1972 was the final year of the second-generation A-body platform for the Buick Gran Sport, along with its GM brethren. Because of federal safety mandates, the following year introduced GM’s Colonnade style, which carried on through the rest of the decade. 1972 was also the last year buyers could get a convertible Gran Sport thanks to federal rollover safety regulations. Buick made 1,225 Buick 455 models in 1972. Out of that total, only 126 were convertibles. That makes this seller’s 1972 Buick GS 455 convertible, located in Barrington, New Hampshire, quite rare, and it is available here on eBay for $17,500.00 or OBO.
Make no bones about it: this 1972 Buick GS 455 convertible will need a full restoration, but its rarity makes it worthwhile. While the Sandalwood exterior of the Gran Sport looks solid, having been stored in a New Hampshire barn since 2001, the underside was exposed to moisture and will need a full frame replacement due to rust. Additionally, the rear end appears to be seized up. This Buick is definitely not for the faint-hearted restorer.
The Saddle-colored interior reveals two additional options that make this Gran Sport even rarer: a manual 4-speed transmission (unusually paired with a split bench seat) and factory air conditioning. Other options include a set of rally gauges, an in-dash tachometer, power windows, a power seat, and the rarely seen seat belt warning light on the dash, which debuted in 1972.
The 455 cu-in V8 engine in a 1972 Buick GS produced 250 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. Keep in mind, this was the first year GM changed its reported horsepower ratings from gross to net, and the engine itself did not change much. The drop in numbers came from new factory tests that required the engine to run with the necessary accessories, including the alternator, water pump, air cleaner, exhaust manifolds, mufflers, standard emission controls, and ignition timing. The seller notes that they have not confirmed whether the engine has matching numbers.
A full restoration can be very costly, so this 1972 Buick GS convertible might appeal only to someone with very deep pockets, restoration skills, or an automotive restoration business. It certainly seems deserving of a restoration, being such a rare muscle car – out of the 126 GS 455 convertibles in 1972, only 27 had the manual 4-speed transmission. What do you readers think about the possibility of resurrecting this rare-as-hen’s-teeth 1972 Buick GS 455 convertible to its former glory?
“Rare” and “Valuable” are not mutually inclusive. Unless someone has their mind set on a 1972 GS 455 4-spd convertible, or a collection of Buick GS parts cars, I would pass. A resto on this one is going to vaporize a 401K and you might have to put a kidney on ebay.