Let’s face it, unless you own a rare limited-edition classic or a customized car, you’ll eventually see the same model at a cruise night or car show. I personally like seeing the same models so I can compare the color combinations, interiors, options, etc… But for collectors who want something a bit different, here is your chance: a rare 1969 Buick GS Colorado edition, located in Biddeford, Maine, and available here on Facebook Marketplace for $13,500.
What is a Colorado edition you may ask? Buick marketing, looking for new ways to boost sales in 1967, came up with a special regional limited-run model known as the GS California. This special promotional Buick GS sold quite well and got dealers in other states interested in copying the success. Three Buick dealerships in Colorado jumped on the bandwagon in 1968 by basically taking California editions and swapping custom-made Colorado badges on them. This practice was repeated by a few Buick dealerships in Carolina, making the three “C” Buick GS special editions.
The interior of this Buick GS looks to be in good condition, and I’ll admit that I am a fan of fuzzy dice. The seats, however, are covered in aftermarket vinyl which while attractive looking and match the exterior, are not stock. The original color of the seats would most likely be black to match the rest of the interior. Unless the new owner is planning on making this Buick GS a show car, the aftermarket seat covers are actually a nice touch, especially the monogramed “GS” in the headrests. The interior has manual windows and locks, and an aftermarket CD player mounted under the dash.
The Colorado edition Buick GS was sold at a slightly lower price than the GS 350 to attract buyers. As it was billed as a budget muscle car, the Buick GS Colorado were equipped with the small-block 350 cubic inch 4bbl engine, automatic transmission, and single exhaust. There is no air conditioning unit present, and the ad notes the car to be very solid, with a nice frame, floors, and trunk. The seller also states that the Buick GS runs and drives well.
Although there are not broken-down numbers of exactly how many Colorado edition 1969 Buick GS cars were made, they were considered to only make up a fraction of the 3,574 California editions that they were made from. Having this Buick GS in your collection would certainly make you stand out, even at an all-Buick car show. Would any of you readers want to have this rare Buick in your collection?
Great looking GS 350!! Has some new foam for the air cleaner assembly.
Decent HP also. Around 315 I believe.
I believe HP was 315 in 1970 only. 280 before that in a 350-4.
Has 280 HP. I had a 69 GS 350. I believe we’re underrated. I raced friends Dodge Coronet who had 440 engine and beat him in 1/4 mile. Was great car
Listing no longer available.
It looked nice in the pictures, if they were representative of its true condition the car was bargain.
Steve R
What is so special
I can’t help but laugh every time I see one of these special editions. They are not unique to Buick. All the car divisions engaged in the practice. Dealers are placed in marketing groups based on their shared media market. They meet monthly to map out their regional adverting, promotional activities, and air their current gripes to the factory people. The dealers fancy themselves as the ultimate snake oil salesmen, but the are really no match for the factory people. When the factory has problems covering current production, the easiest way to stuff more inventory onto dealer lots is to come up up with a special edition. Since the factory only has one customer (the dealer), they know them well, and have learned that nothing gets them more excited than some special edition. Understand that the only thing special is the plastic emblem, as the order specs for the cars come right off the standard option list. The key is to get the dealers to take a number of identical cars based on their market size, and there you have it; the factory just stuffed another 1,000 units into a media market that was already knee deep in cars that weren’t selling. The only thing more comical is the consumer that actually thinks he bought something “special”.
Astute observation, this practice remains to this day. Amusing “special models” show up at the Buick/GMC dealership that both my wife and I work with nothing to do with sales. The most recent flop was a Tahoe Black Widow edition that at $ 95k has had no takers for well over a month now!
I was and still a poor guy for high speed performance but my parents always enjoyed Buick. I’ve had a few grand sports. Both 1970 stage one 455s. Loved them too!!!!
“Gran Sport” not Grand Sport.
Other than Facebook. Can I contact the seller. I am interested in this car! MSH from Michigan. Thanks
Sorry but you will need to go through the seller’s original listing.
I thought all GS’s were 400 motors. Clearly I was mistaken.
I owned a 69 GS 400. This car appears to have a 69 hood but the vent windows say it is a 68. Something is suspicious.
This car may mirror how Chevrolet treated the 1969 Chevelle 300 2door coupe, which also came with wing windows. The Buick featured here is a coupe also. The ignition lock cylinder is also on the steering column, which started in 1969.
Steve R
Pillared roof cars, whether 2-door, 4-door or wagon still had vent windows instead of Astro Ventilation.
Darrell, that is what I thought also. That is basically the only change besides slight differences to the front and back. I had a 69 Chevelle with no vent windows. But I just read a post from Steve R that the 69 Chevelle 300 also had vent windows, so who knows.
1969 2dr hardtops did not have wing windows. 1969 thin-pillar coupes (which this is) did still have wing windows. Your 1969 GS400 would have been a hardtop. The GS400 did not come in a thin-pillar coupe.
In 1969 my mom bought a new GS350 from Len Immke Buick. In 1974, I bought it off her when she got a new vehicle. The 280hp gross V8 accelerated well. The drum brakes required constant adjustment even after a brake job. No front discs on the 1969 that were common in 1974. The black vinyl seats were burning hot in summer and freezing cold in the winter. I nicknamed the car Old Faithful after the famous Yellowstone geyser because it always overheated and blew hoses. No coolant recovery tank in 1969. Eventually a gas station mechanic discovered the problem and replaced the stuck thermostat. It ran good after that until I sold it to a friend in 1976. Older muscle cars had good straighline performance but everyday driving wasn’t as pleasant. No air conditioning to help cool the interior. As a collector car they are fascinating but back in the day they weren’t fun to live with.
better factor in an interior redo because what’s there looks horrible the outside color looks good. only saw 1 of these once.
We had a 68 GS 350 as a loaner car at the first body shop I worked at mid 70’s. I’ll tell you that thing had a lot of low-end grunt, would beat most anything on the road at that time. I know, flogged it hard every chance I got.
Wasn’t the GS Colorado the same as the GS California
Yes, there’s a few quirks; but for this price you get a rather solid GS. Great find and write. Will not last
These models were built on the special. They had a 280HP engine. Only available in California, Carolina and California. All had automatics, bench seats, and were basic base models with a few GS options
Hardtop coupes had no vent windows, post coupes did…
Mike, that’s why they were built on the Special base model. If my memory is correct, they did not have carpet on the floor either.