Potential 1971 GSX?

Discussion in 'Cars and Parts For Sale Leads' started by gsxnut, Dec 26, 2007.

  1. Rich Johns

    Rich Johns Platinum Level Contributor

    When I bought my Sunburst yellow 72 GSX 350 back in August 1988 in Kelowna BC the guy I bought the car from also had a 71 Bittersweet Mist GSX Stage 1 4 speed car.
    Before we left we went fro a ride in it.It did not perform that well as his clutch was chattering badly.As metioned, it was a Bittersweet Mist car ,No vinyle top,Black Bench seat interior ,had in dash tach and guages so therefore no hood tach and no front spoiler and no N25 or bumper guards.
    My 72 GSX was his daily driver apparently at the time.
    Guy had lost his business and said the 71 X was being sold to his brother so he could maybe buy it back in the future after he got his finances turned around.His brother in law, years previous also owned an Apollo white Stage 1 auto GSX that he had sold a few years earlier to someone in Montana south of the border.
    Wonder what happed to those cars?
     
  2. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    If it is ever determined that it is a stage 1, I have some factory service replacement 71 stage 1 crate short blocks --Group 0.033, #1394851.
     
  3. BUQUICK

    BUQUICK I'm your huckleberry.

    Chevy called code 62 paint Burnt Orange. We have a '71 El Camino, SS 454 (LS-5), 4-speed, bench seat, A/C, that has code 62 paint w/ black vinyl top and black stripes on the cowl induction hood. My dad bought the car (truck?) in July 1984 from Glen Biggers who is also a V8Buick.com member: "Mr Big".
     
  4. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    One of my best buds here still has a 71 SS 454 that color he bought back in 1971 when he was still in the Air Force.
     
  5. Mr Big

    Mr Big Silver Level contributor

    Gary, I can still remember the night I went to look at the "Halloween" truck. :) I really had no intentions of buying it, but the color combo got me. Good thing I like orange huh? It always was a great driver, and will be a great car when George (your dad) gets around to it...
     
  6. dl7265

    dl7265 No car then Mopar


    OK, I see it now on your web site. I should have scrolled down past the Buicks .That would make a nice matching set for you..
     
  7. bobuick

    bobuick Well-Known Member

    :gp: 100% agree. A lot of people expect to buy this old iron and "flip it" for a profit. Not really possible in the short term if your labor and time is worth anything. Somebody once told me that the only way to really make money with old cars is to work on other peoples.
     
  8. staged70

    staged70 RIP

    I have to agree with Jim. The purchaser of this X will be the guy that just has to have an X and its the only way to buy into one. Just in 06 there was a 72 X 350 car in the east . Not really rusty but a 350 car with this color or close and tan interior bench seat and an ugly reg steering wheel and no tach or spoiler for 5000 BIN and it went unsold the first time around. I bet someone snatched it up but it was not a pretty car.
    If you want to spend the money on this car I would suggest buying a rust free 350 lark and doing a swap of every piece of metal except the dash.
    I am into my Suncoupe for considerable amount north of this money and I have yet to see the paint shop. I am told that will be in the 13 to 15K range . I would expect this car restoration to be 6 figures if done well with NOS parts. So is a 71 455 X worth 120,000.00? Not to me unless I was so rich I could just throw that kind of money around and not care if I have a good investment. That goes to the love the car factor.
    I have seen a few nice examoles of a 70 for far less.
     
  9. racenu

    racenu Well-Known Member

    Good Posting, I've learned more about 71X's from reading this then I thought was possible. The problem with this situation I see is that once someone spends a fortune to restore it, they prob won't drive it, which is ok for a collector guy with some extra mula?
    I wanted to point out that many people figure this X's worth is something less than 20K, in the real world it is only worth what someone is willing to pay, doesn't matter on paper what its worth other than what your insurance policy or appraisel says. For those that figure this X's worth at about 17K, I would say pay the extra 3K to the guy, don't let that minor amount stop you from owning a real X. In the long run 3 grand will be a drop in the bucket compared to what it will cost in the end to finish it correctly. On the other hand if you want to drive a nice clone and save yourself a ton of money there is a nice 70 pro tour X clone on the board right now for I think a decent price considering what hes done to it in parts alone.:gp:
     
  10. 70sportwagon

    70sportwagon Silver Level contributor

    Did anybody write the check for this one yet?

    For me its bad timing, as I just started a new job a couple of months ago. A year ago and I would have sold a couple cars (and my soul to the devil, maybe) and picked it up wherever it was in the country. I can get anywhere in the continental US with my Roadmaster and car trailer and would do so in a heartbeat.

    I bought my 71 stage 1 convertible in the mid 1980's for $2500. Original owner, needed quarters and bodywork. Everybody at the time told me it needed too much bodywork to ever make it worth that amount of money as a project. Most of the Buick guys at the time told me it was worth about 1500 because it was a 71 not a 70.

    Some guy was looking at it and didn't have the full 2500. I looked it over carefully and looked at the docs and just handed the owner the 2500 without even dickering, or driving it. My dad thought I was an idiot.

    All it takes is someone that REALLY wants the car as in, "this is the car I always wanted" and $20000 will be acceptable. Later on that person probably won't be hurt, either.

    For gods sake it is one of 124, looks very restoreable, big block, great color combo and a GSX. I realize to restore a car to show condition it would be 100,000 or a bazillion or whatever figure it is to have a shop finish it to number one status. I think you could put $30,000 over time into it and end up with a nice 50,000 big block bittersweet Mist 1971 GSX doing stuff yourself.

    My neighbor has that much invested in a 56 ford PU streetrod. I tell you which one I would rather have.

    I just hope it goes to a good home.
     
  11. donny1973

    donny1973 Well-Known Member

    Chris - I was very close to pulling the trigger. The lack of even a shread of documentation to substantiate the GSX claim caused me, reluctantly, to pass. Although I don't doubt it's authenticity now, once restored that patina is history. I know I could document it with photos, but for the amount of money that will be wrapped up in it, I think a documented car can be bought.
     
  12. 70sportwagon

    70sportwagon Silver Level contributor

    That is the trouble with the 71 cars. There is always more uncertainty. I believe this one is an X. For me it would be enough as the X would be another one my kids would sell after I am dead so resale value with the circumstantial vs paper documentation would be good enough for me because I would know it is real.

    I am one of the few that has little desire for a 70 GSX but would love to get a 71 X, esp. a big block car.

    Just can't crap 20,000 right now. Maybe I could sell my eight 1970 baskets/parts cars and raise the cash, but it would take too long in this market and would be too much of a hassle.

    So the stable stays as is I guess...Though it would look cool next to my bittersweet mist 71 GS 350 coupe in the garage.
     
  13. SS-TRUCK

    SS-TRUCK Stage 1 X

    I have a 71 that I believe to be a real X , although I do not have all the real documentation . It has the correct steering shaft , marks in the frame where the rear control arm braces were , , all the holes that look factory correct for the spoilers , hood tach and everything i can find to make me think it is a real X . When I got the car it had been stripped of all the bolt on X parts , why I will never know , but at the Price I got it for I will not ask , would have paid the same price for a Skylark . I bought and bolted on all the stripped parts and it looked good . Now I am starting a complete frame off . So which ever way the car is real or not I will be proud of the end product . If is is real I will be far to scared to drive it and enjoy , but what a nice addition to 401K . Either way I still love the car .
     
  14. dl7265

    dl7265 No car then Mopar

  15. gsxnut

    gsxnut Well-Known Member

    That is one gorgous GSX. I hope it will be at the GSX Reunion.

    Mark
     
  16. Duane

    Duane Member

    The car looks just a little.................... bit different from the last time I saw it. Can't wait to see it in person.
    Duane

    PS. "Although I don't doubt it's authenticity now, once restored that patina is history."

    That's not quite true with this car. Before the car was restored I persuaded the owner & restoration shop to not use the "original striped" passenger door. It has been "preserved" so any future owner can see the stripes were original.:laugh:
     
  17. dl7265

    dl7265 No car then Mopar

    Tricky Ricky :laugh:
    Mark ,he said he's planning on attending.

    DL
     

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