1970 Buick GS Stage 1 (Orig. Show Car?)

Yep, real deal. Only a couple of numbers in VIN and body number from mine. I've got all I can handle now as it is.

 

Sure can. Mine is, at least. They were titled, VIN'd etc. I have plates on mine and have since I bought it in 1978. I now have Permanent Historical plates. "Back in the day", things were a lot looser with these types of things.

 

I seem to recall that story. John said that he drove it in his socks so he didn't get the white carpet dirty

 

Yep. That was s correct. Mine was also driven as an everyday car for several years. Street raced too!

 

I remember seeing yours in one of the muscular publications back in the 80's (along with the black GSX) but forget how you stumbled upon it? Or them?

 

Well, no real mystery, just at the right place at the right time. A good friend (Kevin) of mine had bought the Prototype from a friend of his (John) who, neglecting to tell mom & dad he had dropped out of school, needed to unload the car. He had bought it from Greer Rouda, the son of Harley E. Rouda, a prominent realtor in Columbus. Kevin needed to sell something as he had the GSX, a 1969 Boss 302 and a brand new (at the time) 1978 Ford Econoline 1 ton box van and was making car payments on all three. Remember, 1978 was dismal as far as the economy was concerned. Interest rates were in the teens, at best. It was not a good time to be heavily in debt with car loans. Something had to go. I was there and he named his price, which was to pay off the GSX's loan ($1850.00). I had to borrow $2200 as the GSX needed tires...badly. Borrowed the money (I was 20 years old at the time...my parents were having a fit!) and never looked back. True story.

The Black GSX also was owned by a good friend, Marty. A mutual friend of Marty's and mine (Mike) saw the Black car in a used car lot near Ashville, Ohio, between Columbus and Circleville, Ohio. Mike reported back to us his findings and Marty and I went down to check it out. We were prepared, as I had hooked up my open trailer behind the '72 Electra, ready to take her home. This was about 1981 or so. I need to say, Marty owned a 1979 Mustang GT 5.0 that was a giant turd. He was ready to see that thing go bye-bye in a big way. Well, when we got to the used car lot, there was this 1971 GSX painted Black. Never had seen one, but it did look correct. Back in those days, no one had heard of a GSX in any color other than white or yellow. Well, like I said, Marty was ready to DUMP this turd of a Mustang and was willing to PAY to make the switch. The old guy that ran the car lot offered to PAY MARTY money to make the deal. Titles flew and, while Marty was finishing up paperwork, the owner told us we had to get the car out of there...NOW. Someone else was supposed to come and buy the car in 15 minutes. Being the good friend I am, I offered to drive the car a couple of miles up the road (to Ashville, Ohio), park behind a gas staton and Marty would meet me there. I flew up the road, ditched the car behind the building and waited for Marty. About 25 minutes later, he pulled up in the Electra with trailer in tow. He got out of the car, busting out laughing, telling me the guy SHOWED UP as he was walking out the door!! We switched keys and drove home. A few years later, Marty decided to sell the car. I had always told him I wanted to buy it when he was ready. He let me know he was ready and I talked my dad into buying it so we could enjoy a hobby TOGETHER. Dad traveled a ton when I was growing up and I really never got to see him too much. That car was the means for me to get to know my dad really well.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.