After seeing the success that Pontiac had with the GTO the year before, Buick decided to produce a muscle car of their own. They added the Gran Sport (or GS) option to the intermediate Skylark for 1965, which was built on the same platform as the LeMans/GTO. All GS body styles received a stronger frame from the Skylark convertible and a special suspension for good measure. This ’65 GS was literally found in a barn and towed outside for its first glimpse of daylight in ages. In need of a complete restoration, the car is located in Donalsonville, Georgia and available here on eBay where the Buy It Now price has been set at $5,500. But the seller is willing to entertain “reasonable” offers.
Because of the pecking order within General Motors, the Buick GS series were the snazziest sport models in their day. When the Skylark GS was rolled out for 1965, it came with the largest engine that GM allowed in their mid-size cars – the 401 cubic inch “Nailhead” V8 (which was branded as a 400). It produced 325 hp and 445 lb·ft. Every resource I checked says this is the only engine the GS had for 1965 – but the seller says his car comes with a 350 V8 with its original 4-barrel carburetor. So, could you get a 350 in a GS in 1965 after all, or was the factory 401 replaced with a 350 later, or is this not really a GS even though the badge on the grill says it is.
The photos provided show this car being stashed along with a lot of other stuff in a barn, long enough to gather layers and layers of dirt and dust. Once pulled outside, a number of problems can be found with the body, although the seller says, “the bones are good.” But there’s surface rust, dents and missing trim pieces from most any angle. The original color combination looks to have been black over yellow or cream while there are no photos of the interior in order to assess its condition.
The Buick is a non-runner although the seller says the engine will turn over, just not catch. Probably years and years’ worth of bad gasoline in the tank, at a minimum. The GS was not a widely produced car in its first year, with the 2-door hardtop accounting for production of 11,351 out of 15,780 for all body styles. Hagerty says a ’65 GS should fetch about $4,000 in Fair condition and this car is not that good, so the seller may have to rethink the value of his offering.
There was no Buick 350 in ‘65. I think a Skylark would have come with a 300 as the base V8 but I could be wrong.
My 66 has what is labeled on the filter housing as a 310, but is 300 as you stated. I added a 4 barrel, so I don’t know what it is now. Definitely not a 350.
Jerry, Buick would put torque rating on the air cleaner
Adding the 4 bbl to the Buick 300 v8 would make it rated 355 and with 250 HP. I have the same set up in my 65 Skylark.
or a 340
1967 was the first year Buick offered the 350 CID engine.
Wrong! The 350 didnt come out till 68
I love how people find these wrecks pay a hundred dollars( giving all the excuses to previous owners ) then post it on feebay for like 10 times they payed for it. And don’t bother to wash it or even take a decent pics of the car. Interior? Engine bay?
340 ci was available in 65 but I do not know if in the GS. I would think the 401 nail head would be correct
The Buick GS came out mid year 65 and came with 401(called the 400).
The 340 engine was not offered in the GS until 1967.
Then in 1968 they offered the Buick 350.
I don’t know of any 65 GS that was available with the Buick 300.
Another turd that the seller couldn’t even wash before posting. Anyone who restores this will be in well over what it’s worth.
Only engine for the ’65 GS was the 401. With that engine and the convertible frame the Skylark GS should be the A-body with the biggest potential. 300 was base V8 for regular Skylark, 340 arrived ’66 but none available in GS
The the new 340 and 400 were both available for the ’67 GS.
That’s a good point you have there and I’d completely forgotten about that model – when the new 400 came around Buick would differentiate between GS400(available in HT, 2dr post and ‘vert) and GS340(HT in white or silver with red accents only). The latter came with black vinyl bench seats only and red Chev Rally Wheels so it was almost a Buick Roadrunner so to say, one year ahead of the RR
My ‘reasonable offer’; I’ll help load it on a flatbed and haul it to the dump.
Russ, and engine ‘starts’, it doesn’t ‘catch’.