The 67 was only made one year, and when I am out riding around, no one else has one! I love it, the lines on the car are like no other. Then I got my 69, and man does it have curves for days.
The reason I own my Buick-67 GS 400, is to drag race it. I bought it to build a NMCA Nostalgia Super Stock car. I had a 68 Skylark from 95 to 2000 and had raced it. (only reason I had it). I wanted to run the NSS class but the 68 was one year too new and they would not let me in. So a few days before Christmas I found my 67 in Nashville and bought it. Drove it around during the holidays as it was a nice solid one owner car. On Jan 6th 2001 it went in the shop, body off and built the car I wanted. I have been very happy with the car and my idea to build it. I have won several races with it including Bracket 1 at the Nationals in 2003 and 2004. Also finished in the top 10 in points with the NMCA 5 times and won 2 World Championships with it in 2007 and 2012. Yes I like it because it is different, I race in a sea of Mopars and a few Fords but I have about the only Buick. Jim N.
We feel sentimental love for the Skylark. To instill good habits in our kids, and to teach them to love and respect classic cars. One more Buick saved is one less Buick scrapped. The body shape is superb. It loves to show off, even though its tattered and torn on the inside. It feels good when older folks compliment the Buick and appreciate that it still lives. It feels good when younger folks appreciate the Buick and hope to own one. Classics are easier and cheaper to work on, and have more room to work with less clutter in the way. And, theres no black box thats going to tell on us where we been or where we go. :TU:
Well it all started this one sunny weekend afternoon back in 2000. My Aunt called and asked if I could load up my Mom's old couch she was getting rid of into the back of the truck and bring it over to her boyfriends town house. Being in highschool the task wasn't exactly how I wanted to spend part of my weekend, but I was always willing to help out family, so I said "Sure, I'll load it up and bring it over." She then says, "OH, and after you get here and get the couch unloaded, Donny can show you his race car." "RACE CAR!?" I said. "What kind of car is it?" She turns and asks Donny to verify what exactly it is and then returns to the phone and says, "It's a Buick." "A Buick?? Who the hell races a Buick? Those are old people cars." She laughs and says, "Just wait till you get here, you will love it." While I had my serious doubts about that, being the uninformed teen I was, when I showed up needless to say, she was right. As I pulled up to the town house, the garage was open and I could see the tailend of this cream colored car sitting there. Is that the car, I thought to myself. Well we got the couch unloaded and I met Donny, or Don as the Buick community knows him, for the first time. He was a cool guy and was fun to talk to. He took me into the garage and that is when history began to unfold. For the first time in my life I was introduced to a 1966 Buick Skylark Gran Sport. The car was AWESOME! I loved the body style and the lines and the overall stance of the car. He opened the hood and that was it, I was in love. That Buick Red 425ci Nailhead with the 2x4 setup and the Buick aluminum valve covers. Boy was that car sexy. Then Don climbed in the driver seat and hit the ignition. The Nailhead roared to life! Don gave the throttle a couple quick jabs and let it settle down. The car settled and it sat there, RUMP-PA-PA RUMP-PA-PA RUMP-PA-PA. The exhaust rattled the tools hanging on the walls, my stomach was in my throat, and I could feel the car deep in my chest like it was using it for a boxing Speed Bag. We took the car out and he took me for a spin around the block. It was an amazing experience and has had me hooked ever since. Finally 13 years later I was able to fulfill my dream of owning my own '66 GS. I saw many cars along the way that I would have loved to have, but when it came down to it I always went back to the '66 Skylark GS.
I came across my 1967 Skylark when looking for Chevelles of the same year. They are stupid expensive and I just wanted something to practice on for my first restification. Wasn't going to do that on the precious Chevelles..... Came across the Skylarks, and GS-340's, much more reasonable to start with and have the same look I wanted. Now I will be a Buick guy instead of the 5 millionth Chevy guy!
Re: The Reason Why It appears Don hasn't been on here for years, but I for one was certainly moved by this story. Although someone can have a bad childhood anywhere in the world, I'm learning that growing up in Philly is no picnic.
Good Day To All....I believe that I have posted this story before but here it goes again. I come from a Chevy family...big time. Both of my brothers ( R.I.P. Alex..my younger brother Aug 2004) have had many, many Camaros...55- 57 Chevys...Blazers...trucks...Malibus...El Caminos...early iron...you get the picture. My Dad ...(R.I.P. lost him April last year)..was an old school type of Dude. Lifelong Marine, Korean War Vet and proud American...stand up guy that loved cars...he could work on any car that was manufactured between 1930 up to about 1970...he told me so in one of our final conversations. ....he also told me how happy and fortunate he had been in this life to have lived in that particular automotive era, he loved cars and trucks...he also did some nice paint work on big rigs as well...as a kid I recall his old shop in summertime... trucks such as the old International Trans Stars...White tractors..Diamond Reo's....back when cabovers were in... He was a Bodyman by trade but was also an engine builder...a welder...from the era that allowed a man to make a living via hard work.....a good man and descent human being, he was 79 when he departed. Well in my senior year of high school..I was 17 years old circa 1982- my dad gave me a slicked out....pristine 1966 GMC pickup truck...he himself painted it Terrace Green..it was beautiful, ralley wheels and beauty rims off a "modern" blazer....Chrome grille...I had the coolest truck a boy could ever want....well my Dad not only did this but the power plant was a 430-TH400 out of a 67 or 68 Electra...something like 50,000 miles on it. He left the old Dana 44 with gears for the factory V6, put a spicer(?) drive shaft, one time I broke the yoke at the differential heating the tires up for a race.....this truck ran better than it looked! The funny thing about it was that Park was where low gear was..and vice versa. My friends thought that was part of the performance package...lol. I was cleaning up on the street...I never ever forgot about that old 430 and how many races I won with it and just as well how effortlessly it moved that old truck. Fast forward to 2007...I had been working with and for my older brother and got into the car scene...I was tired of Chevys and decided to explore Buicks on account of my old truck. I did a google search..not sure where to start and guess what I typed into the search window....I put V8 Buick...just like that, and landed here. I was blown away....I did much reading....didn't even have a Buick at the time but I found one on craigslist Albuquerque ( 69...Stepchild) and the rest is history. I got all my Buick parts right here..got so many good deals too...cant recall every one but for sure special thanks go out to ShaggyFinisher...The Northcutt Boys...The Roys "Buick Boys"...Ol' Jim over in Bronte TX...George gddsomething...Michael Evans...many more....and for sure- Jim Burek....he has gone the extra mile for me to say the least. I will post another thread on him. As I recall...J.W. gave the option for any of us to post something positive about Jim...and I will....he is an original Buick guy and has many years in the game....more to follow. This is why I have my Buick...it turns heads...is so unique and original...seems the elder folks take quite a shine to my car...I am here for the long haul...there is ONLY Buick....thank you for reading Best Regards- 455NGLIDE/a.k.a. Vern
When I was born in '77, I was driven home from the hospital in a hunter green '72 Skylark, 2bbl 350, bench seat. My parents had the car until I was 7, when it rusted out. Recently I was looking for big block a-body and came across a '71 hunter green GS 455, bench seat. So I had no choice. I also love the idea of a GS, different then the dime a dozen (but still awesome) Chevelles I see around.
Although I live in Australia, been into cars my whole life, and always had a soft spot for American, mostly GM, muscle cars. But one day in 2007, I saw the photo below - it was love at first sight. I had to have it...and it's now my daily driver.
Sweet ride. I swear I just read an article that said if you get busted doing burnouts twice in Aus, they crush your car. wtf.
Yep hoon laws here suck. It's not all states, only 1 state for now, and not passed into law yet but almost certain it will be before end of the year, but once one does the others soon follow. Burnouts, excessive speed, even loss of traction, car too low, wheels to big etc etc, car impounded first strike, second strike crushed.
I thought I wanted a 70 Chevelle BB real bad in high school but couldn't afford it. I found a 70 GS 350 for next to nothing. Drove it for 17 years, loved that it was unique and not a Chevelle. Then I had to have GS455 convertible. After a long search I found a GS 455 Convertible and did a frame off restoration 1990-2000 . Now I have the dream car that I really wanted in High School. :3gears:
Had a couple of 66-67 Chevelles and 66-67 GTOs but I keep coming back to the 66 Skylarks. While nowhere near the aftermarket for parts, they are unique and IMO just a little better built and outfitted than the other GM A-Bodies. I suppose I also like that I got into my 66 GS convertible for a fraction of what I'd pay for a similar condition GTO or Chevelle SS -- and it's every bit as cool -- if not coolER!!
I think I am just to dumb to do a easier or cheaper car I could have bought a coiuple nice Vettes for what I spent on this Suncoupe
Because I couldn't afford the GTO that I wanted..........ou: ---------- Post added at 05:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:59 PM ---------- Seriously though, I bought my Buick because I've always liked them. Started with the Skylark vert and I'll be moving to my next very soon. Their as addicting as crack.
I bought my Champaign Mist, 4 speed consolette bucket seat 67 GS400 all by myself one Monday afternoon in November...the car had 11,000 miles and was like brand new...I had great times with that car but traded it in in 1971 for a 69 GTO automatic... Fast forward ... Fast forward some 42 years to 2013, I'm crusing carsonline.com website and I find a 67 has just popped up, same year, make, model and color, I leaned over to my lovely wife and say "that's my next car"...no problem...Monday week I leave out and I'm really nervous because it's in Flint, Michigan...after asking the 77 year old owner why he's selling he says his age. I bite the bullet, break out the Hemi Daytona truck and my friend Richard and I go off on a tear...what we found when we arrived was beyond my wildest expectations...and the guy still worked with me on price...the car needed only a change from original white seats to black buckets, the automatic changed to a Muncie 4 speed (actually Legend Gear 5 speed ), and the addition of the 4 speed consolette... Finally have all parts after one year of hunting...soon...and I'm 66.... Bruce ---------- Post added at 08:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:42 PM ---------- I bought my Champaign Mist, 4 speed consolette bucket seat 67 GS400 all by myself one Monday afternoon in November...the car had 11,000 miles and was like brand new...I had great times with that car but traded it in in 1971 for a 69 GTO automatic... Fast forward ... Fast forward some 42 years to 2013, I'm crusing carsonline.com website and I find a 67 has just popped up, same year, make, model and color, I leaned over to my lovely wife and say "that's my next car"...no problem...Monday week I leave out and I'm really nervous because it's in Flint, Michigan...after asking the 77 year old owner why he's selling he says his age. I bite the bullet, break out the Hemi Daytona truck and my friend Richard and I go off on a tear...what we found when we arrived was beyond my wildest expectations...and the guy still worked with me on price...the car needed only a change from original white seats to black buckets, the automatic changed to a Muncie 4 speed (actually Legend Gear 5 speed ), and the addition of the 4 speed consolette... Finally have all parts after one year of hunting...soon...and I'm 66.... Bruce
