Well, it’s certainly brown, but then so were many cars in 1974, it was a sign of the times! More importantly, it was an end of the times as this Century Gran Sport was among the last to sport Buick’s vaunted “Stage 1” performance option – more on that to follow. Muscle cars built at the end of the era are always a great discovery and this Buick is no exception. It is located in Martins Ferry, Ohio and is available here on eBay for a current bid of $10,200, reserve not yet met. Thanks to Larry D for this rare find!
Starting in 1973, Buick’s “GS” option was elongated into the “Gran Sport” moniker though the option, in general, had been around for a few years. Nineteen sixty-nine saw the introduction of the “Stage 1” performance upgrade for the GS and that tag told muscle car enthusiasts that Buick was serious about going fast. Unfortunately, the entire performance car movement was on the wane by 1972 and pretty much over and out at the end of the ’74 model year. Buick continued the Stage 1 enhancement through ’74 but it was a shadow of its former self. According to Hemmings, by 1974, the Century Gran Sport’s total volume was about 3,300 copies, half of where it had been the year before, and the Stage 1 variant accounted for only 478 units – so yes, our featured ’74 Buick Gran Sport Stage 1 is a rare car.
So what does “Stage 1” get a prospective owner? In 1974 it meant a 255 net HP, 455 CI V8 engine as opposed to the more sedate 230 net HP version. There were also lower power 350 CI engines available in the Gran Sport too. Unfortunately, the four-speed manual transmission had bid its farewells by ’74 and was no longer an option. The seller doesn’t elaborate about a lot of anything in the listing but he does state that he’s owned this Buick for 29 years and it “runs great“.
Styling is always a subjective matter and a colonnade body style, such as this Gran Sport, is a radical departure from the ’70-’72 version that preceded it. And while the Colonnade design has plenty of detractors, it has its fans too and it was hugely successful across GM’s entire intermediate line-up from its ’73 inception until its ’77 conclusion. While brown seems an unlikely hue for a performance car like a Stage 1 Buick, this example certainly shows well. The finish is still deep and there is no sign of fade or rust. The seller notes that there are a few, small paint chips but that’s it. That said, the driver’s side rear bumper filler looks like it is missing.
The interior is notable for both its condition and the fact that it has bucket seats but no center console. From what can be seen, the tan, or buckskin, vinyl upholstery has withstood the test of time and 87K miles of use has not diminished its well-being. The only thing that’s really out of place is the oversized Auto Meter tachometer which is perched on top of the steering column. Note the missing shoulder harness guide on the top side of the driver’s seat. These cheap plastic items were used on all GM cars of the era and always ended up the same way, broken. For a simple part that has an everyday job to do, you’d think it would have been more robust in its bearing. Also, being a ’74 model, this Buick Gran Sport should have that blasted seatbelt interlock system that kept the driver from starting the engine unless his seat belt was buckled. It was one of the most reviled safety systems foisted on the consuming public at that time and it ended up being one and done.
This is a significant muscle car and it’s nice to see that it has not been messed with unless you include the yellow spark plug wires (why yellow?) and the open-element air cleaner as modifications. I don’t, and I’d say that puts this Buick in survivor category. This Gran Sport Stage 1 is truly in the final countdown of the original muscle car era and it will make a great addition to someone’s garage, wouldn’t you agree?
In the ‘70’s-‘80’s nothing said performance like Accel Super Stock spark plug wires.
https://www.holley.com/products/ignition/spark_plug_wires/accel_super_stock_spark_plug_wire_sets/parts/4040
A kid at my high school was allowed to drive his Mother’s 1974 Gran Sport Buick on the last day of school. It was silver. First and last time I ever saw the car. It did have a shifter on the floor. Strange the stuff you remember after almost 45 years!
This car is strange,yet alluring at the same time.
Those wheels go perfect with it.
Beautiful, I think the Buick Century and Gran Sport was the best looking of the Colonnade cars (73-77). I’d love this in my garage !
The early round-light Buicks do seem to pull the style off best (although Pontiac was the only division that resolved the switch to square headlights in a way that improved rather than detracted from their starting point), and to me the semi-fastback roofline with big triangular side windows is the best-looking of the Colonnade coupes, possibly of all of them although I have a soft spot for the 4-door sedan with its’ unique B/C/D-pillar arrangement.
D pillar? There is no pillar past C on a sedan.
Buick and Olds were definitely the most dashing of the GM Colonnade siblings, even in bilirubin brown. Though I always associate these models with low-mileage, detuned engines of the mid 70s –kind of saps my enthusiasm. Maybe I’d just park it somewhere nice and listen to the radio…
Love Colonnades I have owned seven. Muss them all. Sold my last one, a super mint and loaded 77 Grand Prix SJ with 30 options. Sold it like a fool and have tried to buy it back.
Another vote for colonnades! Same with me, sold my mint ‘75 Monte Carlo with 30k miles
I have owned 7 also, In the early 80’s they were good cheap and fairly reliable. Still kinda looking for a replacement for my first one that I had, 73 SS 454 auto. Silver with black roof and black swivel bucket interior. Sold it to buy a 73 cutlass thinking I could use a car with better fuel mileage. Gas was over a dollar a gallon and i was only making 4 dollars an hour
Back in ’73 – ’74 everybody and their grandmother knew what a Trans Am was. Not so much with the Buick Gran Sport, IMO, the other “last of the muscle cars”. I don’t know the numbers, but would love to see a Stage 1 against a SD in a drag race. Around 1976, back in high school, I had a friend with a SD. We had that car loaded with 7 kids – the driver and 3 guys, all with our girlfriends in our laps. We were cruising down Westheimer Road in Houston and basically got in a 6 or 7 car light to light “race”. Even with all that weight in the car, no one could touch us. At one light he didn’t “get on the gas” when the light changed and he said to watch…………sure enough there was a cop up ahead. He knew this as he lived just off that intersection……….ah the good old days.
That’s a great story, thanks for sharing it! Regarding your comment about the Stage 1 vs the Super Duty, I can’t imagine it being very close with the SD easily walking away from the GS. The SD’s ran 13.50’s right out of the box so it’s doubtful that the heavier Buick would stand much of a chance, but it would be fun to find out! This is a beautiful car.
And yes, the good old days…
I own a 1974 Buick GS 455. I can tell you you they are a strong car, but the Trans Am Super Duty will walk the GS by a full second in the quarter mile with Ease! The Super Duty was a different animal – Special Block, special FORGED pistons AND crankshaft, oval port heads – it was a race engine. The Buick was a stronger than average 455 But in low compression form and 4100 lbs was NOT a match whatsoever.
Back in the 80’s I went to work at a sporting goods warehouse in Richardson Tx and there was a guy working there that owned a Maroon version of this car. I asked him to take me for a ride in it and he did…that car screamed!! I have never forgotten it to this day. It had white buckets/console interior and that smaller half top that was white. It smoked it’s tires as much as he wanted it to lol. Sweet cars for sure. At that time I was driving a Mulsanne Blue 1971 Chevelle with a 4 speed…I still miss mine to this day.
The window behind the B Pillar is absurd, and was in all GM designs. Remove it and you get a really nice design effect. With the window gone, use your side view mirrors. Then he car is stunning.
Congratulations to Barn Finders on your birthday. I have been with you as a member for a long time and enjoy it.
I like, a lot.
Best deal to grace these pages in a long time. Money in the bank.
If some1 told me that front bumper could take a 10 mph hit, i’d believe it.
It & its attaching hardware must weigh 200 lbs. lol
Brown was certainly a popular color in the mid 70’s Growing up, my next door neighbor had a ’74 Buick Century and a ’75 olds Cutlass. Both were beer bottle brown.
I knew Buick made these in 73 but not in 74. I think the 350 became the biggest engine offered in 75 on these but I could be wrong. 75 was the first year the 231 V6 was offered on these. They were still offered on the LeSabre & Electra though. The same year catalytic converters were introduced & cut down on the power. This is very cool. Nice to see.
I had a ‘75 Chevy Laguna type S3 that had a 400 4bbl. In theory it should have performed well but reality was it was adequate. I bought it as a demonstrator but I’m pretty sure that car could have been ordered with the 454 4bbl but could be wrong. Still miss that car, black and white houndstooth swivel bucket seats and all!
I like this,and would buy it, if still looking, but that giant eye sore tach..needs to go,many of us on here have had lots of cool cars over the years,and 1 thing I say,and always here,is how much we “miss them”.my advice, which I intend to follow, is next car you find, and like, and especially a classic, keep it!my advice secondly, and its what I did,is buy what you can afford, and buy a running, driving car if possible, your a lot less likely to get frustrated, and throw in the towel,been there,done that,way too many times, not again.
Strange that it is a Stage 1 car and bucket seats but column shift. Unique body style and I know these drive very nice !
I know of a white 4spd parked in a field.
This is a really nice car imo a really nice color combo.
I think its a century with switched seats and added emblems as many people did.
He even tried dressing up under the hood
I had a 75 Buick century special it had a V6 it took forever 0 to 60 but it was blue with white bucket seats and automatic on the floor with the console
No mention in the ad about the missing rubber filler piece on rear driver’s side. Doesn’t look well for obtaining a replacement if the seller has had the car for 29 years and has yet to find/purchase one? may have to buy a whole car/parts car just to get that one piece, IF a good one can even be found.