May 9, 2021  •  For Sale  •  19 Comments

Fully Restored 455: 1971 Buick Gran Sport Stage 1

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If you were looking for the most luxurious muscle car on the market in the 1960s/1970s and wanted to go GM, you turned to Buick as Cadillac had no such auto. From 1965-72, Buick offered the Gran Sport (or GS) on its Skylark mid-size series, although other Buick brands would also be issued with GS trim. This ’71 edition with the 455 Stage 1 set up has had a frame off restoration which was documented to the tune of more than $100,000. Located in Hawthorne, New Jersey, this Buick is available here on eBay with a reserve that is yet to be met at just shy of $60,000.

The muscle car market was cooling off by 1971 and Buick was equally effected. After selling 20,100 Skylark GS units in 1970, that number dropped by more than half to under 9,200 the next year. The Stage 1 with a 455 cubic inch V8 and a TH-400 automatic transmission accounted for production of just 801 hardtops, which would include the seller’s car. This machine was professionally restored two years and has seen just 3,000 miles of use since. The seller says no expense was spared it redoing the car, including installing all new glass; stripping and sandblasting the vehicle before applying new paint; detailing the undercarriage; and the list goes on. Too bad not many “before” photos are included.

The engine was both rebuilt and tuned and we’re told that it turns 450 hp on the dyno with 536 ft/lbs. of torque – more than what it would have left the factory with. Everything is numbers matching and the seller provides more pics of the numbered components than of the exterior of the Buick. When it was repainted, the black and orange striping was done to mimic the more elusive GSX model, which itself saw just 124 copies made in 1971.

These cars are perhaps the most sought-after machines that Buick ever built. A true Stage 1 is worth in the high five-figures and a GSX can easily top $100,000. The seller tells us he’s set a “reasonable” reserve for this car, but how much north of $60,000 would that be? If this GS is as nice as it’s portrayed here, it’s not going to go cheap. It will be interesting to see if this auction in fact finds a buyer.

Comments

  1. Jcs
    May 9, 2021 at 8:16pm

    Nice looking Buick.

    The N-25 through the bumper exhaust option was very rare, if this can be documented as original equipment on this GS that would help to justify a high reserve.

    Like 6
  2. Raymond
    May 9, 2021 at 8:39pm

    GSX didn’t bring anything else to the table than this lovely lady that I can see, whatever the price it’s worth it…I’d even add the X cuz it earned it…insure it high and drive it as meant…sorry big Buick fan….

    Like 7
  3. jwzg
    May 10, 2021 at 7:08am

    Oh my! I can’t think of any A-Body I’d rather own than one of these. This looks spectacular. GLWTA

    Like 6
  4. Phoneman
    May 10, 2021 at 10:07am

    That steering wheel is out of a 442. Buick wheels were 3 spokes,

    Like 5
    • Jcs
      May 10, 2021 at 3:04pm

      Yep.

      Like 0
  5. Bunky
    May 10, 2021 at 10:46am

    Awesome car! Friend of mine raced one back in the day that came from the factory with radio/heater/wiper delete – it was white also- no stripe. Had the dealer added Stage II package. Very quick!
    Hate to burst your bubble, but Olds 442 was top of the heap. (Higher MSRP)

    Like 0
    • Paul Trickett
      May 10, 2021 at 2:38pm

      Sorry but no such thing as a wiper delete on these. The 442 may have cost more but the Buick was faster.

      Like 3
      • Don Eladio
        May 13, 2021 at 11:35am

        The 442 did not cost more, that’s a lie.

        Like 0
    • Jcs
      May 10, 2021 at 3:08pm

      Totally debatable, Paul.

      I would also posit that the 442 interior felt more luxurious and upscale, not to mention that they handled far better than the GS.

      Like 2
      • Don Eladio
        May 13, 2021 at 11:34am

        Oh baloney…you’re full of it. Buick was higher in the GM hierarchy. Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Chevrolet…in THAT order. The Buicks were a cut above the Oldsmobiles, stop spreading BS.

        Like 1
    • Don Eladio
      May 13, 2021 at 11:36am

      Hate to burst your bubble…but, you are wrong, lol.

      Like 0
  6. Dave Rhodes
    May 10, 2021 at 2:22pm

    strock it was 360 HP – 510 foot pounds so it’s been juiced pretty good …doesn’t say what was done to it to gain those 90 extra ponies

    Like 0
  7. Paul Trickett
    May 10, 2021 at 2:35pm

    The Buick dealer in my town had a solar white GSX just like this only a 1970 (faster). I wanted to trade my 66 Buick GranSport in on it but only being 18 they wanted a cosigner. My dad wouldn’t so I paid cash for a used 67 Z28 instead for 1/2 the price. It was my birthday present to myself LOL

    Like 2
  8. gtoman 455
    May 10, 2021 at 2:46pm

    love that buick, bad too the BONE

    Like 2
  9. thumpster
    May 10, 2021 at 2:59pm

    bumper off a 72 not a 71

    Like 1
    • RonY
      May 13, 2021 at 8:33am

      ……just curious, what makes you think that 71 bumper is a 72?

      Like 0
  10. Leroy
    May 10, 2021 at 3:15pm

    Had a 1969 GS best car I ever owned would love to still have it

    Like 0
  11. Cattoo Cattoo
    May 13, 2021 at 4:52am

    The rational self stopped the almost 53 year old me from thinking of selling house to buy this beauty but not having home to park her.

    Like 0
  12. Cattoo Cattoo
    May 13, 2021 at 2:21pm

    Ended May 11. No sale as reserve not met

    Like 0

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