What did I mistakenly buy? GM oem Pn 9658816, was supposed to fit an Apollo

Discussion in 'Junkyard Jewels' started by Carry Gross, Nov 18, 2016.

  1. Carry Gross

    Carry Gross Well-Known Member

    Quite a few years ago, I purchased a rubber filler panel that was supposed to be for an Apollo. Nosgm.com shows it for an Apollo along with 1973 A body cars. It definitely does not fit an Apollo. I finally located an Apollo part number service guide, and this part number is not even in the ballpark for an Apollo. The sticker on it says "Genuine General Motors Parts, 1 # 9658816 -strip gr 12 940. How do you guys look this stuff up? I've surfed the net and come up short every time, except for the Nosgm site and it has to be wrong. Thanks for any help or advice.
    Mods - was going to put this under x-body forum, but I don't think its an x-body part. Was not sure what forum best applied, Thanks
     
  2. ragtops

    ragtops Gold Level Contributor

    Not in my parts book. I have 2 books, one effective 69 and one effective 83, not in either on these.
     
  3. ctlikon

    ctlikon Well-Known Member

    So, with what Bad Boattail posted it looks like its description is a little convoluted. In 1973 the Apollo was an X body but the description lists the A body cars. Its probably for the A body Century. Post a pic.
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2016
  4. Carry Gross

    Carry Gross Well-Known Member

    Thanks for checking your books on this. I will post a pic of the part in question I hope tonight. I also think its from a 73 Century, but that's just a guess. 73 Century is an A-body isn't it? And the regal for 73 is a G-body? Ive always thought they were the same platform in that year. Heck, I don't know :Do No: Ran across H.A.M.B. on Jalopyjournal.com and spent a lot of time on it last night. Good reference sight for a lot of parts, but didn't help in this case. I think a pic will help.
     
  5. Carry Gross

    Carry Gross Well-Known Member

    SAM_1477.jpg SAM_1478.jpg SAM_1479.jpg
    Yey! I think I did it! I think I finally learned how to post a pic, notice my join date. Thanks for the offer Erik, thought for sure Id have to send them to you.
     
  6. stagedgs

    stagedgs 1967 GS400

    The A-body nomenclature stayed with the Century until the platform turned FWD in the early 80s. That's when the RWD G-body platform came into being.
     
  7. GSX 554

    GSX 554 Gold Level Contributor

    73 shop manual and Fisher body manual make no mention of the Apollo for 73. Only lists " A , B C and E bodies for Buick . Although the Fisher Body manual noes list the Omega under Olds , Ventura under Pontiac and Nova under Chevy as all being " X" bodies.
     
  8. ctlikon

    ctlikon Well-Known Member

    I mistakenly said G body in my earlier post, I have corrected that. Thanks to everyone for pointing that out. There is some confusion about there being a 73 Apollo. I had a friend who had one, not sure why the fisher body manual doesn't list one. Maybe it was a late 73 release but his Vin showed it to be a 73. Here is a wiki about Apollo's, I'm aware that wiki can be edited and sometime can be in error but this supports my opinion about 73 X body Apollo's.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Apollo
     
  9. Carry Gross

    Carry Gross Well-Known Member

    FullSizeRender.jpg Thanks guys, lots of good info that I find interesting. Had no idea that the century a body platform was used for so many years. Over 28,000 74 2 door coupe Apollo's made (where did they all go? My guess, scrap yard by the early 80s). Buick sold over 800k cars in 73, not even 500k in 74. Looks like they were on a slippery slope at that point (used the wiki links on this info). Yes, in the part number service guide I have there are many different part numbers between the 73 and 74 Apollo. Mainly from the front of the radiator core support forward, different part numbers for darn near everything. I thought they were the same at least somewhat. So if I need a part in that area, and want it to be correct, I'm looking for a part that was only made for 1 year, for 1 specific car. 43 years ago. with no aftermarket availability. Not easy.
     
  10. newmexguy

    newmexguy Well-Known Member

    One of the problems with the post '72 cars is that customers for these parts always zero in on the parts that don't exist - i.e. bumper and fender fillers. And interior plastics. Parts that did not exist prior to '73. Believe that there are suppliers in places such as Hemmings and JC Whitney, making these fillers. Quality? Now that is another whole story.
     
  11. Carry Gross

    Carry Gross Well-Known Member

    Newmexguy, your exactly right, its the parts that deteriorate over time that are the items we (well I) zero in on. Saw an Apollo on the NewMexico craigslist last night. Red 2 door coupe with white bucket seats, 350, 74k miles, running and driving car, that went from 5k last week to 2k or best offer yesterday. Today its gone from what I can tell.
     
  12. Carry Gross

    Carry Gross Well-Known Member

    Ok, all done, l 1973 Century, Century Lexus, and Regal models except station wagon.
     
  13. nekkidhillbilly

    nekkidhillbilly jeffreyrigged youtube channel owner

    iirc 78-80 regals are a bodies even. 81 was there year g body got slung into the mix.
     
  14. newmexguy

    newmexguy Well-Known Member

    The "A" body Fisher designation was "stolen" during 1981 for the then upcoming FWD '82 models - Celebrity, Pontiac 6000, Century, etc. Today, those cars are almost never restored/fixed up, while "G" body suppliers of resto parts have emerged.
     
  15. newmexguy

    newmexguy Well-Known Member

    Which craigslist was the car on? Santa Fe or Albuquerque? Even at 2K that is a tough sell here most want a chevy. Did it have a Buick engine, or the Chevy or Olds??
     
  16. Carry Gross

    Carry Gross Well-Known Member

    Sorry ,its El Paso not New Mexico. Wanted 4800 now its 2k or best offer. Same in this area, most prefer a chevy. Would like to have its console and bucket seats though.
     
  17. newmexguy

    newmexguy Well-Known Member

    That car is indeed still on the El Paso CL. (As of yesterday). I would try one of the Nova sites for seats/Consoles. Have had a few restorable late X buckets, could not sell any of them, except for the tracks. Dumped them at Desert Valley. (77 Omega).
     
  18. newmexguy

    newmexguy Well-Known Member

    As a postscript, did notice some usable interior plastics from the '74 Apollo coupe currently in the West El Paso U Pull. (Rio Grande Auto). I have bought the A pillar covers, the B pillar covers, visors, seat belt parts, and the passenger plastic section above the passenger door. the interior sail panels (C pillar) and interior rear Quarter panels were cracked but usable. To be honest, largely due to the fact they are correct for 73-74 Nova. Never have seen any of these even extent on a U pull it junker down here.
     

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