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A real stage 1 with it's original drivetrain !

Make: Buick
Model: Gran Sport
Type: Coupe
Trim: Stage 1
Year: 1971
Mileage: 101,609
VIN: 434371H173487
Color: Corvette Yellow - Original Cortez Gold
Engine: 455
Cylinders: 8
Fuel: Gasoline
Transmission: Automatic
Drive type: RWD
Interior color: Black
Vehicle Title: Clear
Item location: Staten Island, New York, United States

1971 Buick Gran Sport Additional Info:

1971 Buick Gran Sport - Stage 1 455

I should say a big thank you to those who emailed me questioning whether this was a real and original Stage 1. Thanks to everyone's suggestions, I found the number on the block, the transmission and distributor.

Email me if you want more information, plus I have a repository where I put more pictures.

I do not want anyone to be surprised and I'm trying to be 100% honest. I want her to have a good home. I was originally going to restore her, but life took me into another direction. There is over spray every which way but Sunday. I started her last Sunday (April 10, 2016) and I did try to empty the tank before trying to start her and put in fresh gas, but obviously there's still a fair amount of old gas in the tank.

  • Transmission: 71-BB
  • Distributor: 1112016
  • Engine: Matches the VIN

NOTE

  • Not a "tribute" car
  • Not a clone
  • Original motor/transmission/heads
The only original items I do not have
  • Original Radio
  • Rochester Quad - My neighbor said he would rebuild it for me, then lost it
  • Coil
The complete boring story Back in 1982, I had a 1973 Century that had painted into a Gran Sport (just telling it like it is). I sold that car for $2100, and bought this car on a used car lot on Hylan Blvd on Staten Island. They originally wanted $2500, but I bought it for $2100 (it was originally from Pennsylvania ).
My friend had a GS455, and was really jealous of this car. The car was driven daily, and it took me back and forth to school. The driver's side quarter panel rusted out, the front passenger fender rusted and the radiator support was totally rusted from the battery.
One day I was driving, a dog comes shooting out, and I hit it. The dog is under my suspension, with it's leg trapped under the drivers side lower control arm, and of course, cracks the grill (the Stage 1's had a different grill than even the GS455). NYPD shows up, dog is totally fine with some minor bruises, and the owner's get a ticket for not having their dog leashed.
This car was insane. One friend had a GTO, another a 318 Charger and I had the Gran Sport. As my friend in the GTO who was behind the Charger tries to go around, I went around both of them.
When the car hit 100K miles, I decided to do a restore and bump up the horsepower. If I could have a time machine, I'd give myself a swift kick. First thing I did was take off the vinyl roof, thinking that I would make it "GSX-ish" ( I have an OEM GSX sticker), so I bought the rear spoiler and I found the rear bumper on Hemmings (the original had rusted through). I couldn't do the major body work (rust) myself, do I took the car to a body shop, where they did a pretty poor job, and I painted her myself and I did a pretty poor job. I was in no way qualified to do a restore on this car.
The engine (bottom) was sent out, and the work was done by NY Speed (I have the paper work). The heads/manifold stayed with me. They put in 10:1 compression pistons, a Kenne Bell Cam, block was bored .30 over. Crank and rods are original. The transmission and rear end have never left this car. I put in polyurethane bushings on the front, and stiffer shocks.
The other engine modifications are the aluminum Edelbrock B4B manifold, Hooker Headers(yes, I did cut a hole in the wheel wells for the tube that wraps around the frame) and Holly Carb that needs an electric choke (I ran out of time so I never added even a manual choke).Just to be clear, I do have the original exhaust manifolds, the original intake manifold, but not the carburetor or coil.
So.. the question is.. why didn't I even finish it ? Because as I was working on her, I got engaged.. and you can finish the story..
So.. this is a real deal Stage 1..(I see on Ebay listings using the term "real deal", in this case, it's the truth).I have all the original pieces except those mentioned above. This car wasn't raced because nobody would race me.Even before the rebuild, I once challenged a 1970 454 Chevelle and the guy was like "no..I hear what you have under that hood".I love this car, and hate to get rid of her, but she deserves better.
If I don't hit the reserve, I'd rather sell her for less to someone who will cherish her than someone who will flip her.
..but being honest, anyone owning their own shop, for a few thousand bucks and some elbow grease can turn her into a 50K collectible.
Introduction
Going under for first time to search for (71-BB)
Does she start ?
This was filmed within the first 15 minutes of the first start in over 15 years.