Hi guys(and gals), I posted in another forum for my first actual post here, so I figure I'd better get in here and introduce myself. As I said in my first post, I am a carless GM musclecar fan that hopes to get one down the road. I am trying to learn as much as I can before I finally take the plunge and this forum seems to have some really cool and knowledgeable folks to learn from. I really like the Buicks. I really got pushed over the edge when I saw a special on a GS Stage 1 car that was doing some quarter mile runs. That thing was one of the meanest sounding cars I have ever heard and it even got my wife's attention and she doesn't care too much for the non-Camaro/Firebird cars. Anyway, I am a Colorado guy, located in Loveland which is in the northern part of the state along the "front range". I am about 50-60 miles north of Denver and 50-60 miles south of Cheyenne, Wyoming. I am 33, married and have 2 kids. I do computer stuff for a living, which is pretty hairy these days. Lots of layoffs in the IT field. I wish I had more mechanical knowledge to be able to share here, but I don't. I will mostly lurk and learn, but I figured I would say hello! Oh yeah, my name is John!
Welcome to the board John....officially!:beer Hope you find a fun car to play with soon....this board will certainly help in every aspect of whatever you decide to do.
Actually, I do have a newbie-type question already. What is the difference between a "regular" Skylark and a GS? Is the GS an entirely different thing? I have seen a '70 Skylark for sale with a 455 that was recently rebuilt and it has really had me wanting to call on it. I know it has a regular hood and such, but what is the performance difference, if any? I don't really know what to ask the guy as far as originality. The car has a TH400.
hmmmm Skylarks were not available with a 455....might be a transplant. The GS was basically a muscled up version of the Skylark. They were sold as 2 different cars and had different VIN ID's. The GS allowed for more performance options than the Skylark - like 455 or Stage1 motor, GSX option, suspension upgrades, etc....different badges (obviously). There are other differences, but by just hanging around this board, you'll pick up the things that differentiate the two models.
Thanks for the info! That was my main thought, that the Skylark probably didn't come with the 455. This is the one I have been thinking about.... Here I will probably just have to call the guy. I just don't like to waste people's time....
cool guess you be the proud owner of a buick soon anyway welcome to the board and see you around on here im on this site daily so youll se me alot on here.
Have you been looking at the posts about inspecting for rust ? Very important as there are many areas to inspect. Since it has a vinyl top presume you have an issue aound the base and rear window. Then there is the trunk, lower quarters, door, fender, core support, and frame etc.
Welcome John... A skylark is a great start, and i know that kind of money for one in my area isn't that far off the mark. Rust is an issue. Some items of considerable expense on these cars to keep in mind, are headlight bezels (replating), grills and trim, core supports, rear bumper trim, inner fenders, and any external sheetmetal. I have only looked at a few CO. cars, but my experience with them is they are not usually as prone to rot as some northeastern cars. Feel free to keep asking as many q's as possible.... May be a good place to start.....
Another thing to consider....... Aside from the performance differences from a Skylark to a GS is the initial cost AND resale value......along with the costs to fix the car up if things are not "right'. What I mean is....A Skylark is not going to cost as much as a GS, and it will not sell for as much if you ever decide to sell. If the car needs rust repairs (say quarter panels and trunk pan) you are going to pay the same to repair a Skylark or GS....but If and when you sell, you'll recover more of your "investment" from the GS. Moderate reapirs like above plus a paint job afterward would probably cost at least $5,000 once all is said and done - right there you're pushing the value of a Skylark, and it doesn't include the initial cost of the car. Something else to consider - buying a car that has already been repaired is usually a "better Deal" as you rarely recoupe the money you put in to fix one up. This presumes the work was done well and properly though.....plenty of Bondo Slap Jobs out there to be weary of. When looking at a car, take along one of those flexible refidgerator Magnets that look like a business card but are made of plastic.....and a clean cloth. Check to see the magnet sticks to these areas (showing its not bondo'd over and is real metal) 1) Fenders, down low right behind the front wheels 2) bottom of doors all along 3) below doors, ledge called the Rocker Panel 4) all around the rear wheels (behind the doors, around the wheel mouldings and back behind the wheels. Look undernedth for scaling and flakey rust on the frame. Look Inside the trunk, and if there's a Mat, pull it up. Mats are known to trap water Hope this helps some
I couldn't get a GS so I did the next best thing: I made one! Always an option, and the car isn't a real GS so the value may even be less than a properly restored non-GS car, but I couldn't care less, I never got in this hobby for the resale values. Might have a different attitude if I had a rarer car, but heck my car's one of less than 5000 made and I didn't have any qualms about building it the way I wanted.
yeah who cares about resale value i mean if your building the car to keep for yourself might as well actually enjoy it instead of worrying about the resale on it.....
Thanks for all of the great info! This is one of the reasons why I have been lurking on this forum for over a year now, I think. Not because I was afraid of anyone or didn't want to join, but quite the contrary. There seem to be so many helpful and great people on this board that I have been frequenting it even though I don't have a Buick and may not get one for quite some time if things don't quit taking bad turns. I just don't really have anything to contribute, but I enjoy all of the talk and banter between the people here! It will happen eventually and there will be a Buick in the stable. I have just got to be patient. My whole thing is that a layoff really hurt my chances last year and I have not been able to make the same money that I used to be able to make since getting another job. My daily driver is a '99 Z71 Extended Cab LT that I had gotten a really good deal on. I have thought about getting rid of it and getting some sort of Buick since they more readily came with all of the creature comforts like AC, etc. I think it would be so cool to have a "big" car that can really get with the program. We are selling the wife's 97 Camry and I am trying to convince her to drive my truck and I'll get a musclecar. But logic would dictate that I don't have a musclecar for a daily drive. At least if I plan on doing much with it at this point. Oh well...we'll see. Well, thanks again for all of the great info and thoughts! You guys are the best! If I do end up going to look at that Skylark, I will have a great idea of what to look out for. Resale doesn't really worry me. Especially because clone cars are starting to become more popular.
Ohhh.....One last thing IF you buy a Buick Remember...... They're like Pringles.....you just can't Stop !! My Wife says they follow Me home
haha yeah once my wagon is done im gonna be on the look out for a 66' GS with a 401 or a 425 thats my other dream car then after that i want to get a 50-53 any model buick with a straight 8.
