The Gran Sport was Buick’s version of the Pontiac GTO, Chevelle SS, or Oldsmobile 4-4-2 in the 1960s and 1970s. And, due to Buick’s place in the GM hierarchy, it was the most luxurious or well-equipped of those mid-size muscle cars. This 1971 GS 455 is said to be numbers matching, but that’s not entirely accurate as that pertains to the powertrain in the garage, not the one in the car. We assume the color of this hot car is Bamboo Cream and it might not appeal to everyone. Located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, this bodacious Buick is available here on eBay. The current bid is $27,814.55 with the reserve somewhere north of that.
As was the case with other performance cars of the era, the GS saw sales decline from 1970 to 1971. The drop was more than 50% to 9,170 cars, of which 1,378 had the Stage 1 455 cubic inch V8 and a TH-400 automatic transmission. The original engine, transmission, and rear end have been swapped for other period-correct pieces (though tweaked), so is the auto really numbers-matching if they’re not in the car but come with the deal? The seller has listed the car on behalf of a friend who’s not an eBay, so you may be dealing with two parties to get a deal done.
We’re told the paint (except the hood) and vinyl top are original with an occasional scratch here and there, but the interior is brand new, with materials that sync with the top in coloring. The hood has been replaced with one that has the Stage 2 scoop on top, which looks out of place to me but is legitimate. The seller has the original GS hood that will be included in the transaction. With black wheels and dog dish hub caps, this Buick looks like a sleeper until you notice the wider wheels out back.
I’m torn on this car because it has the best of both worlds – somewhat original with some adjustments to set it apart from the others. Maybe making it one-of-a-kind in the process. But I’d prefer to find a similar GS finished in silver paint with black trim and 100% factory equipment if such a car exists in this kind of condition at a price that doesn’t involve taking out a second mortgage.
Baby butt butter color aside I find this ‘71 GS has gotten my attention. First ‘71 I’ve actually liked and it may be the fugly color that did it. Love the look this Buicks has. Would I buy it? Yup. Can I buy it? Nope.
Sure it’s numbers matching.
The original powertrain goes with the car, and the hot-rodded substitutes are installed in the car. As long as the original 455 and 400THM are rebuildable, this is a valid numbers-matching car.
It would be nice to see photos of those numbers to make sure it’s not a GS 350 to start with.
It’s not a GS350, the owner is well-known. The description, if you read it, makes the comment you wrote completely unneccessary,
Their dyno says only 364ft/lb of torque ? Seems low for the big Buick mill.
I have a 1971 Buick 8.5 bolt in axles rear up for sale for $600 obo and no interest
That is not Bamboo Cream. I had a Bamboo Cream ’70 GS350 with a 4 speed back in the late 1980’s. That color is much lighter than this car.
I like the color and the vinyl top accents it nice.This guy has serious $ in this rare car.I bet the reserve is 50k.I’d just make sure the original drive train comes with it.glwts. Glwts.
Me neither. Totally destroys the look and it’s not even sculpted. More like an upside-down coal shovel.
For how much did you bet on that 50K reserve price?
Last week it was posted for $40,000 on Craigslist.
In September 2022 the asking price was $38,000.
Not a fan of the hood scoop, the car is cool
Did he put that hood scope on when he was 16?
The car appears to be Cortez gold, not bamboo cream, the torque numbers sound light also as the factory rating for 71 was 375, this engine should certainly dish out more than that.
You, obviously, have no clue what a Stage 2 scoop is, do you? This was offered by Buick as part of a Stage 2 package that was available over the counter. It’s far from an amateur build.
Me neither. Totally destroys the look and it’s not even sculpted. More like an upside-down coal shovel.
Stick to the little cars, leave the Buicks to the real car people. Stage 2’s were the baddest of the bad and would smoke just about anything else in that era.
Art Engel:
The colour code on the Body Number Plate is 53.
53 = Cortez Gold.
I’ve owned five A-bodied Buicks. 1967 Special and Skylark, 1968 Skylark and 69 Skylark. I wasn’t commenting on the scoop being accurate, just on its looks verses the more common GS hood (which most of us swapped out back in the day). Love the color of the subject vehicle, similar to my most recent MG.
I like the car but the stage ll hood scoop doesn’t work in this color
The original GS hood looks tons better IMHO. Great car.
The seller is a member of V8Buick dot com.
It was was posted last week on Facebook Marketplace with an asking price of $40,000.
Looks like the A/C missing along with the cruse control. When spending big money you expect everything to work.
This is not “big money”. This is a VERY fair price for an awesome car. If you want a bone-stock car then this is *probably* not the car for you.
We obviously have someone, here, with an attitude problem. This is a discussion, not a lecture.
Berkemiererer, And just who are the real car people here? You? One of those here that criticizes others for stating their opinions?
I don’t care if it is a Stage 347 hood scoop. It still looks like an inverted coal shovel.
Hood scoop is reminiscent of the scoops that the Buick Stage 2 cars that were and are drag raced. Wicked Buicks!1
It is, in fact, a Stage 2 scoop.
Odd the coolant recovery plastic reservoir is larger than the battery!
That should have been used instead as the windshield washer reservoir – you would not run out of washer fluid often with that thing.
I had a bright green 72 with ivory interior & top. No a/c car with chrome buick wheels. Stock except for exhaust. Beautiful car. I agree the scoop is fugly. I also had a blue on blue 69 GS 400 with ram air & factory wheels. The 70/72 was the prettiest imho
Is there enough lines above the drivers side wheel well?
I’ll save the bickering and critiquing for others and I’ll just add that I’d proudly park this Cortez gold and brown brawling Buick in my garage any day. I’ve seen the videos on V8Buick and this 71 sounds NASTY. I’m sure it would piss off my neighbors quite nicely (more than I already do). Nice car, nice build, old school day two cool.
Afraid to leave a comment it might not be to MB liking. Won’t want to upset……
I like it…but curious as t why Buick, being the upscale side of GM would put a black headliner in a car with a saddle color interior? It looks really odd to say the least.
It shouldn’t be. One or the other must have been changed.
Love it, but that scoop and the dog dishes would have to go.
If it is a S2 scoop it would be cool if it had some sexy Stage 2 decal or badging on it. Something subtle that would match the sleeper motif.
I wish I had the money. I’d proudly take her in half a heartbeat!!!!
That car just does not look right.