Vehicle Description
In 1971, the horsepower wars probably reached their peak and Buick
was right there with the best of them. This 1971 Buick GS350 proves
that not only was the horsepower there, but the style as well,
because this bright red Buick has a performance look that leaves no
question about its purpose.
Painted in its correct code 75 Fire Red, this is an unusual and
rare Buick. The GS took the standard Skylark, which was already a
handsome car, and put enough testosterone in it to grow hair on a
bowling ball. The hood with functional ram air induction, a rear
wing, and the rocker panel moldings with red stripes give it plenty
of street cred. The body is very, very straight with good, clean
lines and decent panel alignment, and it's kind of refreshing to
see an aggressive GS Buick that isn't bright yellow. Two-stage
urethane gives it that wet look shine that'll last for years and
years, and you'll note that the reflections go deep, so a lot of
time was invested in the final wet sand and buff. The GS also
received a blacked-out grille and special badging to help it stand
apart (as if it needed help in that regard). Most of the chrome on
this car appears original and is in excellent shape, another
indicator of just how nice this car really is.
Buick got the interiors right in the GS series, offering the sporty
look that muscle cars demand and combining it with an upscale dose
of luxury that is befitting of GM's top-of-the-line muscle car. The
upholstery seems to have been recently freshened, with correct seat
covers, door panels, and nice black carpets that all look quite
fresh. Round gauges set into square recesses in the dash look
mostly original with a little fading in the lenses, but vivid
orange needles are easy to see and the tach looks almost new. As a
Buick, it comes with important options like factory A/C (some of
the system has been removed but it should be easy enough to put it
right), power steering and brakes, and a 4-speed sticking out of
the transmission tunnel. The original AM radio still lives in the
dash, and it's probably due for an upgrade... or not, because this
sucker's a blast to drive so you might not even need the music. The
trunk shows what appears to be original spatter-finish paint, so
you know it's in good shape, and it includes a correct mat and
full-sized spare tire assembly.
Even the small block Buicks were a menace on the streets, and this
one is a very strong runner. The engine bay is dominated by the big
ram air vents, but underneath there's a Dante Red Buick 350, which
has its own unique sound and a mountain of torque available.
Although the work is now a few years old, the engine bay was
well-detailed at the time and still shows quite nicely, and you
can't argue with the way this car runs. Turn the key and it fires
with a noteworthy Buick burble from the Flowmaster dual exhaust
system. The aforementioned 4-speed is a great find in a
luxury-oriented Buick and the rear axle is a rugged 10-bolt
supported by original coils and new shocks with helper springs. The
underside is likely all-original, too, so you can see clearly just
how good a life this car has led. Buick Road wheels are some of the
best looking rolling stock of the muscle car era, and these are
fitted with big 225/70/14 front and 245/60/14 rear BFGoodrich T/A
radials.
If you're ready for a grown-up muscle car, this Buick is waiting.
Call today!
