http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Buick-Skylark-NO-RESERVE-1971-Buick-GS-Stage-1-Original-Big-Block-Driver-Quality-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2a0d411e46QQitemZ180610997830QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks I bought and sold this car in 2003. Another sotry from the archives. I got called into Queens to help out a fellow technician install a wheel aligner. I hate going into Queens, but I reluctantly agreed. As I get off the exit and approach the intersection, I passed a gas station and my eyes fell out of my head. There is this gold GSX sitting in the lot. Looks like it just got out of the paint booth as there was still masking tape all over it. I literally swerved into the lot and went into ask what the deal is with the car. Turns out it was a real 71 GS Stage 1 with the correct TS code 455 under the hood. No bumpers, no grill or headlight bezels. Interior was complete and the car ran and drove. The mechanic inside tells me its his car and he's looking to sell it. unbelievable. I look the car over and haggle him down to $3500. He says he has a set of nice rechromed bumpers and the rear is an N-25. Deal! I told him I'd be back in two hours with my trailer. I called the tech back i was supposed to help and told him I ate some bad fish the night before and Im strapped to the bowl. He tells me to feel better. I said thanks and hung up. I raced back home, hit the bank, hook up the trailer and Im back to the gas station in two hours. When I get back, the guy tells me he couldnt get ahold of the bumpers. I tell him that I'll give him $2500 now and the rest when he produced two rechromed bumpers. He agrees and Im the proud owner of a new Stage 1. In cleaning out the car, I found a credit card gas receipt from 1975 from a station out here on LI. I wind up going to the station and asking the shop owner about it. He remembered the gold GS and tell me the owner is still a customer of his. He even gave me the guys telephone number! So I call him. He was floored. couldnt believe it. He told me his brother bought the car new and sold it to him a few years later. He said it was the fastest car he ever drove. Told me a sotry of how he was getting chased by the cops with all his frinds on the car. Outran the police and stashed the car in his parents garage for two weeks. That was one of the coolest conversation Ive ever had. Anyway, to make a long story short, I cleaned the GS up, got it running good and sold it for $6500. The car was unfortunately a whore in a nice dress. It was full of bondo. And I mean it had like 10 gallons on it. The car was hit hard at some point in the left rear. the metal in the trunk was wrinkled bad I'll try and post a couple pics from when I had it
After reading the ebay listing, without any other knowledge of the car, I believe everyone will assume it is an original Texas car that is rust free with a little surface rust rather than a NY car that has been exposed to road salt, rusty, then filled with bondo to cover it up. Whoever buys that car, unless the price is dirt cheap, it likely to be very disappointed.
That's why I find it annoying that you cannot contact bidders anymore to warn them about the problems of something they are bidding on.
It was rode hard and put up wet, thats for sure. If you look closely, you'll see that the GS emblem is crooked on the right side. This is because the fender was so crumpled, the holes got distorted for the emblem. The holes should of been re-drilled rather than re-used. The car showed up a few years after I sold it at a place called "Black Tie Classics" in Jersey. At the time, the listed price was $18k! It was definitely worth what I paid for it and what I sold it for. You have to remember the time frame as well. This was the time of $3500 Stage 1 carbs What I find funny is that every time I buy a car, there's always a crazy story with it. It never seems to be an "ordinary" event.
Yes, just to clarify, its not mine anymore. At the time I had 4 project cars including this one. The others were 2 73 GS's- a Stage 1 4 speed and a 350 4 speed, a 71 Stage 1 4 speed convertible and this one. Sold them all and bought one nice car, my 70 Stage 1 4 speed with money to spare. You can see the 71 Stage 1 4 speed up on my trailer in the background in this pic.
I didnt have any docs on it, nor was the original driveline in it when I bought it. But I wound up selling it to Lenny Gallo on the board. His parents bought the car in 1975. So it was a Stage 1 4 speed as far back as 1975. it was originally black with a pearl white interor. Could of been the only only black one ever made. The car was rough. I had chased that car for 18 years going back to 1985. I finally got it and sold it in three months ou: :spank: What a dope.
The story of this one was one of the best. I really ought to write a book about this stuff. You cant make it up. Last I heard, Lenny was doing a frame off on it. The name "Fred" on the driver's seat is his father's name. here are a few pics of the beast. not the best quality pics, but it'll give you an idea
Not to speak for George. But, What i get from George's post, is that; People who get on V8Buick and other boards would not misrepresent. As we know, Jason would not misrepresent.
Jason: I don't doubt that this is your old car, but it looks like the master cylinder in the current eBay pics is for drum brakes. Did it have 4 wheel drum brakes when you owned it? '71 was the first year that front discs were a required option for the Stage 1 package. I was curious.
Good question. It was a disc car. The only pic I have of under the hood shows the same master. Your right, it looks like the wrong master was installed at some point. The price is still climbing. Someone's gonna be pissed
