Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

1969 Buick Skylark GS400 Stage 1 Barn Find!

Located in Franklinville, New York, this 1969 Buick Skylark GS400 was recently purchased by the owner for his dad to work on and restore. However, his dad has decided that it is too much of a project compared to his Monte Carlo SS so his son is putting the car up for sale. It is listed here on eBay at a Buy It Now Price of $8,500. A buyer can also make a Best Offer to the seller. The listing still has 27 days to run but the car looks pretty unique and may find a new home soon. We appreciate Russ Dixon sending us this lead so we can show it to you here on Barn Finds.

The interior is surprisingly nice despite its dirty appearance. The car is equipped with black bucket seats and an automatic transmission console. Other nice options include tilt steering, Buick Rally steering wheel, aftermarket AM/FM radio and remote side mirror. The black dash looks almost new. The car came from Wisconsin and does not have air conditioning. The windows and locks are also manually operated.

The seller states that the 400 cubic inch V8 engine is the original numbers matching Buick motor that came with the car. The mileage is unknown but the transmission is correct and the car is equipped with the correct State 1 carburetor and distributor. Out back, the posi unit rear end holds 3.64:1 gears. The car seems to be unmolested and has the sway bars, boxed trailing arms, power front disc brakes and possibly the original exhaust.

As for rust, the car will need new floors and patches on the rear quarter panels. The vinyl top is said to not show any bubbling but I have never seen an old car like this that didn’t hide a few surprises. The trunk floor will need replacement and the lower front fender is showing some rot. This car will need a complete restoration but the end result should be well worth it.

Comments

  1. Avatar Bakyrdhero Member

    There is a lot of car for the money there. That dash pad looks amazing, those were usually toast by the early 80’s. I’m partial to the 70-72’s, but this would be a fun project and the parts are readily available.

    Like 12
    • Avatar Little_Cars

      I think the shade of dash pad makes a difference in how they held up. A black pad in 2020 doesn’t surprise me at all. These days, a fifty year old tan, saddle, green, dark blue or maroon dashpad would be unique indeed without some structural breakdown. If this was down South I’d be on the interstate right now with my trailer and $7000 cash–what I sold my 1968 clone for in 2008.

      Like 5
      • Avatar Bakyrdhero Member

        My 71 had a black dash pad that was well past it by the 80’s. I replaced it with a nice NOS pad from year one for maybe $150. I sold my 71 Conv in fair condition for $7200 in 2010. It recently sold again for around $16k. I think this one here is worth every penny of the ask, though I agree with the other guy that it looks like a boat. The 70-72 had much cleaner lines.

        Like 6
  2. Avatar Gunner

    This is a rare GS. Of the 1256 Stage 1 Hardtops produced, 832 were automatics. Considering that he states the car is essentially an orginal numbers matching GS, and in spite of the rust repair needed, a BIN price of $8400 is a steal for this car. Someone is going to get a great deal. Wow. I would be all over this is the cash was available. Great find!

    Like 19
  3. Avatar flmikey

    …I never understood why these GS’s don’t get the respect other A bodies get…if this was a Chevelle, it would be triple the price…I loved the 69 GS I had in high school…a rust bucket but I had more fun in it than I deserved to have…I may be in the minority, but I preferred the automatic over the stick…

    Like 15
  4. Avatar Tom

    Ugh. There is a reason the 68-69’s Buick A bodies are the least desirable. That sinking “rub rail” makes it look like a boat. The 70-72 models on the other hand were much cleaner looking.

    Like 12
    • Avatar Gus Fring

      To me, they are the best looking. As they say, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. All of the others looked the same…and this would smoke most of them, lol.

      Like 16
  5. Avatar Rhett

    These cars hit harder than ever given credit for. Yeah, 68/69’s aren’t my favorite either but this is a special car, right up there with 375hp SS’s, W-30’s and RAIII’s.

    Like 9
    • Avatar Kevin Kendall

      My uncle had a 69 GS 400 got beat only once by none other than a L78 Chevelle his brother in law had & then only by half a fender,that car would scream!

      Like 0
  6. Avatar Steve

    I think they are cool, has its own identity, but the the vinyl top looks out of place on these.

    Like 4
  7. Avatar Kevin Costello Member

    I always loved these models… In fact, drove a worn out ’68 Special that had some quirky habits. My dream car at the time (maybe, still…) was a ’67 GS400. One of my brothers had a friend (another odd-ball) whose father owned the local Buick dealership and he always had one… Ah, the late ’60s…

    Like 0
  8. Avatar gary paul englert

    Is the car able to start and drive, would like to know before I bid on it.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar gary paul englert

    Is the car driveable

    Like 1
  10. Avatar DON

    All that fluff on the front floor tells me there has been critters living in the Skylark Motel . The seller should have vacuumed that up before posting the pictures !

    Like 9
  11. Avatar gary paul englert

    does the car start and drive

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Troy s

    Not a bad looking car, but compared to the GTO, SS396 Chevelle, 442 of the same year it looks soft in comparison.
    Or mature.
    I really dont know why I can’t warm up to these pre -’70 GS Buick’s, I could never see myself bypassing the other cars mentioned to buy a new Buick GS400 back in 1969….no matter how many “Stages” it had. But that’s just me. It really is a sweet ride from the drivers seat. Plenty of pick up and go in that engine with an automatic and 3.64 gears. It’s definitely worth fixing to say the least…..
    but my attention span would be two fold if it were a ’70 Stage 1, one of the elite.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar gary englert

    Has this been sold, let me know

    Like 0

Leave a Reply to Little_Cars Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.