possible prototype?

[Loren At 65GS]

I was having a conversation with a fellow Buick nut and he asked me if I knew anything about some prototype Gran Sports.  To which I replied "no" but this came to mind -  October 1964 Motor Trend article about the new cars.  Anything look familiar about the front fender ornamentation?  Also notice the roof trim. 

[Mark Ascher]

Loren,

I believe the ventiports that ended up on the Gran Sports were going to be the standard side ornamentation for the Skylarks.
There was some side trim on 64 or 65 Chevelles that remained up to the point of appearing in the printed sales literature,
but were never on a production car. Probably not prototypes that late in the game, just shifting final trim on some models.
My opinion of course....

Those are cool pictures, I'll have to track that issue down.

Mark

[Loren At 65GS]

Mark,

 

Just thought I would post it, I imagine that there are not many Buick folks that have seen it. Also thought it interesting to see that the fender ornamentation was in the works.

 Loren

[dsags]

I believe the ventiports that ended up on the Gran Sports were going to be the standard side ornamentation for the Skylarks.
There was some side trim on 64 or 65 Chevelles that remained up to the point of appearing in the printed sales literature,
but were never on a production car. Probably not prototypes that late in the game, just shifting final trim on some models.
My opinion of course....

Mark

An October issue back in those days was probably started at least three months prior to publication. So it could be prototype. IMO.

Sweet article Loren. Thanks for sharing.

Dan

[Loren At 65GS]

That's the one I keep telling you I need to find for you to see, Dan.

Finally located it and thought it might peak some other peoples interest.

  Loren

[elagache]

Dear Loren, Mark, Dan, and mid-60s Buick historians . . .

I was having a conversation with a fellow Buick nut and he asked me if I knew anything about some prototype Gran Sports.  To which I replied "no" but this came to mind -  October 1964 Motor Trend article about the new cars.  Anything look familiar about the front fender ornamentation?  Also notice the roof trim.

Thanks for sharing the article - very interesting! 

Just some armchair conjecturing on my part, but isn't it unlikely that Buick would have had the time to show off a prototype because they were trying to catch up with Pontiac?  I'm sure they must have have done some prototyping to make sure they could get the nailhead into an A-body and make sure the ride was still comfortable, etc.  However, this was all the mechanical work that had to be done to get the car to market.  Buick appears not to have had the time to incorporate all the stylistic features in GS that were in the GTO until 1966 (for example hood scoops.)  So it is pure conjecture, but perhaps it took everything Buick could muster to get the GS into production for the 1965 model year and there wasn't a prototype that could be showed to the press much before the start of the new model year.

Does that jive with what you'all understand?

Cheers, Edouard

[GS66]

Great article, thanks for sharing!

[Rollaround]

Thanks for posting, interesting.

[nail lark]

I know this is off the topic that you fellas are talking about. But I need to ask that roof chrome that you see in pic. #1 , was it available on a GS with out a vinyl roof ?
Thanks
Morrie

[Loren At 65GS]

Morrie,

 The roof trim in photo #1 was used on Skylark models, not the Gran Sport optioned model.

Unfortunately, I seem to have caused some confusion with my topic title. I thought it was interesting that the fender ports that are unique to the '65 Gran Sport were on a Skylark in a '64 Motor Trend magazine.

  Loren

[Loren At 65GS]

Here is a picture of the correct trim used on the hardtop and post '65 Gran Sports.

http://www.65gs.com/gallery/albums/65%20GS%20Pictures/normal_7-8-06_008.jpg

  Loren

[jmos4]

Hi,

Cool pictures, if you look at the parts catalog for 65 it shows the Gran Sport vents on a car with halo trim if I remember correctly, I  posted it on here a few years ago. Who knows might have been the same car?

Regards,

[Mister T]

Interesting article.    I love reading about these types of things.