1972 Buick GS 455 with 1971 Stage 1 Engine & OW THM400

Discussion in 'Cars for sale' started by silvercat, Jun 16, 2017.

  1. silvercat

    silvercat Well-Known Member

    I bought this 1972 Buick GS from a long time V8Buick Member It was 50% restored. Any body work that was required was completed, the body was painted Cortez Gold with a new vinyl top. The drive train was installed after the engine, THM400 transmission and rear end were re-manufactured. After the engine and transmission were re-manufactured, it is my understanding that So I bought the car and had about 50% more to be detailed, restored, assembled or replaced. Seemed like every time I got motivated to work I found that I had either the incorrect parts or I was not sure how to install them correctly.

    I contacted George Nenadovich, a long time and well known V8Buick member about finishing the restoration for me. George was no longer handling restorations so he referred me to Dennis Wheeler another long time V8Buick member and know as Wheelz. Wheelz and I worked out a deal and I hauled the car from San Jose CA to Florida. Wheelz did a fantastic job and I hauled the finished 1972 Buick GS 455 back to San Jose where it has been kept garaged. I have a large notebook of notes and invoices and a CD for everything that has been done by Wheelz and a Photobucket account with a lot of other photos.

    Its a great car but I have not driven it as much as I would like, Frankly, I just hate to see it get beat up. I am only selling this Beast because of this reason. At the same time I had a nice 1970 Skylark that I drove all the time because I was not concerned about someone hitting me in a parking lot.

    In summary. only knowledgeable and enthusiastic Buick enthusiasts and long time members of V8Buick have touched the car except for myself. So now here are some details.

    VIN Number - 4G37U2Z111321
    1971 Stage 1 455 Engine with VIN 41Z102043
    OW Oldsmobile THM400 automatic transmission with matching VIN 41Z102043 - because of a strike many of the 1971 Stage 1 cars built in Fremont CA received OW tagged transmissions from the Oldsmobile Division rather than the BB tag.
    The rear axle is stock 1972 GS with new Eaton 3.08 gears so it drives great on the Freeway
    Everything else is pretty much stock for the 1972 Buick GS with the exception of the over the counter Stage 1 carburetor and a Tachometer in the correct dash location.
    NOTE: Chris Skalling, another long time V8Buick member, inspected the engine and transmission during the re-manufacturing process and before being installed into the car.

    EXTERIOR
    The trim all around looks great, the wheel well trim may be new, the rocker panels and rear window trim is nice with the correct red stripes. I had the bumpers re-chromed in 2007 and they were not installed until 2013. They developed some spots on the lower section where the bumper curls under. They are hard to see but you know that they are there. There are a couple of very tiny paint chips. Again, no one else sees them but you will know that they are there. The rubber on the bumpers and tail lights are new reproduction that I bought from a V8Buick member that was manufacturing it.

    MINOR ISSUES
    The only things I know that could use some work are as follows:
    The tires are in good condition but are no longer manufactured so eventually you will need new tires. I have not added a new spare to the spare Buick Rally Wheel but I will provide a spare of the Buyers choice so it will match when the tires do get changed out. For now they are fine.
    There are 3 small wrinkles in the vinyl top which existed when I bought the car in 2006 and are still there.
    The chrome trim on the Horseshoe grip of the center console shift lever periodically comes unattached. It does not come off and snaps back ok
    The rear window defrost fan works intermittently but I have yet to find the correct new fan.
    The starter works fine most of the time but seems to get hot perhaps and has a slow reaction time where you will wonder if it will actually start and then it starts.
    The ash tray needs new ball bearings of the correct size and I have not found the correct size yet.
    I get a few oil drips on the LH side. I need a new valve cover gasket or I need to tighten it.
    One of the Ralley wheels has some rust. I have a good wheel in the trunk. They need to be switched.

    INTERIOR
    The interior is in overall very good condition. The seats, door panels, arm rests, dash top etc are very nice original, the carpet is new, the console is nice, all the dash chrome around gauges, air vents etc have been re-chromed in Canada and look new and an original Tachometer from another car was installed and is not original to the car. The headliner is new,gaskets are new, the interior lights work and all the other equipment does work.

    CHASSIS & TRUNK
    The trunk is great with new spatter paint and the original tire jack, ralley wheel but no tire at the moment. The fuel tank, fuel lines and brake lines are new. The evap system has restored with new hoses and clamps cleaned, the radiator was checked and a third row was added. The brakes, shocks, steering box were replaced.

    Right now I can't think of anything else but I am sure I am missing something. You will have questions so just ask and I will get the answer.

    I have $43,000 into the car and I want to get $39000 if that is possible so I can move from Crazy California to some sane place. As I mentioned, I have only put 940 miles on the Beast since the restoration was completed August 2013 so about 235 miles per year.

    The car is listed on Ebay #263039997166 If you are interested and need more photos just ask I did have a Pre-sale Inspection done by RoadReadyInspections.com. I am currently looking for the link so you can access the report. It was consistent with my description if I am not mistaken. I will make it available just as soon as I get the Link.

    Here is a PhotoBucket Slide Show Link
    http://s125.photobucket.com/user/glanoue/slideshow/1972 Buick GS Cortez Gold
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jun 23, 2017
  2. silvercat

    silvercat Well-Known Member

    I posted the for sale for the 1972 Buick GS 455. It has not sold on two attempts. Here is some info on why it has not sold. First of all I messed up in a few ways on my Ebay Listings including writing a poor confusing description. Oh well, I am learning.

    1. First time I listed on Ebay the bids went to $35,900 but I needed a bit more for various reasons and I could have brought the Reserve down but did not - so NO SALE
    2. Two weeks ago I put it on Ebay again and some person from Morocco hits Buy It Now for $39,900. I could not even pronounce the name and he had ZERO Feedback. It was my fault because I did not realize that the exclusion list by default was USA only.
    3. So now a lot of watchers are likely thinking that something is wrong with the car. The car is really nice but the real Stage1 Engine and Transmission do not seem to overcome the fact that it is not a numbers matching.

    Oh well I really like the car and I did not want to sell it but I wanted to buy my wife a manufactured home in a park in Southern California so she can be close to our new grand son and when I visit I don't need to get a Hotel.
     
  3. OHC JOE

    OHC JOE Mullet Mafia since 2020

    Sweet ride what part of so cal are you looking at
     
  4. nochop32

    nochop32 TRIK

    hi there , nice car , thought you had sold it , we spoke a few weeks ago, what number can i call you on to discuss?

    cheers ,
     

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