It was a sad day for me to hear that the 1970 Buick GSX that belonged to Oliver Colteryahn is now but a memory. I cannot understand why or how that an iconic car could have such an unheroic end. To be sold in pieces instead of whole and intact is a disgrace and an end to an era. I know for myself I could not amagine cutting up my gs's and I obviously do not own a Buick that was anything like this GSX. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and iron to rust.
??? If what you're saying is true that makes no sense. Need more info. I could maybe see (not what I would do) the frame coming off for a non cut up one and factory rear suspension to restore back to somewhat stock? Again, I would have left it as is...WTH??
I heard Betts sold it to Harrison Ortis who is going to restore it. I have the dipped bumpers off of it that Benisek ran on the stocker in 72.
awesome car nobody wanted to buy it when Ken had it for sale. I got to see it in person at kens. I sold him my parts gs455 so he could have the correct frame for it. it's apart now?
There are some pics posted of it in past threads. Its a narrowed up yellow GSX that, IIRC, had a blower on it. http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?233879-Oliver-Colteryahn-s-70-GSX-GSE-class-car-info-picts-needed
From what I've been told someone bought the shell for @$20k but didn't want the frame. The person is going to do a resto of the car. Its not what I would do either, the car was a true gsx but nothing numbers matching. It was more valuable as the multi award winning drag car in the first place. The left over frame is junk due to the cookie cutting job the owner has had done at his request, such as removing of frame supports that where added years ago for the back half. The sad part is that a piece of Buick race history has been lost. Granted, Betts owned the car and it was his to do with how he wished, but in my opinion the car deserved better.
Seems like the whole thing was for sale here for quite some time, or at least the rolling chassis was. No takers, so that's the way it goes.
As with much of life these days the bottom line is money. About 5 years ago Oliver C. moved down near Mexico City with his friend Felipe who was a chef and had family they could stay with. Oliver took some farm equipment down there along with all his household possessions and tried to fulfill a dream of his to have his own farm. Unfortunately Felipe was killed in a car accident and Oliver was unable to get his belongings back from the Felipes family. Dave Benisek and I wired Oliver some money to get back to Southern California and about all he had left was his truck and trailer and the GSX that was in storage. As a previous post points out the car was up for sale for some time and Dave Benisek had a lot invested in the car and engine as well. Ken Betts came to the rescue and purchased the car and Oliver and Dave split the money up. Harrison Ortis had purchased all of the Buick parts that Oliver had in storage prior to his departure to Mexico and one of the items was the original engine from the GSX. Ken really did not want to deal with restoring the GSX and had some other body and painting work for Harrison to do for some of Kens stable of cars. They came to a financial arrangement and Harrison ended up with the GSX and Ken kept the race engine from it and it now resides in John Everetts dragster. I believe this account to be quite accurate and hopefully will dispel any myths and confusion regarding the GSX. Doug Jones
I for one would not restore the car back to just a GSX.(but not my car) thats like taking the Renolds Buick "POP" drove and putting it back the way it was before a race car. I recall a buick owner in the GSXtras saying something that sticks with me about cars like this. He wasnt the owner but the care taker of the car. it was the First proto type GSX owner. Hell that goes for all the car that make history like this one had. I Believe that Olivers GSX was the most pictured and most seen Buick in Mags and on TV shows. I could be wrong on that but I dont think so. Its just sad to see a car with the history it has to be to be torn apart and gone. but its some comfort to know it just didnt turn to scrap. Its sad to see it just go back to the way it started out but then again that GSX has had a great life. maybe it be around for the next 100years. Doug
Is this the same GSX that appeared a long time ago in old K-B catalogs with a Skylark/Stage 2 scooped hood?
When Oliver purchased the GSX new, he was working in the parts department of a Buick dealer in Orange County, California. He was an early customer of Jim Bell's back then and stopped by the business quite often. As time went on and the GSX became a race car, Jim considered it as one of the K-B cars and helped Oliver out with parts for it. Oliver was instrumental in the development of the "Cool Runner" intake manifold and had it marketed by K-B. Jim Bell and Bruce Kent conceived the dual supercharger engine for the GSX and Bruce has the engine stored at his business. I am sure pictures of the car were used for the K-B catalogs and an article on the supercharged setup appeared in Popular Hot Rodding magazine. Doug Jones
Doug, If that is true, that it is the same car, I would like to hope that the current owner would restore it back to the way it appeared on day two in the old K-B Catalogs. That car looked just plain bad a double s.
Everyone thought the car was wonderful but no one was willing to pay pennies on the dollar for what it was worth. At this point I'm just happy the car is staying alive and didn't get scrapped. The younger generation wants nothing to do with these cars and can you blame them? There are 707 horsepower cars coming out of the factory with a warranty. Times are changing...... It's just a matter of time before our Buicks are like model T's and nobody wants them. That is when I feel the hobby will get good again because the people are buying them for the love of them not the potential value or profit.
