**Links at bottom to videos and 100+ photos** Hoping this car goes to a board member. I prefer not to deal with the FB trolls. After much deliberation, I’ve decided to part with my ’72 Stage 1 convertible. Yes, this car was discussed on the board, however inaccurately, before I bought it. It is Sloan documented as 1 of 8 fire red with white top and interior, 1 of 3 produced with no radio and the only dealer demo car. Other than the oddity of no radio, it’s heavily optioned, including A/C, cruise, power windows, power locks, N25 bumper, rallye ride and handling package, tilt column, rallye steering wheel, sport mirrors, rallye gauges, speed alert, 24 hr clock, soft ray tinted glass. Somewhere along the line a correct AM/FM radio was installed but I bought an NOS block off plate for the restoration. As mentioned, the car was ordered as a dealer demo and it remained in the possession of the owner of Straub Buick in Keyport, NJ for many years. He accumulated quite a lot of NOS GM parts, which will be included, along with an additional $12k+ of parts that I’ve bought since purchasing the car. Pretty much all the major parts needed for the restoration are included, plus many extras - all of my Buick parts. The car needs a cosmetic restoration but runs and shifts very well. It has 79k original miles, has good oil pressure, no smoke or noises and doesn’t get hot. It’s all numbers matching, including the WS block, BB transmission, 1112016 distributor, 7042242 carburetor and the original date coded alternator, and it’s still running the original Stage 1 fuel pump. The car is complete, I removed the bumpers and interior when I bought it to better asses the condition. The top frame and header bow are in great shape and the power top raises and lowers smoothly. Although it runs and shifts well, it's obviously not a driver. When the prior owner became ill, the car sat in a building with a leaking roof. Rain came through the rear window and caused the trunk pan and lower quarters to rust. The rest of the car is extremely solid, including the frame, floors, rockers, deck lid, doors, jambs, cowl, firewall, pillars, etc. The car is in original paint, so all the areas of concern are visible and nothing is hidden. The original hood was stolen and the thieves also broke the GS emblem out of the grill. The blue hood is from a 1970 GS, and is in excellent condition, one of the nicest originals I’ve seen, and still in original paint with no rust or damage. I bought a pop-up spring section from a ’71-’72 hood if the next owner wishes to graft it in or simply swap the more desirable 1970 hood for a ’71-‘72. The dash pad has no cracks, isn’t warped and all the gauges work. The a/c system is still pressurized, and the compressor turns on and runs quietly. The Pontiac wheels in the photos aren’t included. I have four good rollers. The parts listed below with a dollar amount are ones I’ve bought since purchasing the car. Parts include: NOS GM full quarter panels NOS GM left and right fenders NOS GM front & rear bumpers NOS GM core support and inner fender ($1200) NOS GM headlight bezels ($800) NOS GM grill Complete Legendary interior ($4000 and a year wait) 4 New Wheel Vintique 15”x7” wheels ($1400) New correct Spectra fuel tank ($350) Extra very nice ’72 fan shroud ($225) NOS block off plate ($250) Extra super clean deck lid Extra GS rocker moldings Original GM full trunk pan and drops from rust-free AZ car ($1600) ’71-’72 hood pop-up spring section ($150) Extra ‘71 N25 bumper ($800) Aftermarket trunk pan kit 2 Stage 1 fuel pumps ($250) 1972 ram air cleaner assembly, no damage ($700) Three Goodyear F60 15” tires NOS ’72 choke stove ($225) Very nice set of hood scoops, grills, and seal plates ($350) Excellent original N25 tips NOS tilt & turn signal levers w/cruise ($200) New timing cover ($350) Complete correct smog assembly ($275) Bumper impact strips ($250) Plus many more small NOS and good used parts. The car does not need full quarters or new fenders. My plan was to buy a pair of aftermarket quarters and use the lower sections for repair. The driver side fender has no rust and the passenger side has a small section of rust in the lower dog leg, which is easily patchable. The NOS fenders and quarters can be sold for a tidy sum. Car is located in Melbourne, Florida. Anyone seriously interested can call me at 321-243-6685. $35K Photos: https://lizcowiephotography.client-gallery.com/gallery/1972-stage-1-convertible Running videos: https://youtube.com/shorts/y5qZskteOEs?si=gPJH0c9vBfO1sZg-
I remember a car similar to that one--oh, yeah, it was mine and you walked out to the parking lot with me to see it in about 198x...funny! I have personally seen Donny's car and most of the parts. If anyone is wanting to do a resto, this is a "resto in a box" so to speak. Your job will be doing the work and reaching for the correct NOS part when you are ready to install it. If I were not older than dirt, I would consider it, especially at the price offered. We all know that the world has FINALLY awakened to our cars and they are bringing in the $$ they deserve. Thanks, Donny, for waving this in front of me NOW when I am way too old to do it. For those who are thinking about it, here is mine when I was "finished" with it. This one, other than the color of the top and interior, is what you will have when it is completed. I can't see why anyone wouldn't want yours in their garage. Cheers, buddy, and best of luck with the sale! I am jealous of the buyer already...
Thanks Richard. Your car was my inspiration for wanting to do this one. Really bummed I can’t see it through but, you know how that goes. No matter how much planning we do, there still things outside of our control.
Now listed on eBay https://www.ebay.com/itm/1160856124...7QYe_jTQKi&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Adam- I agree.... And I have had a few fleeting thoughts about buying this one... Even asked the "farmer" his thoughts... 1. Can't do another project... Just can't. 2. Just can't get over the 72 bumpers, interior, grille. 3. I cannot buy another project.. 4. I would be lynched by my kids, my family, and the GF... Actually, she would probably castrate me if I bought another one..
First, I hear you loud and clear. I would do it myself, but at my age...plus, all the people I have used to help me in the past are gone--retired, passed on, etc. The sad part is that all the "fun" parts-hunting is already done, so now it is just a matter of having the room and tools to pop off that body and blast the frame and body down to metal. Once THAT is done, it is pretty much just construction and paint from there. Clearly the top is an issue for most of us, but some on here have figured out the secrets. As for the upholstery and grill, I loved my 1970 and '71, but I really do like both of those areas in the '72. Sure, the '70 grill is meaner, but the '72, with 3 colors, is more refined. As for the upholstery, I think the '70 is a bit plain in comparison to the '72, but that's just me. White under red is just a wonderful combo in '72. I ordered black, but if doing it again, I would have gotten white. Anyway, I wish I could since I know what it will be when it is done...SO, I hope someone on here with the room goes for it. The selling prices today, if that ever is a necessity, are finally up there, but of course none of us do it for that... Cheers!
A few have had that same thought. Suprised nobody has pulled the trigger. One could sell the included parts not needed for the eventual resto & be into the car for a very reasonable amount for a loaded, #'s matching, running/driving Stage 1 convertible. If I had the space/$, Donny's post here never would've happened.
I have these, I’m 60, We have to get the next generation involved. I want to finish my 16 project cars when I retire but if I can’t I’ll give some away. I sold a 66 442 4 spd. Car 8 years ago for $400. The guy had everything to complete it and now it’s a car. He told me I was an idiot. I laughed the guy who gave it to me made me promise I wouldn’t part it out. If you need money sale your **** if not enjoy it and have fun. Please leave a plan for your family, I have a paper tag with a price and date on every part. A lot of work but my wife is happy and I get laid once a month.
That redline is the original spare off a club member’s stage 1 rag top 4 speed car, I held it for twenty years hoping to get the car and it got into the preferred club and I missed out on it. I still gave it to the current owner.
Sorry to all I saw this deal and my god it’s a give away, if I was to buy anything this is the best deal in the last twenty years. I’m done.
On or outside of eBay? Someone got a deal IMHO. Based on my post above, ppl weren't thinking this deal through.
Glad someone on here bought it. Can't wait to see how it turns out! Please post as you make progress if you choose to. Cheers!
Congrats Donny! It was very tempting- to the point that I reached out to Adam and Ethan to get rough quotes for the bodywork…. Congratulations!!!!
Congratulation on your sale.I waited too long to bid.Was leery of shill bidding. My bad congrats again Alain platinum 442 4spd A/C
