This 1972 Buick GS Stage 1 convertible is one rare beast! Is it Shakespeare sonnet-worthy? Well, that may be pushing it a bit, but who knows? It’s a great find, though I don’t know who submitted it to our tip line. Regardless, thank you to whoever! With no further ado, and located in Brookfield, Wisconsin, this gentleman’s hot rod is listed here on eBay for a current bid of $22,100, with the reserve not yet met.
The sun was setting on the muscle car movement by 1972. Some will state emphatically that it was the end of the line, though that’s debatable. What’s not debatable is that ’72 marked the end of one of GM’s most successful versions (’68-’72) of their vaunted A-body intermediate. Sure, it would continue on in ’73, but it was essentially a completely different car. At this point, surcharged insurance premiums and the Clean Air Act of 1970 worked in tandem to tamp down the factory hot rod movement, and the impending ’73 fuel crisis was the final stake through the heart. And the move from gross (higher) to net (lower) HP ratings for the ’72 model year further advanced the notion that performance was on the way out. As for Buick’s GS, total production was light for ’72, with just 8,600 copies assembled in two-door coupe, hardtop, and convertible body styles. Where things get really interesting is when one considers the Stage 1 performance option; it only managed to muster 853 examples. Parse it a bit more, and according to conceptcarz.com, only 81 Stage 1 convertibles saw the light of day 54 years ago – a bit like hen’s teeth! Oh, and parse it a bit more? The listing claims only 39K miles of use, though there is no authentication of that recording.
So, what do we have here? Well, the VIN checks out as a legitimate Stage 1 GS. Visually, we have a sandblasted silver finish, marred with some minor contusions and a small amount of surface rust. The trim tag states that the original finish, code 65, is a red/orange hue, so it seems this convertible underwent a respray at some point. That said, I cannot detect any evidence of a color change. Basically, though, this GS is pretty straight and complete, with its most glaring issue being its top. Oh, and those tailpipes; anyone have a hacksaw handy?
Whereas Buick’s standard GS 455 CI V8 was rated at 260 net HP for ’72, the Stage 1 equipment (cam and valves) upped the ante to 270 net. As is often the case, a Turbo-Hydramatic 400, three-speed automatic transmission provides the rear-wheel hookup. The seller states, “It is drivable and perfect for weekend drives.” The engine compartment appears to be original and complete.
The saddle tan interior threw me off at first because it doesn’t seem to go with the silver exterior. The trim tag, however, lists the upholstery as being code 136, which is vinyl material in saddle tan. Its condition is pretty fair, including the dashpad and carpet – it looks good. The original radio has been replaced with a DIN unit, but the born-with Sonomatic is included in the sale. The other deviation from stock is the trio of engine gauges perched beneath the center of the dash. There is a mini console in place, but this GS went the non-option route with a bench seat and a column shift. A/C equipped? Yes. Complete? No, the compressor is missing.
This is a special car. I’ve been watching the bidding over this past weekend, and it still seems light for what it is, and that’s despite its worn finish. Of course, there are another five days to go, and I imagine the pace and dollar value of the bidding will accelerate noticeably. This will be one to watch, wouldn’t you agree?
I had a 1971 GS Stage1, very nice cars, but the oil pump is in the timing chain cover and it’s made of aluminum and the gears are made of steel. The oil pump tore up the aluminum timing chain cover and I went through hell, trying to find a new one. Nice car with lots of potential, but the same old story, it has to be bought for the right price to make it worth it, for a proper restoration. $22k is close to max I would pay, in order to keep it financially feasible.
The 2 different metals always an issue KHayes💁♂️
Have we seen this convert before ?
Better live somewhere with lots of sunshine, so you can keep that top DOWN. It looks like it is made from Glad trash bags. And even worse than that, is that ridiculous bench seat and auto on the column.
#65 on trim tag would have been a Flame Orange for the body of the car. That would coincide with the interior being a saddle brown. I think black would have been a better choice for seats. At least with the color they repainted it in, black would look right in it now.
John, the trim tag is already doing real work here: code 65 says the car was born orange, so the silver is a color change however clean it looks, and on a Stage 1 that is a deduction, not a detail. What the tag cannot do is prove the Stage 1, and neither can the VIN by itself. The Buick club 1965-72 GS identification sheet is blunt about it: the numbers screen out the lookalikes, but without a build sheet you cannot prove the car. So the question for the seller is not whether the VIN checks out, it is whether he has the build sheet and the engine stamped code to match it. Without those you are bidding on a GS 455 convertible with Stage 1 parts on it, and that is a different number. And since it is a Wisconsin car under fresh paint: rear frame rails behind the wheels, floor pans and rockers, the cowl under the windshield, the lower rear quarters, the trunk floor. On a drop-top add the frame and the body mounts. Photos of those spots matter more than the badge.
The “V” code in the VIN indicates it was born with a 455 “Stage 1” engine (’72 was the first model year in which GM included an engine code in the VIN). The non-Stage 1 is a “U” code. Now, is it the original engine? Don’t know; would need to see the engine prefix.
JO
Jim, fair correction, and I’ll take it: ’72 is the year the engine went into the VIN, so a V in the fifth spot does say the car left the line as a 455 Stage 1 (U is the plain 455). ’70 and ’71 can’t carry that, which is why the paper does the work on those two. What the VIN can’t do is follow the engine into the bay. The number to ask for is the engine serial on the front of the block below the driver’s side head: nine digits, a 4 followed by the last eight of the VIN, so 4G37V2H100001 should read 42H100001. Match it and the engine is original; miss it and the V is still true and the engine is still a question. The trim tag only ever proves the paint, so code 65 and the silver stay the deduction.
Its a decent starter but needs a cash infusion.
It needs repair from new top to paint.
Great article Mr. Jim ODonnell!! Great find whoever!! A rare car, but for many, the color change is the reason to pass. Definitely a very special and rare car though. If it were the original color, I think it would gather more interest. Will enjoy watching the bidding.
Those tailpipes are HIDEOUS!!
The Buick GS seems to get over looked during this time period. I think they were great looking cars. This one seems a little ruff around the edges but definitely a driver you can jump in now and have some fun while you work on the ruff stuff. I agree, I think $22k is the high side for this car considering the condition and you need to get some authenticity on the Stage 1, but all in all a nice car to put in the driveway.
Overpriced given the current condition, lack of engine details and restoration work needed.
I lent praise to the ’69 Judge the other day and was corrected. I’ll be more careful today. This is a pretty nice and loaded up GS, as some of them were. Buicks, you know. The saddle looks fine with the silver and is slightly cooler than black. The column selector means nothing as the 400 knows when to shift. That bench seat is nice for those of us who didn’t stop growing taller.
A65 is being interpreted here as a Flame Orange paint code, despite the seller indicating the gray paint is original, and there being no evidence of a color change.
Some online sources say A65 is a split front bench seat code.
Needs the N25 option rear bumper!!
I had to use that same “consolette” in my ’73 Riviera. IIRC, only console Buick offered for bench seats, sole way my oxblood interior was offered. Good place to hide the 8 track tapes!
i really doubt this was flame orange. that silver looks too original. i am pretty sure that the A65 is the seat option but could not swear to it. i shop manual will settle that. really should get the Slone documentation that will help as well. really need to see the numbers and codes off the block to be 100%. if it can be bought right and restored right this is a big money car.
The A65 on the trim tag is code for split bench, not the color as others have suggested. The color code (exterior color / usually numbers and top color / usually a letter) is above, “136”, which I have never seen…? Very unusual color combo the way it sits now, but a detailed report for the 72 model year is available from the Sloan Museum.
136 is the Saddle vinyl trim code.
Geez, I don’t recall ever seeing this much misinformation on this site before.
This one needs to be inspected from top to bottom. Mileage is not accurate and would need service records so substantiate claim. Uneven numbers often indicate mileage roll back. Could’ve been done by previous owner and overlooked by current owner. With that being said, I would recommend a professional look over this vehicle. Between the top and the new paint job, you will quickly be underwater on this vehicle at the asking price.
Bucket seats were not available on a Buick A body convertible in’72 except by SCO therefore the bench.
Auction ended with the highest bid of $22,600.00. Reserve not met. Good in a way if prices are dropping!!