Is it a '65 Gran Sport?

I'm considering a purchase of a prime '65 GS but I'd like to know for sure if it is or isn't a "badged beauty" tribute.
It's got the 401 Nailhead, bucket seats, console mounted tach and a posi-trac rear. Is there any other physical way to verify GS bloodline? The seller has no historical documents, really wish he did! The cowl tag reads as follows: (can't see right side of tag in photo)

07C 422
ST 65-44437
TR 151-B
E 2KXGP

 

Based on the information provided, you are looking at a Gran Sport 400 HT Coupe.

4- Buick
44- Gran Sport
37- GS 400 2 dr HT Coupe

 

Thank you! there is so much conflicting info out there....the source I'm reading says it needs to be a 46 series to be a Gran Sport. Would
you mind telling me what is the "go to" place to find this info?
Many Thanks,
Dave

 

If it has a boxed frame it is most likely for real. Here is the go to place;
http://www.65gs.com/board/

 

Also, if original engine the number stamped on top front of block will match the vin and will have an LR production code

 

My information comes from Steven Dove’s book “Guide to Buick Gran Sport”.

 

That's what I was looking for! Mystery solved.....It's the real deal.
Thank you Nailhead!

 

The 46 series is for 1966 Gran Sports.

 

No, no, no. You have bad information, where did you see this?
44437 is a Skylark V8 sport coupe. In 1965 the GS was an option package put on to a Skylark. The vin doesn't denote whether it's a GS or not.
In 1966 the GS had it's own model number, but not in 1965.

151-B is blue bucket seats
2K is air conditioning
X is st300 automatic trans
G is long console
P is believed to be backup lamps.

However, it's missing the option code for the Gran Sport package, so it's not looking good.
EDIT: The pics of the cowl plate (posted later in thread) DO show the option code for the Gran Sport package!

Great source of info:
www.65gs.com

 

Straight out of Steven Dove’s book. Is he wrong? Because I don’t want to mislead anyone.

 

Looks to me like S.Dove was trying to cover more years with this decoder than is practical, as there are some things that don’t seem to work. Like 65 Wildcats would have series 462;464 and 466- chart is not accurate for 65. Probably good on 70’s though.

 

For 1965 the option code for a GS was only stamped on the body tag at certain plants. Since you didn't list the plant code from the body tag or the VIN we can't tell if the car was built at a plant that would have normally stamped the option code for a GS on the body tag.


Steven Dove's book is also misleading for the L6/V6 vs V8 series (specifically series 33, 34, 35, 36, and 43). First off, the L6 was only available starting in 1968 and it was the V6 in 1965-1967. Second, the series only specifies V6 or V8 for 1965 and 1966 and this does not apply for 1967 and later. Buick changed its VIN scheme in 1967 to code six vs. eight cylinder in the serial number portion of the VIN. Below describes how to correctly identify a six vs. eight cylinder car.


1962 was the first year for the six cylinder engine (after six cylinder production ended for the 1930 model year) and 1972 was the first year the VIN contained a digit that identified the specific engine the car came with. So, for 1962-1971 you can tell if your car came with a six or eight cylinder engine from the serial number or VIN using this:

-For 1962-1964, if the first digit of the serial number is a letter (A, B, or C), then the car came with a V6

-For 1962-1964, if the first digit of the serial number is a number (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, or 8), then the car came with a V8

-For 1965-1966, if the third digit of the VIN is an odd number, then the car came with a V6

-For 1965-1966, if the third digit of the VIN is an even number, then the car came with a V8

-For 1967-1971, if the 8th digit of the VIN is a 6, then the car came with a six cylinder engine

-For 1967-1971, if the 8th digit is anything other than a 6, then the car came with an eight cylinder engine

 

Here is the tag for the car in question. The engine has LR575 stamped on the block in front of the pan and behind the thermostat cover. The engine ID # is almost non-existent as it appears the stamping was tilted when it was stamped and you can only see the bottom of a few numbers. The car has a boxed frame. I bought the car as a gift for my dad in 2003 and we did a nice restoration on it over the next few years. The car has had 675 miles of use since I purchased it in 03. Back in 2003 when I bought it I did a lot of research to try to determine if it is an real original GS and the experts on forums like this one convinced me that it is. Dad purchased a brand new Seafoam Green 65 GS in 1965 and it was a family favorite car. My recollection of the new car Dad bought on 1965 and the current car match up on all the details. When we did the restoration the car was stripped to bare metal and my body and paint guy told me that all the emblems and badging appeared to be original mountings but I don't remember the details.
Anything new on this evaluation?
Steve O'Hara

 

Here is a link to a bunch of photos for your viewing pleasure. The underside pics were taken when I did the restoration in 2004. All the photos without date stamping were taken a couple days ago.
Enjoy,
Steve O'Hara
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/slhe684ardt4e9o/AAAQnaa9jg5J_R7SW4W5SGN4a?dl=0

 

It's possible this car is a fake, but given the boxed frame and LR engine it is highly unlikely. Other differences are documented in the chassis manual supplement, the parts books and service bulletins. IMO there is not sufficient demand for early Gran Sports to justify someone going to the trouble to do a highly accurate clone

 

Thanks so much, I'll check it out!

 

Beautiful car! Best of luck in Kentucky!

 

Careful, it appears some of the information in the book is questionable according to some of the more respected members on this forum.

 

Hi Steve, here's some good news!.... the pic of the cowl tag you posted DOES show the option code for the Gran Sport package. The code is the 'S' in group 4.
So the cowl tag is for a GS. If the tag is original to the car, it was built as a Gran Sport.
LR is the correct engine code for a 1965 GS. The '575' is a production date code. I'm not sure that's correct for a late build (July 1965) but I'll look into it. Are you sure it's 575 and not 375?
Beautiful car and very well done! Had my eye on it when it went up for sale.

 

If it still has the original motor then you can match the VIN’s. I did see a car around here where it was a Skylark on the cowl tag and two weeks later the same car had a cowl tag with the Gran Sport code on it.