The Gran Sport was the “luxury” muscle car of General Motors (because Cadillac didn’t make one). It debuted in 1965 and its heyday was in the early 1970s when a 455 cubic inch V8 was offered. Though the seller doesn’t make any noise about it, this example is actually a rare car – only 114 Gran Sport convertibles were built in 1972 with the 455 engine and a TH-400 automatic transmission (plus just 12 more with 4-speeds). It’s numbers-matching and appears to have been sitting for a good while. No mention is made of its running condition.
From a visual standpoint, the 1970-72 Skylark-based Gran Sports looked quite similar. Only minor changes in grillwork and the like set them apart unless you’re a GS expert. The 1972 editions were the least potent of that trio given the process of detuning engines for lower emissions was now well underway. And the horsepower ratings were now stated in SAE net terms, which made them sound less powerful. A 1972 GS 455 (not Stage 1) was tagged at 270 hp. A 350 V8 was also offered.
Little information is shared about this ’72 drop-top. It’s said to be the 455 version, but no peeks under the hood are offered. And it’s called a “barn find” having been in Waco, Texas for more than 20 years. Its surroundings may have been minimally invasive to Mother Nature as there is said to be no rust on the vehicle. The red paint is rather faded (will it wax out or just plan on a repaint?). The convertible top has seen better days, but the interior may be passable.
Why this car was stored is not mentioned. Did it have a mechanical issue at 76,000 miles and was forgotten for a time? But its overall condition and rarity (again, just 126 like it were made that year) should make it a good restoration candidate. From Axell, Texas, the price has been lowered to $27,000 OBO (from what?) and is available here on craigslist. Our thanks to Barn Finder “numskal” for another tip from America’s muscle car era!
What was the actual cubic inches of the 455 my 54 has a 425 inches with a 4 barrel I’m told that with the HOT heads it may be 400 horses??? HELP!
455.725 cubic inches.
The Buick 425 was the largest of the “nailhead” V8s, a different engine family entirely than their 455.
Great buy. Great car.
Cheers 🍻 to the dozen that optioned the 4sp. Their smiles per mile must have been epic 😃
The seller has had this GS455 listed for over two years for 32k. Between the lackluster pics and the price, obviously the market thought it was too high of an ask. As we’ve all seen on here, low effort and high prices rarely beget positive results. I think reducing the price to 27k will certainly help find this Buicks a new home. I also feel that taking new pics of the car cleaned up most certainly would not hurt. Hopefully, someone finally gives this car some well deserved love.
Oops, my poor proofreading strikes again. Sure could use an edit function for dingbats like me. I meant Buick, not plural, Buicks. Duhhh!
Looks like the trunk jamb and other spots show this car was blue before somebody hacked a red paintjob on it.
Long ago in the early eighties we were restoring a 72 gs 350 convertible for a friend it had an m22 4 speed and was medium metallic green with white top and interior with a bench seat mid way through the owner was in his daily driver a Camry and was hit in a head on crash with a drunk driver going the wrong way on divided highway and his fiancé decided she never wanted the gs back on the road and asked us to part it out sad all the way around
No it’s not the vaulted 70 455GS conv. But that immortal would’ve cost you immortal money and would’ve been sold long long ago. This 72 if all the numbers match is worth it and if given a top flight resto would be a very special classic and you’d be a rock star at your local meet and greet. I’ve seen one and I guarantee that PS you probably won’t recoup the cost of that resto but who knows.
How sad I had a 70 GS 455 my first car,all I did was abuse it,live an learn the hard way I suppose
He couldn’t be bothered opening the hood. Lousy pics, good luck getting any bites at all.
Pretty big gap on that trunk line. Owner took the time to pop the trunk and snap a photo of that but not under the hood? A little suspect to me.
My boss in the early to mid ‘70s campaigned a ‘70 Skylark GS455 drag car. It was ordered as a Stage One, and updated “towards” Stage Two, with the help of Kenne-Bell Buick. Came from factory with heater and wiper delete. What struck me was the author’s comment about the similarity of the ‘70-‘72 models. The ‘70 Skylark was magically changed into a ‘71 at times, when the rules favored that year of vehicle. Dummy windshield wiper “mounts” also appeared when it was advantageous to run in a class that required windshield wipers. (No one ran with the wiper blades on, just the stubby shaft they popped onto). Those were the days…