Latest news with #Buick
San Francisco Chronicle
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Review: Kendrick Lamar and SZA deliver a West Coast spectacle at Oracle Park
Surveying a sea of 40,000 people gathered at Oracle Park, rap bellwether Kendrick Lamar felt right at home. 'We're back on the West Coast, my home,' Lamar proclaimed. 'We came to the bay to turn this motherf—er all the way up.' By the end of the nearly three-hour show on Thursday, May 29, he and his tour mates SZA and DJ Mustard made good on the proclamation through a multisensory concert that demonstrated the power of Black creativity, perseverance, beauty and love through art, choreography, music and message. Like the Pacific Ocean that served as a natural backdrop, it was an evening of contrasts that came in waves, at times churning and relentless, and other times peaceful and restorative. A vintage Buick Grand National car served as a symbol of West Coast car culture that would anchor the show. DJ Mustard warmed up a crowd with a fun set that mixed regional rap bangers with Bay Area classics by E-40, Mac Dre and Too Short. He even dropped 2010s-era pop like 'Party in the U.S.A.' and 'We Are Young,' which were met with lusty sing-alongs. Lamar and SZA split their stage time into separate and collaborative mini sets. The tag-team format allowed for a musical and aesthetic reset where Lamar's prowling alpha would give way to SZA's divine feminine omega and vice versa. It was a sumptuous 10-course meal that, with their deep pantry of hits, whetted the appetite for what came next. When the two joined forces on duets '30 for 30,' 'Doves in the Wind,' they evoked the soulful intimate chemistry of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell for this generation. During their collaborative hit 'All the Stars' from the 'Black Panther' soundtrack, phone lights radiated around the stadium, a spontaneous moment that combined with the audience singing along raised goose bumps. SZA's set was visually and emotionally compelling, with her exploration and embodiment of the Black female experience through a metaphor of Mother Earth. During 'Garden (Say It Like Dat),' SZA traded in the Buick ride for a giant ant. Dancers dressed as praying mantises clicked across the stage like Cirque du SZA. For 'Kill Bill,' she executed (heh) the hit while footage of a mantis mating ritual where the female devours the male played on the big screen. If SZA's goal was to shake the 'just an R&B singer' tag, she accomplished that. She showed her vocal versatility and command of hard rock, indie folk and pop. On 'F2F,' she was accompanied by a guitarist and bassist to head bang and shred alongside her. 'Scorsese Baby Daddy' gave off 'Til Tuesday vibes. A metamorphosis took place, literally, when she strapped on butterfly wings to perform the folk-inflected 'Nobody Gets Me.' Given the state of the world, where atrocities and outrage keeps building, Lamar's sets served as a much-needed release valve. Energy levels spiked during songs like 'Alright' and 'DNA,' which took on fresh meanings in the current political climate. So many rappers have diluted the art of MCing by letting a prerecorded vocal track do the heavy lifting in a live setting. Not in Lamar's case, whose genuine voice boomed out the speaker for the entire show. 'Dodger Blue' combined pinpoint choreography in a setting that, to this reviewer, reframed 'The Last Supper' as a Compton high school cafeteria table. Lamar glided across it and rapped while seated dancers performed mesmerizing handwork. Songs from Lamar's 2012 breakout 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City' were given makeovers. 'M.A.A.D City' was remade into a quiet storm track complete with Anita Baker 'Sweet Love' backdrop. 'Poetic Justice' was accentuated with hard snares and was conspicuously missing the Drake verse. So let's talk about Drake, the Canadian elephant not in the room. Between songs, deposition-style videos played on the big screen of Lamar and SZA in the hot seat, enduring a battery of questions from a hidden interrogator. The prosecution's identity wasn't revealed, but fans knew. When the lawyer asked if allusions to violence in his songs should be taken as a threat, Lamar shot back, 'Whatever you want to take it.' While Lamar, SZA and DJ Mustard were on the marquee, Drake's aura hung in the stadium air like a pretty piñata waiting to get crushed. The most bloodthirsty pops of the night came during Lamar's performances of feud tracks 'Euphoria' and 'Not Like Us,' the latter which morphed from a Drake exposé to a West Coast anthem to a worldwide dance challenge. At Oracle, fans extended the 'A minorrrrr' line into next week, letting the candies rain. Though they shared the spotlight, Lamar and SZA traveled distinct pathways across 53 songs. After putting the show to bed with the calming 'Luther' and 'Gloria,' from Lamar's latest album 'GNX,' the duo climbed into the Buick and disappeared under Oracle Park, on to the next episode. Act I: Kendrick Lamar Act II: SZA '30 for 30' (with Kendrick Lamar) 'What Do I Do' 'Love Galore' 'Broken Clocks' 'The Weekend' Act III: Kendrick Lamar 'Euphoria' 'Hey Now' 'Reincarnated' 'Humble' 'Backseat Freestyle' 'Family Ties' 'Swimming Pools (Drank)' (shortened, a cappella) 'M.A.A.D City' (shortened) 'Alright' 'Man at the Garden' Act IV: SZA 'Scorsese Baby Daddy' 'F2F' 'Garden (Say It Like Dat)' 'Kitchen' 'Blind' 'Consideration' (Rihanna cover) 'Low' Act V: Kendrick Lamar & SZA 'Doves in the Wind' 'All the Stars' 'Love' Act VI: Kendrick Lamar 'Dodger Blue' 'Peekaboo' 'Like That' 'DNA' 'Good Credit' 'Count Me Out'/'Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe' 'Money Trees' 'Poetic Justice' Act VII: SZA 'I Hate U' 'Shirt' 'Kill Bill' 'Snooze' 'Crybaby' 'Nobody Gets Me' 'Good Days' 'Rich Baby Daddy' 'BMF' 'Kiss Me More' Act VIII: Kendrick Lamar 'N95' 'TV Off' (Part II) 'Not Like Us' Act IX: Kendrick Lamar & SZA 'Luther' 'Gloria' Todd Inoue is a freelance writer.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Aniah's law holds man accused of abducting pregnant girlfriend; she jumped from car to escape
OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) – A Georgia man accused of abducting and threatening to kill his pregnant girlfriend is now behind bars in the Lee County Detention Center—held without bond after District Judge Steven Speakman ruled the defendant poses a serious threat to the public and his victim. The alleged incident happened in 2024, but he was just extradited from Georgia this week after resolving other charges. Eric Shorter, 28, is charged with first-degree kidnapping for a March 2024 incident which allegedly triggered a multi-county, two-state manhunt. The woman, who was six weeks pregnant with Shorter's child at the time, told investigators she feared for her life as Shorter allegedly pointed a gun at her and threatened to kill her during a terrifying drive which only ended when she jumped from a moving car to escape sustaining serious injuries. Investigators say the ordeal began earlier on March 16, 2024, when the couple got into an argument at Seohan Automotive, located at Innovation Drive in Auburn. During the dispute, Shorter allegedly broke the ignition in the woman's vehicle. Auburn Police responded, but no arrests were made. Later that night, around 10:30 p.m., investigators say the woman was trying to repair her car outside a residence in Opelika when Shorter returned. She says he was armed with a handgun and forced her into his dark-colored Buick. According to her statement, Shorter said, 'This is it. I'm going to kill you.' She told investigators she begged him to spare her, reminding him she was pregnant with his child. But Shorter allegedly told her he didn't care and he was going to 'end it.' Fearing for her life, the woman jumped from the moving vehicle near Highway 80 and Lee Road 179 in Crawford, Russell County. A witness nearby told deputies she was sitting in her car at a church across from the Dollar General, sending a text message, when she heard a loud 'thud.' 'I looked up and saw a woman rolling on the side of the road and a black passenger car speeding away,' the witness reported. 'I ran out to help her, and she told me she was in danger and asked me to take her back to Opelika,' the witness told investigators. The good samaritan took the woman He's with to a nearby residence, where she was met by Lee County Sheriff's deputies. First responders noted she had severe road rash on her arms, legs, stomach, and forehead, along with multiple lacerations on her hands and face. She also complained of chest pain. She was transported to East Alabama Medical Center for treatment. Following the incident, law enforcement across Alabama and Georgia launched a coordinated effort to locate Shorter. Deputies with the Russell County Sheriff's Office spotted his vehicle near Highway 80 and Barrow Road in Phenix City. When they attempted to stop him, Shorter allegedly fled, leading them on a high-speed chase into Georgia before crashing. He was arrested and held in the Muscogee County Jail on felony fleeing charges. The court ruled no condition of release could ensure the safety of the victim or public, citing Shorter's violent criminal history, the use of a deadly weapon, the serious nature of the alleged offense, his flight through multiple jurisdictions, and the risk of future harm. 'This type of behavior will not be tolerated,' Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said. 'The defendant endangered not only a pregnant woman, but also the public and law enforcement at large. This is a prime example of how the Lee County Sheriff's Office works with agencies across jurisdictional boundaries to protect the public. We are thankful he will remain in jail until trial. That's where he needs to be.' Shorter remains in the Lee County Detention Facility with no bond. A trial date has not yet been announced. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Freeport man charged with unlawful possession after laser sight incident
FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO) — Police apprehended a Freeport man who allegedly drove past a home Saturday night, shining a laser from a pistol sight at the house. According to the Freeport Police Department, the incident occurred around 11:02 p.m. Authorities were notified that the suspect vehicle was a dark colored Buick SUV, and stopped the vehicle near Stephenson Street and Green Avenue. Police identified the front seat passenger as Jonah Durns, 25, a felon with multiple past convictions for weapons and drug possession. A loaded semi-automatic pistol equipped with a laser sight and an extended ammunition magazine were found in the front seat passenger area, police said. Durns was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of a firearm without a Firearm Owner's Identification card. He was booked into the Stephenson County Jail awaiting the outcome of a pretrial detention hearing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Car and Driver
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2026 GMC Acadia Review, Pricing, and Specs
Overview The three-row mid-size SUV category is thick with practical options just begging to be your next family road-trip ride, and the 2026 GMC Acadia is one of the roomiest among them. Unfortunately, the Acadia's roomy interior is the sole ace up its sleeve. The rest of the package is pretty mediocre. It's even harder to recommend once you realize the mechanically similar Chevy Traverse can be had for slightly less money. A 328-hp turbocharged four-cylinder is the only engine option, and despite its stout horsepower rating, acceleration is merely average. The Acadia rides nicely and its cabin is quiet at highway speeds, but its handling is forgettable. If you want something with a bit more luxury, consider the Acadia's other sibling, the Buick Enclave. What's New for 2026? After undergoing a complete redesign for 2024, the Acadia isn't expected to receive any major updates for 2026. Pricing and Which One to Buy The price of the 2026 GMC Acadia is expected to start around $45,000 and go up to $60,000 depending on the trim and options. Elevation $45,000 (est) AT4 $57,000 (est) Denali $60,000 (est) 0 $10k $20k $30k $40k $50k $60k $70k $80k $90k We'd stick with the entry-level Elevation model, which is a solid offering for the price. It includes all of the expected infotainment and driver-assistance tech as standard, including a surround-view camera system. Other standard equipment includes 18-inch wheels, power front seats, a hands-free power rear liftgate, a heated steering wheel, and heated front seats. The Elevation can be optioned with heated rear seats, a head-up display, and more. Engine, Transmission, and Performance Every Acadia is powered by a 328-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four engine with 326 pound-feet of torque and an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is optional on most trims (standard on the off-road-oriented AT4), but front-wheel drive is standard. The last-generation Acadia's chassis worked from a platform shared by the Cadillac XT5, Buick Envision, and Chevrolet Blazer, but this new generation shares much of its bones with the new Chevy Traverse. In our drive of the new Acadia, we found it to offer sure-footed cornering for its size, but didn't feel that the turbocharged four-cylinder was as responsive as we expected given its power output. The off-road-inspired AT4 trim level adds GMC's Active Torque Control all-wheel-drive system as well as extra ground clearance, a suspension tuned for unpaved adventures, and protective underbody skid plates. The AT4 also features a Terrain drive mode and hill descent control. For those more likely to log long highway miles, Super Cruise, GM's highly accomplished hands-free driving assist, is available on all trim levels. 0–60-MPH Times We estimate that the Acadia will get to 60 mph in between 6.5 and 6.7 seconds. We'll update this section with test results once we get one to our test track. View Photos GMC Towing and Payload Capacity Every GMC Acadia can trailer up to 5000 pounds. That's as much as the maximum towing capacity of the Toyota Grand Highlander, Honda Pilot, and Kia Telluride. The standard Trailering package includes a Class III hitch, heavy-duty cooling, a hitch view in the camera system, and a seven-pin wiring harness. Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG The EPA hasn't released any fuel economy information for the 2026 Acadia yet, but the 2025 model earned ratings as high as 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. We'll update this information once we collect real-world data from our 75-mph highway fuel economy test. For more information about the Acadia's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo GMC has fitted the Acadia with nice interior materials and contemporary tech. The large center console provides plenty of cubby storage, and there's plentiful passenger space throughout the cabin. The Acadia comes standard with seating for eight, with three-across bench seats in the second and third rows; with second-row captain's chairs, the AT4 and Denali seat seven. In the Denali, the 60/40-split third-row power-folds. With all seats in use, there's more luggage space than in most mid-size three-row SUVs—23 cubic feet. View Photos GMC Infotainment and Connectivity GMC puts an 11.0-inch digital gauge cluster in every Acadia along with a large vertically oriented 15.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. The infotainment display is customizable and uses Google built-in software with voice activation. Wireless charging is standard. Acadias come equipped with a 12-speaker Bose stereo system, but an optional 16-speaker theater-style system is available. Safety and Driver-Assistance Features The Acadia offers several standard driver-assistance technologies such as automated emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlamps, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system, one of the best in the business, is also available as an option. For more information about the Acadia's crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include: Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Standard adaptive cruise control Warranty and Maintenance Coverage The Acadia comes with reasonable warranty and maintenance coverage. Hyundai offers longer limited and powertrain warranties, but GMC does cover the Acadia's first maintenance visit within the first year of ownership. Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit Specifications Specifications 2024 GMC Acadia Vehicle Type: front-engine, front- or front/all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon PRICE Base: Elevation, $43,995; Elevation AWD; $45,995; AT4, $51,395; Denali, $55,695; Denali AWD, $57,695 ENGINE turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection Displacement: 152 in3, 2494 cm3 Power: 328 hp @ 5500 rpm Torque: 326 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 120.9 in Length: 204.0 in Width: 79.6–80.0 in Height: 71.0–72.0 in Passenger Volume, F/M/R: 65–68/57–60/40 ft3 Cargo Volume, Behind F/M/R: 98/57/23 ft3 Curb Weight (C/D est): 4550–4950 lb PERFORMANCE (C/D EST) 60 mph: 6.5–6.7 sec 1/4-Mile: 14.8–15.0 sec Top Speed: 118–130 mph EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/City/Highway: 21–23/19–20/24–27 mpg More Features and Specs
Motor Trend
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
A-Body Brothers In Arms: The Buick GS 455 vs. Oldsmobile 442 W-30
[Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the Winter 2011 issue of MotorTrend Classic] Imagine the Indianapolis Colts playing the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. Payton versus Eli, Manning-a-Manning. It could have happened, but now it probably won't. It did happen with two other brothers, not in an NFL game, but on streets and dragstrips. Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 versus Buick GS 455 Stage 1, A-body brothers each considered the 'gentleman's musclecar.' Sibling rivals from the era when GM divisions competed more with each other than with Ford, Chrysler, or AMC. John Z. DeLorean started it all with a third brother, the 1964 Pontiac GTO. Olds dropped a 400-cube, four-barrel dual exhaust into the Cutlass to create the 4-4-2 a few months later. When the 1965 Buick GS arrived within a year, it technically violated GM's 400-cubic-inch-displacement limit for A-body cars. Badged as 400, its Wildcat V-8 was a 401-cube 'Nailhead' V-8. GM replaced its 1964-'67 A-bodies with new 1968 models, with new sheetmetal scheduled for every two years. Through '69, the GTO was GM's preeminent musclecar, and the 4-4-2 was its more refined brother, with better handling. The subtle, more relaxed GS wasn't a contender. GM did away with its 400-cube limit for the 1970 model year, and Buick was ready, especially after the 1969 Opel GT launch. 'The increase in showroom floor traffic when the GT went on display early in April was almost unbelievable,' reads the Buick Engineering Production Information Department's outline of the 1970 GSX. 'Some Buick dealers reported 5000 people through their showrooms in one weekend.' Paul Haddock, owner of the 1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 on these pages, sent a copy of that report. He also owns a 1970 Stage 1 hardtop and a 1971 GS 455 convertible. The GSX, a 455-cubic-inch Buick A-body with 'mod' graphics typical of the era, would be the Skylark's halo model, which Buick hoped might help close the model's 50,000-unit annual sales gap relative to the Olds Cutlass. When torque came to shove, it wasn't the GSX, with un-Buick-like flat black stripes on deep-yellow paint, that gave the GS street cred. It was the Stage 1 455. 'It's the car that beat the Hemi 'Cuda,' allows Mike Bivins, owner of the 1971 Olds 4-4-2 W-30 sharing these pages with Haddock's Stage 1. Like Manning versus Manning, the Olds versus Buick musclecar rivalry would be short-lived. Car insurance rates were rising steeply by the late '60s, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, established in December 1970, enacted immediate restrictions on leaded premium fuel. Stricter regs were due in 1975. Olds and Buick lowered the compression ratio on their blueprinted 1971 W-30 and Stage 1 engines from 10.5:1 to 8.5:1 and complied with a mandated switch from SAE gross to net horsepower reporting. By 1972, the Hemi 'Cuda that Buick beat in '70 was gone, and the Plymouth pony's top engine was a 260-hp, 340 cubic-inch V-8. A year later, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries staged their first oil embargo. 0:00 / 0:00 'Despite the almost total demise of the high compression/premium fuel engine, the '71 Super Cars have managed to retain their essential vitality,' A.B. Shuman wrote in the October 1970 issue of Motor Trend. In Shuman's story, the Buick GS 455 Stage 1 edged a '71 W-30 prototype with a four-speed stick and '70 sheetmetal, recording a 6.5-second 0-60 run to the Olds' 6.6. It was quicker than the GTO, Chevy Chevelle SS 454, Camaro Z28, and Plymouth Road Runner. Shuman asked Olds for an automatic W-30 to see what effect its combo of torque converter and different valve timing would have. It beat the Buick with a 6.1 second 0-60. Motor Trend's test of the '72 GS Stage 1 was a sidebar to a June 1972 comparison entitled 'Sayonara Supercar.' 'The amazing thing, considering all that's happened just in the area of emissions controls,' Shuman wrote, 'is that a car that runs like the GS Stage 1 could still exist.' It was faster than the manual GTO and W-30 automatic of 1972, beating the latter by 0.8 seconds in 0-60-mph times and by 0.4 second and 5 mph in the quarter. Haddock's 1972 Stage 1 exists only because a 1971 United Auto Workers strike delayed GM's 'Colonnade' A-body replacements by one model year. Ad huckster 'Dr. Oldsmobile's' 4-4-2 was a separate model from 1967 to '71, then became an option package on Cutlasses again in 1972. The '72 face-lifts were minimal, with chrome headlamp surrounds as on Bivins' car on the '71 Olds and Buick, flat black surrounds as on Haddock's car on the '72s, and tweaked grille meshes. Bivins' Olds doesn't have the two vertical pieces that split the taillamps into thirds like the '72 models. Black rubber trim surrounds the taillamps on Haddock's 1972 GS, but not on his '71. The Olds is the epitome of Bill Mitchell's organic 'fuselage' surfacing, with a large, split grille and a sleek fastback with strong, muscular rear shoulders. The Buick is sublime with two small ram air intakes near the center of the hood, where the W-30 has two gigantic golden scoops. Side surfacing is more creased, lending the GS a kind of abstract Coke-bottle shape. Haddock has restuffed his driver's seat, so you sit high in the Buick. Both tachometers are hard to read behind thin-rimmed steering wheels. The Oldsmobile's tach is of the tick-tock variety, and Bivins' car features a Hurst dual-gate shifter, with a separate gate for 'manual' shifting. It's easier to simply set either Turbo-Hydramatic in 'drive' and put your foot to the floor. The steering in both cars has more play than a kindergarten gym. Neither has the kind of lean or wallow most contemporaries would display even on gentle turns. Though it feels slightly quicker, the GS has less squat and tighter, more refined body control. Those huge ram air intakes on the W-30 makes the Oldsmobile feel bigger from behind the wheel. Its engine warmed, the W-30 starts immediately. The Stage 1 needs a quarter-throttle. Haddock put '70 Stage 1 10.5:1 pistons in his '72 because, 'Why wouldn't I?' Both are stronger cars than other '70s musclecars, their power coming on strong at the mid-range, with a NASCAR growl that would do a modern car proud. Don't take my word for it. I ask Mike and Paul to trade keys. 'Are they going to be diplomatic, or truthful?' Mike's wife, Laurie, asks. Mike Bivins: 'That one was right smooth going down the highway, smooth shifting. Seemed like it had a bit hotter cam. Good driving car. I didn't stand on it, because I didn't want to have to buy Paul a new motor. It has more brakes.' Paul Haddock: 'I was surprised at the similarities between the cars. They both kind of feel the same. Set up the same. The hood feels awfully long on that W-30. I like the dual-gate shifter. I think Buick was playing to a more conservative customer. The Olds looks more aggressive.' Diplomatic indeed. 'Well, we're gentlemen, right?' Haddock says. 'The Olds and Buick guys are gentlemen.' 1971 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Ask The Man Who Own One Mike Bivins owns Tri-Tech Incorporated, a handrail and metal fabrication manufacturer in Austell, Georgia ( He bought his W-30 in 2002, five years after he offered to purchase it from a fellow Oldsmobile Club of America member and has since sold his first collectible, a 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme sport coupe. Why I Like IT: 'Its sportiness. I like that it's a big-block car and a ram air car.' Why It's Collectible: 'Only 920 were made, and probably half are gone. It shows what GM could do 40 years ago and how advanced they were, and when performance and sportiness were critical.' Restoring/Maintaining: 'Drive it pretty regularly, especially with ethanol fuels. I use an additive to try to help with that. Change the oil regularly, and an Oldsmobile engine will last.' Beware: Clones. Local Olds Club chapters can help tell if you've got an authentic W-30. Its carburetors have unique jets. Bivins has even found 'W-30' stamped on the end of his car's camshaft. 'Buy one that's all but done. You're going to save money in the long run.' GM A-bodies are known for leaky front and rear windows. Expect To Pay: (W-30 coupe) Concours-ready: $39,950, Solid driver: $21,000, Tired runner: $11,550 Join The Club: Oldsmobile Club of America ( Our Take Then: 'The car made top marks in standing start acceleration, though it couldn't match the four-speeds in the passing range.' —A.B. Shuman, MotorTrend, October 1970 Now: The 4-4-2 W-30 is a stylish Belle Epoch musclecar, a quick and refined step up from the Pontiac GTO. 1972 Buick GS 455 Ask The Man Who Own One Paul Haddock owns Fairclough & Company, a men's fine clothing store in Charlotte, North Carolina ( His father drove LeSabre and Wildcat company cars in the '60s and '70s. Haddock bought the '72 Stage 1, one of his three GS models, about 15 years ago. He drove it unrestored 'just for fun,' then restored the car about eight years ago. Haddock repaired bodywork from front and rear window leaks, replaced the radiator support and battery box, rebuilt the engine and transmission, and replaced a front fender that had a rusted-out support. He traded a Chevy Suburban for the paint job. Why I Like It: 'I love a Buick because it's a sleeper. People just don't really get it most of the time, and it's got all the horsepower and torque you need.' Why It's Collectible: 'It was the underrated musclecar of the era. People are just beginning to understand in the last 10 or so years what they really are and were. Buick fans always knew.' Restoring/Maintaining: 'Driving the car is the best thing you can do to maintain it. General use keeps the battery up and gas running through it; so use is your friend. I mix racing gas in, from time to time—gets the octane up.' Beware: 'If you want a true, investment-grade Stage 1, get the documentation that it's a numbers-matching car. Make sure you have the correct engine, the correct transmission for the car. Guys drive a Stage 1 hard and blow a motor and throw another Buick motor in. Contact the GS club of America to check VIN codes. GM A-bodies catch stuff in the lower fender wells; the battery trays rust and corrode. All those can be fixed if it's not a totally right car.' Expect To Pay: (Stage 1 coupe) Concours-ready: $44,450, Solid driver: $23,400, Tired runner: $12,850 Join The Clubs: Buick Club of America ( Buick GS Club of America ( Our Take Then: 'In the final analysis, Buick builds a pretty good car, because, on top of everything else, it is quiet, smooth, and rattle free.'—A.B. Shuman, MotorTrend, June 1972 Now: It's a clean, trim, upper-middle premium intermediate with more power than more common contemporaries.
