Vehicle Description
By 1969, the growing segment of people who wanted big horsepower in
their cars was too big to ignore, so Buick joined in a big way with
the Grand Sport, or GS for short. This 1969 GS400 is a wonderfully
deceptive muscle car, packing a brutally fast 400-inch big block
and a bunch of luxury features, all wrapped in that plain black
Buick wrapper.
The GS really needs no introduction, as it eventually evolved into
perhaps the nastiest machine on the street in 1970. The Buick's
calling card was, of course, an iron fist in a velvet glove and it
combined luxury and performance better than just about anything
else of the era. Dressing it in black is the perfect demonstration
of that effect, giving it a subtle yet imposing stature that fits
it like a tailored suit. The sheetmetal underneath is straight
enough to use with black paint, and given the vast sums of cash
spent on this hardtop, it shouldn't be surprising. The stock hood
remains, including its V-shaped "power dome" that still wears '400'
badges to warn the unwary that this isn't your mom's Skylark. A
matching black vinyl top gives it a more formal air, and it seems
right on a Buick, even one designed for wheel-to-wheel combat.
Sparkling chrome, a super-straight grille, and bright stainless
trim around the wheel arches add a bit of jewelry to an otherwise
serious look. Only the emblems appear to be untouched, and they're
showing a bit of age, but that's hardly a demerit.
The parchment interior fits like a crisp tuxedo shirt on the black
Buick and packs a lot of features you'd expect in a car like this.
It's surprisingly understated, not deviating much from the standard
Skylark setup, and still includes a bench seat and column-shifted
TH400 3-speed automatic transmission. The gauges are all
factory-issue and you didn't get much, even in the high-end Buick,
but a set of auxiliary gauges under the dash have come to the
rescue. A/C was a big part of the GS's appeal, and it's been
upgraded with Vintage Air components and R134a refrigerant, so it's
reliable and powerful today. A modern AM/FM/CD/iPod head unit with
Bluetooth connectivity is the heart of the audio system, and powers
speakers stashed throughout the interior. The trunk is pretty stock
and wears spatter paint and what is likely the original mat.
Although it looks pretty stock, the numbers-matching 400 cubic inch
V8 under the hood packs a ferocious punch and a huge wallop of
low-end torque to get it off the line. That twin-snorkel air
cleaner is factory-issue, one of the cooler air induction systems
of the period, and the bright Dante Red block remains the center of
attention when you open the hood. Correct decals on the air cleaner
and valve covers highlight that this is a performance Buick, and
aside from the modern A/C compressor, they worked pretty hard to
keep it looking stock. It starts easily and pulls the A-body around
with authority, and there's a nice growl from the stock-style dual
exhaust system that is uniquely Buick. The original 10-bolt rear
end plants the power and the power brakes have been rebuilt to
ensure safety with all that horsepower on tap. Classic Buick road
wheels are still fitted, wrapped in 225/70/15 Firestone Firehawk
radials.
Beautifully built at a cost way over the asking price, this Buick
does everything well. The great looks and all-day comfort are just
icing on the cake. Call today!
