I know this may seem odd, but I do not take pleasure in the incredible rise in values of these cars. I should be tickled because I have a '70 stage one convertible, but I'm not. I bought the car so I could drive the snot out of it and in the late '80s I surely did. But now I am afraid to drive it for fear of it being stolen, wrecked or looted. (Try feeling comfortable leaving it in any parking lot when your passenger side mirror alone is worth a small fortune). If it were to be stolen or totalled I could never find another one to replace it, let alone afford it at the going rate. A check from the insurance company would be little solice to me. I am certain some will tell me to shut the hell up; wish I had your problems, but there are probably others out there that share these thoughts. I don't watch values like a stock ticker and didn't buy it for that purpose. The people who should be owning and driving these cars soon won't be due to the market and that saddens me. I used to see a muscle car from time to time (especially living in a rural area) but now hardly ever do. First OPEC killed off the muscle car, now Barrett Jackson has. A pity. I am planning on buying a Grand National as a daily driver to get my muscle car fix; at least until they get out of reach. I know I am not the first to express this opinion and it is not an absolutely original thought, but I just had to get it out there; again. Sorry for beating a dead horse but for me at least it had to be said. What the heck, my first car was an '86 GN (loaded with an astro roof, had every option but the digital dash) and I loved that car dammit. Anyone know where I can get me one?
Jim,It was a pleasure to actually speak with you in person.You certainly qualify as one who's opinion would carry any weight with me ,and it should when I look at the beautiful examples you own.Thanks for the paper work on the silver car,that was unexpected,and made my whole trip (just ask the guys that had to listen to me babble about it for 3 days).That was simply outstanding to see those two gems side by side.Thank you Joe
Mr.Rennick,I respcet your opinion ,and disagree with it.First I am no stranger to GS ownership.My first car was a 70 stage 1 when I was 16 in 1978.I am currently 44 yrs old.There has been a GS in my hands everyday since.As an individual who owns a bodyshop I have the ability and facility to bring these cars to whichever level I choose,which happens to be the level of the car I have on E-Bay.I own more then one,on nice days I drive a 70 455 ragtop.My finished cars are all insured(stated value) Thanks Richard Lassetter for the appraisal.Anyway my point is these cars are not cheap to restore,espcecially if people pay hard earned cash to have most ,or all of it done for them.Not everyone is in my shoes.I tip my hat to you guys that NUT up and pay for some of the high end work I saw at the Nats,which by the way ,whatever money anyone got paid ,I promise they busted they're ass for it.I have 5 more cars to restore ,it requires money.That's why I offer this car.I'm not jumping on anyones bandwagon.Will it sell?,don't know,if it does I want what it's worth.And someone gets a hell of a deal compared to alot of other brands. If not you'll see me roll it out of my trailer at the next show.Now then ,I'm done venting.Thanks,Joe
my 70 convertible skylark has buckets and came with buckets it's also not an SCO option. buckets were more available in 1970 than 71-2 for some reason on convertibles. it also has the floor shift automatic with the linkage going back up the steering column to move the little needle to say what gear your in. btw that is a great example of a nicely restored convert stage 1
I am going to sell mine soon. It stays in storage and that's no way for me to treat it... Pics in my signature. PM if interested...
Mr Joe, Opinions are just that, opinions, and I do respect yours. However, the FACT of the matter is that many people purchased their original buicks long before the run-up in values. It is indeed a burden knowing that a simple accident could be very difficult to repair "correctly", and good luck convicing the other party's insurance that nothing but GM original metal will do. Not to mention most owners do not have the bodyshop, facilities, pockets, and time to fix their looted/wrecked cars, and must chase down Buick specialist to do the work. And sure, you can insure it...but when a car purchased for $10K is suddenly valued at $100K, a jump fo 1000% in your premiums kind of sucks if you know what I mean. I purchased my 3rd GS 12 years ago for a song and at one time communted in it. Unfortunately it is for sale for the very reasons a previous poster outlined. PS: How many miles on your EBAY-Buick? Care to go for a drive? Or are you concerned you might get a ding? Now that could really put a ding in the $$$ someone would be willing to pay for it. PSS: My neighbor woke up from a nice night's sleep some ten years ago to discover that the hood and right door on his then only $200K 289 Shelby Cobra had been stolen during the night. All of a suden his original car with race-history was no longer original....and never will be....and there was no way to recoup that loss from his insurance 5 years after the fact when the $$loss was finally realized.
You make some GREAT points:Smarty: and the ebay car looks extremely good no doubt---but for that kind of money--who wants to drive it? Maybe some are content to buy and just look at it---that's fine,too. For me I want to drive----:3gears: which is what I do. Guy in my town has a white GSX that appears all original---SITS in his garage---for at least 3 years I know of----seems like a waste to me. o No: Pete
Bucket seats were available in 1970 for A body convertibles as a regular option, that is why your lark is not an SCO car. They were not availble as a "regular option" in 1971-72 but could be had only as an SCO option. Why, I don't know... :beers2:
Where I live, people drive $500K cars everyday. Cobras, Bentleys, Shelbys...etc,etc. It's all about what makes you happy!!!:laugh:
MR. pull gs , Like I said ,Stated value,Sometimes you have pay to play.I suppose you will soon be condemming those who have made a few bucks from the stock market,real estate hardwork etc.Starting to sound like sour grapes.If you had one like this would you sell it way below market value,better yet if you have one sell it to me for 5k and I'll use it as an everyday driver.Joe
Don't confuse lamenting the "old days" with taking a shot at someone selling their car for what the market will bear. I have no objection to that, and reap ancillary benefits from it. I don't want to counted amongst the lot of those afraid or unwilling to drive their Gran Sport, but circumstances are getting me closer and closer, but for my seven year old; she'd never let me keep it in the garage. Again, good luck to the seller and best wishes. He did not create this market and he is not bidding on the car; others are. My post was not intended as a backhanded slap at him.
That is not a very nice thing to say. Condemming? Condemming what? It's comments like the above (even if not directed at me) that would stear me towards taking my money/time elsewhere. It matters not whether I am on the recieving end of bad service at the local Wendy's, or attitude on a 9-digit contract negotiation. Character earns respect, which translates into opportunity. Cheers Pullin'
I don't get the sense that either Bob or Jim are sour grapes about anything, but stating with some wist, that the good old days of taking your old Stage 1 to the grocery store are over. I still remember the day I first saw Bob's car going through the Garcia's Pizza drive thru at the U of I. My sister had said there was a '70 Stage just like mine in Champaign, and I got to see it for myself. The most recent sighting of one was in Illinois a few weeks back, to pick up the '74. My friend bought it for 800.00 in the early '80's and restored it with all NOS parts, and drove it twice that I know of since. I used to chide him about it, but now see it from his perspective. Before the current market, I used to laugh at the guys with Shelby's and Vettes who never drove them, but now am tempted to leave mine locked up and take one of my "expendibles." GS's used to be obscure enough to avoid the notice of professional thieves, but things have changed. I have no plans to ever sell it, but can see where the temptation of big bucks, and the relief of letting someone else sweat the new paradigm. Bottom line is, that things HAVE changed, for better or worse, depending on your perspective. The run of the mill GS's can be made a lot faster than stock Stage cars, and are just as much fun to blast around in. I have a new appreciation for "clones." I will add one thing, though....at the Nats last year, it looked like mine was the only one there that looked "enjoyed," and I had a steady stream of guys coming over to look at it because it wasn't redone, and looked like something that I drive on a regular basis. It seemed to me that one thing that gets in the way of enjoying these cars, or any car for that matter, is forgetting that it's a car, and was designed to last 10 years of regular use, with conscientious care. It's our fault that they lasted longer, haha. I don't want to restore it, and turn it into a "new" car again. It will never be a new car, but an "investment." It's my own darn fault that it became an investment, while I wasn't looking. I should have expected it, considering that the musclecar wars of the '60's and '70's were a magical time that will be remembered. These cars are what the supercharged Duesies, Bugattis and Cords were in their day...Rompin stompin classy rides that not everyone could afford. Well, I got mine while they were affordable, and it's paid for. I feel very fortunate. Dan
Damn we're getting old Dan. It doesn't seem that long ago I was in college. To ask my wife I haven't matured much either. Mine looks driven too, and two kids that expect college educations will keep it that way for awhile at least.
Hi Bob, What are you doing up at this hour, haha. I still remember that beer you handed me in DuQuoin at the Street Machine Nats. I'm glad you left it original. The coolest Shelby I ever saw was at a Ryans steak house. It was slightly faded apple green with well worn saddle interior. It looked like a blast to drive, unlike the restored cars lined up at the shows. They all look the same, after a while. You hear guys discussing date codes and all that boring stuff, instead of the guy you grundied at the stoplight on the way in. No one drives their cars anymore...How long has it been since you saw another bonafide musclecar NOT on its way to a show? There's a small show at the river in Little Rock during spring and summer, but the traffic is nuts, and the bozos in their lemming-mobiles trust my brakes more than I do. I've been to it a few times, but I always pucker up and say Hail Marys the whole way, haha. Have a great one. Dan
I say have 2 of the things. One to drive on weekends and another to eat off of. Who cares? It's only money. LOL
To Mr. Pullings . If you want to see a car every bit as nice as this that you CAN see driven , just drive by Joe's shop and see the Aquamist ragtop parked out front that's driven there on nice days.Believe me , he drives 'em. My 2 cents.
The linkage to the column need to be there regardless of weather its a column shift or a floor shift! Especially 69 and later GM's with locking columns. The linkage operates the reverse lights on most and more importantly, it doesnt allow you to accidentally lock the steering wheel when your driving! I never understand why people remove it. Its a saftey feature. My friend nearly wrecked his Chevelle SS because his linkage had been removed. The car threw a belt on the highway. He looked down to see the temp guage at 240. He immediately shut the engine down. But because the linkage was gone, he turned the key too far locking the column. So here he is doing 70 mph and the steering wheel is locked. He panicked and almost hit the concrete wall on the shoulder. He was less than 6 inches from the wall when the car finally screeched to a stop. I didnt think the $225k sale of the 70 Stage 1 4 speed was an isolated incident. I think that car set the precident. Im sure we'll be seeing more and more sell for these kind of numbers in the future. Oh and my 70 GS goes to the grocery store !
Super car Joe.. good luck on the sale.. And folks, cars like this cost a tremendous amount of money to restore these days.. I build them, so I can assure you that there is a susbstantial investement in what your looking at here. Personally, considering what they sell cheap transport cars (Mopars) and bellybuttons (Chevy's) for these days, 220K for a perfect GS STG 1 convert is not out of line at all, it should be bringing more, in light of what we all consider lesser cars are sold for. Joe does a great job restoring these cars, we need more guys like him to keep pouring the time, effort and money into them.. because it benefits us all. As the prices go up, more parts become available, and that benefits the guy who has a 20K driver and needs the pieces to make it nicer.. JW
