Buickin the sixties was one of the last marques to enter the muscle cable car sweepstakes . But patience is a virtue , it ’s been said . When the " old man’scar " finally did flex its muscles , it turned out that there were plenty of them to show off .
By " muscle car , " we mean the classic conception of the type : an intermediate - grade car with a powerfulengineand other performance - enhance appurtenance . In Buick ’s hands , this meant the Skylark - based Gran Sport . The whole movement had been presaged a few year in the beginning by a stack of full - size specials with bragging mills and custom trim .
Buick accede this raw market segment in 1962 with the Wildcat . Then came a major turn dot in 1964.Pontiacsnuck a big - car railway locomotive into its mid - size Tempest and created the GTO . Its popularity was nearly instant and just as quickly , the " Goat " had imitators .
That same year , Oldsmobile responded with the 4 - 4 - 2 , while those who favor a spicy small - block engine under the hood could opt for the newChevrolet Chevelle MalibuSuper Sport orMercuryComet Cyclone .
Meanwhile , at the outer limit of performance , there were marginally street - legal dragstrip specials : stratagem with a new - generation " Hemi " engine and a few Fairlane Thunderbolts withFord’s427 - cid V-8 . If Buick was move to jump aboard this Modern bandwagon , in which of these grade would its entry be ?
The problem for Buick was made more pesky by General Motors ’s insistence on a maximum of 400 cid for its A - body intermediate . " Tom Murphy was [ General Motors ] chairman at the time and he had a band of ethics , " said Cliff Studaker , head of Buick powertrain engineering at the time . " He did n’t need to be cognize as a power freak , as promoting hurrying . "
There was a 300 - cid V-8 usable for Buick intermediates , but it was far too meek for a muscleman car . The next step up was a 401 - cid railway locomotive , the 325 - bhp " Wildcat 445 " V-8 , but , according to the edict , that was too with child .
Buick answered the problem elegantly ; the division renamed the 401 a 400 , stuff it into an A - trunk Skylark , and create the Buick Gran Sport , which get as an option package part way through the 1965 model class .
" When design on the Gran Sport was under way , we get it on we had a 400 - cubic - inch railway locomotive in design , but it never would have been ready by 1965 , " say Nelson Kunz , who worked in Buick engine development for 46 eld . " Pontiac had a [ 389 ] for their car , but the corporate rule said not more than 400 . When Pontiac find out we were put in a 401 , they kick to direction . The bosses state , ' This is ridiculous . Let ’s leave office talking about it . ' It was closer to 401 than 400 , but it was under 401 . "
For more on the Buick Gran Sport engine , continue on to the next page .
For more information on car , see :
1965 Buick Gran Sport Design
stuff the big V-8engineinto the Skylark was a challenge in the 1965BuickGran Sport design for a identification number of reasons . concord to Dennis Manner , who was in burster of Buick engines at the time , " We had to make changes . " Specifically , the exhaust system manifold had to be rerouted around the Skylark ’s frame .
" The spacing under the cowling was cramped because of the breadth of the locomotive engine , " Manner tally . " We made the manifold paper longer and give way it a different constellation . There was special shielding for the starter because of the heat , and the add-on drive with the options was changed . The throttle linkage was specific to the fomite and there was a specific air cleaner . "
In the Gran Sport , the Wildcat engine had a single four - barrelful Carter AFB carburetor and 10.25:1 compression ratio . A monger - installed dual four - barrel apparatus was useable . With it , horsepowerrose to 338 and torque also blend in up to a whopping 465 Sudanese pound - human foot .
The Gran Sport engine also used a dissimilar oil sump and genus Pan . " Buick had different sumps and pans because of the different physique they produced , " said Manner . " There was no significant power change " with the modifications , he added . " There was a magnanimous problem keeping the rearward wheels on the pavement . " After all , the standard railway locomotive in the 1965 Skylark was a 225 - Criminal Investigation Command V-6 that pumped out a sedate 155 gymnastic horse . The Wildcat V-8 bid more than double that king rating .
bid the " nailhead " by hot rodders because of its comparatively small valve , the Wildcat 445 V-8 was fall from the division ’s first ohv V-8 of 1953 . It was a estimable railway locomotive for Buick . It was comparatively light and offer lots of torque – 445 pound - feet , which is where the numeric part of its name came from . What the Gran Sport locomotive engine give up to the GTO powerplant in terms of horsepower it made up for in torsion .
" The fumes valve was smaller than normal for that engine , " added Kunz . " It was too small . But we kept it open longer . We used intersection with the Cam River . If a valve ’s a little small , you just start [ opening it ] a little early and hold it undecided longer . The inlet valve was close-fitting to normal size . "
" Buickcarswere typically heavy because of their high option contentedness , " said Manner . " We concentrated more on torque than horsepower because of the heavy weight . It did n’t help withNASCAR , but on road and freeway ramp it was great . Torque is what move the car . It had a lot of torque for a relatively light engine . "
For more on the 1965 Buick Gran Sport , continue on to the next pageboy .
1965 Buick Gran Sport
put the 1965BuickGran Sport ’s power to the route was the received mix of transmissions available at the time : three- and four - speedmanuals , and a " Super Turbine Drive " two - speedautomatic .
Out of 15,780 Gran Sports produce the first year , the three - speed was , clearly , the least pop with only 1,132 made . The four - amphetamine was second in popularity with 4,289 , while the automatic was the surprising overwhelming favorite with 10,359 ordered .
The only concession to the extra power was that the Gran Sports were built on theconvertible’ssturdier frame . Thesuspensionwas also modify with a fertile antiroll bar in front and a command weapon suspension in the rear to bound axle hop and side - to - side movement . Finishing up the package were special bushings , spring , brakes , and wheel .
square - rail line public presentation was the end , though , and the Skylark Gran Sport offered that in spades . A Gran Sport push by a capable number one wood could attain 60 miles per hour from a standing offset in 6.8 seconds and cover the quarter mile in 14.9 seconds at a top speed of 95 mph . Even with the automatonlike , 0 - 60 times were in the mid - seven - second range . machine Lifetook 7.4 seconds in the 0 - 60 run , whileMotor Trendtook 7.8 arcsecond .
" In typical Buick manner , " save Marty Schorr inGNX Buick,“the Skylark GS was more button-down in appearance than the GTO and did not benefit from extended execution and dress - up option lists . However , the Skylark offered comparable handling and performance qualities which the GTO owners name , much to their disheartenment . "
Badging help key out the Gran Sport from other Skylarks . cerise " Gran Sport " badges adorned the rear deck and grille , as well as the ceiling sail panels of two - door hardtop and set - post " lean - pillar " coupe , or the rearward wing of convertible security . There was even a " Gran Sport " badge on the sprint .
The Skylark Gran Sport package , which cost around $ 250 , also had bucketful seats ( a $ 70 " required alternative " ) for its driver and front rider , and a bench in the rear . The shifter was on the floor , no matter which transmitting was installed . Among the options were a tachometer , air conditioning , and 14 - inch versions of Buick ’s five - vane " Wildcat " sport wheels . In that less safety - conscious era , theseat beltscould be edit for credit .
Buick advertised the Skylark Gran Sport as " A Howitzer With Windshield Wipers . " One ad read " You do n’t tuck a Wildcat V-8 into just any cage . "
Another said " Some multitude might consider a whacking big 400 - cubic inch , 325 - hp Wildcat V-8 alone is deserving the monetary value of accession to a Skylark Gran Sport . Not us Buick People . We had to go and lock that locomotive engine to a big - obligation pause , a level - shift 3 - speeding that ’s synchronise in all forward-moving gear , and the kind of guidance and do by that ’ll make you want to leave home at the first hint of an open route . "
The hardtop garnered the most order with 11,351 produced . The coupe was next with a mere 2,282 produced , followed by the convertible with 2,147 produced .
To trace the changes introduced for the 1966 Buick Gran Sport , go along on to the next page .
1966 Buick Gran Sport
The next yr proved to be a modulation year for the 1966BuickGran Sport . The biggest changes add up in styling . The 1966 Gran Sport see more like a performancecarafter Buick designers had a chance to fiddle with the merchandise .
For one thing , the hood ornamentation was gone because muscle cars did n’t have hood ornaments . But muscle car did have hood goop ; the Gran Sport got a pair , albeit fake . There was a blacked - out grille , and the full - width tail lamp of 1965 were replaced by a pitch-black - matte finish rearward cove dialog box and rectangular outboard taillamps .
The heterosexual person - through fender melody was replaced for 1966 by a " kick - up " in the rearward quarter dialog box ; roofs on close down gondola took on a routine of a side and featured a backlight sunk between prospicient sail panels . Front bucket buns were no longer required – a front bench arse with a folding center armrest was standard .
On the other hand , material body andsuspensionconstruction were fundamentally the same . Tires continued at 7.75 × 14 , but now in a choice of whitewall or ruby-red - argument styles . The 325 - bhp , 401 - cid Wildcat V-8 was continued , but an optional 340 - horse unmarried four - barrel interpretation was advertised .
Base prices for the 1966 Gran Sport ranged from $ 2,956 to $ 3,167 . full production send away to 13,816 , with the hardtop again taking the lion ’s part of production with 9,934 instance . Buick get 2,047convertiblesand 1,835 coupes . As in 1965 , G buyers flocked to automatic transmission - equip cars .
Buick cease itsenginecharade in 1967 with a stigma novel 400 - cid powerplant designed by Denny Manner under Cliff Studaker ’s direction . " We all ferment together , " Studaker said modestly , but he had been promoted to executive engineer in charge of all railway locomotive , so the new mill was his child .
Actually , two fresh engines were built for the 1967 example year ; the 400 - cubic - incher and a 430 . " We made the 400 specifically for the purpose of putting it in a Gran Sport , " Studaker said .
According to Studaker , the 400 was an underbored 430 - cid Wildcat V-8 . Even with the smaller eager ( 4.04 inches versus 4.19 ) , the engine was over - square " by far , " he said . The 430 developed 360 bhp at 5,000 rpm and 475 pound - pes of torque at 3,200 rev , while the 400 put out 340 bhp at 5,000 revolutions per minute and 440 pound - feet at 3,200 revolutions per minute . Both used undivided four - barrel carburetor and a 10.25:1 compaction proportion .
" When we design the 400 to replace the 401 , not a part was interchangeable , " said Manner . " The distributer was in the front , not the tail end . It drove the petroleum ticker up front . The oil pump was in the rear in the 401 . The cylinder discharge order was different . "
For more on the new engine and on the 1967 Buick Gran Sport , see the next page .
1967 Buick Gran Sport
The 1967BuickGran Sportenginehad bigger multiplex offshoot , larger valves , and improved fumes headers that assured minimumgasflow restriction . Intake valves were 18 pct larger than in 1966 and the exhaust valves were 56 per centum larger . There give out the quondam " nailhead . "
Other foundation include water jackets in the piston chamber psyche that were stockpile around thespark plughole . In addition , conical spark plug seats eliminated the pauperism for stopper washers .
" There were a couple of authoritative reason for the change , " write Larry Gustin and Terry Dunham inThe Buick : A Complete chronicle . “The first was breathe flexibility . The early engine featured vertical valve with a pent roof combustion sleeping accommodation , necessitate a valve motivate mechanism in which the pushrods passed through knob drilled in the cylinder heads bilk the valve guidebook with the cradle munition and doubling back to actuate the valve . Valve and port sizes were limited in this arrangement .
" In the new engine there was a vaulted bedchamber ( Buick engineer called it a ' slanted saucer ' ) design by [ engineer Joseph ] Turlay before his retreat , with conventional rocker arms and pushrod placement , and a 15 - stage slant between valve and piston chamber axis vertebra . …
" Since the industry trend seemed to be away from the classic torpedo chamber , this was a surprise as well . But the domed bedchamber with small quench sphere had a pregnant feature and represent the second important reason for the modification . It gas considerably less surface area in coitus to displacement volume than the conventional wedge shape . While this did not come down octane requirement , it did leave in higher efficiency ( power and fuel thriftiness ) and less emission of hydrocarbons . "
But there were more changes than in the engine section alone . For one , the Gran Sport was n’t a Skylark any more . As Popular Mechanics put it , " Probably feeling the ' Skylark ' tag might be too much for the birds , Buick folks ' formally divorced ' what is now the GS-400 from the Skylark series . They ’re belike right – a ruddy youngmalewould much prefer a masculine GS-400 to a delicately - feathered hiss . "
Instead of buffer skirt , which were useable on the Skylark , the GS had open rear wheel housings that showed off its F70 x 14 wide - ellipse red- or white - streak tires . General styling was lead entire , but the radiator grille adopted a thicker horizontal bar bisect by a secure upright spine . Taillights were enlarged a bit , too . Carsequipped with optional frontdisc brakesalso required special wheels , hubcap , and beauty rings .
Gustin and Dunham added that Buick ’s brake were accredit as the good in the industry ( though some journalists who tested 1965 and 1966 Gran Sports were decisive of their all - drumfish brakes ) , and they were made even better for 1967 : " Front power disk were optional on most models , aluminium brake drums were extended to GS-400 and Sport - wagon , and on the larger auto the system - was meliorate through the use of a larger power booster station , better facing and a doubling of the number of quintuplet in the brake drum . "
compare to its 1965 Gran Sport trial railcar , Car Lifefound that not only was a 1967 GS-400 faster to 60 mph ( 6.6 second ) and in the quarter mi ( 14.7 seconds ) , but with front disc brake , its deceleration pace from 80 mph was considerably quicker and virtually without fade .
The GS-400 also now had a junior cooperator . As one Buick ad put it , " Our now - famous GS-400 … does n’t come for peanuts . It ’s a capital cable car – but just a little rich for some masses . So we set to mold and designed the Buick GS-340 . It has a smaller locomotive engine ( but it weighs a lot less ) . Its interior is n’t quite as sumptuous ( but it ’s clean and simple and tasteful ) . It has its own exterior key : a wide rally stripe , and contrasting hood scoop shovel . And its own embellishment and the full accompaniment of GM safety feature . We ended up with a car that does indeed cost less than the GS-400 . But one with its own brand of excitement . "
Not that the GS-340 was a whole mint trashy than the GS-400 . The two - room access hardtop GS-340 ( the only fashion available ) had a starting damage of $ 2,845 , only $ 174 less than the GS-400 hardtop and just $ 111 less than the GS-400 coupe .
The lowly price bought a GS-340 customer a car that looked like a GS-400 , even if it did n’t quite have the guts . Underhood was a 260 - bhp , 340 - cid V-8 with a 10.25:1 compression ratio . Torque was rated at 365 pound - foot at 2,800 revolutions per minute . The locomotive breathed through a four - barrelful carburettor . A four - speed transmission was available for an supernumerary $ 184 . If the emptor choose for bucket seats and an robotic transmission , a full - duration cabinet could be fitted .
To put the mogul to the road , specific front and rear shock were offer , with special springs and a large diameter stabilizer bar . tyre were 7.75 rayon cords on 14 - column inch rally - manner wheel .
The GS-340 was available in only two colors : ashen or atomic number 78 mist ( flatware ) . Both don red exchange stripes and toughie scoop shovel , as well as a ruby-red scummy - pack of cards border .
Total G production pushed up to 17,505 , help by 3692 of the raw GS-340s . The top seller was the GS-400 hardtop with 10,659 examples create . ( On the West Coast , a California GS ornamentation package could be dictate for pillared coupes , the predecessor to a pseudo - sporty car that would be sold nationally beginning in 1968 . )
The most popular package was the GS-400 hardtop coupe with the automatic transmission – 8,006 were produced . Least popular was the GS-400 transformable with a three - speedmanual ; only nine were made .
After these first three year of feel its mode around the muscularity - machine arena , Buick finally figured out what to do . In subsequent years , Stage I and stagecoach II versions that still hold stock dragstrip record made the thou well hump to performance raw sienna . But no matter what the yr of a Gran Sport , it always nonplus its number one wood to the coating line of reasoning well and in style .
