For Sale: 1972 Buick Gran Sport in Bradenton, Florida

1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 �€" Heavily Optioned Tribute Car in Wine Mist with Thru-Bumper Exhaust Why This Car Is Special The 1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 occupies a specific and important place in American automotive history. By 1972, the muscle car era was effectively over. Insurance rates had climbed, compression ratios had been dropped to accommodate low-lead fuel, and emission regulations were beginning to reshape what Detroit could offer. The 1972 model year would be the last for the Buick GS as a distinct, purpose-built performance model before it was folded back into the Skylark lineup. That makes any legitimate 1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 a genuine last-of-its-kind machine �€" and one that collectors have steadily recognized over the past two decades. The Stage 1 package, which Buick offered on the GS 455 starting in 1970, was not a cosmetic upgrade. It was an honest performance option that included a higher-lift camshaft, a specific carburetor calibration, a low-restriction air cleaner, and other engine modifications designed to maximize torque output from the 455 cubic inch V8. The result was an engine that Buick rated at 270 horsepower under the new SAE net measurement standard for 1972 �€" but the torque figure told the real story. The Stage 1 455 produced 390 lb-ft of torque, which was among the highest figures available in any production car that year, and it made the 1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 a legitimate competitor to anything the other GM divisions or the competition could offer, even in that compressed final chapter of the muscle car era. This particular car is presented as a tribute to the 1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1, built with correct appearance details and a long list of factory-correct and period-appropriate options. It wears Wine Mist, a deep maroon finish that suits the car's profile well, paired with a white vinyl top and a white vinyl interior. The VIN confirms this is a Skylark-platform A-body coupe built at the Flint, Michigan assembly plant, with a 1972 model year designation and the 455 cubic inch V8 engine. What sets this example apart from a basic GS is the sheer quantity of factory-era options that have been assembled on this car, including several that were genuinely uncommon on the original order sheets. Features List - 455 cubic inch V8 engine with Stage 1 Performance Package - TH400 three-speed automatic transmission - Rare thru-bumper exhaust with dual exhaust system - Correct air-inducted hood - Power front disc brakes - Power steering - Factory air conditioning - Front and rear sway bars - Correct Buick Sport Wheels with Michelin tires - Correct T-3 headlights - White vinyl top - Wine Mist (Maroon) exterior finish - Body-side accent stripe - Bumper guards - Remote outside mirror - White vinyl interior - Bucket seats with headrests - Factory console - Tilt steering wheel - Power windows - Power door locks - Wood-grain interior trim - AM/FM Stereo - Rare factory Buick 8-track player - Rare factory cruise control - Rear defrost - Factory floor mats Mechanical The heart of the 1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 is, of course, the 455 cubic inch V8 backed by the Stage 1 Performance Package. The Stage 1 option was available for an additional charge over the standard GS 455 and included specific high-performance components from the factory, most notably the revised camshaft profile and carburetor tuning that gave the engine its torque advantage. While compression had been reduced from earlier years to accommodate regular fuel and meet emissions targets, the sheer displacement of the 455 meant that even the detuned version produced substantial real-world performance. Buick engineers had always prioritized low-end torque over peak horsepower numbers, and the Stage 1 455 was the fullest expression of that philosophy. Behind the engine sits a Turbo-Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic transmission, which was the correct and appropriate gearbox for this application. The TH400 is a robust, well-regarded unit that h