Suncoupe project takes a giant leap

Discussion in 'Members Rides' started by staged70, Sep 10, 2004.

  1. staged70

    staged70 RIP

    If it werent for this board I would not be telling this but I as some here know looked for a Stage 1 Suncoupe project for years . I was told that I would never find one (HA !!!) The car was badly rusted and in need of a resto . I bought it in March and have been collecting NOS parts along with the NOS parts it came with I have collected a set of NOS fenders and quarters . The trunk is badly rusted and it looks as if it was the original flintstone mobile . The realist in me knows that with the back being so bad I will need floors and inner and outer wheel houses along with the filler panel below the window .
    Enter the V8 board I asked for help and it came to me just like when I put a wanted ad for the car ( I bought it from a member ) Another member sent me some pics of the savior for my Suncoupe , a rust free 71 back half and it is now about to be transported from Portland Oregon to St Louis Mo. where my friend the body man will cut the floors behind the cowl and seperate the roof from the quarters and graft the 2 cars together !! The fact I bought a set of NOS quarters is a little depressing but I have other projects that may need them . Just wanted to say that weithout the board my dream car would not be in my garage and I would still own a Mustang . :beer

    Thanks guys !!!!!! :TU:
     
  2. Marco

    Marco Well-Known Member

    Very cool John!

    Please keep us informed of the car's progress and take lots of pictures.
     
  3. Stagedcoach71

    Stagedcoach71 Well-Known Member

    I have a set of NOS fenders I think are going to be a problem.

    Let us know if you have good luck.

    Great car! :beer
     
  4. staged70

    staged70 RIP

    fenders a problem ?

    What is the problem you forsee with the fenders ? and yes I will take a lot of pics Marco. :laugh:
     
  5. Stagedcoach71

    Stagedcoach71 Well-Known Member

    The later NOS fenders were not welded properly.

    I believe Duane has posted the details of how to spot a good fender from a bad one.

    I was disappointed to find this out. I bought mine long before V8Buick came along!

    Hopefully you have good pieces.
     
  6. bill van steen

    bill van steen Well-Known Member

    Hey John make sure I get some pictures of this car as you go along and I can't wait to see it done , and restored back to its former glory Billl
     
  7. staged70

    staged70 RIP

    rebirth 4G37V

    Soon as I get on it I will be taking massive amounts of pictures . Thanks again Bill V. !!!!!! I am probably going to post a vote to see if I should paint it back white with a black top and interior or maybe paint it Black . I have seen another triple black Suncoupe at BG abvout 9 years ago and my wifes car was in B-O-P Magazine and they did a black and white where it looks black and man that car is beautiful . Any one have an opinion ?
    JK :Do No:
     
  8. bill van steen

    bill van steen Well-Known Member

    John if your not worried about originality then paint it a colour you love but remember black is very tough to maintain and the bodywork will have to be flawless, my personal feelings are keep it white and put it back the way it rolled off the line Bill
     
  9. Ryans-GSX

    Ryans-GSX Have fun, life is short.

    what about triple white although I have never seen one I would think it would look fantastic "just my .02 cents worth"
     
  10. staged70

    staged70 RIP

    Yes triple white is nice . The paint will be flawless no matter what color I go with . Bill your opinion meansd a great deal to me so I have to weigh the keep it original or make it the color I like argument in my mind . I also thought about doing a homage to the frlame orange promo stage 1 that was in the mags back in 1971/1972 . It also had a full vynil roof on it that I have never seen before on a Suncoupe . I like it !! I have gone thru my pics and memory and the number of Stage 1 Suncoupes is growing . The 2 green and white ones I know of personally , there used to be a yellow and black one near my house , the white and black one I now own , the flame orange and black promo car , and I also have a black and white pic of a car that looks to be a lighter color like gold or red with a black top. I will be trying to get pics and post all these I can find . My scanner is down right now but as you can see the number being thrown around of 3 cars is too low . As always I am interested in anything relating to Suncoupes
    JK
     
  11. Marco

    Marco Well-Known Member

    mmmmmm...flame orange.

    My favorite 1972 color :beer
     
  12. mechacode

    mechacode Well-Known Member

    Sounds like a pretty rare beast you got there John. :TU:


    Part of me says, why change the paint if you're spending the money and taking the time to make it so original? The other part says, it's your car, you're going to be driving it, paint it the way you want.
     
  13. staged70

    staged70 RIP

    Yes I know it is my car and the most probable color is white as it is the original color and I do have all the original paperwork to display with the car . I just cannot stop thinking that when you repaint even the original color it is not original anymore . There is one color pic of the 1972 Suncoupe Stage 1 promo car that just blows me away . I remember when my wife was picking a color for her Suncoupe she was pulling her hair out trying to decide a color and that was just between different reds.
    Must think some more .
     
  14. MikeM

    MikeM Mississippi Buicks

    I don't know if this is will be interesting to you or not. In August 1972 I bought a new flame orange sun coupe Skylark 350. Orange with white interior and top. They also had two other new yellow/white/white and green/white/white Skylark 350 Sun Coupes for sale.

    I had them switch the hubcaps off the Orange car I bought for the chrome rallye wheels on one of the other ones.

    The orange/white/white combo really looked great. Really enjoyed that car in college but always wished it was a GS...
     
  15. UNDERDOG350

    UNDERDOG350 350 Buick purestock racer

    John, Is this the car from Dr. John in Virginia or did you unearth the 4th known car left on the plant? Steve
     
  16. staged70

    staged70 RIP

    This car came from Norfolk Va. There are still more of these out there I can feel it . The Promo car would be a real find . Flame orange , N-25 , Full vynil roof ! What about it anyone ever seen it in person or did Buick destroy it when the magazine writers finished flogging it ?
     
  17. staged70

    staged70 RIP

    Picking it up

    I thought I might as well put this pic on here of Dr John , taken when I picked up the Suncoupe . Very nice and knowledgeable collector of all muscle cars . He had sold every one of them except the Stage 1 . I wish I had his shop almost an acre about 200 feet from the ocean with numerous garages . When I picked the car up and the NOS parts he filled my truck with many GS and skylark parts . I will be unloading these thru the board after I finish the cars I have . I am going to do my GS 455 first , then tackle the Stage 1 . :pp
     

    Attached Files:

  18. staged70

    staged70 RIP

    Just opened an email , my rust free rear half is on the way here from Portland !! Expected time of arrival thursday evening ! My bodyman is happy he can now make plans for his kids college education .
    JK
     
  19. UNDERDOG350

    UNDERDOG350 350 Buick purestock racer

    Why didn't you just buy David's green car? Could have saved a bunch of time.
     
  20. 65gs76limited

    65gs76limited Well-Known Member

    sun coupe promo car

    i don't know if any of you guys are interested in this or not. a friend of mine has a gold 72 sun coupe factory promo car that came from buick. it's all gold. paint,vinyl top,the sun coupe top is even gold. all the trim,inside and out is done in gold plating. it has a funky gold valour bucket seat interior. the seats have beads sewn into them. i was telling some guys on the BCA web site about it and they asked for pictures. still trying to get a-hold of the owner to see if he cares if i post pictures of it. it's a small block 350 car so i didn't think anyone here would be interested.
     

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