Here’s an interesting one. It’s a 1969 Buick GS 350 – sans the 350. It’s being sold without its prime mover so the next owner can trip the light fantastic when it comes to repowering this steed. I have to thank Rob for serving up this tip! Calling Pleasant Hill, California home, this stylish two-door hardtop is available, here on craigslist for $8,400.
As muscle cars go, this version of Buick’s Gran Sport wasn’t that muscley. Its original powerplant would have been a 280-gross HP 350 CI V8, definitely strong enough to have some motoring fun, but hot-footing it would have been better served by upping the ante to the 340 HP, GS 400. That said, these GS 350s aren’t that common as only 4,900 copies left Flint in the final year of the halcyon sixties. As for overall condition, this Verde Green hardtop shows well. While the finish is faded, the chrome is still strong and I don’t see any evidence of rust or crash damage. All-in-all, it’s an understated presentation, the kind that I gravitate towards. Rounding out this GS’ exterior are Buick road wheels – always a perfect finishing touch.
The interior is standard vinyl-clad GM intermediate all the way. The beige bucket seats show the effects of age and use but the rest of the environment still presents well. The instrument panel is a simple affair, the only deviation from stock noted is the strapped-on tachometer. Interestingly, while the engine is MIA, the four-speed manual transmission and shifter are still silently in place, waiting on an engine decision.
There are no included images of the engine compartment so we’ll have to imagine what it looks like. The seller mentions that he has “the 4 barrel and headers with aluminum radiator” but I guess that’s it in the motor department. I purposely suggested an LS engine in the title because that always seems to be the solution to power problems per the comments section. I would imagine that Buick purists, in particular, would prefer another Buick powerplant and I can certainly understand that line of reasoning.
So there you have it, the world’s your oyster, sorta. I must admit, I’d like to know what happened to the original 350 engine, the more one provides of a car’s history, the more interesting it becomes – and a backstory can aid in the selling function. OK, how about you give this Buick GS your consideration and let me know what you’d slip in under the hood.
Love the Buicks J.O. Who wouldn’t.
Under 3600lbs, 375lb/ft from the great 350. Close ratio 4sp Muncie, 3.23 gear.
Pretty sweet pkg.
Seems like a good deal and it’s a 4-speed car. Wonder what happened to the original engine? Hope that the clutch bellhousing comes with the car.
This would be a fun project. I’d drop a Buick 455 in but keep it dressed as a 350. Work on brakes, suspension, etc. Detail the exterior, fix the drivers seat seam, new carpet, package tray and drive. It’s not too far away and I’d love a new challenge, but, convincing the wife…she knows all too well, the two words “project car” equals a depleting bank account. Oh well, at least dreaming about what I’d do to BF features is free.
The 455 is the right plan, the bell housing and flywheel (assuming it’s the same for the 350 and 455 would be nice), figure the clutch disc and PP will need to be replaced, the real money is in the air cleaner, those have been expensive for years.
The car is located in an area not prone to rust, it will need to be scrutinized in person. The transmission would need to be a Muncie and the shifter would need to be complete. The asking price is stiff for a roller, if there are many issues between rust, dents/dings or interior it would be wise to walk away and keep looking.
Steve R
This is definitely one of the better deals I’ve seen lately. For overall balance I think I’d stay with the 350 and I have a Buick 350 in available that has already been rebuilt with power upgrades. Thinking hard!
Looks like a good home for your 350. I agree, small block better than big block. Redo the seats, cut and buff, voila!
I agree with Pat. Rustytech, This does look like a nice home for your 350. With the 4 speed it would be plenty of fun to drive around.This Buick really has a lot going for it. Clean it up inside and out, make it go Vrooom again and have a ball. Providing you can get it for a fair price and everything else checks out. Thats the hard part of no motor, test drives are invaluable to buying any car or truck, new or old.
And one more thing. At least to me….. Nothing beats the sound of a vintage Buick, Olds, or Pontiac V8 from the 60s or early 70s. Any size.
You are absolutely correct. My 71 GS has headers going through MagnaFlow mufflers…a beautiful sound!!
Looks like a match made in heaven Rusty! (if you like the color, that is)
😉
“Put an LS in it” is perhaps the least carguy thing you can say ,i swore out loud at you :|
Not a dang thing wrong with a proper Buick 350-4bbl
Actually, according to the comments that I often receive here, “Put an LS in it” is the most common carguy thing that I hear. It’s not my idea, it belongs to my gentle commenters.
JO
Yep, if Jim hadn’t said it first, it would have been one of the first two comments made.
Your all right the Buick 350 is a good engine
The gas mileage wouldn’t be to bad and they had enough power to have a little fun with.
My father had a new 68 Skylark with a 350 and I always loved that car.
LS no. But I do agree with several others on here about the 455 if you can find one.
A 400, 430 or 455 Buick is the thing to go in that nice ride. I had a Skylark with a 350 and I drove a lot of 400s, 430s and 455s. Any would do but I’d not ruin it with a Chev motor. I’d rather do a Olds or Pontiac motor if the right Buick wasn’t to be found.
Cool ride and looks like a lot more for the money than we’re used to seeing. Ordered new by someone who had some sense. Didn’t want to blow their wad on premium and sit around just melting tires. Needed to get to work etc. this must’ve been nice to cruise around the Bay Area in.
How many times are we gonna hear drop a ls in it? Blah blah blah. Why not get really destructive to this 4spd car and drop a diesel in it ? How’s bout finding a date correct motor and keeping the cars rareness in tact? Just saying. Peace!
Nah, let’s get really evil and drop an electric motor in it.
LS, NO just because I like getting people mad about things like this I would put a coyote 7.3 or a hellcat drive train in it
why does every car that’s needs an engine has to have a ls stuffed down its throat? it’s not a chevy. source out a 455 or 430 and dress like a 400. enough with the ls.
Not every car, just this one. JK, lol. The LS motors are cheap
and plentiful and it’s not up to us anyway.
CT Dave
Buick V6 just because it could be done. Make it an odd fire so it sounds different….it looks like a good deal.
I agree with ALL the nay-sayers about putting an LS engine in it. If you have to put a Chevy engine in it, have the decency to put a Rat engine under that hood. A Buick 400 or a 455 would be the “brand correct” thing to do, but Buick engines have notorious oiling issues that would have to be corrected first.
Paul, I think your misunderstanding about notorious oiling issues with Buick engines have to be corrected first.
If you want to put a modern drivetrain in it, how about an intercooled turbo V6 and a 2004R out of a GN? Otherwise just install a proper Buick V8 and drive the wheels off of it!👍🏻
Check out the interior photo with the steering column.
You can still see the hole for the column shifter.
Interested people on V8Buick dot com are trying to reach the seller through Craigslist: no reply.