Hello, I recently purchased a 1971 GSX, partially restored. Can Someone help me find out if this a factory original or a clone?
1971 with no paper documentation? Very difficult to prove.. Have you looked for the build sheet under the back seat or under the gas tank? Start there first..Is it a stage 1 option car? That may also help.. Randy
Hi Jim- Welcome to the board! First of all, all GSX cars were built in Flint. That means your VIN should have an "H" in it. Also, the VIN should start with 43437, which is for a GS. If it is not, it might be a skylark clone. The GSX was an option on the GS model, so if it does start with 43437, it is at least a GS, so your still in the game. The '71 GSX could be had with a 350, a 455, or the stage 1, so any of those engines is possible. It could have come with a rear sway bar, a hood tach, a front spoiler, or not any of those things. The body number should be relatively low. If you post all the numbers from the cowl tag located under the hood just forward of the windshield, we can interpret those numbers for you. It should have a relatively low body number and the paint code should match up with one of the six available colors. Everything above checking out does not necesarily mean it is a GSX. It more means that the car has the right numbers and color to maybe be a GSX. There is no factory documentation available from an outside source for 1971, so you have to rely on whatever might be in the car. Look under the back seat to see if you find any factory documentation. The other place to look is to drop the gas tank and look on top of it. A code of WA5 on factory documentation bearing your cars VIN number is the only way to verify the car as legit. Good Luck!
Ken... It has been documented that there is a red and black GSX as well...One will never know if there are more than 6 or 8 colors available in 71. The 71 I am referring to was at the GS Nats a few years ago and was in a couple of magazines.
Brad has the one of one black one and Jim Lore posted about the red one awhile back, maybe also a one of one. So, you are correct, Pat, there certainly are exceptions with these cars! I was posting about the six "official" colors of which there are several examples of each. Let's see what his body plate sez and go from there! :TU:
