Hello and thanks for reading this post. I've been lurking on here off and on for a little while. I finally decided to step up and say "hello" because I may be finally purchasing my first v8 Buick sometime soon and I'd really like some input from "those who know". I'm going to go look at a '70 GS 350 tomorrow evening and I wanted to get some idea of what the car might be worth in it's current condition. First let me try to explain how I became interested in owning an older Buick. I've been a turbo Regal enthusiast since the '84 GN's and T-types hit the streets. I purchased my first turbo Buick in 1996 and I currently own my third turbo Buick, an '87 GN. I've had lots of fun with the turbo cars and I still enjoy the one I have, but over the past several years I've hung around with more Buick owners and I've really developed an appreciation for the older Buicks - especially '66 - '72 Skylarks. I've also learned a lot more about Buick's history, beyond NASCAR and the turbo cars. I found out about the '70 GS I mentioned above while at a car show this past weekend. The seller has given me some good verbal information about the car, but I have not seen it yet. here's a run-down of what he's told me so far: - genuine '70 GS 350, auto (owner claims to have plenty of documentation to prove it's an original '70 GS) - original color was "Diplomat Blue" with black vinyl top - vinyl top was removed in '99 and car was painted Chrysler "Intense Blue" - car is is not currently running, missing headers, intake, carb (not sure what else) - AC has been completely removed, including blower box, heater core, etc. and does not come with the car. - front suspension was recently rebuilt with OEM rubber parts - 12-bolt rear (don't remember what gear ratio) - original wheels - car was most recently setup for bracket racing, not sure how far the owner took those mods - seller claims no rust, no accidents I don't remember what he told me about the interior other than it's black. He's asking $5k. I'm planning to go check it out in person tomorrow evening and I'm bringing my digital camera. :kodak: So I hope I can post pics on here and maybe get some feedback from you guys. What I want is a car that is complete enough and clean enough I can "restore" it to "driver" condition without breaking the bank. I've done a little research on restoration parts and I see V8 Buick restoration parts are not any better than turbo Buick parts as far as price is concerned. :eek2: Thanks again for reading! Rob
I have some parts for that car,if the car is solid and motor needs replacing.at 4000,4500,the car is a good buy.call with your part request.508-612-1036.chris
Ok, I did go look at the GS. Unfortunately, by the time I got there it was getting dark and I didn't have much light (car was outside under a tree, on a dirt driveway) The owner's yard was also home to some of the *biggest* D@mn mosquitos I've ever seen!!! Overall, the sheetmetal and frame looked pretty straight to me, but there's a lot of parts missing so I really don't have a good feel for what the car is worth. He's asking $5k and it might be worth that, but I'd be surprised if it was worth any more than that, however I could be wrong. Some additional info: - owner has original window sticker, the VIN matches, it was an original GS 350 sold in Waco, Tx (it's been a TX car since new). - rear-end is a 12-bolt out of a '69 Chevelle with Richmond 3.73 ring and pinion and a Moroso posi. - car was running earlier this year but owner robbed a bunch of parts off it to install on his '70 Skylark/GSX clone - engine is supposed to be fairly stout 430 bored .060 over, I forgot the year of the block and the cam specs, but he had a dual-quad setup on it (now on his GSX "clone". The most obvious missing engine parts were, intake and carb(s), ignition, headers or manifolds, valve covers. - A/C is completely missing - trans is a 400 but "broken", he says the price includes a second broken 400 currently in his garage. Torque converter is a TCI 3500 stall. - car has factory buckets, but console is missing. has Hurst (or possibly B&M) shifter - dash pad has a couple of bad splits, instrument cluster is out of a '72 GS, not sure what happened to original '70 cluster ???? Owner also stated most of the gauges were not hooked up. I didn't ask which ones and why. - no exhaust, but owner has a pair of cast iron manifolds (not sure if they are for the 430 or the original 350 - no grille - small patch of bondo on pass. rear quarter at body-line where car rubbed a pole. I checked the sheet metal inside the trunk in this spot and it looks like a pretty decent job of straightening it and just using bondo to make it smooth. - door handles and mirrors are missing although owner "thinks" he as door handles in garage somewhere. - no windshield wipers, not sure if motor and switch still work. That's about all I can remember so here's a link to the pictures I took... http://s238.photobucket.com/albums/ff53/rpinkstn/1970 Buick GS 350/ I think it might be a pretty good place for someone to star with a restoration, but I still don't know if it's worth the $5k asking price and I don't know if I'd have the time or money to even make it the good clean weekend driver I want. The asking price if $5k, but he said he'd take $4500 without the engine. Rob
I think that you're always going to be better off financially by spending more money up front for a car that doesn't need much of anything besides a new driver. A lot of work will be expensive and time consuming, especially if this is your first old GS.
Mike, That makes sense and that's what I've always heard. I've never owned a 30+ year old car, but I have had numerous 15-20 year old vehicles and I have experienced what you're talking about. The first turbo Regal I bought was a "fixer-upper" and I ended up selling it only a few months after I bought it. It didn't take me very long to realize how much work it really needed. Rob
to be completely honest, 5k doesnt seem far out there or anything. Its probably worth it if the doors, quarters, fenders, and hood are good. A bucket seat gs350 is a nice car to own. Nothing wrong with that. Good luck with your decision. :TU:
yeah, that's kinda what I was thinking. seems like it's priced pretty reasonably, I just don't think I'll have the time to put it back together. I liked the car, the original color is good (Diplomat Blue) and I like the buckets. I'm going to do some "homework" this weekend and work up an estimated budget for a basic restoration on this particular car. My gut feeling is about $15k, but that's without much knowledge of prices for '70 GS specific restoration parts. Rob
After careful consideration I've decided to pass on the blue '70 GS I originally posted about. I'd rather pay more for a more complete car. FWIW, I'd like to find a '70-'72 GS or GS clone (of course a GSX clone would work too!) I have an '87 GN t-top car with 47k original miles and some good mods, but nothing radical. I'm making payments on this GN (financed though JJ Best) so I only have about $7k - $8k equity in it. I'd like to find someone that would take my GN as a partial trade on their GS or clone and allow me to finance the difference. I know, I know, the more financially "responsible" members will say something like, "Dude, save your money and pay cash!" But I officially have "the bug" and I'm itching to get some old Buick iron!! My interest in and appreciation of the early late 60's and early 70's Buicks have steadily increased over the last 15 years or so. I think it's finally "come to a boil":laugh: after my buddy purchased the GSX recently. And speaking of my buddies "new" GSX, I *INCORRECTLY* referred to it as a 1970 Silver Mist GSX, that was wrong, it's a '71 Platinum Mist GSX! :TU: Rob
Good move. You can find a nice driver GS for less than 10K. (Not on this board, though...:laugh I had a GN at the same time as an old Buick as well, and I much prefer the old one, mainly because I can work on it and the build quality was so much better in the old days than the 80's.
yeah, in a perfect world I could have both.....and many, many other cars.....and jeeps......and planes.......and a nice fishing boat.....you get the idea. p And that would be GREAT to find a "nice driver GS for less than 10k"!!!! Any leads???? :grin: Rob
You made the right choice. Sounds like he striped all the good stuff off it, and who knows whay he pulled good stuff off a 430...they were a great engine...it prolly had a bad knock! Keep lookin'...you'll find the right one
