My next car.....and it's history

[Jonesy]

I met a fellow recently who happens to own a few collectible Buicks. I told him that my next car was going to be a 65GS and he said he just so happened to have one. I had a chance to meet with him once since then in order to check out the car and garner as much info as I could. I kick myself for forgetting to take a decent camera, all I had was my cellphone. Anyway, this is the story I got so far. He has owned this car since sometime in the mid 80's. He was unable to remember the exact year. He was at Hershey when he saw this vehicle. According to him the car was there that day, brought by a broker, on behalf of the owner. He states that he was one of three people who all placed bids on the car. I have no idea how much because I didn't ask. He said that all three of them offered the same exact amount and all three were told "no", that it wasn't enough. He kept in touch with the broker over the course of the next several months, trying to work out an agreed upon price. Finally, they were able to come to terms on an amount, which happened to be a mere $300.00 more than was offered that day at Hershey by all partys. He bought the car with approximately 44,000 plus miles, I'd have to check the title/registration for the exact amount. Since he's owned the car he's put approximately 4000 +/- miles on it. Now I'm sure I'll be wrong in my description of the paint so please correct me. It's a two tone paint job, the top is painted white and the body is Champagne? The car is a HT and is a 4-speed. The interior is saddle beige? The interior, according to him, is 100% original. The steering wheel is 16" and matches the cars interior color. The headliner, seats, carpet, door panels, kick panels, everything are original. It has a round Buick tachometer, if I remember correctly, that's mounted to the bottom of the dash above the shift handle near where an ashtry would be. He said that the tach was in the car when he bought it and wasn't sure if it's original from the factory. The car has no AC, manual drum brakes with no brake booster and has power steering. The car has never been repainted and the only body work was a couple of small patches welded in below the back window on both sides near where the window and trunk meet. The paint is faded, big time, and has tiny pimples/dimples on the roof. It's got a few dents but nothing major. The engine is a 401 out of , what he thinks is a 65 electra?, but otherwise has the original heads and carb. The tranny is the original numbers matching borg warner T-10 and the rear is the numbers matching posi unit with what I think is a 3.64 gear? Everything on this car works, all the lights, the radio, the interior lights, the horn, the tach, everything. It looks to me like a time capsule and that's why I want it so badly. I can't remember what the rims are. I just remember that they're 14 inch. I'll try to get more pics of the car and some more info. I hope that one day soon it will be mine. Any info that someone might have would be great but I'm not holding my breath. When I get it, I'll register it here in the registry. Until next time......Semper Fi

[nut465gs]

Jonesy,

I went through the "Archival Registry" records to see if I could find a similar GS. Much to my surprise, I found one that was registered when Anthony (Tony) was the keeper of the Registry. Unfortunately, there is not much information given at that time. I have the then owner's name, which I'll keep confidential and the city is Massapequa, NY.  Exterior color is Champagne Mist, top color is white and interior is Saddle. Mileage was not given. The only option stated is a factory 4-speed. I can not tell from the photo if the top is white vinyl or painted white, either were available in 1965. There was not a VIN or interior photo submitted. The condition is listed as 'good". Perhaps Tony might have any more information about this car.

It is not uncommon for the vinyl top to dry out and crack, leading to rust bubbles forming under the vinyl. A quick fix would be to remove the vinyl and paint the top instead. If not done properly, those bubbles can reappear. Maybe this is what you are seeing. Our '65 GSs are prone to rust out at the lower corners of the rear window. As to the tachometer, it was an option on automatics and 4-speeds. However, they are part of the console or consolette housing. It sound like your 4-speed did not come with the optional 4-speed consolette which would house the tachometer. A "kneeknocker" tach was available on other 60's Buicks models and from various years. This may be what was added to this GS at a later date. I can't say if this GS is the same GS submitted to the Registry probably in the 1980's. But both are from the northeast and both have a rare color combination and both are 4-speeds. Hmmmm???

John

[Jonesy]

Thanks John. I will see if I can get the VIN to try and make a match. As far as I know, the top is painted and was never vinyl. If in fact this is the same car, what is your position on attempting to put the previous owner in touch with others? Do you do this or not typically? Thanks for the info. I'll see if I can get the VIN in the next few days.

                                            Mike Jones

[nut465gs]

Mike,

I do not have the VIN of the GS in question. About ten years ago when I assumed the Registry records from Tony, I mailed a letter to all in the Registry for whom I had an address listed. I was requesting an update from them with their VIN and other data not previously given. As these records dated back to the late 70's, much of the contact information was and is outdated. Many letters were returned as undeliverable. Only about a third of those with current addresses responded. Many of those owners have since re-registered their GS on this Website. Thanks to Chris setting up this website, we have been able to reach out in a way that could not have been accomplished otherwise. I will investigate further with the last known contact information that I have for this GS. If I can locate him, I hope that he has the VIN, even if he sold it years ago. I'll report back with what I find out.

In answer to your question about getting old and new owners together, this is rarely requested.  My number one priority is to protect the confidentiality of personal information. This is still priority one with regards to the Registry information on this Website.

John

[Jonesy]

I understand and thank you John. I appreciate anything you might be able to pass along. In the meantime, I'll see about obtaining the VIN and most importantly, purchasing the car. Thank you. I'll try to see if the current owner has any knowledge as to previous ownership.


                                                                                     Mike Jones

[mdkd]

John

Is the Registry interested in 65 GS we have owned in the past and if so what information?

When we enter cars in the Registry do you want information as we purchased it and updated as we change / improve things or ???

mdkd

[nut465gs]

Hi Mike,

With a little help from Tony and some foot work, I was able to track down the owner of the Champagne Mist, 4-speed hardtop GS from the Archival Registry, registered in 1987. Bingo! The GS that you are considering purchasing and the one in the Archival Registry are one and the same. I spoke with the owner yesterday. He has been the owner since 1986 and is the same gentlemen that you are in negotiation with. Small world. He retired and moved from Long Island to Florida. He said that he will hold the GS for you until you get back from your tour of duty. Here's the photo from the Archives.

 A note to mdkd, you asked some pretty good questions. Their is no precedence to address your questions at this time. I will be conferring with Chris and other Administrators for their input. I will move your post to another General Discussion topic of it's own, and reply as soon as possible. Thanks for bringing up some good questions.

John Egel

[Jonesy]

Thank you John. So the current owner is the one who registered the vehicle. I don't remember whether or not I even asked him if he had entered the vehicle into the registry. Do you have any suggestions as to finding the original owner? Or those who may have owned the car in between? I'm trying to trace the car back as far as possible. If I am unable to, it will suffice to known that the current owner has had the vehicle as long as he has and has maintained it in virtually 100% original condition. Thanks for the leg work, it's greatly appreciated.

                                                            Mike Jones

[Jonesy]

Oh, I must say, that the current owner is a great source for most anything Buick and is a wonderful person to talk to and hang out with. I'm glad we met and hope we can continue to enjoy the local car shows together and anything Buick.  Semper Fi

[mdkd]

Mike

If you happen to be lucky enough to get the PROTECT-O-PLATE that was in the back of the BUICK OWNERS PROTECTION PLAN provided with the car when it was brand new it is a huge source of information.

I was lucky enough to get one with my lastest project.

The last owner I bought the car from had owned the car since 1982 so I'm off on a history hunt.

Good luck on yours.

mdkd

[Jonesy]

mdkd, I'll see if it's still with the car. Happy hunting......