Beautiful GS 455 Skylark convert !!!!

[Belair62]

This is MCCPORTERS beautiful GS 455 Skylark cvt !!!! I love Buicks !!! Thanks Morris !

I am the second owner of the car. It is a 1972 Buick GS455 Convertible, which is one of 114 GS455s built in 1972 with the turbo 400 automatic and 455 engine. 12 were built with the 4 speed for a total of 126 455 convertibles for the year (not counting Stage 1 cars, of which 15 4 speeds and 66 automatics were built). The car is a matching number "survivor car" documented by the Sloan Museum. The car was special-ordered new by a wealthy older couple in northern California in 1972, and is triple white. The car was produced on 9/20/72, and was ordered and delivered through Stenstrom Buick Company of San Rafael, CA.
It is an unusual car for a Buick GS convertible, as it is a relatively low option car. The couple reportedly knew exactly what they wanted and ordered the car accordingly. There is none of the usual AC, cruise, tilt, PW, PL and stereo present in this Buick. More on the options in a moment. The husband reportedly used the car almost exclusively as transportation to and from his frequent golf games. In fact, the car still has the original boot cover for the convertible top, which is in perfect condition except for the holes in it from the owner's golf cleats. When I took possession of the car, it had many golf country club membership plaques attached to the grille. As the story was related to me, the husband died of a heart attack while playing golf at Pebble Beach. The wife did not feel comfortable with the power of the car and put the car up for sale.
I have owned the car almost a year, and it is a great cruising car. Because it doesn't have many of the heavy options, it is remarkably fast for a '72. The 455 has plenty of torque, and it chirps rubber hard going into 2nd gear. It feels strong enough to give my LS6 Chevelle a run for its money. The GS is a driver quality car, with 85% original paint, and the vintage touchups to prove it. There are 82K original miles on the odometer. Everything works and its comfortable and fun to drive. Because it came from California, it is in remarkable condition with zero rust or rot. I still have the original California "blue and gold" license plate, the only plate it has ever had prior to my plates.
Here is some information regarding the options:
455 high performance 4 BBL engine
Turbo 400 transmission with column shifter
Power disc brakes and 17.6:1 power steering
AM/FM Sonomatic radio with front and rear speaker
California emissions and N25 thru the bumper exhaust
Whitewall tires
Custom front and rear seat belts
Soft ray tinted windshield
Front and rear bumper guards and bumper strips
Door edge guards and remote driver's side mirror
Front carpet savers
Custom padded split bench seats
Convenience lighting group and electric clock
14" chrome wheels
Body side moldings
Rallye steering wheel

[JoeG]

Kind of car that puts a smile on your face----

[olredalert]

------What a nice piece. Please keep it just as it is, whitewalls and all. Absolutely beautiful profile!..........Bill S

[MosportGreen66]

I agree.. Keep those white walls!!!

SWEET CAR

[Bill Pritchard]

"The car was produced on 9/20/72"

Wow, that's late for a 72 Maybe a typo??

Beautiful car, though. Love those A-body ragtops

[SS427]

Very ssweat and valuable ride Morris.
Rick

[Mr70]

You have Good Taste in cars Morris.

[mmcporter]

Hi, I want to thank everyone for their kind comments about my Buick; I have a blast with this car. I really enjoy hearing the membership talk about the various car and non-car topics on a daily basis. It's a great group! Thanks Bob for being patient (waiting for me to resize my monster-sized pics) and including the Buick in the Member's Rides section.

Bill, as far as the date of production goes, I don't think there is a typo; the info from the Sloan Museum indicates the car was produced on "9/20"...it doesn't say 1972 or 1971...so it's a very late car or a very early car. The sequence number is 110799. So 9/20/72 seems logical to me. Can anyone correct this perception?

Thanks again.

Morris

[BUIZILLA]

The car was built Sept. '71 as a '72 model. Nice and rare car you have. I have a '72 Stage 1 car, so obviously I am biased. I also have a triple white '70 Wildcat convertible.

Jim

[mmcporter]

Yes, you are right. Guys from the Buick V8 forum confirmed it's an early car, not a late one.