There’s something great about specifying the car you want to buy. Power windows? Check the box. Air conditioning? Available – and no engine restrictions. And what about the color? Looking for something like the color on grandpa’s ’53 Olds Fiesta? It can be done via special order and some wampum. Our Pick of the Day was originally ordered by such a discerning customer, though there’s other fine equipment that already makes this example a standout. This 1968 Buick GS 400 convertible is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Elkhart, Indiana.
Like all A-bodies, the 1968 Buick Special was redesigned. Unlike other GM brands, Buick designed the Special to look like a junior full-sizer, leading Motor Trend to suggest that “of all the supercars, the GS 400 will probably be the one most likely to appeal to the older, middle-age owner who wants power and performance without flaunting the fact too much.” Today, Buick fans say 1968-69 Gran Sports are the figureheads of “Stepchild Nation,” the red-headed stepchildren of muscle cars because of how they lean into luxury. “The GS 400 could be classified as the middle-class businessman’s car. Its smooth lines and emphasis on comfort give that impression.”
Buick’s powerplant had already been established the year before. For 1967, the 401 “Nailhead” was replaced by a clean-sheet V8 measuring 400ci and putting out 340 horsepower. It was competitive with all other similarly sized engines, though Buick gave the carry-over 1968 version an edge with dealer-installed Stage 1 and Stage 2 packages, the latter more of an off-road package for the racetrack. Torque—long a Buick trademark—was a generous 440 @ 3200 rpm, which completely dwarfed the ever-popular Chevrolet 396 at 415. Motor Trend was impressed by how it drove, proclaiming that the GS 400 handled beautifully despite coil springs all around. “GS 400 handles beautifully on freeway or through corners with only mild understeer.” It added, “With … judicious throttle use, the Buick will drift precisely through most turns. It goes through curves flat and level without any unnecessary roll or pitching one might associate with a Buick.”
Like most muscle cars, the GS 400 came standard with a three-speed on the floor. Optional was a four-speed manual or a TH400 automatic, which would be on the floor when the optional console was ordered. Note that neither of the sticks were available with the console, but they were available with a consolette, something unique in the segment.
This 1968 Buick GS 400 convertible stands tall as possibly the beacon of Stepchild Nation based on its option list. Let’s start by saying that it’s a convertible, one of 2,454 built. Of those, only 351 were built with the four-speed. Other notable features include air conditioning, power windows, power driver’s seat, tachometer, Rally steering wheel, and Super Sport chrome wheels—all items that could move this to the top of 1968 Gran Sport desirability. What puts this one over the top is the special-order color. No indication is given as to what it is, but it looks like several bright oranges that were trickling onto the consciousness at the time (as evidenced by the introduction of Pontiac’s Carnival Orange, Mercury’s Calypso Coral, and a handful of 1968 Plymouths special-ordered in a tangerine hue by a dealer in California). It actually gives this Stepchild a bit of youthful appeal for a design that didn’t offer much of that.
A drop-top with several power accessories, a four-speed, and a bright paint job sounds like just the ticket. But that ticket also includes membership in Stepchild Nation. Are you ready to join for $65,250?
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
