70 GS350 4 Speed Coupe - Gulfstream Blue

Tempered glass is unforgiving. Once you mar the surface it explodes. That`s why they make windshields from laminated glass and not tempered.
Tom

 

The 70 GS 350 4spd my mom bought and drove the wheels off of was a 3.23 and came factory equipped (barring no unknown warranty work before purchase in late 71) with a 2.20 first gear muncie! Wonder who ordered that? jt

 

I believe the car has a 3.23 rear gear, and Sloan verified it was ordered new with a Posi.

 

For anyone that missed it, here's the first part of the series from Adam tearing the car down for paint:



Great work, Adam!

 

Very little - I think he covers it in the video, but needs lower front fender patches as well as very bottom corner patches in the rear 1/4s. The car was very clean to start, and pulling apart the interior it looks like it was highly original. We'll see what happens when he starts removing paint!

 

Chris do you have any background or history on the car you could share? Not many small block 4 speed 70s around

 

This car was mentioned in another thread on here in 2022. Dano put me on it, knowing it was my dream combination (350 4sp w/AC, one of 209) and in gulf stream blue. I was able to strike a deal. Ironically I now own another one of the 209 4sp AC cars - green on green.

The car was sold new in Nashville, I have records with it dating back to the early 70s. Engine and trans are matching #s.

 

I'd love a 350 4 speed car. Dano and I have talked about this a couple times, Buick really shot themselves in the foot with the M21 and 3.23 gears, even worse in the later years with 3.08s as standard. I'd bet a cold beer they would have sold way more using an M20 and/or 3.42s. I'm definitely not taking anything away from the car, it's super cool.

 

I've been chasing this one 23 years (chased Troy's GSX 20 years. So this is a record for me). Second owner 4 speed, small block. I'll get it…

 

I recently had the chance to connect with the original owner of my GS and even received a couple of photos from when it was new (or nearly new). Luckily, I’ve had documentation tracing the car back to when it had just 280 miles on it, at the dealership where it was originally sold. Out of curiosity, I looked up the name on the original service records—McCoy Zachry—and found someone by that name, now 79 years old, living near Nashville, where the car was first sold.

On Sunday, I decided to give him a call. The first number rang twice, then disconnected, so I tried another number from the same listing—completely dead. Something about that first "ring, ring, click" seemed odd, so I called it again. This time, someone answered: "Hello?" I asked for McCoy, and the voice replied, "Who's calling?" I introduced myself and explained I was calling about a blue 1970 Buick GS that I believed belonged to McCoy. He immediately chuckled and said, "That's me." What are the odds?

It turns out he ordered the car new while stationed in Vietnam. His wife placed the order and paid the deposit, so the car was waiting for him in Nashville when he returned in the summer of 1970. He loved the car and even drove it to Florida once. His only complaint was the clutch paired with the high rear gear ratio—it needed more gear out back, in his opinion. Interestingly, I still have several service records for clutch adjustments from that time. He eventually sold the car around 1974 or 1975 when they had their first child. Amazingly, it was the last new car he ever owned.

I’m thrilled to have uncovered the history of this GS all the way back to when it was new. This kind of discovery is what makes this hobby so special.

 

Hey Chris, Brent Hunter here, I’m wondering if you discussed with McCoy about bringing the car to see him when it’s done at BG in a year or so?

 

It's a great idea - I was thinking yesterday, whether it's BG or just taking the car over to him in TN to reunite - I'm going to have to find a way to get him back together with the car. It's tool cool of a story not to. A reunion 55 years in the making.

 

WOW thats really a rarity. Very nice surprise to not find anything really bad. I cant wait to see this car done I bet its going to look fantastic. So nice to see someone show a 350 car some love.

 

Yea gotta go take the ole timer for ride for sure

 

I'd let him drive it.

 

Doesn’t look like a lot of rust repair will be needed. Solid car!