One Of 2,400! 1968 Buick GS 400 Convertible

Well, it’s brown, no doubt about that! And that shade is what I noticed first. More importantly, this 1968 Buick is a GS 400 convertible – not a common sight. This one appears to be in magnificent condition, so let’s give it the once-over and see what makes it tick. Curvette found this muscled-up drop-top for us; it calls Arlington, Washington, home, and it’s listed here on craigslist for $28,000.

GM’s intermediate A-body models (Chevelle, Tempest, F-85, and Special) got a major makeover for the ’68 model year, with two-door body styles riding on a 112″ wheelbase perimeter frame while four-door sedans and station wagons got stretched out to 116″. And being 1968, muscle cars were big business, and all four divisions had their take on that hot topic, including the SS396 (Chevrolet), GTO (Pontiac), 442 (Oldsmobile), and Grand Sport, or GS, as Buick’s entry was known. Drilling down, the GS came in two flavors: GS 350 (coupe only) and GS 400 (coupe or convertible). Total GS 400 production was about 13K units, with just 2,454 convertibles! Yup, this is a rare one!

While Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile shared basic similarities in styling, Buick went its own way with its sculpted sides and concave “Batmobile” rear-end styling. Of course, the four divisions, in those days, still had quite a bit of autonomy, so their designs expressed their independent identities. This GS 400 is a repaint, resprayed in what appears to be Burnished Saddle. I’ll admit it, I don’t like brown cars. This example, however, appears to have been very professionally refinished in what is likely a modern two-stage application – it has too much shine and depth to be enamel or lacquer. I can’t find a demerit to issue regarding this car’s exterior – it’s in fabulous condition. The folding top, which appears to be sound, contrasts nicely with the Burnished Saddle hue, and the American Racing wheels are certainly appropriate for a Day Two look.

A 340 gross HP, 400 CI V8 engine channels its power through a Super Turbine 400 automatic transmission – Buick’s terminology for GM’s Turbo-Hydramatic 400, a three-speed gearbox. The seller states that the odometer reads 13,850 miles but then adds that the actual mileage is unknown. There is no statement of running or driving characteristics referenced in the listing.

The interior is a white vinyl bucket seat with a center console arrangement. There’s only one image, but it shows an environment that is clean, free of yellowing, and not indicative of too much top-down fatigue. White can be a bear to keep tidy, but no deficiencies are evident here.

Final thoughts? This GS 400 appears to be in excellent overall condition! It’s a rare bird, and the price doesn’t seem out of line considering all of its features and positive attributes. Assuming there aren’t many who will take exception to its chosen color (it’s probably just me), I imagine this Buick will find a new home posthaste, wouldn’t you agree?