1965 Buick Gran Sport

General Motors bowed to the performance tide in 1965, authorizing engines up to 400 cid in its intermediate cars. Buick seized the change as a chance to put some spark in the Skylark.

The division’s big-block V-8 actually displaced 401 cubic inches. Undeterred, Buick simply renamed it the “400”, slipped it into its mid-size model, and created the Gran Sport. Teamed with a heavy-duty radiator and dual-exhausts, the 401 carried the same 325-bhp rating as in Buick’s full-size models. (“Wildcat 445” on the air cleaner referred to the engine’s torque rating.) To Buick’s credit, the operation was more than just an engine transplant. Any Gran Sport–hardtop, pillared coupe, or convertible–got the convertible’s beefed-up frame for better rigidity, plus specially valved shocks and heavy-duty springs. Up front went a thick anti-roll bar. The rear suspension got added links to fight axle windup and differential twist. Braking was improved with enlarged front wheel cylinders.

1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sport

  • Wheelbase, in. 115.0
  • Weight, lbs. 3720
  • Production 15,780
  • Price (Approx) $3800
  • Displacement 401 cid
  • Compression ratio 10.25:1
  • Horsepower @ rpm 325 @ 4400
  • Torque @ rpm 445 @ 2800
  • Performance, 0-60 mph: 7.8 sec
  • 1/4 mile, sec @ mph 16.6 @ 86

Production Figures

Model 3 Speed 4 Speed Auto Total
2 Door Post 405 714 1,263 2,282
2 Door Hard Top 604 3,077 7,670 11,351
2 Door Convertible 123 598 1,426 2,147

With the standard three-speed manual, the Gran Sport package added $253 to the cost of a regular Skylark. It jumped to $420 with the four-speed manual, and $457 with Buick’s two-speed Super Turbine 300 automatic. Top available ratio was 3.73:1. All Gran Sports had to be ordered with bucket seats this year, a $72 “mandatory option.” Positraction should have been mandatory, too. As with other high powered intermediates, wheel spin off the line was a problem. But buyers were happy. This was a solid car with a smooth, responsive engine, good ride quality, and competent handling. Motor Trend remarked that its 12.3 mpg in city driving was “not bad at all.” Buick sold nearly 70,000 Skylarks and Gran Sports this first year, and no one seemed to mind that it was not an all-out muscle car.

In ’65 Buick introduced the Skylark Gran Sport in January of ’65 and was a mid year production car. Because of this, it does not have a serial number designation.

*Editor note – There has been a lot of confusion in this area so I’ll explain further. The Skylark and GS shared the same designation number. It was not until 1966 that the GS gained it’s very own designation on the VIN plate to set itself apart from the normal Skylark line.

There are a good number of differences from a Skylark to a GS. Of these is a GS had a heavier suspension. Most easy to notice is the front sway bar is larger diameter than it’s little brothers, the Skylark.

As for the engine, the GS had a special code.It is stamped into the block. Location is at the front top edge of the block directly behind the thermostat housing and before the valley pan. For ’65 it will read “LR” followed by the serial number. The “L” is 1965 model year. The “R” is the specific code for the correct “GS” engine.

We’ve also seen in some rare instances where “LT” codes have also been used. We have several documented cases of this in the GS registry. If you are in doubt, double check the serial number to that of the block number and if they match you’ve probably got a winner. No 65 GS models came with small blocks, therefore all 65 GS were equipped with big block 401 motors.

Codes for other models of 401’s is “LT” as used in Riviera, Wildcat and Electra. There is also the “LX” code 425 with two four barrel setup. Used in the Wildcat, Electra and the Riviera GS.

All ’65 GS’s had bucket seats. No ifs, ands, or buts about it . The “GS” A9 option came with the bucket seats only and there was an upcharge cost. Located on the firewall is the cowl tag. On the other side of that is the “TR” trim code. 154 is for white bucket seats, 157 is for red bucket seats, 158 is for black bucket seats and 159 is for saddle color buckets.

Differences between a Skylark and a GS are:

  • GS had a different frame. All GS models [body styles] had a fully boxed frame with a heavier rear cross member.

  • All GS had a special rear end. The gear set was a specially treated metal and the outer axle bearings were of greater diameter.

  • The front sway bar is larger diameter.

  • The coil springs are a heavier rate.

  • The front wheel cylinders are 1 1/8” vs 1 1/16 on the Skylarks and Specials.

  • The engine mounts and cast iron adapter plates are ’65 and ’66 GS only.

  • The exhaust is 2 1/4 ” and the exhaust manifolds are GS only (they are cast iron).

  • Automatics ALL had a center console with floor shift. There were never any column shift ’65 GS’s.

  • All ’65 &’66 GS’s had a deluxe steering wheel. This is also used in a ’65 Skylark and optional in a Special with deluxe trim.

  • The battery tray should be on the drivers side because the starter on the motor is on that side. The small block & six cylinder cars have the opposite setup.

  • The fenders should have the GS porthole emblems (portivents) “Yes there is a difference between the Special and Skylark fender emblems!”.

  • Look on the backside of the fenders if possible and check if the rectangles look factory cut as the emblems set inside the fenders as normal Skylark emblems are simple bolted on with studs.

  • There should be no side moldings nor evidence of holes or clips that held on the moldings down the doors and quarters. Many times aftermarket side trim was added, but from the factory, the GS only had port hole emblems, name plates and rocker moldings (sometimes also optional wheel moldings).

** Note that all of the options above are simply reference points to how the 1965 GS came from the factory based upon the information we have from factory documentation. Other variations or options might exist and we’d like to learn about them. Many GS’s have been repaired over the years with parts that may or may not be GS specific. Always do your research and base your decision upon the net of your results.

Regular Equipment for 1965

  • Heater and Defroster*
  • Re-usable Air Cleaner Element
  • Electric Windshield Wipers
  • Directional Signals
  • Dual Sun Shades
  • Custom Padded Seats
  • Ash Tray Front and Rear
  • Cigar Lighter
  • Instrument Panel Courtesy Light
  • Instrument Panel Safety Padding
  • Paddle-type Arm Rests
  • Rear Passenger Compartment Courtesy Lights (Convertible Only)
  • Ash Tray and Glove Compartment Lights
  • Carpet – Floor, Door and Cowl Area
  • Dual-Key Locking System
  • Plunger Type Door Locks
  • StepOn Parking Brake
  • Front Seat Belts*
  • 3 – Speed Synchromesh Transmission
  • DeLuxe Steering Wheel
  • Magic-Mirror Finish
  • Bright Exterior Mouldings
  • Skylark Wheel Covers
  • Dual Horns
  • 6,000 Mile Lubed Front Suspension
  • Self-adjusting Brakes
  • Delcotron Generator
  • 14-inch Wheels
  • Power – Operated Top
  • Full Flow Oil Filter

** A delete option at reduced cost

Documentation

The following files are factory documentation for the 1965 Buick Gran Sport. The files are in PDF format and are extremely large, so be patient while they download.

Misc

Steve Shuman

The Steven Shuman story as told by his loving wife Sandy.

Steve Shuman started the 1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sport Directory in 1977, but his passion for cars, and the 1965 1/2 Buick Gran Sport, began years earlier. Steve was in 6th grade when his mother asked him to choose the next family car from a Buick Brochure. He picked a red 1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sport; he wanted a convertible, not a hardtop.

After his mother passed away in 1972, Steve inherited the car. He began researching the GS and discovered it was introduced on December 29, 1965 and was a limited production. His car now had 95,000 miles on it. Everything was original, except tires, minor painting, exhaust extender, which he liked, and the top radiator hose that needed to be replaced and was hard to find. A friend noticed Steve’s interest in cars and encouraged him to join the Columbia Chapter Antique Automobile Club of America in 1974 and he did. Two years later Steve was elected president.

In May 1977 Steve entered his first local car show and walked away with a second place trophy. He joined the Buick Club of America and entered the National Meet in Cleveland, OH. Two weeks before the meet, Steve pulled the engine in his GS. A few hundred dollars, 30 man hours, and one pint of GM engine paint later, Steve hoped he’d made his mother’s car a showpiece. He got the engine back in the car, and the next night won second place in his class at the National meet. Steve was hooked on the 1965 1/2 Buick Skylark Gran Sport.

Steve continued to learn about the GS. He’d met a GS owner at the National Meet and decided to contact the other GS owners. By 1978 he located 12 more people in the United States that owned a 1965 GS. Advertising in Hemmings, The Buick Club of America, and the Antique Automobile Club of America, Steve requested 1965 GS owners to contact him if they wanted to be part of the directory. He also contacted Buick Motor Division and General Motors Corporation to get as much information as possible about the GS. He wanted to know how many Skylark Gran Sports were produced, how many different models were made, operation and performance options and interior and exterior colors. He passed along the information to other GS owners, which led to more GS owners contacting him and so the directory came into existence.

Hopefully it has helped people locate parts, restore their Gran Sports and enjoy them as much as Steve did. I am so glad that GS lovers are keeping the directory alive. I know Steve would have wanted it. Thanks to Anthony Gatta for taking over the directory after Steve passed away and to John Egel for keeping it going and good luck to Chris Horn bringing this directory into the internet age.

Sandy Shuman