Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does 'GS' mean?
A: The "GS" nametag as applied here refers to the Buick Skylark-based
model. Buick was a bit late coming into the GM A-Body performance market.
While Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac had their A-Body high performance
options in 1964, the Buick Skylark Gran Sport (GS) didn't appear until
the 1965 model year.
When GM lifted the 400 cid engine ban in 1965, Buick upped the ante with their 400 cid engine that technically displaced 401 cid. The GS engine pumped out 325 hp and 445 lb. ft. of torque and sold over 15,000 Skylarks with the Gran Sport option.
The car was renamed the "GS 400" in 1967 and became its own model instead of an option on the Skylark along with a new 400 engine that was different from the 'old' 401 cid 'nailhead' design. The 'California GS' was a new model for California dealers. This thin-pillared coupe came with the 340 cid/260 hp engine.
Mid-year 1968 saw the 'official' introduction of the California GS and sometimes referred to as a 1969 model. Designed for California motorists but advertised nationally. New for 1968 was their 350 cid with 280 hp.1969 was the last year for the California GS.
Q: Is my Buick GS real?
A: This can be tricky at best. To some, 'real' means the car has
the correct and original engine it was born with and can be matched
to some form of documentation. To some, it means if the documentation
says it was born with the GS option, it doesn't (relatively) matter
that the engine has been replaced for one reason or another; whether
by a dealer under warranty or an over-avid enthusiast 'back-in-the-day'
due to out of warranty breakage. Consider if the car has a warranty
engine with CE code engine, but has documentation that is original to
the car as noted by the VIN sequence and other information of the sheet
matching the trim tag.
In 1965 and 1966 model years the GS package was an option so those years require some type of paperwok to verify their GS status. The 1967 through 1970 model years teh GS was its own series. For the 1971 and 1972 model years the GS reverted to an option and require some documentation.
| YEAR | SERIES | DESCRIPTION |
| 1965 GS | 44427 | Sedan |
| 44437 | Hardtop | |
| 44467 | Convertible | |
| 1966 GS | 44607 | Sedan |
| 44617 | Hardtop | |
| 44667 | Convertible | |
| 1937 GS | 43407 | California 340 sedan |
| 43417 | 340 GS Hardtop | |
| 44607 | 400 Sedan | |
| 44617 | 400 Hardtop | |
| 44667 | 400 Convertible | |
| 1968-1969 GS | 43327 | California GS Sedan |
| 43467 | 350 Hardtop | |
| 44367 | 400 Hardtop | |
| 44337 | 400 Convertible | |
| 1970 GS | 43437 | 350 Hardtop |
| 44637 | 455 Hardtop | |
| 44667 | 355 Convertible | |
| 1971-1972 GS | 43437 | 350 or 455 Hardtop |
| 43467 | 350 or 455 Convertible |
As far as the GS Registry is concerned, correct and valid documentation is the primary objective in the registry, not current engine.
