72 GS stage 1 convertible Zone car

Discussion in 'Ebay Parts and Cars' started by Redmanf1, Nov 27, 2012.

  1. gsjake

    gsjake Well-Known Member

    have you read the kokomo thread
    see you can make a rust bucket a quality car

    but they did replace almost all the body panels :laugh:

    jake
     
  2. Redmanf1

    Redmanf1 Gold Level Contributor

    I am the dummy that overpaid for the car. I am also the one that helped them post the matching numbers from the trans. They do not have a clue about cars. I had them clean the trunk out and send me pictures and it is very clean and original. The original 8-track was in the trunk along with a lot of other parts. There dad bought it back around 77-78. The stage 1 carb seems not to be the calf one but the date correlates with the build date. The intake and heads are correct and the block has the S stamped on it. That leaves me to believe that I have a good chance that the block is also numbers matching.

    Nelson
     
  3. Ryans-GSX

    Ryans-GSX Have fun, life is short.

    Nelson,
    You bought the car :Dou: I am a little confused. It didnt meet reserve so did you pay more than what the bid was at ? I HOPE NOT. You know better. Your not new to this :confused: Is this your dream car or something ? I hope it turns out to be better than you could ever imagine for you !! Best wishes for you. I am not sure I would have been that brave myself. Good luck and keep us up to date on your adventure with this car :TU:
     
  4. vonwolf

    vonwolf Silver Level contributor


    If that's the car you want then congratulation that's a hell of a car. Its like I said before if I some how wound out owning that car you would never get it from me for 20 grand. I hope it all works out for you.
     
  5. dl7265

    dl7265 No car then Mopar

    1.Nom
    2. you guys seem to hate the color even though it's 1of1
    3. Looked like a pretty solid car for 23k. idk about numbers, docs ect..
    You forgot about the blue one Kleiner restored for over 100k, sure it's a 4 speed but still an ugly '72 ( dig at cjp69):laugh:

    DL

    ---------- Post added at 06:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:32 PM ----------

    Congrats not sure why you're a dummy. If you like it who cares what anyone else says..

    DL
     
  6. GS44667

    GS44667 Worlds First Stage1 Conv

    Nelson
    They family knows more than they say. I found the car after running across some GS parts that JOEL was selling(fathers stuff). NOEL might not know anything about cars but JOEL does. You should just go and show up and see whats laying around?. Or whats left....I mean you shelled out 20K... This is a email I got from them(joel).----------------------




    Hey thanks for reaching out.Your the type of buyer we have been looking for.A go fast with class enthusiast.i work on the phone 10-9 PST so I could touch base with u on thurs or Friday?
    In the meantime ill take some photos and locate the paperwork from my brother,who is in charge of the trust.

    My first car was a 72 GS 455 and I drove a grand national in high school hehe.

    The car hasn't run in over 10 years,but has no visible rust and is all there.We have a bunch of spare parts like an N-22 thru bumper exhaust and side skirts and other things I still have to go through.

    Talk to you soon.

    -Joel
     
  7. Redmanf1

    Redmanf1 Gold Level Contributor

    I have been looking for a stage 1 convertible for a while. I would like to have found one with a few more options. I guess from what prices that I have seen I do not feel that bad about it. I also did not want one that needed floors or trunk rust repair. Most of the ones that I have inquired about are missing the original engine so I feel that I have a good chance that this still has its original engine. I can get it painted for a reasonable price since it does not need a lot of body work. I am going to do a body on restoration because this is going to be a driver to have fun with. I might even consider saving most of the original paint. I will have to wait and see, I have already asked my body guy for a spot. <o:p></o:p>
    <o:p></o:p>
    John,<o:p></o:p>
    I am not able to pop in on them as I am in MI. Yes Joe knows more about cars than Noel. I was on the ph with Noel for an hour and a half just getting the trans numbers. He sent me pics from his ph and he could not find the engine numbers. The next day I talked with Joe and he was able to find the WS on the block after I sent him pics of where to look. He sent me pics from his ph while we were talking. I know some parts are there and some are missing or being held out as you say. Joe did say about having a GS when he was in school.

    Thanks for the info and help.<o:p></o:p>
    <o:p></o:p>
    Nelson<o:p></o:p>









     
  8. David Butts

    David Butts Gold Level Contributor

    One small thing I noticed is that it's got a factory gauge cluster but does not have the fasten seatbelt light pod on top of the dash pad. One of the two is not original on an 72. It's a small item but so much of the car has been changed in the pictures it makes one wonder just how much of the original car is left.
     
  9. Doo Wop

    Doo Wop Where were you in '62?

    Depends on build date. That was a "safety" mandate from the Gov't in mid year.
     
  10. Redmanf1

    Redmanf1 Gold Level Contributor

    My other Calf 72 GS did not have the fasten seatbelt light pod on top of the dash pad either. It was a 10B car so that is two months past this car. Actually I received a lot more pictures and I believe very little has been changed beside the body parts that you see. The original headlight bezel, N25 tips, 8-track, air cleaner, mats and so on are all there. Also after talking with a few people I believe that is the correct stage carb on the car. The carb date seems to correlate with everything else. I will know a lot more when it gets here and I start on it. I plan on getting it running first then pull the engine and replace what I need. I will send all the original brake parts off the be rebuilt. I plan on doing a body on refurbish so I can drive it without worry. I have another nice trunk lid that I might use. That way I can install the rear spoiler and save the original trunk lid. If the replaced parts are not that good I have several GS hoods, fenders and inners that are nice if I need them. <o:p></o:p>
    <o:p></o:p>
    Nelson<o:p></o:p>
     
  11. StratoBlue72

    StratoBlue72 Well-Known Member

    Just for reference in regards to the fasten seat belt light on the dash, my Oct. '71 built Stage 1 and Feb. '72 built 455 conv. did not have it. But my March '72 built Stage 1 conv. and May '72 built GS 350 conv. do have it. These were all Flint cars.
     
  12. BUQUICK

    BUQUICK I'm your huckleberry.

    I'm not sure of exactly went they started using the "Fasten Seat Belt" light but our early car (August '71) does not have it but our March '72 car does have it. Somewhere along the production year they also added the weights to the blue door VIN sticker. Our early cars don't have the weights, but the later cars do have them.

    Nelson,
    Congrats on buying this GS. If it is solid, which I expected it to be since it's from California, then I think it was a great deal. Especially if this is the type of car you were wanting. Since these Zone Office cars are all so early in the production run, it might be possible that the California spec carb was not yet availble. Our orange car has its original carb and it's says 7042242 MC with a date of 1971 (197th day of 1971, photo posted below). Since your car was built only a couple of days after ours I would expect it to have a nearly identical date on it's original carb. Sure it would be nice if you have the original carb, but even if you don't I still think the car is a good deal. When you get that thing in your possesion, post up some real photos. I tried to get the seller to give me more info, photos, or even a phone # to ask questions and just couldn't get him to do it. Apparently he must have already decided to sell it to you.

    I'm also sending you an email.
     

    Attached Files:

  13. Redmanf1

    Redmanf1 Gold Level Contributor

    Gary,<o:p></o:p>
    I replied to your email and sent you a picture. The carb on the car is the exact same as the one you have and posted a picture of. Is your Stage 1 dist 0F23, that is what I have.<o:p></o:p>
    <o:p></o:p>
    Nelson<o:p></o:p>







     
  14. staged70

    staged70 RIP

    Nelson my 72 Stage 1 has a 0F23 dist as many of the 72's did. My VIN on the block is on the front face of the block to the pass side of the timing chain stamped vertically. hard to see in the car but if you remove the A/C, you should be able to clean it up and see the numbers. I bet its the original block. I say congrats on the purchase. If you wanted it I say life's too short. I really feeel silly when you see the auction results and realize I have 2 times that much in my car:Do No: I will say I don't want to sell it so really why worry about the value. If your trying to flip muscle cars then you need to be very careful what you pay and the car you choose. Some cars still bring the money but seems our Buicks (not GSX) just don't bring it.
     
  15. Redmanf1

    Redmanf1 Gold Level Contributor

    Thanks John,
    I am excited to get it back and tear into it. I have been watching stage 1 convertible asking prices and some seem very pricey. So I figured that I cannot go too wrong on this one.That is why I am not going to do a body off on this car as you cannot recover that cost this day in time. I do not want to be too far upside down in the car in case I find something I want more. <o:p></o:p>


    Nelson





     
  16. StratoBlue72

    StratoBlue72 Well-Known Member

    I guess I'm lucky in a sense, having a place and equipment already here to do a body off. So really other than the little bit of paint and blasting materials cost, really it's pretty cheap to do a rolling chassis. If a person shops a little, you can buy Moog front end parts and suspension bushings pretty cheap. So just some time is the biggest issue. My uncle put a complete seal kit in my steering gear and installed a new rear u-joint in the driveshaft free of charge. Doing the rest of it is really simple, like new bushings, ball joints, brakes, etc. Then it sounds like my dad will do the bodywork free of charge, along with supplying the shop to do it in. So if I could get BASF to kick in with some free paint material, maybe I wouldn't get too upside down in the project. Just so I don't go and blow $1,000 for a Gardner exhaust and big items like that. I'm not afraid to tackle putting an engine together. As long as I can get a good job of machine work, I have the Steven L. Dove Buick engine book with alot of tips. So many people make it sound like putting a Buick engine together is reserved for just a handful of engine builders. Of course I would never go out and wrap my cars up to 5K or something anyway, so I won't need alot of overkill like ARP rod bolts, beamed rods, race pistons, knife edged crank, etc. I think a stock 8.5 :1 engine with a stock cam would be more than enough power for me.
     
  17. Redmanf1

    Redmanf1 Gold Level Contributor

    I will NEVER buy a Gardner exhaust. I will never own another one again.


    It is not so much the cost of a few things it is the cost of all the little things that add up quick. All the clips, bolts, screws, fasteners, plating, stainless lines, stainless brake kits, hoses, decals, ect, ect. If you buy good Moog parts upper lower A arm bushings, rear control arm bushings, balljoints, inner, outer tie rods, sleeves, idler arm, drag link and ect you havespent around $1K. I bet I spent $1k on correct bolt and screw kits. The cost just gets away from you and then there is that little bug that says you replaced that you might as well replace this. I am sure many of you know how that goes.


    Nelson<o:p></o:p>
     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2012
  18. 2ndgenbuick

    2ndgenbuick Well-Known Member

    Were are you in Michigan Nelson? I would love to pop in and see live progress, and a finished project ofc.

    *depending on my wife letting me loose on the country side that is.
     
  19. dl7265

    dl7265 No car then Mopar

    WOW, You're certainly entitled to your opinions. But I think your statements are at the least harsh, and inaccurate.I have purchased 5 systems from The Gardners. I can tell you that there isn't ONE vendor that cares more abut their customers. What other company do you call and the OWNER answers the telephone ? Eric is always extremely helpful. And A Buick enthusiast as well.
    Guys always bitch about reproduction parts that suck. Well, this is good as it gets. Have you thought about what R&D and production cost are ? I guess you can save a couple hundred bucks and go have your local muffler shop weld up some POS system, and fall off in a year :spank:.
    unbelievable.


    DL
     
  20. Redmanf1

    Redmanf1 Gold Level Contributor

    DL, you are obviously a loyal customer and that is fine. You are entitled to your opinion as I am mine and I do not want to argue with you about it. I have had their system years back and I will not own another one again. I am not the only one that has had an unpleasant experience with them. I do not want to turn this post into a disagreement about exhaust. I edited my comment since it upset you so much.<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p>
    I feel there are better systems out there with better materials for the money.


    Anyway Happy Holidays to all

    <o:p></o:p>
    Nelson<o:p></o:p>
     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2012

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