So I have started the restoration of the Burgundy Mist GS455 that was picked up in July. After a grueling road trip without functioning A/C across Kansas and Oklahoma, we finally got the car home and unloaded. It has not been on the road since 1986 and is virtually untouched. Only the original radio was missing. Unfortunately, it appears the windows were left down at some point and allowed water to collect in the interior, hence the typical floor pan issues and rot from the vinyl top. Found (2) build sheets on the interior that indicate it was built in the Leeds plant and was a Burgundy Mist car with White interior and white top - should be pretty cool when finished.
Found one of the build sheets under the rear seat. Looks like some of it was mouse food. Looks like the mice did a number on the interior components - wire for the rear speaker was chewed up as well as the carpeting, etc
Front clip removed and the body mounts all removed as well. Look how nice the color was under the front fender!
Finally got the trunk open andexactly what I thought - the fuel tank was holding the floor together. Not a big surprise as I figured with all the water going through the quarter panel hole would end up in the trunk. Bummer about the trunk lip though as the trunk seal was holding water and caused some rot here as well.
That color combo is going to be badass!!! I am not a good candidate for a white interior,but that's gonna set this car off with the white top...
My stage1 4 speed car is the same color combo as yours. Mine start pretty close to same condition too. Kraig
Scott, Does the 2nd build sheet tell where the car was shipped? You may already know this, your car is 1 of 24 painted this color ( Hardtops) from Leeds plant. Rick
A/C box also most finished. So while I wait for some decent weather to separate the body from the chassis, I have been working on smaller projects like the heater and A/C boxes.
Rick, The car was indeed built at the Leeds plant and shipped to chuck Naiman Buick in Tulsa, OK, so it appears that the car never left the Tulsa area. And yes, I think it is like one of 22 or 24 cars optioned this way.
Thanks all. David, that is a pretty color combination on that vert for sure. I am waiting on the uni dollies so we can support the body when we take it of the frame - should be ready to do that in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I'll keep working on other components and will post more progress soon.
