Should I buy this GS Convertible?

Discussion in 'The ragtop shop' started by smokenm, Oct 28, 2005.

  1. smokenm

    smokenm Laugh out Loud Today

    Today I found a numbers matching 1965 Grand Sport convertible that I need some good information about. This is a one-owner car that came from the factory as a 3 - speed on the floor with a 401 Buick Wildcat engine package. Unusual I hear. There is one on Ebay now that is just like it, (athough it is Black with cloth interior and automatic). According to Buick specifications, they only made 123 of these cars in 1965 with 3 on the floor and specs say they all came with a 400 engine. I was told that because of year- end shortage of parts, this car was substituted with the Wildcat package. http://user.dtcc.edu/~rod/buick/numbers.html. The car is rusty and in need of rear fenders and trunk panels. The interior is Pearl White vinyl buckets and needs restored. He wants $6,000 and I think that is steep but if this is a rare car it might be worth it. Any help would be appreciated? Here are the numbers.

    06D 7715
    65-44467 KAN 1223
    154-B L-1
    2B 45 5W

    This number was on the driver side engine head. 1196914
    VIN inside of Driver door is: 444675K129471

    Here are some pics of the car.
    Thanks.
    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/a29ae19d.jpg
    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/d24b6d01.jpg
    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/1965 Buick GS/Cars006.jpg
    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/1965 Buick GS/Cars007.jpg
    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/1965 Buick GS/Cars005.jpg
    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/1965 Buick GS/Cars002.jpg
    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/1965 Buick GS/Cars003.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2005
  2. nekkidhillbilly

    nekkidhillbilly jeffreyrigged youtube channel owner

    i would to bad its not a hardtop.......... i hate convs........but convs 3 speeds are rarest
     
  3. SpecialWagon65

    SpecialWagon65 Ted Nagel

    I'd buy it but my judgement gets wacko when I hear Manual Transmission.
    I was looking for the hardtop 3-speed- just because I thought a convertible would be impossible to find! If you don't buy it, I'm sure somebody around here will (me)

    Good luck! :TU:

    pm me if you are passing on it, i'll buy it! :grin:
     
  4. 65specialconver

    65specialconver kennedy-bell MIA

    not an investment

    mike,they called the 401 a 400 because gm corparate had a 400 cube limit in the intermediate(a body)and all was good.all 65-66 gs where 401 wildcats.if you have extensive rust,dont plan on getting your money back out of it.if you want to keep and drive it,BUY IT QUICK! most beautifull car ever made was the 65 convert :TU:to those who hate converts :moonu: :moonu: thats ok...more for us :beer if you dont buy it put it on the board so someone rescues it.for 6k,it might just sit and rust if the right person dont get it :rant: :ball:
     
  5. MikeM

    MikeM Mississippi Buicks

    I say buy it. I had a 65 corvette 3 spd coupe with the floor shift once upon a time. The 3spd was a lot of fun to drive. If it's the same ratios as the corvette, they're the same as the 1-3-4 gears in a four speed, and a non synchro first gear. But with some practice you can learn to shift it without the clutch and the non synchro doesn't matter.
     
  6. GS Jim

    GS Jim Platinum Level Contributor

    65 Convert

    Mike,I gotta agree with Jamie,the 65 convert was the best.
    PONCH
     
  7. 65specialconver

    65specialconver kennedy-bell MIA

    ponch,beautifull car!!! what color interior?
     
  8. smokenm

    smokenm Laugh out Loud Today

    65 Gs

    Ponch,

    That is one beautiful Buick. If I could make this one like that one it would be hard to turn it down. I will see where this goes. This car has sat on a busy road behind that fence since the early nineties after his son died and I know the reason it has not been snatched up is the price. I also know the emotional attachment is there and that may explain the price. Either way needing a full restoration I may be better off looking for a smaller project but this would be a beautiful car. I am trying to get the owner to make me a copy of the build sheet which he has to confirm scarcity. Thanks for all of your replies.
     
  9. GS Jim

    GS Jim Platinum Level Contributor

    65 Skylark

    Hi Guys; I got my car a few years ago.The former owner put a lot of money into it,Paint,carpet,New Top & Boot, overhauled the engine, all kinds of stuff. It has a Red interior. I gave 8 Grand for it.355 engine. Last winter I ported the heads, Intake and Exaust manifolds,cut down the valves, did a lot of little stuff to it.Put a TH-350 Trans in. This winter i'm gonna put in a 350 with a 200-4r Trans. Also have a GN Steering Box.Same car I got the trans out of. I also put in a 3.55 Posi rear.
    So Thanx for the Kudo's. I have wanted a 65 since I saw one at the New Car Intro in Flint that Buick put on for it's employees. I was only 15 at the time. It took a while, but I finally got one. I wanted a GS but with a Daughter in college and retirement looming, I had to "settle" for mine. I love it tho. Get lots of compliments. Now if I could just erase the Mid-Life Crsis off the side...........
    PONCH :beer
     
  10. PGBuick

    PGBuick Well-Known Member

    It will look a lot like mine when done, except my exterior is midnight blue. I can send you pics. Those rims look original - 65 had a gray paint and all subsequent years are black. The dash and carpet should be gray (not black). A-pillar should be white on the inside. That interior color combo was 65 specific and not used again. The car doesn't look that bad in the pics and if it's complete and running and you can do floor replacements the $6k price isn't all that out of control. If the frame is solid I'd recommend buying it. I see very, very few standard shift 65's like mine and the white interior is a real eye-catcher. Your choice. If it's all original it is extremely rare, I hope a lover of 65's gets it and does it over right.
     
  11. smokenm

    smokenm Laugh out Loud Today

    65 Gs

    Received a copy of the purchase order in the mail today from the owner. It was bought at Jack Kaldem Buick (long gone) in Des Moines for $4,071.47.

    Extras on PO included:

    250 HP engine - $188.30
    White wall tires - 32.28
    Seat belts - 7.53
    Windshield washer - 17.65
    Bucket seats - 69.94
    Chrome plated wheels - 64.96
    Dual Exhaust - 21.52
    Undercoating - 29.95

    All original including current owner....for $6,000.00
     
  12. Mister T

    Mister T Just truckin' around

    That sounds like the 300 4 bbl engine option, not the Gran Sport.

    Buckets seats were standard with the Gran Sport package, which included the 401 which was rated at 325 HP and 445 ft/lbs torque.

    Did you buy this car???
     
  13. smokenm

    smokenm Laugh out Loud Today

    65 Gs

    You may be right, Tom. That is why I am counting on all of you pros out there to help me. That is also why I waited until he sent me the information before I bought the car. If buckets were standard in the GS then why did he to pay upgrade. I went back online to decode this car and the serial number is 444675K129471. If this decoding website is correct and I assume it is, http://user.dtcc.edu/~rod/buick/buickvin.html then the 2nd and 3rd digit would be 44 which would make it a Skylark and not a GS. It would need to be a 46 to be a GS. Sounds like he bought a Skylark with an upgrade package to some GS specs. I bet you a buck the original build sheet is under that back seat and that would tell all, huh? Anyway, no, I have not bought it and I am not sure I will. Here are some more pics of the interior. Thanks.

    Mike

    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/1965 Buick GS/Cars005.jpg
    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/1965 Buick GS/Cars006.jpg
    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/1965 Buick GS/Cars007.jpg
    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/1965 Buick GS/Cars008.jpg
    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/1965 Buick GS/65GS.jpg
    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/1965 Buick GS/Cars002.jpg
    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/1965 Buick GS/Cars003.jpg
    http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/smokenm/1965 Buick GS/Cars004.jpg :Do No:
     
  14. Topless64-455

    Topless64-455 Well-Known Member

    The Gran Sport did not have a vin specific number. It was just a package if I remember correctly. It does sound like a Skylark.

    I have looked at the pictures and that is a nailhead motor. I also looks to have the battery on the drivers side as I can see the ground cable. I think it is a real GS. Check the motor numbers against the vin.
     
  15. Mister T

    Mister T Just truckin' around

    Mike, thanks for the compliment, but I'm far from a pro on these cars yet, still learning. :grin: Nevertheless, I'll take a crack at that firewall tag:

    4------------ Buick
    -44---------- Series, Skylark V8
    ---67-------- Convertible
    -----5------- Model year 1965
    ------K------ Production Plant, Not sure which plant, but I'll guess Kansas
    -------129471 Consectutive serial number

    The 06D indicates build date, 4th week of June.
    Trim 154 Trim code for white front buckets seats.
    L-1 Lower body color, Midnight aqua, and I think White convert top. :Do No:

    The lower codes of 2B, 4S, and 5W are Fisher Body option codes, and I only know the 5W is seat belts with retractors.

    Buick did not show the Gran Sport as a separate body code for 1965, as it was a mid-year intro (Jan. 65). There are other ways to verify a Gran Sport however. First and foremost, I believe all Gran Sports were built in Flint Michigan, and should have an "H" as the 6th character in the VIN.
    Second, in order to fit the 401 in the Skylark, special exhaust manifolds were created, they are GS only, pass side is much longer than full size/Riv manifolds. I don't have any pics tho.
    The GS also has battery mounted on the drivers side, boxed frame (which convets got anyway), different steering rag joint, pretty sure they got a crossflow rad, special motor mounts, and one or two other items.

    I'm sure that others will chime in with more info.
    Hope this helps you. :TU:

    Just looked at my repro window sticker, and the B9 option, Gran Sport package on my car consisted of:
    - High Performance V8 Engine - 400 Cu. In. with 4 bbl carb
    - Super Turbine 300 Automatic Transmission (note that standard trans was available)
    - Full length Operating Floor Console
    - Dual Exhaust
    - 7.75 X 14 Blackwall Tires
    - Heavy Duty Performance Specifications and Specific Ornamentation

    My car is fairly heavily optioned, but no Power Brakes or Windows. :error: :Do No:
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2005
  16. Mister T

    Mister T Just truckin' around

    D'oh, forgot the most obvious item. Thanks Ed. :TU:

    You should find the VIN stamped on the driver side front of engine between the thermstat housing, and drivers side cylinder head, directly under that single wire in the first pic. It needs to match the last six digits of the cars VIN.

    Maybe this is one GS that was built outside Flint. :confused:
     
  17. Topless64-455

    Topless64-455 Well-Known Member

    Hi Tom, Must be the cold up there? :pp We might get some snow tomorrow so that must mean you have a good foot up there. (30cm) :grin:

    What I dont get is the Hi pro package? I thought that was a 64 option?
     
  18. Mister T

    Mister T Just truckin' around

    Hey Ed, no snow yet :moonu: :moonu: :moonu:

    It was 45 above Wednesday, :pp , but we might get 1-2 inches (2-5 cm)of snow tonight. :grin:
     
  19. wkillgs

    wkillgs Gold Level Contributor

    That purchase order....is is the PO for THIS car???
    Check the engine code and vin on the engine:
    See the stamped cover under the intake manifold? ....look at the block , just in front of that cover. The code will be on the left (should be LR) and the last 6 digits of the vin should be on the right side.
    If he has the original warranty booklet, the metal 'protecto-plate' will have the vin, engine code, trans code, and major options codes. If they match the car, and ar GS codes....it's a GS!
    The car looks like a gs, but that order form info doesn't jibe.
    There's a thread here with '65 GS id info:
    http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=63460&page=3&pp=20
     
  20. MikeM

    MikeM Mississippi Buicks

    I still say buy it. If you like the config it's a hell of a car once it's set straight. And the 3spds are fun to drive.

    If you've decided not to buy, please give us the contact number on this one.... Okay? Maybe $6K is a lot for it but am going to assume there is some bargaining room.

    That 65 Convert that just went for $3500 on ebay broke my heart. It would have been so easy to drop that body onto a nice hard frame with a big block drive train and have a nice car for under... lets say $9K.
     

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