Cars 'n Barns No More!

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Jeff-

I'm about two miles or less from Fairfield Prep and right between Stratford and Darien. Let me know the next time you're in the area. I'd love to show you the car and to pick your brain too!

[12lives]

Hey Ken - how many miles on the car?

-Bill

[71GSX455-4SPD]

12lives said:Hey Ken - how many miles on the car?

-Bill

70,401 total miles

[Mr Big]

Thanks for sharing the great story...very inspirational!

20 years is a long wait.... But your the smart one...you kept her!

You should be grinning

[Nicholas Sloop]

Do you have any documentation on the car? There was previously only ONE known GSX with a vinyl top. Vinyl top was "Not recommended" with the GSX package in the original sales literature.

[Marco]

Nicholas Sloop said:Do you have any documentation on the car? There was previously only ONE known GSX with a vinyl top. Vinyl top was "Not recommended" with the GSX package in the original sales literature.

I thought there were two other GSXs - (1) Cortez Gold and (1) Platinum Mist, both with black vinyl tops.

Guess they might be a little more common than what we once thought

Ken - Can you please post your paint code (and fisher body number) on your cowl data plate? Thanks!

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Nicholas-

As my dad bought the car when it was six months old, I didn't think he got the original window sticker. I know I (stupidly) pulled the build sheet from under the rear seat long ago and I think (hope) it's still somewhere in my dad's garage. I didn't realize the value of that piece of paper and I didn't know how to decode it at the time. I wish I never took it out!

I've never dropped the gas tank, but I understand there may also be a build sheet there? Would that sheet have the option code listed for the full GSX ornamentation package?

I think the original owner is still around. I don't know if they could/would look for any documentation. Also, the dealer it was sold out of is still a Buick dealer, although they did change hands once. I have no idea if they keep any records that far back or not. It's probably worth asking, though.

I hear you on the documentation. As I was around when the car was six months old, I'm convinced it's real. The only way I think I could be wrong is if the dealer prepped the car this way. Anyone ever heard of that being done? Without documentation, however, there will always be a doubt in many peoples minds.

It's a bummer that Buick documentation is not available at the Sloane Museum for the 1971 model year.

Anyone have other thoughts on how I might be able to document/authenticate my car??? I'd appreciate any help!

[Marco]

Just found the cowl plate from your earlier post Here

ST71 43437FL1 000642BD
TR168 43-B PNT
01D

It's a factory vinyl top car



PS - I'm no expert, but a body# of 000642 in January 1971, with no SCO identified on the cowl plate, looks to be a legit GSX car.

[Nicholas Sloop]

Marco said:I thought there were two other GSXs - (1) Cortez Gold and (1) Platinum Mist, both with black vinyl tops.

Guess they might be a little more common than what we once thought

Could be... I know years ago Vicky Jo's car (Platinum Mist) was regarded as the only one.

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Marco-

I thought of the responses to the body plate on that other thread. It sounded as if all indications point to it being a GSX (early body build date). Like I said, I'm convinced it is, unless the dealer put the ornamentation package on after delivery.

I gotta find paper, though. I suppose that I would need to drop the tank anyway to clean out whatever's been growing in there for the past twenty years. Maybe I'll find what I'm looking for.

[Marco]

71GSX455-4SPD said:Marco-

I thought of the responses to the body plate on that other thread. It sounded as if all indications point to it being a GSX (early body build date). Like I said, I'm convinced it is, unless the dealer put the ornamentation package on after delivery.

I gotta find paper, though. I suppose that I would need to drop the tank anyway to clean out whatever's been growing in there for the past twenty years. Maybe I'll find what I'm looking for.

Even if the dealer put the ornamentation package on, the Fisher body # would have been greater than 045xxx (I have a 01A coupe listed with a 045950 body number - Flint Built)

Some cars had no paper (mine didn't), so don't be too disappointed.

[rh455]

Very inpiring story Ken. Makes me wanna I'm glad you kept the car all those years. I'd bet your glad too. That's one heck of an investment you have there. Especially if you can find documentation. I can relate to the mouse turds. Except mine were mixed with pecans instead of acorns. Fortunately, they didn't chew up anything . It's really cool to have the car you always wanted or wished you'd never got rid of. You have both. A local guy here found a guy with a '70 442 W30 car(the kind he had when he was in high school and wished he'd kept). He got it home and realized that it was HIS old car with a terrible paint job! Hope all goes well.

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Marco-

Could you please explain a bit more what you mean by the higher body numbers? Do you mean that the GS/Skylark line for that year started with body number 045000? And that mine having a low number makes it unique? (i.e- a GSX) I'm not sure I 100% understand what you mean.

Reynold-

Cool story about the 442. A friend of mine had a yellow one in High School that had been modded with gears/converter, etc. Many that car flew! I heard a similiar story when I had the valve stems replaced in my tires on saturday. I was talking cars with the guy at the service station and he told me his dad had bought new a '71 Torino with the cobra jet motor and drag pack. He got it when his father died, sold it when money got tight, and then bought it back a few years later after it had changed hands a few time and he chanced upon it for sale. Yeah, it's a Ford, but still a cool car!

[Marco]

71GSX455-4SPD said:Marco-

Could you please explain a bit more what you mean by the higher body numbers? Do you mean that the GS/Skylark line for that year started with body number 045000? And that mine having a low number makes it unique? (i.e- a GSX) I'm not sure I 100% understand what you mean.

sent you a PM

[Skyhawk]

No it is not Carl but he is a close friend. Maybe we can get together at the Northeast GS/GN spring meeting on March 30th.

[Brian Albrecht]

[quote]Marco said:I thought there were two other GSXs - (1) Cortez Gold and (1) Platinum Mist, both with black vinyl tops.

Guess they might be a little more common than what we once thought

Hi Ken,
That is one of the coolest GS's I have ever laid eyes on! If you plan on firing up that engine just make sure you prime the oil pump first. Although is is too bad the car was robbed, it sounds as though it led to your long term storage of the car and perhaps it is a silver lining that it occured. When the GSX emblem was stolen from my GSX they tore it right out of the grille-at least with yours it appears they unscrewed it.
Marco is right on with the vinyl top comment. Somewhere in the mid eighties a guy came to my parents house in Pittsburgh to buy some GS parts off of me. When I helped carry them up the driveway from behind the house I was surprised by what he was driving. It was a Bittersweet Mist GSX with a vinyl top!
While I don't recall a ton of details I remember the car had the plain interior with a GSX emblem on the dash. The top was tan if I recall. It was a 350 car and did not impress me at the time but it was obviously factory and I wish I had taken pictures of it. I saw it in the auto trader not long afterward and then never heard of it again.

Lots of luck Ken,
Brian

Did GSX's come with 350's?

[Marco]

Smartin said:Did GSX's come with 350's?

Yes, in 1971 and 1972. The GSX was an appearance package on the GS model.

1970 GSXs contained only 455 motors.

Ken,

I enjoyed reading your story! Looks to me like hindsight isn't always 20/20, as most people would believe, huh? You should consider yourself a very lucky man. Don't you feel good knowing you're not "that guy"? You know, "that guy" who sold his Buick a long time ago due to money issues? Good luck with eveything!

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Brett-

You know I'm glad I didn't sell it!

Although I did spend around $10,000 over a twenty year period to keep it inside, in a way I'm glad I did. It always bummed me out that I wasn't driving it, but in the end I've got a 30+ year old pretty rare car with 70kmi car that's in damn good shape. Being from New England, it could have easily been a rust bucket by now. Instead, it's spent two thirds of its life stored.

The only thing I regret is not being a little more diligent about the way it was prepared for storage. When I put it away, it was only supposed to be temporary.

If the motor will run, I'll be a happy guy and not kick myself too much about my younger impulsive self that just shut it off and walked away.

I cleaned out the interior last night. Took out the rear seat and got the shop vac in there and removed acorns and mouse turds. I also used a simple green solution on all the vinyl parts. I'm going to pick up some Meguire's for vinyl today and give everything a good shot. The amazing thing is I didn't really see any signs of degradation from when I put it away! The vinyl is still supple, the rug looks good, the headliner is mint. The woodgrain decals for the dash controls are just as checked as they were 20 years ago.

After I get the interior back in tonight, I'll start removing the squirrel's nests from under the hood.

Thanks for your comments!

Ken,

I've owned my car since May of 1996 and I basically saved it from the crusher...that's where it would have ended up if the moron I bought it from kept it! Until recently, I haven't had the luxury of indoor storage, but I'm happy to say that I do now.

I guess you could say I've been relatively lucky with this car, as it's in pretty good shape for a New England car and I haven't had to scrounge for Stage parts...the idiot I bought this thing from didn't know what he had and pretty much gave me a box full of everything that is Stage, if you will...


As I stated before, I'm NOT going to be that guy...

[Byeoffiser]

Hi Ken,

Regarding the battery comment above, my car was sitting from 1980 to 1997. I had no hope of getting it started but I changed the spark plugs, battery, alternator and the starter, threw in some gas and after a few cranks the original 300 engine fired up.

Many people will tell you which way you should go but in the end keeping it simple, as crazy as it sounds, seems to work. I'm no expert (by any means) but this worked for me.

Below is a picture of the original 300 V8 to show you the rough condition it was in, but it still fired right up. More pictures of my restoration can be found on my website.

Just remember to keep it in neutral.

Dexter

[Yardley]

Ken,

I'll be in CT within the next month (weekend in-law visit), and I'll set aside a few hours on that Saturday to see your ride.

Before you start that thing, I'd drain the gas and have the tank hot-tanked. I'd have the carb rebuilt, and change the oil and filter, trans fluid and filter, radiator flush and blow the stale gas out of the line.

I know... you're looking at $400 - $500, but those items will be among the first to complain if you just started driving it.

Oh, and spin the oil pump with a drill for about a zillion hours to get oil everywhere before you even try spinning it over. You must treat it as if it were a new build and you are firing it up for the 1st time...

Can't wait to see it. I've never even sat in a GSX (Hey GSThunder - all the times I've been to your crib and I've never sat in the white car!?).

[71GSX455-4SPD]

Jeff-

Just sent you a PM.

Let me know what weekend you're coming down and we can try to hook up. You can sit in it, no problem!

I'll try to have it smelling better by the time you come down...

I hear you on the maintenance items. I tried a couple spark plugs and there in there solid. I sprayed them all down with WD40. I also sprayed the carb mounting bolts and the distributor hold down bolt.

I've read that John Osborne is the man for carbs, true? I was also thinking of sending the distributor for a rebuild/HEI conversion to the Ignitionman. I'd rather take my time and do things right than wrong later. Hell, I've waited twenty years, no need to be impatient now!

[Marco]

71GSX455-4SPD said:...I've read that John Osborne is the man for carbs, true?...

Absolutely

I've never heard/read a complaint about the man or his work