Hi everyone! My name's Dustin. I'm a High School Senior from North Carolina and I am proud to be a member of the Buick family! I've been a fan of Buicks, (70 to 72 Skylark/GS being my favorite) since I was 12 years old. It all started when my dad took me to a car show at the Old Oconeechee Speedway, (whats left of it anyway) up in Hillsborough NC. While there I saw a Lime Mist 71 GSX and the Buick fever has had a hold on me ever since. About the time I turned 15 I started looking for a project car. My dad has worked on cars his whole life, so I was able to get some good advice during my search. After passing on a 71 Skylark convertible, two 72 Gran Sports and a 72 Stage 1, I finally found my dream car. 70 Buick GS 350 Originally Sherwood Green/White Deluxe Interior Matching Numbers 350/TH350 Power Steering Power Front Disc Brakes Power Driver's Seat Cruise Control A/C Factory Tach 136,664 Miles Here she is...
Congrats on the new purchase! Wish I could have gotten started in highschool. I finally got my first one last year at the age of 29!! Good choice on holding out for a 70. Definitely my favorite of the 70-72 era. I probably wouldn't push any of them out of the driveway, but 70 is my favorite for that body style. Although '66 is my favorite overall, hence my purchase. Good luck on the build! Are you planning to stay with the numbers matching powerplant? Or do you plan on building a new engine and trans to play with? The 350 is no slouch from what I understand. And there are several fellas on this board who are well versed in the Buick 350 and can lend a hand on squeezing out some more power if that's your plan. Keep us posted. And do yourself a favor, make sure you use the "search" function before you make a new post asking a question that's been asked a bunch of times. Will keep the flaming to a minimum, LOL. :TU:
Thanks for the welcome guys! 70 is my favorite as well. I am planning on keeping it mostly stock. It does run and once I get the brakes finished this week, I should be able to move it around the yard. I'll definitely have to go through the drivetrain though as none of it has ever been rebuilt. When the time comes, depending on what's available, I'll probably build it to where it's a good cruiser with some power when I want it. I've priced some performance parts on T/A, but I feel like I'm getting ahead of myself a little. With starting college next year, the parts money is going to dry up pretty quickly, but I'll only be an hour from home, so hopefully I'll be able to work on it on the weekends. I figure since it's going to be a full resto, I'll start with the body work, something I know how to do and can get going on for very little money. I'll probably start up a restoration thread in a week or so. I know I always like reading them. Thanks. Dustin in NC
Welcome! 70 was the dream for me too. I first had a 72 GS 350 Convertible, loved that car. But always wanted a 70. The grill just does it for me. I swore Id never sell the 72 when I had it but the opportunity came and against the recommendation of my wife, I sold it. 6 months of searching, and I found the 70 here on the board. No regrets.
Wow, Great choice. My 1st GS was a 70 350. I was about your age and I wanted a Chevelle SS so bad I could taste it, but they were crazy stupid money even back in the 80's and the old GS was dirt cheap and sorta looked like a chevelle so the rest is history. Drove that car for 17 years before selling her for 10X what I paid for it to Fund my 70 GS 455 vert. ! Lots of warm fuzzy memorys in the ole GS350. Even with the small block ,That car could move. That 70 350 was the first of many GS's, skylarks, and a GN that I have had the Pleasure of owning . I am really glad that I couldnt afford that chevelle because the GS's are so much better and rarer than the dime a dozen chevys. Enjoy!:laugh:
I felt the same way. I would have gladly taken a 71 or 72 in good shape in the 3 years that I searched, but there was always a hangup of some kind, either horrible rust, title issues, or both. Then I found a guy selling a whole collection of cars, including a bunch of 70 to 72 Buicks. I originally went up there to look at a 71 GS 350 for $1800, but it was as rough as the cars I had passed on previously. And then I saw this one and it just hit me. I ended up paying more than I was originally hoping to spend on a car, but I got what I really wanted. And besides, the searching, while discouraging at times, it was fun going to look at the potential projects with my dad and having his input was pretty helpful too.
That's where it all started for me. The stripes, the spoiler. It just looked really cool and different to me and I also liked that it was green considering it wasn't a color that you see all that often. And now I have a green car...I see a trend developing here.:Brow:
I've always had a soft spot for Chevelles since my dad has a 72 SS. And while I wouldn't turn down a nice Chevelle, theres just something about a GS that does it for me. At any car show, you'll see Chevelles, Camaros, Mustangs, GTOs, but I have rarely seen Buicks and like you thats something I love about them. You don't come across them very often, but when you do, you take notice.
Go figure.....high school kids around here are driving crappy Toyotas....... and the kids who want an old-school (arf) V8 are not allowed to drive those by law until they are around 21.........so good on ya mate, congrats on your awesome taste in street furniture, and welcome, from Australia!!!!!!
Welcome. I caught the Buick Bug in high school also. My uncle gave me a 1970 Skylark with 18000 miles. It is a four door but I wouldn't trade that car for the world.
Sounds a lot like my story! I started saving and bought my GS at 15, and a few more have followed since. 5 years later and I hope to have my first one done this summer. Welcome to the board!
Thanks for the welcome kiwidave. I kind of understand the thought process behind that law, but man, I think that's one I'd have to break. Where I live it's truck country, so there aren't many students at my school that are into muscle cars. But I like being a little different so it's all good. :TU:
Hey Moosebear. Thanks for the welcome. 4 door or not a Buick is a Buick and the first one is always special. I plan on keeping this one for life.:laugh:
Hey Louie! I really enjoyed reading your restoration thread and I thought there were some similarities as well. I think seeing the process that you've gone through with yours has helped me realize that this isn't an overnight project, it'll take some time but it's well worth it. I'm hoping to have mine done by the time I graduate college. By the way, your car looks like it's getting pretty close, keep up the good work. Dustin in NC
Thanks Dustin, it certainly is a marathon and not a sprint. Looking forward to your restoration thread. Your floors look really solid, which was key for me in finding the right car.
It was one of the keys for me too. The 71 Convert that I looked at and both 72 GS's needed full floors, (and just about every other panel too). And the 72 Stage car I looked at, I would have bought if I didn't want a car done prior to ten years from now. To say it was rough would be putting it nicely. It did come with the original block and it was one of 101 4 speed stage 1's built in 72, (4 speed was long gone though). It had no wheels and had been sitting on the ground in the woods for 10-15 years. At some point a tree had fallen on it and crushed the passenger quarter in where it meets the roof. It could have been fixed and with as rare as it was, I hope whoever bought will do it right. But I'm not a massochist, so I kept looking for the right one, and now I have it.
Our stories are very simlar! I was at a point in my life when I could attain an old car and I so wanted a chevelle. My father in law said "You dont want Chevelle! Everybody has Chevelles!" He was a 442 guy. We would buy all the autotrader magazines and he found a 72 GS 350 Convertible. We drove 3 hrs to see it. I saw it drivng down towards the the owners house and I said to my wife, Im not leaving without this car LOL And at that point I was schooled on what a GS was. Ive never looked back.
Welcome! Cool car for a first car...My first was a Nova...that morphed from an inline 6 to a big block
