I am looking at purchasing a 1969 GS 400 Convertible tomarrow and I need to know how to know if it is a Stage 1. It has the ram air hood with the stage 1 badge but the guy does not know if it is a real stage 1 or not. Can anyone tell me how I can know if it was a stage 1 car and then how to identify if it is a stage 1 400. Thanks Caseyo No:
A pretty rare find if it is real, especially a convertible. :eek2: The first thing to check is the VIN #. It should start with 446679H. The H is Flint as Stage 1's were only built in Flint in 69. Then you need to check a lot of numbers. Carb is 7029246, distributor 1111962. Should have chrome valve covers and chrome bolts that hold them down. Also the air cleaner lid should be chrome. If automatic, there should be a yellow tag on the passenger side of the trans that is a model BB. There should be part of the VIN number stamped in the trans case in the area of the shift linkage. Should be something like 49HXXXXXX if memory is correct. 4=Buick 9=69 H=Flint and then the last 6 are the last part of the VIN. Rear should be a 10 bolt with either a 3.64, or a 3.42 with A/C. Between #5 and 7 cylinder on the block should be an RS stamped in the block. This should give you enough to go on. Hope this helps, Mark
thanks Thank you very much for the information. The first 7 #'s of the vin number check out and I will look at the rest tomarrow. I will post the results. Thanks Casey
Check the Glove box For any papers and for the protect-o-plate. The p-o-p will also have the "RS" code along with the "BB" for the trans. Here is aone fron a 70 model.
Yeah Right! It's been my experience that people with cars like that typically know what they have and 9 out 10 times if they tell you they don't know they mean it's not.
Buy it if the price is right. I was probably giving people the benefit of the doubt when I said 9 out of 10 times, probably closer to 999,999,999 out of 1,000,000,000.
You aren't far off there. I look at all of them because I'm sick but honestly can say that if I had a dollar for every Buick GS that turned out to be a crappy, beat up Skylark with rally wheels I would almost be able to buy one of Jim W's engines. Good luck! I hope it turns out to be a good project anyway.
Alot of skeptics out there. Buick guys are about the best you will run into in the sport. From the other perspective. Selling a rare car is a major pain in the but. My hobby is restoring cars. Occasionally I restore something odd, or rare. I have sold those cars, and they are more of a hassle than the run of the mill stuff. With an oddball like my Stage 1 car, or my 69 Judge I sold, you get investors, and odd purists. You are guilty until proven inncoent with these people due to their past experiences. It doesn't matter what you are selling, or how honest you are. My Stage 1 car is a great car. I am actually sorry it is a rare car. I'd rather see it go to someone who would love driving it, and give it a good home. I thought at one time of taking off the Stage 1 badges, and sell it as just a GS. Alot less agrivation. Your average gear head is more enjoyable to deal with. Remember the car you had in High School? Did you save every piece of paper that came with it? Did you put all the parts you took off it in a nice safe storage place? Well guess what, most kids drove for years: the stuff we now restore. Most of it isn't going to be documented, pure and perfect. So you can only hope that if everything looks right, and the vin and tag are right. It is probably right. And if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Now I don't feel so bad, I have the same illness, and used to have to go look at lots of cars hoping for that diamond in the rough. Apparently I am getting better, as I am usually able to satisfy myself by only calling about them all, and don't have to spend the time to go look at everyone single one of them anymore. So, as you can see, there is hope for you.:grin:
Man I wish I was back home in Seattle, forcasted high of 100 degrees today in Phoenix. What ever happened to Fall and changing colors. Down here the colors turn from brown to browner, I miss the Green of the Northwest.
We are going from Green to Gray. After a wonderful summer, fall has arrived. 65 degrees and nothing but rain in sight!
I have to go to Eastern Wasington next month to pick up another one my cars. I'm sure I'll appreciate the heat down here when I return.
Not hot and dusty, just wet and blusty! Just set a record for 2-day rain amount in Oct, I think 4.85". We currently are trying to improve on that record!ou: :grin:
Supposed to have a high of 70* today..:jd: but I'm telling you that's gotta be wrong, as hard as its POURING! uzzled: More like 55-60*
