Quick history. We bought this 1972 Stage 1 in July 1989 from the brother of the original owner. It was built in Fremont CA and remained in CA until just a couple of years before we got it. We drove the car a small amount, maybe even a couple hundred miles (even drove it to the GS Nats in 1990) but one day the drivers side motor mount broke which ruined the radiator and fan shroud. At that point it was parked and basically has not moved since. It waits its turn to be restored, and we just continue to gather parts as we find them. It still wears its original Hunter Green paint (whats left of it anyway) and has all of it's original drivetrain complete and intact (including the original CA only 7042942 carb). The original owner (or maybe the dealer) added a vinyl top, a Rally steering wheel (it came with the base 2 spoke wheel), and an aftermarket radio (it was originally radio delete).
John Diaz (who frequents this board) mentioned he found a build sheet to his Fremont, CA built 72 GS 455 under the package shelf. So in August I looked in the trunk of our car and WOW there was a build sheet exactly where John Diaz described! (Thanks John, in 15 years we had never noticed!). I already posted about that here http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=54320 Well time got away and I never took the car apart to get it out. I knew it would take the better part of a day since it would have to be pulled out of the storage shed, and then unload the interior which is basically full of NOS parts then remove the interior. Since the weather was very nice this past last week, my father & I decided to finally get it out from under the package shelf. We removed the rear seat in 1989 and looked for a build sheet and didnt find one. But this time when we removed the rear seat we looked a little closer and WOW there was a small section of a build sheet visible. It was between the cushion and the seat cover. In order to get it out safely we had to cut about 1/3 of the hog-rings that hold the seat cover in place. It was in several pieces but it was complete.
sheet under package tray After gathering all of the pieces of the build sheet under the rear seat we then loosened the package tray enough to get out the build sheet that we were originally going after. I had some damage from a leaking rear window. But it was basically complete and mostly legible. It was folded slightly but I have been able to flatten it out.
Well then I thought I should look under the front bucket seat to see if there might be a Trim sheet (the small handwritten paper) tucked in the springs since I have found those in several Buicks. Using a flashlight and mirror I didnt see anything under the passenger seat. Then I looked under the drivers seat and through a small hole in the seat track I spotted UXE typed on a piece of paper. So we took the drivers seat out of the car and took off the plastic side cover and found a 3rd complete build sheet! It was folded in and tucked neatly above the seat frame/tracks. It was stained pretty badly since the previous owner told us that his wife left the windows down on the car for a few weeks while he was out of town (she was mad at him but luckily it was Southern CA and it doesnt rain too much).
There may be another sheet on top of the gas tank, or somewhere else in the interior (all we have done is look under the seats and package shelf, have not removed door panels, headliner, or the dash). Rolling the car out into the sunlight for the first time in over 10 years got us excited about the car and we look forward to restoring it. So guys dont give up until you have completely torn your car apart, there may be a buildsheet in it somewhere. Sorry for the legth but I'm excited and thought you guys might like to see where some build sheets might be found if your car was built in Fremont, CA.
Nice find.... I found two build sheets for my Wilmington built '68 GS400 Conv. One in the top back seat springs and one in the back of the passenger bucket seat. Can you post the dealer name and code from your sheet? :beer
I think it is already on the Mark M.'s dealer list 24-459 DBA LADIN BUICK-OPEL 3755 DUESENBURG DR THOUSAND OAKS CAL 91360 I suppose DBA means Doing Business As but what exactly does that mean? Now that I'm certain about the dealer name (sloan didn't have a listing for 24-459) I will be contacting you about a couple of window stickers for our cars.
I have a 70 Skylark from the Leeds plant and we found 4 buildsheets in it plus one under the driver fender glued to it.Then to top it off,when we pulled the rear seat,there was another one plus one for an L79 powered 4 speed ElCamino with it... Pat
Your right, it is on Mark's list... I just miss-read the code number on one of the photos you posted ou:
Gary, your just not going to believe this..................... :bglasses: My Fremont built '72 Stage 1, yup Big Red it is, came from the same dealer yours did. What is the build and delivery date of yours? I think mine was billed to Ladin, but delivered to the Buick Zone Office directly. Got to check my papers again.... yuppers, mine was CHARGED to Buick Motor Division directly, but courtesy delivered to Ladin Buick-Opel. Mine was the 76th car built on 12-07-71. If my memory is right, it was delivered to the dealer on 12-21-71. 14 days from Fremont to Thousand Oaks??? that's not that far away to take 2 weeks?? I found three build sheets in mine, one under the package tray in almost perfect condition, and another under the carpet that was trashed, and another in the back seat springs that was trashed. I had mine out driving it today, there is just something about this car that gives me goosebumps every time I drive it. Jim :3gears:
You are correct Gary - 'Doing Business As'. Sometimes Businesses/Individuals will conduct transactions under a different 'trade name' - sort of like some actors change their name when they hit the silver screen. Cool find :TU:
Sorry to exhume this old thread.. but I got to say this forum rocks! On the quest to complete my '71 Skylark Customs documentation this was very helpful. Found two build sheets: One under the rear seat, luring out just an inch or so, and one under the driver seat. Still need to check the fuel tank. Maybe someone knows this dealer or first owner?
Your car is a Fremont built car, so it probably does not have a sheet on top of the tank. The soft trim sheet was used by "Fisher Body" to build the shell. The other sheet is not really a build sheet, but is from the dealership and shows all the option codes for the car. You might find the "Buick"final assembly build sheet under the rear shelf area. That is where most of the Fremont cars had them. Duane
Thanks for that Duane! I already removed and changed the rear shelf as it was partly cracked due to moisture that came through a leaking rear window.. Nothing was there. Might it be an idea to check behind the cluster? Dont know which places the Fremont guys liked the most to place their easter eggs ..