https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1970-O...h=item2f293002c5:g:I3MAAOSwO-pcLDPX:rk:7:pf:0 Item specifics Condition: New other (see details) Brand: Buick Placement on Vehicle: Right Manufacturer Part Number: #5716870 GR 10.527 Surface Finish: Chrome Other Part Number: #5716871 GR 10.527 Country/Region of Manufacture: United States Up for bid are Rare NOS Outer door handles for 1970 ONLY Buick GS/GSX Skylark Stage 1 cars. The difference between these and later year cars is they are thicker than the 71 and newer cars and you can tell immediately when you grab a hold of them. Please remember these are almost 50 years old so don't buy them if you need show car quality chrome as GM is known for their flaws, However these are extremely nice and really hard to find.
I couldn't tell you. In my March 73 book, its the same number from 70-72. Who knows, they may very well be thicker. But honestly who the hell cares? And who is really going to notice that? I own all three years and I couldn't tell you a 70 door handle from feel from a 71/72 Hard to justify even a fraction of that price for NOS ones when nice repro's are $70/ pair.
The earlier handles were thicker in the area where you grab than the 73 and later style. This was not just for Buick's, but for all GM models that used that style of handle. So, to answer the question, yes they are different but I've never deducted a point for such.
Well, it's partly true...there's some truth there. 1970 GS door handles were "fat" handles as far as I know. I did a lot of research on this before. You can easily spot them if you know. You will see many people say this handle # fits this car and these things were superseded untold times. The proof of that is the black + yellow box. If you know GM parts, you can somewhat tell by the packaging the age of the part. B + y boxes are like early 60's. There are lists around the internet that somewhat sort the handles out, and it is truly a crazy thing! Like "fat" handles were used on early Camaros. Like you would think a 70 Chevelle, Elky, GTO, 442 and GS handles are all the same. They're not the same. It's related to the angle of the door skin. Another crazy thing is the gaskets, I think there are like 12-20 or so different gaskets. Same for the buttons, they are different. That's the truth of it. But, they are definitely not GS only handles. That's also the truth. They are worth what someone will pay.
Very hard to find the "fat" handles if you are doing a car that you want to be 100% correct. Depends on your mind set. A lot of folks are OK with repro parts, but other's want the real part. That said if you are doing a BEATER then repro, or superceded parts are fine. It's a personal thing, so repro tail lights, gaskets, door gaskets etc may be fine for some, while others want the original parts. Each individual needs to be the judge.
Frank, That's cool info that I was unaware of. Jaso - you're 1000% right in terms of pricing but I guess it's worth whatever someone would pay. I'll stick with nice, used OEM stuff.
Seriously?!! Is the madness NEVER going to stop? Thank you for sharing gentlemen. “Hey Fritzeeeee? Add another 70 only item preferably pitted to the poor touring list!” Nice to learn more info but humbling. Have felt a difference but never connected till now. Very cool information,thanks Fritzenoob out ; )
You know there is a thing called re-chroming. The ones on my 71 GSX are re-chromed originals, as are the ones on the 69 Motion car. You can still find nice original cores from either out west or down in Texas for reasonable prices. Then get them re-chromed and still be way under the price of this NOS stuff, plus you get a few benefits; 1. You can save a $hit pot of money 2. You end up with better chrome then the originals ever had 3. You are using Original parts that no one can ever tell you are wrong, and if they try to do that, it will simply show their ignorance, and 4. You get to recycle old parts that would otherwise hit the landfills Even if you have a couple hundred dollars into them it's still worth it to be correct on a Concours car. Certain things you may need to buy NOS if possible, these parts are not one of them. Someone is going to pay $1500 for a pair of boxes. Duane
I think 70 was the last year for those. You can send your originals out for plating for a lot less, that's what Dave did for his GSX. If you are knee deep in resources like me, there are other GM numbers that are the same. As mentioned in the ad, GM chrome was never flawless, show chrome. But, because of the chemicals used back then the chrome has a different look than what's done today.
Have a box full of originals, $10 ea and up. These pics are of a 70 Chev full size and 69 Electra to show what is in the U pull it's once in a while, even today.
Nice stuff! There's a guy at the GS nats that sells California parts. Its incredible how clean that stuff is.
I think I will contact him and offer a NOS set I have for $1000. If they are worth What hes asking he should jump on it and make a quick $500.
All right "chrome door handle aficionado's" so were 69 a one year only or is 68 69 the same and 70 different or the same? Also are all the GM A body handles the same or origionaly was a 69 Buick , Chevy , Pontiac , Oldsmobile all the same? with the different door skin angles ?
According to Nick the 68 handles are different then the 69 handles. They sat on the door skins at a different angle. 70 door handles are different then the 68 & 69, again due to the different door skin, so they needed to be set on a different angle again. The 70-72 door handles would all have the same angle, but according to some on the board the 71-72 handles had a different thickness in the grip area. (I never got into it that far.) I would be cautious to take the word of any parts book as gospel, as they may simple designate the fact that some handles could be used on other applications. I also never bothered to note down any numbers on the handles, but would suggest that it would be better, as in more accurate, to write down the numbers of "known" originals and use them as references instead of taking some book as correct. It would be nice if someone did the homework for this and posted a thread here listing all the numbers. If it would be made into a sticky that would be even better. So who has the time and can step up to the plate? Duane
