd" not buying....haha...
     
  13. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member

    Well, after looking at it closely I don't know if I'm any further ahead.
    It has a rag joint, TH400, but no kick down switch,couldn't find the wire either,big block drive shaft, sway bar but no boxed control arms, 72 air cleaner, TR block but vin. stamp is too hard to find, carb is good, 7041540, date code is good, no # on dist. but electronic conversion, no posi tag, late 70 seat belt code, correct fan shroud but no strap and no air cleaner support bracket, grill is correct but has cracks, 15" sport steering wheel, no build sheet. no cross bars in core support.If someone wanted to take a chance maybe a $18to $20k car at most, he didn't seem too impressed with that. Is that a reasonable price even if it a 350 car, non numbers of course .

    Mike, does any of this sound familiar?
     
  14. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member

    Gary, its a disease.
     
  15. 69 GS 400

    69 GS 400 Well-Known Member

    The minor things that are broken or missing can be easily replaced without too much cost but why would someone remove the kick down switch or wire ? Sway bar could have been added after if it doesn't have boxed control arms. You could get NOS distributors that weren't stamped. I have seen cars back in the early eighties that had most or all engine parts replaced cause they were well driven . To find a car almost 50 years old with all it's born stuff is getting harder to find. Back in the day no one really cared about date code / correct parts . You just went to the auto parts store or wreckers and grabbed what you needed. I did it all the time. Has the owner tried to find a build sheet ? People that do a big block swap aeren't always interested to make everything correct and it was not their intention to deceive but once the car changes hands, stories can change. If it can't be proved to be a 455 car, value it as a 350. All cars have enjoyment value. Just depends what someone is willing to pay for that.
     
  16. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member

    Yeah, alot of the car is right for a big block,but some stuff not there is hard to explain. Unless he can find a build sheet or confirm the #'s on the block I have to treat it as a non #'s 350 car.
     
  17. Redmanf1

    Redmanf1 Gold Level Contributor

    Sounds like something someone started to convert and lost interest or just could not finish???
     
  18. Dan Healey

    Dan Healey Well-Known Member

    Don't over complicate it. Look for the vin on the block, because if it's not there nothing else really matters. The real value is matching numbers.
     
  19. tdacton

    tdacton Gold Level Contributor

    '71 would not have the hole in the shroud or the strap to hold the upper radiator hose. That came in '72.
    Troy
     
  20. Thumper (aka greatscat)

    Thumper (aka greatscat) Well-Known Member

    I didn't know that , is there any thing there for the rad hose? I believe the support hook was only on the 69-70. Maybe makes sense since its a 72 air cleaner.Looks like a pieced together 71 BBB.I'm guessing someone used a 71 GS 455 drive train in a 350 car.
     
    Bills72stage1 likes this.

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