I am getting another Buick soon. How much heavier is a 72 sport wagon (A/C, power windows, etc) compared to a 68 GS400 (factory non-AC, auto, pwr drums/steering)? The GS needs a motor, but the sport wagon sounds (from reading ad) to be very clean w/original paint. Thank you for your time.
My 69 Sky with 350/350, PS,PB and little else weighed in at exactly 3700#. Form the 1969 Buick Features binder, I list: California GS (post car, similar to a '68 chasis) @ 3450 # GS350 @ 3550# GS400 also o No: @ 3550 SportWagon 2 seat @ 4200# SportWagon 3 seat @ 4300# (No listing for SportWagon400) If you look at the difference from Cali GS to GS350, thats 100#, but the GS350 lists a 3 speed MANUAL as the base trans while the Cali is the TH350.....so the difference of 100#'s includes the weight difference of the TH350 to the 3 speed manual along with the post to coupe chasis difference. I think these weights are without ANY options including power steering and brakes. If you compare my 69 Sky @ 3700 to the listing for Cali GS350 @ 3450 (Same 350/350) you see that the power steering and brakes add 250# including whatever chasis wieght difference there is from post to Coupe I'm going to assume the '72 Sporty weighs less than the 68/69 Sporty's as it doesn't have the Vista roof glass or the top side glass which Im sure is heavier than the steel ....While I'd NEVER advise against getting a GS400 (especially if its a good deal with a blown motor) - Wagon's are IN !! BayBeee !!! Like Tony said in another recent post, people may walk past "Just anothe 68-72 A-Body.....but EVERYONE takes notice of a Wagon - especialy with a GS hood !!
Speaking from personal experience, my 69 GS 350 4-speed car weighs just a little over 3600#. That's with PS only; manual brakes, non-air, bucket seat car. By comparison, my 70 Sportwagon weighed in at 4400# when I first bought it in original condition. That featured 350/THM350, PS, PB, non-air, 2 seat, power tailgate window and roof rack. I believe Alan is correct when he said that the published weights do not include any options, just the base car. In my discussions with Beth & Dana, I thought they said that their 72 Sportwagon weighed in the neighborhood of 45-4600#. I thinks that's with AC, buckets, power tailgate window - not sure what else it has for options. FYI, when I bought my 72 Estate Wagon, that thing tipped the scales at close to 5200# and that was a low optioned car as well. And if you couldn't tell, I'm partial to wagons - buy the Sportwagon. You'll be glad you did! Good luck! Paul
I will jump in on the Wagon band train as I own all types hard tops, post cars and Wagons The big weight is the fully boxed frame on the wagon but it makes it stiff and they launch VERY well. The best my 69 Sportwagon400 ran with a 455 Stage 1 TH400 and 3.42 was 15.2 at 4500ft was way cool to lay waste to most cars in ( grampas car hehehehe ) They all loved the the BIG smokie burn outs I did hehehe. It sits and waits to be bought by some one or rebuilt by me too bad it is way down on my list. Once again go for the wagon and make it fly !!! Ken K :3gears:
