1969 Stage 1 - Hemmings Auction

https://www.hemmings.com/auction/1969-buick-gs400-andover-mn-633809

 

Having the invoice listing the Stage 1 option and the Protect-O-Plate with the BB code are nice pieces of documentation for this '69. I really like that it is reported to have original paint and it appears to be in good condition. It appears to have been delivered with standard 14x6 steel wheel and small hub caps. I like this car! It's a bummer that the original 400 Stage 1 block is gone but the ad states "...the factory Quadrajet, the distributor, coil, and the exhaust manifolds are also included in the sale" so at least those components could be reinstalled.

I'm still learning about the '68-'69 models so I'm curious, is this how the factory installed power antenna was fastened to the trunk floor? On top of the mat? Or is the mat cut so it can be removed without taking the antenna loose at the bottom?



He traded in a '66 GS to get this '69 Stage 1.

 

Very cool car! Not very many automatic/manual steering cars and then to add disk brakes! Plus rear def., tilt, rallye wheel, rallye-ride, AM/FM/Elec. antenna. No vinly top, Verde Green, buckets/console & supposedly rust-free. If I was going to own a stepchild, this would be a top candidate. Good thing I can't afford the car!

 

Oh boy. Thanks for posting Chris.

 

Time for another Buick Brian?!! I could live vicariously through you for now & maybe be in a position to buy it from you someday.

 

Dano I’m practicing my speech to my wife “Honey forgive me. I bid on a car not expecting to be the high bidder and I accidentally won it.”

Being realistic here, this is a very appealing ‘69 and I think the reserve will be high and the bidding might go surprisingly high too. I don’t think we are about to witness a bargain.

 

I'd do that too if I had the $ to bid, lol. I just practice the answers to "how many cars do you have?" to which I answer "They're just very large parts." I'll try that on zoning too if they ever show up. "Define 'car' please." Or I'll tell her I'm going to pick up parts & come home w/a car (or part of one): "It's just a collection of parts bolted together."

 

Would also look very nice sitting next to @Daves69's Verde Green '69 convertible!

 

Nope....
My convertible will be Burgundy Mist!

 

I tried a 3rd bid at the last minute that did not go through - I don't think anyone's did - because of the Hemmings site. It showed a spinning wheel, calculating last minute bids and then the previous standing bid of $17,500 came and went followed by a "server error".

Now it's a $39,600 / make offer.

 

In checking my emails, and looking back at the bids for the auction, it does indeed show my last minute bid as being the highest bid. In the end, reserve not met kept me out of the game.

8k plus views. 143 watchers. 8 different bidders / 3 different "repeat bidders" in the final hour

Any seller should be pretty happy with those numbers. I'll say this, I think it was an honest auction.

We are a long way apart.

$39,600 puts this car in a direct $$$ comp with where Nick's blue car, market wise, is right now.

https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/1969-buick-gs-400-stage-1.387890/


I can't wrap my head around that.

If the blue car is at 42k, I am making the following deductions for this one: 20% non numbers engine, 10% manual steering, 10% incorrect parts under hood, and another 2k for wheels and tires. That puts me around $23,600 which is smack in the middle of a range a good stepchild buddy valued this green machine at without any conversation. Another stepchild guru I conversed with would have me in too deep already @ 20.5 plus fees.

I want this car but I refuse to be stupid about getting back in the game, especially if I am going to marry a step child.

 

Smart move Brian. I spoke with someone about this one and I think my evaluation was around $20,000, IIRC… if it had a numbers matching M-21, with all of the correct 4 speed parts, then maybe $23,000…
I feel that the step children “love” is wearing off, and prices for them are starting to drop. 2-3 years ago, Nick would’ve had no problem selling the blue car for his asking price.

 

Come on Brian, you know you want it,pony up, you love the stepkids. I've done stupider things with these cars. lol

 

To me a rust free possible original paint car should command a premium price unless someone has documentation of the restoration .
We all know how much metal work is. I know of someone that bought a car for $70,000. Car looks great but he decides to repaint for a color change. Takes it to a high quality restoration shop and of course they want to strip it to bare metal to guarantee their work. Gets a phone call from the shop to better come and look at his car. They ended up replacing every panel on that car.

 

Buyer beware. All you gotta do is look at the Cougar posted a couple of weeks ago. You can feel confident about this car's condition. I agree, however Nick's car is my comp, and unless you just love patina, that's got to be a nicer looking car side by side.

 

Offers are automatically refused if not accepted in 48 hours. He let 27k come and go. Maybe if that engine was fresher than my freshman year of high school, lol

 

If the highest auction bid was $20.500 , might wanna take that $27,000 thousand dollars .

 

Agreed - Like Brian, I'd probably (over?) pay @ $27k because I really like the car & maybe a Hemmings auction vs. BAT/Mecum doesn't get as much exposure (i.e. not as high a price) but the right price is probably somewhere in between.

 

Damn. I was hoping you'd wind up w/it & I could live vicariously.

 

I was willing to go 23.6 - halfway.

In fact, if you look I did make him the 23.6 offer, and if he's reading this, it will stand until September. The car will go to someone who appreciates it and not some flipper or guy from the eastern European block.