Saving a 65 GS 3 speed

[red65gs]

Old barrel nut vs new one. -shows how the round part fits in the square hole.

[red65gs]

I found a couple more things about the star today. Someone posted a cowl tag from a 61 Buick that has the three letter paint code and a star.

[marxjunk]

A couple more! One from a hardtop and one from a convert gs!,both very early cars no star!

my early small badge stick car has the same solid, blind rivet trim tag rivets...identicle......i thought they where replaced some time in the 80s with an amateur resto

no star either

[red65gs]

I also found a 1965 wholesale car order form. It shows the star as the code for demonstrator, fleet order, etc. look in lower right hand corner. Notice Flint factory delivery...might be why the star was on Flint cars only. The painted wheel option is listed under 3 in the same corner so blows that theory.

[35chevcoupe]

Hi red65gs ,  Hey just wondering what your plans are for your 65 GS . complete frame off restoration ?
I,ll be following along as I am also doing a 65 GS 3 speed car . Mine was not a complete car when I got it and was missing almost everything .
So as I follow along I might have a few questions for you . That is if you don't mind sharing .
Good luck on your restoration .

[red65gs]

Hi John,

I want to at least make a driver out of the car and be able to enjoy it. The frame is in poor shape so still deciding if I'll switch completely or cut out bad sections and weld in new sections. Either way the body will have to come off the frame. Lots of sheet metal work too. I'm going to have to put in drivers side floor, rocker panel, full trunk floor, lower rear quarters, front fender patches, front window channel and rear window channel. I liked this car because it was numbers matching, very original and my favorite color. This is my 4th '65 and the most original so far. Love nailheads with manuals, so much fun to drive.

I'll be glad to share photos and details as I can.

[red65gs]

Trunk photo of major rust. I'm glad to see lots of other guys posting with this issue and their solutions. Thanks to Bill for selling me the braces, now I can just buy the sections of floor and complete. Also thanks to Mark for the rear bumper since the one on the car is pitted badly.

[elagache]

Dear Don and mid-60s Buick restorers,

Trunk photo of major rust. I'm glad to see lots of other guys posting with this issue and their solutions.
. . . . . .

OUCH!! that's definitely the wrong way to end up with a red car!     Fortunately, others have tackled this problem before you.  I'm glad you have already gotten some help.  Do keep us posted as you proceed on restoring the trunk of your car..

Cheers, Edouard 

[red65gs]

Hi Edouard,

Yeah guess I should change my sign on name. I didn't have this car at the time though, the one before this was red.

cheers!

[yachtsmanbill]

On that star issue... could that have been a factory ordered "Blue Coral" protectant job? Just thinking out loud. Don, you most certainly have a full plate. I didnt realize the braces were for you. Youll be an exspurt by the time this one is done!       Bill

[option B9]

Hi Bill, Edouard, marxjunk. John, gssizzler.  Don Don't let the rust scare you. Some of us have put together GSs from a pile of parts that we salvaged from all over the country.
     I see that rusted trunk. But all of those parts can be replaced with new metal, just takes time a lot of time. If your lower rear wheel wells are rotted on the bottom as mine were and you are doing the work yourself. Let me know and I will tell you the trick I used to match the lower wheel well to the trunk section perfectly. Like many others on this site I'm part of the been there done that club. 
                                                                          Tony

[red65gs]

Thanks Bill and Tony! I'm planning to take my time, doing things as right as possible and my skill will allow. Working on these old cars is good therapy, so I like learning and building the car myself.

[yachtsmanbill]

Hey Don... Pat (the ISO haha) and I drove around from here to Texas looking for "the car" and found the BAD LASS 50 miles from home. She was rode easy, but put away wet when gramma quit driving it in 1980. Guessing about 2010, "Johnny" got a tool box for christmas and decided he was gonna restore grammas car. He took it all apart but had the foresight to keep everything separated in plastic bags. Over the next 10 years the disintegrated into individual piles of where they sat, but were there nevertheless.
  Before that, we looked (virtually) at a 65 GS in Pataterpatch, Michigan. It had languished in the weeds for a few decades and the guy wouldnt even attempt to pull it out until a buyer was at hand. It came with a spare frame. The first few pics you posted reminded me of that car. Not one and the same by any chance???   Bill

[red65gs]

I found this Gran Sport in middle TN. Saw it on craigslist 3 years ago and it looked terrible from sitting outside for years but very complete. I bought it last year from the craigslist buyer who let it sit for 2 years. I think it takes a person like me who really loves '65 Gran Sports to stay dedicated.

[gssizzler]

It is really unfortunate that more panels aren't made for these cars! Making repairs more costly and harder!