Identifying a 1971 GSX

Dwayne,
I just thought of another thing you could check. The Vin number will not tell you if a 71 is a big block or small block, but the Coupe frame numbers will. They do not tell if it's a Stage 1 or not, but will differentiate between a BB & SM.
Duane

PS. If you are going to re-do the car I would save an original door with stripes, and put another one on the car. Just saying.

 

Yes driver side with the blue label vin stamped.

 

Tom,

I know of a 71 Stratomist Blue GSX that I watched being unloaded from the car carrier in March of 71 that had red striped rocker moldings (and still does). The window sticker indicates black rocker moldings.

Zach

 

I wonder if this one is a real GSX ???

http://www.pjsautoworld.com/1971 Buick 455gsx/index.html

 

Well, it's got a low body number and an SCO........so it could be.

 

I think the facts are Brad is that there was many people working on these cars and they could have been out of red ones or could have been a mistake at the factory. Like vin#'s stamped on blocks, I have seen then in places where experts say is wrong but the history of these vehicles were unmolested vehicles with complete history. Respect for everyone involved unless you were there on the assembly line and over seeing the total build of said car no one can really say that there word is final. Please correct me if I am wrong but look at that 4 bolt main block that surfaced last year, it left the factory with 2 bolts main caps. Its my understanding that no one knew these were around. Something like Denny for got about these????

 

All I was saying about the rocker stripes is that if they are black it is something of an indication of a GSX. It certainly proves nothing. But seeing as there are all these indicators that in and of themselves prove nothing I was merely drawing attention to one not mentioned. So is there a consensus on the GS's Being delivered with anything other than red stripe rockers. I don't have my 71' GSX anymore but did buy it off the original owner with all the right documentation and was pretty sure it mentioned the black stripe rockers, as they were on the car when I bought it.

 

Tom,
None of the factory information, ie "Build sheets" mention anything about rocker panel color. It was not an option according to Buick, therefore there was no space on the sheets for it.

The only "documentation" that might show it would have been on the hand typed dealer invoice. However I have seen a few of these that showed wrong info. I personally know of one dealer invoice where the secretary that typed it up did not know what to call the rear spoiler and called it a "Luggage rack"

Therefore it is the only GSX that I know of that came from the factory with a luggage rack.:laugh::laugh:

Anyway, the production line never stops, people type up dealer invoices, and people make mistakes. That's the way it is, and probably will always be. I tell people all the time that just because a build sheet shows what a car is supposed to have does not necessarily mean it was built exactly that way.
Duane

PS. Brad if you want to jump in the waters fine.

 

I've seen far too many cars with factory "mistakes" to say never. Small block cars with big block steering couplers and vice versa, one of my 70's had 2 right hand rocker moldings (the one on the left side had been installed backwards), numbers matching Stage 1 drivetrains in cars that aren't, drum brakes where discs are supposed to be, etc... The point being, balancing the entire provenance of a 40+ year old car on a part or two is sketchy at best.

Besides, in my opinion the red rocker moldings look better on an X as they tie in with the red pinstriping, so who's to say they weren't changed when the car was brand new. Just my .02 cents.

 

I also think the red rocker moldings look better on a GSX...mistake or not.