NO RESERVE. Matching Numbers. Factory Fire Red Black Bucket Seats. Project Car!

1971 Buick Skylark GS455 Description

My job in this auction is not to “sell you” on the car, but rather to deliver the sort of information you’ll need to make the determination on whether you’ll want to bid or not. Personal inspection is welcome by you or a party of your liking before the end of auction. If I overlook or lack detail on something specific, please reach out and we’ll try to get what you need. To begin communication please text - Brian @ (859) 760-0627 but PLEASE read the information in this auction in full before contacting me. Since eBay will only allow 24 pictures, I have added 24 additional photographs of the car to a CL ad:

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/1971-gs455-buick-hardtop/6509969642.html

Overview:

Like Uncle John at a Christmas party, this thing is loaded. The list of options is a long one and the GS sports a factory color combination that is racy for a Buick-and few came out of Flint equipped in such a manner. I have only briefly owned the car but we’ll work through things to the best of our ability. The previous owner bought the car circa 2001 off eBay and said it was kept indoors for all but the last 3 years. For pictures taken back then, with the exterior of the car more assembled, please see this link:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/324361/1971-buick-skylark/

This car is a number’s matching vehicle. What do I consider matching numbers? In this case the 455’s block, and the TH400’s case, clearly have legible V.I.N. stamps on them matching both the riveted tag on the dash, and the GM blue sticker on the driver’s side door.

The Gran Sport doesn’t run and has been neglected for decades. Also, over this period, parts have been removed to the point that the car is a basket case wanna-be if it ain’t already there. Some larger parts are not present, and there is much in the way of missing hardware. Additionally, rust has taken a toll in on parts of the car and we’ll go over the worst parts of that. I haven’t seen any evidence where the car has been wrecked anywhere.

Paperwork & Keys:

Clear, and currently open on buyer’s side, Ohio title. Issued February 2018. The previous owner’s signature is notarized on the back of the title as the seller. Also, a bill of sale signed by the previous owner will be included that does not have the buyer’s name on it. There are no other documents with the car, but you would still have a shot a finding a build sheet on this car. One square key functions moderately well with the ignition and one worn round key works the trunk.

Body Shell:

Cowl, roof, rear window area, trunk surround, door jambs, and rockers. All are in good condition. Surprisingly, there is no bubbling to speak of under the vinyl top.

Trunk floor. Separation at the inner wheelhouses. Previous rust repair at the left rear using glass on mesh. Bottom line-it needs replaced. Drop downs from trunk floor to quarters look good.

Floorboards. This car had been heavily Ziebarted early in its life. The floors still have most of this coating. Visual inspection and poking revealed one area of corrosion near a metal removable plug on the driver’s side. See the photo with the wire brush. Needs a patch or two but nothing major comes to mind.

Quarter panels and other wheel houses. Both sides are very similar in that overall the wheelhouse lips are the problem area. It’s virtually non-existent where the moldings screw on. There is a small dent on the driver’s side where it juts out forward of the wheelhouse. Best to utilize donor or reproduced sheet metal as required for patch purposes.

Glass. Windshield cracked. Rest has an aftermarket tint.

Bolt on sheet-metal:

Hood. Very nice. One minor dent (light baseball hit in shape and size) aft of the front molding on left side. Correct one year only ’71 scoops are complete.

Front fenders are former NOS with surface rust where someone started to sand them down on the upper exterior with a course grit. They will have the fitment issues that all NOS fenders seem to have. Also, the GS and 455 holes may not have been drilled properly as the emblems appear too close together on one fender. There is a dent on the forward side of the left front fender near the lip. Thought, they can be used with work or make fine dog leg donor parts for originals.

Radiator support is straight but is in poor condition on both sides where the front fender wells bolt up. Reality, replacement with a reproduction would be best but there are patch panel kits for both sides.

Front inner fender wells – both are missing in action. Previous owner said they were likely pitched due to condition at the radiator support. New ones will have to sourced.

Doors, left and right appear in good condition. They open and close VERY well. One bubble spot on the back of the driver’s skin. Both could be used in a future restoration.

Trunk lid appears in good shape and opens and closes VERY well.

Hood hinges, headlight buckets, radiator cross bars, and some front bumper bracket parts are present.

Bumpers:

Front bumper is relatively straight but has most of its chrome missing and has heavy pitting because it was stored outside for a long period of time. You could start with better. Loose 3 piece brackets each side as well as guards are in photo.

Rear N-25. Some dents and bends. Chrome missing and metal pitted where it is. A rough core. No exhaust tips.

Exterior Trim:

Both headlight doors are driver quality. The ’71 GS grille is cracked and has been previously glued. Two studs are pulled out and affixed to the radiator support. It is missing a few chunks and flimsy but has the emblem in decent shape. There are 3 wheel well stainless trim pieces that look restorable, right rear is missing. The rocker panel stainless parts are gone as are the attaching hardware parts. Upper peak moldings missing one door. Lower vinyl top moldings shown on hood as well include all 5 pieces. Cowl stainless for the bottom of the windshield is accounted for and nice. Sport mirrors are well attached and intact. Both rear taillights are correct but not surprisingly cracked. Chrome trim with weather strip that seals between side glass with windows up are in very good condition. Door sill plates are in very good condition. All marker lights accounted for.

Interior:

Very complete and in good condition with the following exceptions: Headliner has a split at sewn seam above front seats. Driver’s seat bottom has splits. Driver’s door panel warped near front. Deluxe steering wheel cracked. Package shelf warped and cut for speakers.

Air components:

Fire wall box in good condition. A condenser and compressor are present. Lines appear in poor condition when present.

Engine & Transmission:

455 C.I. was down when previous owner bought the car 17 years ago. A correct and clear TR stamping is on the block deck. The intake and heads are loose with no attaching hardware present. The cylinder bores are quite rusty. It appears number 3 piston has a chunk missing - I suspect is due to someone trying to turn the engine by hand because the head and valves don’t appear damaged. I doubt if a wire brush and oil will free the rotating assembly in this case. Distributor is incorrect. Some brackets and other miscellaneous parts maybe missing. In example, I don’t see the air cleaner support or a water pump. The heads are both in good shape with some burned valves. Part numbers are both 1237661 and date coded B23 on the left and C3 on the right making them born with units. The intake is part number 1236403 and date coded C5. The Quadra-jet is part number 7041540 with date code 0841. The intake and carburetor also fall into the born with range.A large radiator (looks bad), 7 bladed heavy-duty cooling fan, and shroud are included.

TH400 looks 100 percent complete and untouched. Hopefully a good core for rebuild. Tag BS on right side in decent shape.Driveshaft included in sale.

Chassis:

Frame. In general, it looks sound and the front horns are nice. But, I didn’t just look this thing over and call it good because the frame can trick you. I got under the car and poked with a screwdriver and hit it hard with the peen end of a heavy hammer. While most of the frame has either some Ziebart coating left or surface rust, I did find an area compromised near where the left lower swing arm attaches as the frame “humps” upward for the rearend (PLEASE SEE PHOTO FOR CLOSE UP). At this point the frame is narrow and fully boxed. About 10 inches of the lower surface of the box is affected. The other 3 sides are still okay. Verdict-repair as required. The rest of it is straight enough and sound enough IMHO.

Rear-end. Not original to the car per the previous owner. He also suggested it is open. It appears complete, fully installed, with both e-brake cables intact.

Wheels. Besides what is on the car two 14” and two 15” Buick chrome road wheels will be furnished but they aren't pictured. They are driver type quality of the correct bolt pattern. It also comes with the other 3 Camaro wheels with tires like the one on the right front if the buyer is interested in them.

Front suspension. Previous owner rebuilt the front control arms and bushings. The rest of the rebuild kit can be seen in the bumper photo in the upright box at center. Old caliper cores furnished. There is no brake booster or master cylinder and some lines not present.

Electrical. The cars engine and marker harness (firewall connected) are present and it'sdraped over the corner in the hood photo but you can only see about an inch of it. The e-brake cable from the control cabin, speedo cable, and transmission shift cable are all tied off underneath.

Sport Coupe 3437 list of options is as follows.

Paint code 75, Fire Red

Vinyl notchback sales code 158, black

Vinyl buckets sales code 168, black

Code A9 455 Cu. In. Engine Group

Code B2 Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 Transmission

Code B4 Full Length console

Code C1 Power disc brakes

Code C6 Power steering

Code D5 AM-FM radio

Code D6 Rear speaker

Code DO Stereo tape player

Code E6 Through the bumper exhaust

Code I6 Air conditioner

Code I7 Heavy duty cooling

Code L1 Tinted glass

Code N5 Bumper guards

Code M7 Rear window defogger

Code O6 Outside sport mirrors

Code R1 Power windows

Code S7 Tilt steering

Code U7 Tach and gauges

Code V2 Chrome plated wheels

Code W2 Custom upper peak moldings

Post auction:

The GS needs picked up ASAP, and I will gladly make myself available and assist the buyerwith loading.

Search Words:

Stage 1, GSX, GS400, GS, GS350, Gran Sport, Pontiac, GTO, Tempest, Lemans, T-37, 389, 428, HO, Ram Air, NOS, Chevrolet, Chevy, SS, SS396, SS454, LS-5, LS-6, Chevelle, Malibu, Oldsmobile, Olds, 442, Cutlass, W-30, W-31, F-85, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, Hurst, Muncie, GM