If you notice on the order form "F9" is an available option for the GS only and not the GS455, I guess that would make it an SCO option if ordered on a GS455. I have a price list dated 9/16/69 that lists the F9 "PK5" option as only available on 43437 (GS 350). The order form shows code P80 so something changed on Rev 1 of the order form and it appears to be an error on the form since P80 represents a different tire size used on the big cars. I do not have a copy of the 1970 pre rev 1 order form.
I've seen that regarding the F8 & F9 options only being avail on GS 350 on this Rev. which never made sense esp. wrt F9 (redlines) since most if not all the magazine ads showed GS 455 w/redlines. I could see that once the F4/F7 (G60-15) options came online around the end of October that the intention would've been for the GS 350 to get F8 (G70-14) and the GS 455 to get F4/F7 but based on your price list's date even that was not the case unless Rev 1 of the order form came out around the same time as your price list which is possible I guess as they would've had to anticipate the availability of those options given the lead time between dealers ordering to actually building the cars. Of course the redline issue could also be a mistake as I think we could also probably assume that selling very low volume GS's was not a top priority at the corporate sales & marketing department level.
Wayne has the microfiche for the 2nd half of the '70 model year & produces a report asked on your VIN. I'll PM you his phone #. He's not the quickest at getting the reports out but well worthwhile. Last time they were $150 & you have to send a check w/your VIN & data plate info.
It appears as though I've been misinformed for about 20 years! I would say...the evidence provided here would prove that the middle letter in SCO is "CAR" not "CORPORATE" Thanks men for the information. Now I can go to my grave knowing the correct meaning of SCO!
Rev 1 of the 1970 GS order form is dated Nov 69 on the bottom left corner. Original release was Sept 69, the F9 option was available on both the GS and GS455 prior to rev 1. Either it was an error corrected during the Rev 1 changes or they removed it as an option for the GS455. The P80 still does not make sense.
I have a 69 GS 400 with SCO on the Trim tag. Its a Flint car and was originally sold in California not sure what the SCO represents, as a window sticker or sales order form was not available when I purchased the car. I know factory individual car info is also not available for 1969 Buicks. It is well optioned car with Air, Power windows and Power Door Locks and Rear Defrost. I did not see a non factory color when we stripped and restored the car. Tony
Is there a way to trace a Buick (via vin#) to what dealer it came from? The previous owner of this car will not call me to talk. I bought it on consignment from Shelton Classics in NC.
Your VIN and body numbers are certainly consistent with an SCO car. The SCO program was a Flint Plant only program, and the first few thousand body numbers were reserved for SCO program cars. The fact that your body number is 001661, and the VIN is 245949 is a dead give-away that the car was a special order. Body numbers of mid February built cars were well into the 180000 range. The fact the SCO-549 number is on the trim portion of the tag indicates that most likely something non-standard (otherwise not an available regular production option for the given model) in the interior was specified. This could be something as small as an order for a TH-400 transmission which would require specific kick-down switch/wiring be installed at Fisher Body, to something as major as non-standard upholstery. Is there anything in the interior of your car which appears particularly unusual? The POB-F form, usually found atop the fuel tank, should indicate exactly what SCO-549 specified.
Wow, Dano. That is super information and I appreciate your expertise. I have been pulling my hair out because the pervious owner will not call me. I purchased the car through Shelton Classics in NC on consignment and they will not give me the owners info. Here is the link for the add. https://classiccars.com/listings/vi...-for-sale-in-mooresville-north-carolina-28117 The few things that stand out to me that are special are. #1 it has a speedometer alert chime that can be set on a dial on the speedo. #2 I have been told there is no color code designation for the color of the convertible top. #3 they told me this was a tribute car and it started out as a Buick Skylark Custom and it was built to be a GS 455 stage 1. They copied the GS stage one to a Tee in most areas, but then were way off on some easy stuff. i.e. the stage one emblem on the front quarters are below the crease line. Yet all other Q's are spot on. This is a very strange car that I would love to figure out. Thanks in advance for your help!
It may be impossible to find out anything unique about your car from the factory since it has been so heavily modified during the restoration. My guess would be the SCO was for a non-standard top color. No way to tell now since it now has a standard color black top. The Wayne Roberts report may or may not give you more information. Speed alert as mentioned before was a regular option that many cars came with from the factory. All GS and Stage 1 options were added during the restoration and not from the factory.
Of all the SCOs, one for a non-standard convertible top has to be one of the least common. If the car was Red, what possible color could a person want than white or black? It’d had to be red, right? Patrick
Unfortunately there is no data to support what was the most common SCO or least. There were 3 top colors available, black, white or sandalwood. Who knows what color, red, gold, dk brown? Not sure what colors were available on Chevys, Olds or Pontiacs that they could have used.
The speed alert was a regular production option on all intermediate size cars in 1970, and would NOT require a special car order. One thing I do notice about your car is the bench seat with fold down armrest. This was referred to as a "Notchback" seat, and was available in Pearl White and Burnished Saddle in convertible models, but was not ordinarily available in a convertible in black. This, if factory installed, would require an SCO.
