Why do they call some skylarks "stepchilds"?

I have no idea why the engineers dropped the extra tongue for the 69 frames. I just deal with the aftermath of their decisions.

As far as the Buick A-body Coupe frame appearances,

68 (with the extra tongue)
69 (radiused over the outside edge, over the rear axle)
70 (no radius over the rear axle)
71-72 (I believe looked the same as a 70 but had extra piercings on the rear piece for the added rear bumper braces)

Then you had the thicker steel front sections for the BB Coupes, and the Convertible frames.
That should do it for the 2-door Buick A-bodies, that is all except the one for the 70 GSX Truck.
Duane

 

There is also something else to note here about the frames. Sometimes the changes did not take place at the beginning of the production years. There are quite a few instances where very early 70 production models were still using 69 frames. There were also changes made during the model year. Some early 70 BB Coupe cars had a "CC" frame, which was changed to the "BW" frame later in the year.

Because the GSX's are so popular, therefore heavily scrutinized, it shifts the attention to the last half of the production year. If you base all your info off that time period, you would have some real problems with trying to figure out the early 70 cars.

Now back to the 68-69's.
Duane

 

Duane,

I'm pretty sure my '69 GS California (built on the Special Deluxe chassis) has the tongue on the front frame. I have no reason to believe the frame was ever changed before I got it.

 

Like I said in my above post not all changes took place at the start of the model years. You could always check the date and letter codes on your frame and match them up to the ID plate on the firewall. That would let you know if it is original to your car.
Duane

 

Put WIDE tires on the rear. STOCK tires on front. NO skinnies on front.
That makes the wide rear body contour look functional and neccessary. Makes them look like a badass muscle car.
20 some years ago, I saw a solid black one at GS nationals and I kept repeatedly walking by it. It really impressed me.
Will never forget that, and finally realised why.

 

If I had a 68, I would get the cowl induction cold air option. Someone on this site made copies.
That cold air is good as octane booster to calm detonation, improves mileage, and adds horsepower power to boot.
That also makes your stepchild even more unique and still "stock appearing"
You already have the excellent and beautiful air grabber at the base of your windshield!

 

One more thing.
The 2 chrome strips on the 68 trunk?
Look at the trunk of a 58 Corvette!
Nice!

 

Was the tongue a protection type of thing kinda like a skid plate?

 

It was probably that, besides being ugly.
Duane

 

LOL!

 

I have known guys to cut them off and finish the frames to look like the 69 units.

They were trying to save a little weight.
Duane

 

The 68’s rougher lines , “ corpulent quarter panels “, and abundance of 1 year only trim and interior pieces make for a polarizing type of car. Having owned 4 GS’s /skylark custom stepchildren people don’t run up to these cars heaping praise on them . Many times I’ve watched people look the cars over from every angle , then blurt out “ I forgot how good these cars looked “. Passers by occasionally still yell “ nice Cutlass “ or “ what year chevelle “? Their uniqueness in-my opinion is what gives them their character.

 

guess who's coming to dinner?
The convertibles lines truncate the corpulent fenders at the top, giving the side another horizontal line there to balance.


Saw this on f book and took another giant leap down crazy boulevard. 3sp manual on the floor, no PS, no PB.
beat and needs everything. Frame off folly to follow.

 

When my daughter saw it for the first time she went, "Wow! I really love this car! It's all swoopy and sh*t!" I was happy I bought it.

(I "had a deal" with a guy for a '68 Wildcat Coopay, but he sold it to someone else. So, I spotted the Stepchild while looking for another 'cat)

 

Nice score Ted!! Is it Blue or Teal Mist? Other than the buckets and consolette does it have any options?

Patrick

 

Go Ted go! I'll be watching for that thread.

 

numbers matching LOL

 

I think it says
B O R E D
T W E N T E T H O U S
not seeing it on the VIN

 

Lol..
I like that they gave the overbore info, but didn't they have a #2 and#0 punch??

 

Good news on numbers…247 quadrajet, looks correct for 68 manual.
Found P R stamped in the block.