Buick GS

The Grand Sport (GS) came into production in 1965, and the Buick GS and was manufactured until 2004. The GS was manufactured as an option to existing GM models, and with its superior fine tuning, became one of the most formidable muscle cars of its era.

In 1966, the Buick Skylark Sport was designed with even more power and a new styling concept. The 401 engine was reused during this year but Buick later provided a faster 340 bhp version. Although the GS had improved, 1966 was not a good sales year because of the higher price.

In 1967, the 401 engine was changed to the brand new 400 cubic inch engine, the GS 400. The new engine provided higher revving and included advanced air cleaner technology. This GS marked the introduction of a 3-speed automatic transmission, which was touted by Buick as performing better than 3 and 4 speed manuals. The appearance of this year's GS was also sleek and futuristic for the time. The hood scoops faced forward instead of backward like the older models but they remained non-functional. This is the same year the Junior GS was introduced and although it performed well, it was often overshadowed by the more powerful standard vehicle.

Research indicates that 1971 was the end of the muscle car era. Increasing government regulations, increasing insurance premiums, and increasing gasoline prices were all factors in the decreased interest in the Buick GS model. Although the GS name was still used, the lack of horsepower and the use of low-lead gasoline led to a drop in compression ratios and a reduced power ratings.

In essence, the GS was a high-performance package provided on a number of Buick models including the Riviera, Skylark, the Wildcat, and finally the Grand Sport which was named after the make. The GS was one of the muscle car era's defining automobiles.