Vehicle Description
1969 Buick GS 400 Convertible - 400ci V8 - 340 Horsepower -
Automatic Transmission - 640 Miles Since Restored (Please note: If
you happen to be viewing this 1969 Buick GS400 Convertible on a
site other than GarageKeptMotors.com, it's possible that you've
only seen some of our many photographs of this vehicle due to
website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 200
photographs, including a short walk-around-and-startup video,
please go to our main website: GarageKeptMotors.) You asked for an
enthusiast's machine from Buick. It's happened. 1969 Buick ad
Hemmings provides the key details of just how the GS400 came to be:
When unveiled, the Gran Sport's front crossmember cradled the famed
401-cu.in. 'nailhead' engine. To get it past GM's front office,
engineers conveniently dropped a single cubic inch from internal
and public promotional paperwork in order to adhere to the
overlord's intermediate engine displacement rules limiting the
A-body line to 400 cubic inches. Sometimes, a little prevarication
can be fun. They added: For '69, the Cool-Dual Induction system was
redesigned and relocated to the center of the hood, its
dual-grilled bulge allowing cold air to easily pass through two
forward-facing, ducted snorkels and into the Quadrajet. No longer
would Buick be relegated to a distant third-place behind sister-GM
divisions, Chevrolet and Pontiac in the muscle-car contest.
Presented here, is one of just 1,176 (according to
ClassicCarDriver.com) GS400 convertibles manufactured in 1969. The
car was restored just 640 miles ago. On the exterior, the silver
(with a touch of blue) paint is uniform and free of significant
damage overall; it shines beautifully. GS badging and all other
emblems are present and properly mounted. Chrome surfaces-notably
including the swooping delicate trim on the sides of the car-are in
excellent overall condition. Glass and lighting lenses are clear
and undamaged. Period-correct red-stripe Good Year bias-ply tires
are mounted on factory 15-inch styled steel wheels with Buick logo
centercaps. The black fabric convertible top is in as-new condition
and is properly fitted. Inside, black was the color choice: the
dash, vinyl front bucket and rear bench seats, and carpeting are
all in black. The dashboard and center console show age-appropriate
patina, but no damage. With the exception of the
passenger-door-trim area, all surfaces are in excellent condition.
Instruments are complete and include clear lenses. (The
upmarket-Buick-appropriate Fasten Seat Belts notice in Edwardian
script is perfect.) The factory Sonomatic push-button AM radio is
in its proper place in the lower dash. Out back, the spacious trunk
is clean and undamaged and includes a mounted full-size spare. A
nice design feature: key-access to trunk lock comes when the GS
logo is pivoted. Under the hood, the GS400 engine holds forth under
a GS400-identified air cleaner breathing through the separate
intake ducting. Additional air supply arrives through ducting
connected to the front grille. Together with the engine, all
related components are clean and properly mounted. The
undercarriage of the car maintains the showroom-like condition
theme, front to back, with twin exhaust pipes traveling in parallel
the entire way. The more than 200 high-definition photographs
available, together with a short walk-around-and-startup video, at
the GarageKeptMotors site faithfully present the '69 GS400's
condition. Having said that, no assessment can compare to an
in-person, up-close appraisal. That's why we encourage interested
parties (or their representatives) to visit our Grand Rapids,
Michigan showroom. We ask only that an appointment be made in
advance by phone or email, so that we can be sure we have scheduled
enough time to devote to our visitors. The Buick ad referenced at
the beginning of this description concluded with the famous line:
Wouldn't you really rather have a Buick? Seems to us that seeing
thi