Make: | Buick |
Model: | Skylark |
SubModel: | GS 400 |
Trim: | 2 dr hardtop |
Year: | 1968 |
Mileage: | 138295 |
VIN: | 446378B121602 |
Color: | Green |
Engine: | 400 V8 |
Cylinders: | 8 |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Interior color: | Black |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Item location: | Centerport, New York, United States |
1968 Buick GS 400 2dr Hardtop, Stunning Frame-off Restoration, stock, correct, and ready to roll.
Older, near concourse quality, nut-and-bolt restoration using mostly perfect original and NOS parts. Minimal use of repro parts.
Current owner since 1985, I had this car restored to keep – so it is done right, far better than the average restoration. This is a correct and stock appearing car, with some minor internal performance enhancements. I am the second owner, private seller, not a dealer. Local Long Island car. We live within 2 miles of the original owner’s address in Northport, NY.
What you see here is likely a unique car. It was painted from the factory in 1967 Verde Green, which was not available in 1968. Trim tag shows a code “2” in the location for paint, instead of the usual letter code. Photo documentation of the restoration shows the original paint on the body structure as proof. The color combination of deep metallic green, the black interior and top, and the red accents epitomizes Buick Gran Sports’ legacy of “going fast with class.”
Factory options include: A/C, bucket seats & consolette, AM/FM radio with rear speaker, rear defrost, vinyl top, racing stripe, chrome road wheels, redline Wide-Oval Firestone tires, Positraction differential, THM 400 automatic, E-Z Eye tinted glass all-around, power windows, remote side view mirror, tilt wheel, and the aluminum spoke woodgrain steering wheel. Included on the GS 400 was heavy duty suspension (lower stance and stiffer springs), HD front and rear sway bars, special emblems, and dual exhaust.
Approximately 5000 miles driven since restoration. Meticulously maintained and stored, always garaged and covered. You can drive this car home, but due to its pristine condition I recommend enclosed professional transport if you live outside the NY tri-state area.
See the car in action here:
https://youtu.be/9oZi_uK6UoI
https://youtu.be/f6yHvmiv_ms
https://youtu.be/ewmjX47nXBk
Go fast with class. Buick Gran Sports were priced above GM sister division offerings of the Oldsmobile 442, Pontiac GTO and Chevrolet Super Sport.
Mechanical Condition: Drive anywhere right now. The 400 motor was professionally rebuilt. Bored .030 over, with new, matched Nylen pistons. Sunnen honed. Cylinder heads updated with stainless seats and valves. Kenne Bell “Grocery Getter” mild cam with double roller timing chain, anti-pump up hydraulic lifters, THM 400 was also professionally rebuilt with a mild shift improver kit installed. Complete suspension rebuild is stock except for urethane bushings. Re-cored radiator using original tanks. New U-joints and drive shaft precision balanced. Steering box is updated to a new later model unit with quicker ratio. Rebuilt Quadrajet with matched jetting for the cam. New, free flow aluminized exhaust with performance mufflers has a nice throaty sound, but very driveable, not too loud. This is a matching numbers car, all major drivetrain components are original to the car.
Body Condition: Stunningly straight body and paint, bumpers triple plated show chrome, new, exact/correct vinyl top, new windshield and rear backlight. NOS parking light housings and lenses, NOS taillight housings and lenses, NOS side view remote mirror, NOS wheel well moldings, NOS headlight doors, NOS GS fender scoops, perfect Western take-off upper grille bar, door handles, wheels, and GS 400 trunk emblem.
Chassis Condition: Frame and underbody were taken to bare metal and epoxy primed, then semi-gloss urethane black. Stock appearance. All plated items were zinc plated and treated to eliminate hydrogen embrittlement (what shop do you know that does that!?!). New fuel tank and sending unit. New custom bent stainless steel fuel and brake lines front to back. Every single part on this car was disassembled, cleaned and restored as needed, and reassembled using factory assembly and service manuals.
Interior condition: The seats, dash, door panels and interior trim are original (from a low mileage, cold climate parts car) and are in excellent condition. The vinyl is still soft. New perfect repro headliner, carpet, sill plates and correct floor mats. Interior is correct and complete down to the headliner mounted shoulder harnesses. The hard parts of the dash are spectacularly restored with the correct gloss paint, re-plated ash tray, new glove box, and fluorescent repaint on the speedo and other indicator needles.
Recent mechanical maintenance includes: new wheel cylinders all-around, brake fluid flush, transmission fluid change, engine oil and filter, new battery, new water pump, engine coolant flush/fill.
Awards: car was judged at the Buick Club of America National meet in Danvers, MA and achieved 398 of 400 points. Numerous 1st place awards and Best of Show at local Buick Club meets.
Car is very well preserved, but some minor signs of aging are showing such as loss of brightness on certain replated items under the hood and underside the car. One or two minor chips on the paint exist. The paint was touched up on a few panels and the match is very good. I’m being overly critical – with this car you’d be a contender for an award at any show, right now.
The AC was never converted to R134 and does not work. New evaporator, compressor and condenser installed during restoration. AM/FM radio is inop, as is the rear defroster and clock.
The Buick Gran Sport was considered the gentleman’s muscle car of the day. Buick was the high-end offering for this class of car at GM in this era. Gorgeous styling that is both tough and classic at the same time. This car gets constant looks and draws a crowd wherever it goes. Easily one of the finest 68s in existence, and would be very difficult to reproduce today because many of the trim parts are not reproduced, and factory parts are scarce. Outstanding investment potential. One of few muscle cars of the era that remain valued under six figures in this condition.
Please read this! Although we have represented the car as accurately and factually as possible, the information is “to the best of our knowledge” and as such there may be un-foreseen problems not yet known or discovered. Do not bid unless you clearly understand there are unknowns and risks in buying such a vehicle.
BUYER TO ARRANGE SHIPPING. I AM AVAILABLE TO ASSIST AT PICKUP IF NECESSARY. VEHICLE MAY BE INSPECTED IN PERSON UPON REQUEST, CALL ME.
Terms of sale:
Upon close of auction, deposit payment of $1,000 due in cash, certified funds or PayPal within 48 hours. E-mail/phone contact confirming the transaction and the status of payment MUST be made within 3 days of close of auction. Balance of payment in cash or certified funds and pick up or arrangement of shipping of vehicle must be made within 14 days of close of auction unless other agreement is reached. Delivery is not included in price of vehicle. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE BIDDING: We have represented this vehicle honestly; please reciprocate this courtesy by bidding ONLY IF YOU HAVE INTENT AND THE MEANS TO COMPLETE THE SALE. Bidding is a contract; non-paying bidders WILL receive negative feedback. If you have zero or less than zero as a feedback rating, please contact us prior to bidding.