Help with my 1971 Skylark decoding

Discussion in 'The "Paper Trail"' started by Fabinho, Apr 24, 2017.

  1. Fabinho

    Fabinho Member

    Hi guys

    awesome Buick Forum here, spent already a lot of time reading some many posts.

    I am from Switzerland and an owner of a 1971 Buick Skylark.

    The only thing I know at the moment is the following VIN Number:
    433371H140744

    4 = Buick
    33 = Skylark L6
    37 = 2 Door Hardtop Coupe
    1 = 1971
    H = Flint, MI
    140744 = Production Number

    I bought it from the US but the seller removed lot of parts, including dash pad, moldings and and and ...that's why I try to find out how my car looked like 1971

    My questions:
    1) how can I find out if my car had original 2 bucket seats or one big one?
    2) how can I find out if my car had an A/C or not?
    3) how can I find out if my car had a vinyl hardtop or not?
    4) how can I find out which Model I have? (Model 43327 Two-Door Coupe? Model 43337 Two Door Sport Coupe? Model 44437 Two Door Sport Coupe?)

    If I know which car I exactly have then I can start my little restoration (especially the dash pad; no idea which one I need)

    Many thanks for your help

    Cheers from Switzerland
    Fabian
     
  2. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    Post a picture of your cowl tag. Some of the information you seek is reflected there.


    1) how can I find out if my car had original 2 bucket seats or one big one? ( I do not recall buckets were an option for a plain skylark without an SCO)

    2) how can I find out if my car had an A/C or not? ( Presence of AC controls marked on the dash or AC box mounted on the firewall; AC code on cowl tag)

    3) how can I find out if my car had a vinyl hardtop or not? ( Holes for top trim mounts around C pillar or vinyl top code on cowl tag)

    4) how can I find out which Model I have?

    Model 43327 Two-Door Coupe? (Your car is "37" and not a "27" which means there is no frame around the door windows)
    Model 43337 Two Door Sport Coupe? (This is your car)
    Model 44437 Two Door Sport Coupe? ( Per the info you posted your car is a "33" and not a "44" skylark custom )
     
  3. Fabinho

    Fabinho Member


    Hi Jim

    Thanks for your reply.

    cowl tag; I guess this one should be inside when I open the door? Because this plate was missing as well.

    2) the pre-owner put everything out, so I have only an empty dash pad with a strange construction self-made by the pre-owner. The construction blows out warm heat, that's all. Trying to upload some pictures.
    4) Model 43337 two door sport coupe ....I have a V8 350 engine 5.7l ...could it be that the engine is then another one and my model is the 43337 with another engine? Because in a book I saw for Model 43337 the engine is 250L6?

    on the pictures you see that he removed everything including the radio.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    Either engine was available.

    The VIN tag is what you are referencing incorrectly as being inside the door. On your car it is recessed in the dash pad on the drivers side near the windshield glass. .

    The cowl tag is on the firewall under the hood on the upper part of the driver's side.

    It looks like it may have been an AC car.
     
  5. Fabinho

    Fabinho Member


    I see, the VIN I see also from outside, near the windshields. Will have a look this evening about it. The number above I gave was the number I got on the contract when I bought the car. And for the cowl tag I have to open the hood, got it.

    Because of the A/C: here in Switzerland I would need to blow cold/hot air to front windshields, as in summer when it's hot outside and it's started to rain then the front window will be fogged (sorry for my english, hope you know what I mean), so the cold/warm air blowes the fogg away. Any idea how I can do that? Was thinking of removing the "heating stuff" from the pre-owner and putting in a complete new a/c kit?
     
  6. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    Your English is better than my French which I was taught for 3 years but 50+ years back in time.

    Hard to say without seeing what you have left in detail. Is the factory AC compressor still mounted under the hood?
     
  7. Fabinho

    Fabinho Member

    haha, thanks

    these pictures I have from inside the engine bay ...not sure if it's possible to find that out only with the pictures.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    Fabino --I regret to inform you that a parts ferret has struck your Skylark.
     
  9. Fabinho

    Fabinho Member

    that means?
     
  10. buford27

    buford27 '57 Special

    433371H140744
    4 = Buick
    33 = Skylark
    37 = 2-door hardtop coupe
    1 = 1971
    H = built at Flint
    140744 = sequential number, range for 1971 Flint V8 cars was 100,001 to 217,402

    If the car originally had an L6 this number would be in the 6xx,xxx range. Buick changed the VIN number scheme in 1967 so digits 2 and 3 no longer coded for the engine type (33 in this case, which would indicate V6 in 1965-1966 only). For 1967-1971 V6 and L6 cars all fall into the 6xx,xxx range with each plant starting at 600001 for six cylinder cars and 100001 for eight cylinder cars. Sorry, I don't have a picture of a Flint built L6 car VIN, but a Fremont built one is attached.

    1962 was the first year for the six cylinder engine (after six cylinder production ended for the 1930 model year) and 1972 was the first year the VIN contained a digit that identified the specific engine the car came with. So, for 1962-1971 you can tell if your car came with a six or eight cylinder engine from the serial number or VIN using this:

    -For 1962-1964, if the first digit of the serial number is a letter (A, B, or C), then the car came with a V6

    -For 1962-1964, if the first digit of the serial number is a number (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, or 8), then the car came with a V8

    -For 1965-1966, if the third digit of the VIN is an odd number, then the car came with a V6

    -For 1965-1966, if the third digit of the VIN is an even number, then the car came with a V8

    -For 1967-1971, if the 8th digit of the VIN is a 6, then the car came with a six cylinder engine

    -For 1967-1971, if the 8th digit is anything other than a 6, then the car came with an eight cylinder engine
     

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    Last edited: Apr 24, 2017
  11. Fabinho

    Fabinho Member

    many thanks buford; as I understand your text correctly than it shows that my VIN refers to a Buick Skylark 2 door coupe with a eight cylinder, built at Flint, MI

    Today I will also try to find out which number the engine has (if I can find the number on it)



    how can I now find out which climate control was inside my car? so that I can try to find the correct one? do I have the heater and defroster control or the climate control?
     
  12. Fabinho

    Fabinho Member

    i mean do I need the left or the right control?
     

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