1971 Buick GS Stage 1 Convertible 455 CI Engine in Cortez Gold on My Car Story with Lou Costabile

[@loucostabile]

Hi, If you like this video, please click on SUPER THANKS ❤ with the $ in the middle which is the SUPER THANKS button under the video. Thank you! Lou

[@larryb6715]

81 convertible Stage 1's in '71, damn that is rare. It sounds sounds great listening to it and watching on my big screen TV theater system. I like the Aztec gold better than Saturn yellow. Awesome car Dave.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Larry B, Happy to read this one on the "Big Screen" looks and sounds good :-) Lou

[@matthew-emerson-cadmer-7409]

1972 Buick GS 455. The Buick Gran Sport was a package that was available on some Buick models starting in the mid 1960s. The first car to be equipped with the Gran Sport package was the 1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport "Nailhead" V8 with hide-away headlights and a drastic change in appearance from the 1963-1964 Buick Riviera, which was one of the first cars to introduce the "Coke Bottle" styling (It was first introduced on the 1962 Studebaker Avanti, another iconic and revolutionary car that unfortunately, NEVER saw the light of day) seen on other cars such as the Pontiac GTO, Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Ford Mustang, Oldsmobile 442, Ford Torino, Mercury Cyclone, and more. The Gran Sport package featured Gran Sport badges on the exterior, an updated interior, and bigger engines. Models that specifically have the Gran Sport package as an optional include the Riviera and the Skylark (I don't know any other cars with the "Gran Sport" package according to my limited knowledge). The Gran Sport for the Riviera went from 1965 until 1976, with the most iconic years being 1966-1973. The 1971-1973 would be the second most known (Particularly because of its mixed reaction to its "Boat-Tail" styling and the fact that it had some issues, such as rainwater and smog getting into the car) while the 1966-1970 would be the most known (Most popular model years are 1966 to 1968, least popular are 1969-1970). The car in this video (1972 Buick GS) made around 190 hp due to the switch from SAE Gross to SAE Net the year this car was produced (1972). The 1970-1972 model years also had the "Gran Sport Xtreme" (GSX) package, which is a more upgraded version of the Gran Sport package with new paint jobs, even bigger engines, more stylish interior, and was more expensive/produced in low numbers.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Matthew, Thanks for sharing your knowledge and adding info to the Channel, Lou

[@bobsilver3983]

Now thats a very beautiful rare car!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Bob, Happy to read you appreciate the looks and rarity of this car :-) Lou

[@classicmusclecarexhaust1988]

Great video Lou! This one brings back some memories. My first real ride in a muscle car was in a '71 GS Stage 1 4-speed, Stratomist blue with white buckets. My friend's neighbor had it and he took us out for a wild ride on the Staten Island Expressway. My parents would have killed him if they'd have found out, but it was so much fun and that GS is burned into my memory. I was in the passenger seat and I still remember the brutal shift to second and the tires just letting go. The guy just looked at me and laughed when he did that. Riding home on my Schwinn Stingray all I did was try to (unsucessfully) do a burnout like the GS. That's what I love about your channel Lou, you feature so many cars that bring back so many good memories from my youth. Keep it going Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Tom & JudyAnn, Happy to read this one brings back good memories of your Friends ride :-) Lou

[@urideamabal]

Great rare Buick, when I saw the speaker in the back seat, I was confused....🤔 👍

[@loucostabile]

Hi Uri, Happy to read you appreciate the rarity of this Buick :-) Very common thing to do was add new rims and stereo system the second day you had your car. Lou

[@LITTLE1994]

Nice paint

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@peterevans3229]

What a stunning Buick GS 455 ... and SUPER healthy sounding! Thank you sir for another great production and happy Friday! Something for the coffee fund.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Peter, SUPER THANK YOU FOR THE SUPER THANKS! I appreciate your support and an FYI - purchased a new camera, so in about a month clarity and audio should improve....or at least I hope so :-) Lou

[@peterevans3229]

@@loucostabile Amazing ... yes - thinking that your productions would be really fab with a bit more clarity ...

[@tomnekuda3818]

When these Buicks came out they were very fast and guys on the street underrated the machines. The 455's had a ton of torque due to being put in the Buick land yachts. In the smaller body cars it really hauled the mail. I got surprised with my Roadrunner on the street. I thought that their styling was elegant.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Tom, Thanks for sharing, and sounds like the Road Runner was caught...at least not by Wiley Coyote :-) Lou

[@JeffKing310]

Very nice Buick - sounds great and love the colour. Thanks Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jeff, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) FYI - Purchased a new camera so very soon there should be better quality on the videos. Thank you for your support, it helps. You're welcome, Lou

[@ronaldflint4569]

One Sweet Buick

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@СергійШамін]

Чудове авто! Дякую!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Сергій Шамін, Happy to read you enjoy this "Great car" :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@patkane761]

I usually have something to say especially about Buicks and convertibles. Only one word this time WOW 💚 Thanks Lou 👍👍💚

[@loucostabile]

Hi Pat, Happy to receive a "WOW" from you :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@2509498788]

Wow... What a beautiful car..

[@loucostabile]

Hi Robert, Happy to receive a "Wow" from you :-) Lou

[@richarddevoe5871]

A friend has a 70 GSX in Apollo White w/ a 4-speed which would have to be my favorite car. Those Stage 1 engines were absolute MONSTERS ! Nice find Lou.. he’s got a rare beauty for sure !

[@loucostabile]

Hi Richard, Happy to read your Friend has a cool car. Like this one? Lou kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJi9e2N9i6mMqZo

[@RickMcCargar]

One of 81? Wow, that's a beautifully rare machine! Thanks for sharing it with us!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Rick, Happy to receive a "Wow" from you :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@TheGunfighter45acp]

I've always liked Buicks too, and this one is just amazing. All that styling, power, and top down motoring. It is no surprise Mr. Formota has kept it for all these years and I'd bet, many more to come, too. Thanks, Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Hi TheGunfighter45acp, Happy to read you enjoy this "amazing" Buick :-) My pleasure sharing this one with you. You're welcome, Lou

[@digidrum2003]

My dream car....and its a drop top!!!!

[@loucostabile]

Win / Win

[@billgerard23]

Another great video of one of my favorite cars. I bought a new 72 Skylark convertible when I was 21. I still own it today.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Bill, Happy to read "Another great video of one of my favorite cars" :-) Happy to read you still have your FUN car. Lou

[@TeamcarscraftTCC838]

Omg this car so beautiful cars I gonna buy this car after this

[@loucostabile]

High praise :-)

[@TeamcarscraftTCC838]

My age is under 14 years old I can drive car Buick GS

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

Awesome! Good for him, not being afraid to personalize it too, despite it being 1 of 81.

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read "Awesome!" :-)

[@jerryblake4088]

Beauty

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@Carlito-Fxwg]

Lou you always have the rarest and Coolest Cars, Thank you Sir.

[@loucostabile]

My pleasure sharing with you Carlito :-) You're welcome.

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

🙋‍♂️THANKS LOU,DAVE,FOR SHARING YOUR CAR 🤗🤩🤩👍 A glass rear window,and zip out is the best solution for a convertible 👍 And we love ❤️ the rear speaker 👍💚💚💚

[@loucostabile]

Hi Budget Audiophile Life-long, Happy to read " we love ❤️ the rear speaker" :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@geraldmellon740]

Stage one on the passenger dash looks so brilliant and what a sound. Great work Lou letting us see and hear these works of art.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Gerald, Happy to share this car with you :-) Lou

[@terrycarthy4433]

I liked that too, nice touch on one hell of a car ! Chrome amazing too.

[@JaimeSalcedoA_72]

¡Muy llamativo Buick GS Stage 1 Convertible de 1971 con ese color Dorado Cortez! Pero las franjas del capó y sus líneas negras, que recorren la carrocería, es lo que le dan el toque definitivo. Interesante anécdota, sobre que en la concesionaria les ponían estás rayas por unos 50 dólares adicionales de la época (unos 3500, en la actualidad). Muy bonito interior, con sus asientos e instrumentos bien distribuidos, junto a ese elegante logo "Stage 1" del panel. Por último, me gustó la posición de los dos tubos de escape cromados puestos en línea. ¡Felicitaciones, Lou, por traer al canal uno de estos escasos modelos Etapa Convertible construidos!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jaime, Happy to read the rare ones with you :-) Enjoy the details you notice, Lou

[@DOCTRJ]

Always loved these Buicks

[@loucostabile]

Nice :-)

[@johnbehneman1546]

GREAT VIDEO LOU!!!! SHE IS ONE BEAUTIFUL BUICK!!!! DETAILED TO THE MAX!!!! I LOVE EVERYTHING. GREAT VIDEO, GREAT STORY, GREAT MUSCLE CAR. THANKS FOR SHARING!!!

[@loucostabile]

Hi John, High praise :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@unclerudy9797]

Beautiful GS ! Great color too ! Thanks for posting Lou !

[@loucostabile]

Hi Rudy, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@brianaustin208]

Lou, once again you've brought us a pot of gold on wheels gorgeous '71 GS convertible the Pontiac inspired exhaust tips look right and the rear speaker looks factory very nice the only thing missing is the right amount of pedals

[@loucostabile]

Hi Brian, "Lou, once again you've brought us a pot of gold on wheels" NICE! Ahhh, those pedal....Lou

[@audieconrad8995]

Wow!...just wow. The iron fist in the velvet glove.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Audie, Happy to read "Wow!...just wow" :-) Lou

[@g-a-i-l-]

Hi Lou. Ours was a 68. Not souped up. Just loved the purrs and chugs of the motor cars. Lusten to that finely tuned engine.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Gail, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@bytoriasnowdoggy]

What a treat! Thanks so much Lou..🤠

[@loucostabile]

You're welcome Mark n Victoria Macham :-)

[@allenconway1362]

That is a beautiful automobile thanks Lou

[@loucostabile]

Hi Allen, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Thank you, Lou

[@oleandreasjensen5263]

Beautifu superrare musclel car. -I have had one of these, but miy convertible was a clone with all the GSX Stage 1 Options. - Thank you so much for sharing to the lucky owner, and thanks to you Lou for a new awesome video. - Peace and love is the only way - Best greetings from Norway

[@loucostabile]

Hi Ole Andreas, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@monterrianbrown3517]

Great video I’m restoring mines now I bought my 1971 gs convertible in 2005 it will be finished in September love the video

[@loucostabile]

Hi MoMoney3000, Happy to read you enjoy this video :-) Glad to read you have one too, Lou

[@johnhenrymcmahon6878]

EPIC, big bro Lou. To call Dad's Buick Awesome Sauce is an understatement, man. As you know....WOW. My floppy sneakers launched offa my tubesocked and yellow/gold ribbon stirruped (I am a JV baseball guy 4 life 🤪) stocking feet and just flew over Dad grinning there😇😜. What an amazing, All American beast that looks like she can run all day, and take no prisoners while she does so. Thanks for bringing me to these awesome car shows, big bro Lou. You and your work are really appreciated, man. 😀JV Johnny ⚾

[@loucostabile]

High praise JV Johnny :-) Happy to read this "All American beast that looks like she can run all day, and take no prisoners while she does so." with you :-) I appreciate you too, Lou

[@johnbehneman1546]

HAPPY MUSCLE CAR MONDAY!!!!

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@philipdrake6]

Hi Lou, that is some Buick, there are some great examples, of classic cars in the US, you are very lucky, great video.👍👍.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Philip, My pleasure sharing the cars with you, Lou

[@GetsumJ]

Most real gear heads from the muscle car era know what a mean SOB this car was at the time. It's always been overlooked in so many conversations and people always want to talk about the Cuda's. Camaros and Mustangs. The GS Stage 1 was the one car that would eat your lunch, and the only car I know that could lift the right front wheel off the line, right from the showroom floor. Very nice car.

[@loucostabile]

Hi GetsumJ, High praise :-) Thanks for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@TopCarsTV]

One more time... VROOOOOOM!!!! Lou: "Beautiful. You can put a baby to sleep on that" That one cracked me up 😂

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@rad87gn]

Beautiful car!!

[@loucostabile]

Hi rad87gn, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Lou

[@JohnGruber-di3cw]

I love those Skylarks and Skylark GSs.I never had any Skylarks or Skylark GSs only because they were mid sized cars and I preferred full sized cars but I know people that had them and they were tickled pink with them.They had a good combination of good performance and good gas mileage and handling. I'm sure they're Great cars!!! They're Buicks aren't they??

[@loucostabile]

Hi John, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@billmagorian490]

Lou another amazing find. That this beautiful car has been in the possession of the owner for 40 years is a story in itself. I wish you had pursued that in more detail. Two things about this car stood out. The amazingly taunt convertible top and the pristine engine bay. You seem to have a fetish for tags to the neglect of the cars bling. That engine bay popped. I had a number of questions I would have asked about it along with panning the engine bay sans the tags. You videoed the tach and mentioned it twice but no question if it was stock or an add on like the rear speaker. I appreciate you asking whether the rear window was glass or plastic. It seems he said glass but then he mentioned zip out window. Was it some after market glass zip out window. Lou keep finding these amazing cars and videoing them. I will continue to watch your program with a degree of trepidation.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Bill with a degree of trepidation. I'll keep screwing around :-) Lou

[@Iraqkingdom1921]

Nice color....

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you enjoy this "Nice color..." :-)

[@glenkepic3208]

Outstanding!!! We an '85 Camaro i loved. Read when the convertable showed up they added like 100 pounds of strength. I wonder what they may have done to a Stage 1. Prob nothing. Lock and load :)

[@loucostabile]

Hi Glen, Happy to read "Outstanding!!!" :-) Lou

[@ChrisSmith-nw7be]

a bit of trivia..Buick 455 motors were used as starter motors on SR-71 BLACKBIRDS...Massive TORQUE!!!!

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for sharing this trivia.

[@larryborkstrom3580]

Only 81made what a rare one in the shape its in with original paint

[@loucostabile]

Hi Larry, Happy to share this rare one with you :-) Lou

[@DOCTRJ]

Suttle upgrades are mint like stainless steel hardware in places

[@loucostabile]

Hi Live Live DOCTRJ91, Thanks for sharing what you notice, Lou

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

👍👍 Nice!!!!!

[@loucostabile]

Happy to see and read you like this one :-)

[@CIAVE]

Always loved the GS (2nd only to the 442), and this one is amazing. How cool is that custom dealer-installed paint stripe??? However, I don't understand why the original purchaser would order a Stage 1 without the gauge cluster and a floor shifter / console / bucket seats...

[@loucostabile]

Hi CIAVE, Happy to read "this one is amazing" :-) My pleasure sharing this one with you, Lou

[@Merylstreep1949]

With the added headers it's more like the dragstrip only Stage 2, which I believe was headers and different heads and hotter camshaft

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge.

[@fabieneldridge3414]

Man I love it ! Just the nicest GSX I’ve ever seen ! Beautiful 41 years!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Fabien, Happy to read "Man I love it !" :-) Lou

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

It's actually just "GS". The GSX was in 1970. There are some differences between the two.

[@musclecarfan74]

Nice rare car

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@ChrisSmith-nw7be]

PURE THUNDER!!!!...King of Muscle Cars in my opinion.....is she really GSX? ..or sporting GSX parts? Either way Magnificent !!!

[@loucostabile]

Happy to share the "King of Muscle Cars" with you :-)

[@scrappyjunk8793]

good color that cortez gold with the black and red high-light and yes i would rather have a buick growing up all the senoirs had one lol /////////////////////

[@loucostabile]

Hi Scrappy Junk, Happy to read you "would rather have a Buick" :-) Lou

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

I can't seem to find Jim Morrison singing that jingle on youtube. Just a lady singer comes up.

[@loucostabile]

Hmmm.

[@razvancalin6453]

Jim Morrison and Buick never had an agreement. The other three Doors sold the rights to the "Light My Fire" song to GM in 1968 (to use in a TV/radio commercial campaign) without Jim's permission. When he found out, he cancelled the deal, eventually threatening Buick to take a sledgehammer on one of their cars. It was a turning point for the band, with Jim Morrison losing trust in them.

[@onemoremisfit]

@@razvancalin6453 I thought it was Ford, maybe I misremember that detail of the story, but as I heard it Morrison was on one of his benders running around without staying in touch with his 3 bandmates or their management. Their manager contacted the 3 with the car company's offer to pay big money just for the rights to use Light My Fire in advertising. The 3 said heck yeah, we can use the money, and they thought Jim would agree. When Jim finally showed up and the 3 told him of the proposed deal, he got really upset because of artistic integrity etc. He didn't care about the money and was also very upset that the band assumed in his absence he would go for it. So that sunk the deal. There were lots of musical Buick radio and TV ads that I heard as a kid during the 1960s, singing that rhetorical question "wouldn't you really rather have a Buick", and they were all done in the traditional style with professional jingle singers as I recall. I don't think there was ever a version performed by any contemporary rock band of the day.

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Nice 🥰

[@loucostabile]

Hi Michael, Happy to read "Nice" :-) Lou

[@garymckee8857]

I like everything about this vehicle.

[@loucostabile]

High praise :-)

[@johnbehneman1546]

I LOVE MY HOT ROD FAMILY!!! SO MUCH FUN AND SO FAST.

[@loucostabile]

NICE !

[@jerryblake4088]

That engine sound, you know it's a big block😊😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jerry, NICE! Lou

[@DOCTRJ]

You dont need to reply to everybody now Lou theres too many of us now 👍😉

[@loucostabile]

Hi Live Live DOCTRJ91, I hope that becomes the case, however until that happens, I enjoy connecting with the people who view the Channel, Lou

[@davidtrupiano3374]

Stage 1 dash emblem??

[@loucostabile]

Hmmm, now where is that thing......

[@kc0lif]

i like all gs but convertible is something i wouldn't mind owning.

[@loucostabile]

Convertible in nice to have :-)

[@motorTranz]

"Wouldn't you really rather have a Buick?". ABSOLUTELY! 😍😍😍😍😍 Thanks Lou!

[@loucostabile]

NICE! You're welcome motorTranz :-)

[@joewearsadroolbib7347]

Imagine how cool that would be, if it had black interior. The baby shit brown interior is definitely a detractor!😮

[@loucostabile]

Hi Joe wears a drool Bib, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@thom5177]

Maybe there are cars from that Era that are as good but not better

[@loucostabile]

Hi Tom, High praise :-) Lou

[@JohnGruber-di3cw]

You can tell that man is a Buick man because he has everything that it needs( notice the wheels!) He ought to be very proud of that baby! From one Buick man to another VERY AWESOME!!! I❤❤❤ THAT RIV!!!

[@loucostabile]

Hi John, High praise :-) Lou

[@DOCTRJ]

Baad to the bone 🍗 🦴

[@loucostabile]

Hi Live Live DOCTRJ91, NICE! Lou

[@DK-455]

No offense Pops but you lessened the value with the modifications you had done . The shiny chrome on the dash is hideous

[@loucostabile]

Clearly this one is not for you :-( Hope you see many more cars on this KZbin Channel you'll enjoy :-) Lou

[@DK-455]

@@loucostabile . Thanks for the reply. I'm sure I will.

[@peterbenson3776]

Beauty

[@loucostabile]

Hi Peter, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Lou