not mine, and very depressing to look at.....I'm thinking he should adjust his wording to say "rust with a few body issues".... not for the faint of heart.:ball: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-BUICK-455-GS-/200574200363?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2eb3276a2b
That's me at $1000. Basically I treat ebay the way it should be. I bid my maximum, get it over with and if I get beat I get beat. Now, it's rusty, yes, but it's an increasingly rare 70 GS455. I just bought a 79 Trans Am, rust free Arizona car delivered for $1600. These are the cars I can afford. Sorry. I frankly figured the guy would have some stupid $4000 reserve on there and I would not even come close. I can't afford the bucket seat console, 1970 GS455's many guys have, where even in project shape they want $3000 +. Or a restored 1970-72 GS455 for $30,000 to $70,000. I am disappointed it's a basic bench seat GS455 but I can replace the rust but I can't replace the pedigree.
Let's not forget this is the flagship car of the Buick muscle car era. (Granted it's not a Stage 1 or a GSX) If this was a stupid Mopar it would be 4 or 5 x this much. It's depressing to look at but I hope it can be saved and restored. These are disappearing or not being restored. This one is looking like a car that would not be restored, and that's a shame. Even though it's a base bench seat car, it's still a GS455 from arguably the best looking year for the Buick muscle car. I've seen quite a few 70-72 BB cars - many offered by frequent contributors here - with no drivetrain for much more $$$ or in similar shape for much more $$$.
Roadmaster49, you hit it right on the head. you can not replace the pedigree. With so many clones out there going for almost 6 figures. Why not save it. If I had a place to work on it, I too would jump on it. it may take me 10+ years to finish it but it would be an authentic GS. Tim
I feel better about the car now seeing one of our members wanting to save it! Good luck with the auction.
Thanks John. I will probably get beat by $5, ha! I think with a reserve on there (when it started, now met) some guys didn't even bother bidding. I think the responses are indicative of the new reality that any car costs a lot of money to restore and space is at a premium. Also everyone wants a Barrett Jackson level car. I remember back 20 years ago when the garage would be given up to just about any old car project. Guys would tear down cars, restore them and do as much work as possible. It's not that that is not still being done - it is, but a lot less numbers then back in the day. The restoration hobby is less as a function of baby boomer "fun money" in the hobby, in my opinion. Now, instead of motivating oneself to restore a rusty GS, some guys and gals just cut a check. I've seen them at town fair car shows, in their lawn chairs behind the cars, while the wives hit the craft show. They have a well laid out photo album. I say, wow you did a great job on that restoration and they say they bought the car restored and the album came with the car! All 5 of my present cars are projects with only one running. Save a car today that might be crushed. If I restore this car, if I am lucky enough to win - then my other comment comes into play (Barrett Jackson) This has set an unreasonable level. I am an amateur. I will do the best I can. I don't want to drive and show a POCrappola but I think a lot of guys want perfection. With that bar set, a lot of cars sit....
:gp: I like your attitude. the reward for me comes from doing what I can myself ,making it presentable and driving it. Who cares if you lose a little money on it and who cares if its not a perfect concourse restoration. I hope you get this thing and you get it back on the road.
That car was for sale 4-6 years ago....it was in an impound yard in NY/NJ/PA area and sat and sat and sat. It was discussed here several times. Good luck on your bid...hope you get for $1000
up to $1525 now! Nice to see someone may want to save it, I won't even tell you what I paid for no rust '7O like this-under $1500 and it just needed a rod bearing! " _
Well I held my ground and that's OK. I think if you got a 70 GS for $1500 with only a rod knock, that's a good deal. It won't happen often, IMO. If we look hard enough, we run across good deals. Oh well I still have my 2 Centurions with 455's.
Yet no one asks the question: If it's a '70 GS455, then WHY does it have a '71 Rear Bumper/gas tank/etc., instead of a '70 Rear Bumper? What else has been changed or removed from the car? Not worth the asking price as just a parts car, to me, anyway.:Smarty:
Richard, I am right there with you! I bought my first car at 15 in 1972, a 66 lark GS 4 speed, worked on it and ran the doors off of it. As soon as I turned 16 I bought a second car, a 68 LeSabre, so I would always have one running. By the time I was 19 I must have had 7 or 8 cars and I always lost money on them. I made my first money on a 66 GTO convert in like 1981 or 82 when the GTO's were just starting to become popular. I made like 3 grand on it, and to this day I remember the owner of the gas station I was working part time at (wisely so I could use the bay lifts during closed hours) telling me "you really had your finger in that guy's eye". I sold it for $6500, big money back in those days. He would buy and sell about one car a month and he never made that kind of a profit, usually a couple of hundred at the most. To this day I very rarely come out ahead by the time you figure the time and effort I put into them. From my perspective it keeps me home and around the house when I am working on them, and I stay out of trouble in more ways then one. Heck, it is even a drawing point for the neighbors as they stop by for a few minutes to see what I am up to.:beer
