philip roitman

I took the 1973 Gran Sport Stage 1 4 speed 1 of 92 to Yorktown NY Cars and Coffee this morning. Nice ride. This is my driver. Lots of fun.

There is rare and yes that does not always mean desiralble. You GS is a very cool car and rare as to how many are probably still around. I took my 73 Century Gran Sport Stage 1 Sun Coupe to the 2015 Va Beach and won my 1st Junior. This car is one of 728 Gran Sport S1's produced and 1 of 45 S1's Sun Coupes produced, 1 of 24 w/electric sunroof operation, also 1 of 4 Special Company Order (SCO) (Color unknown) paint. It is basically 1 of 1? Just throwing some #'s around.

Restaurant reccomendations, good weather, 400 antique cars, and airplanes. The wife and I are super excited to be attending our 1st meet and seeing it all. We are leaving Wednesday morning and arriving in Va. Beach in the afternoon. My best friend will be bringing the car Friday, just getting some details attended to. Did I forget to mention the Beach and Boardwalk. I do not think I could have picked a better 1st event to attend except for maybe Hershey.

My only option was to go out and use 14" wheels from one of my other cars (thank G-d I had a set) and purchase new G70 14 tires. I was told many people have 1 set of wheels just for AACA shows only and 1 set for everything else and I needed to do the same. I will now use the 14" combo on the SunCoupe in Va. and also use them on my 73 GS S1 4 speed when it is finally done with its frame off restoration as that car came with 14" RWL Bias ply tires from the factory.

Thanks for the reply NTX5467. It was very interesting to read and learn. I have been told over and over P225's are not acceptable. If you ordered Radial tires for a 73 Century Gran Sport the options were either GR-70-15 Whitewall or blackwall tires and came with specific suspension and Styled steel wheels. The other tire options were; Whitewall Tires- G-78-14, Wide Oval White Billboard Lettered Tires-G-70-14, or Oversize Whitewall Tires-G78-14. This info is directly from the Sloan museum and is from the copy of the 1973 Buick Gran Sport Wholesale Car Order Form. Believe me if allowed I would be using my P225-70R-15's with RWL if I had that option which I do not. I would certainly be using P225-15's in White or Blackwall if allowed. As stated above I am looking forward to the meet in Va. and seeing nice cars and meeting new friends.

That is what I was told by Mr Marsh and Mr Oakes. I did ask numerous times. I also asked numerous times about the P designation. I really do not want to make waves on policy. I am looking forward to Va. Beach.

OOPS Sorry Herb Oakes was indeed who I spoke to. I recieved his name and info from Mr Marsh and I thank them both for their time, kindness and understanding of my situation. I look forward to meeting them at the Va. Beach meet. The AACA will not allow tires to be reversed or I would have used the GR 70 15 available with RWL. I asked and it is NOT approved as it would not be as delivered from the factory. The statement is a dealer would probably not do that at delivery either and on top of that you are not allowed to tamper/change a tire. (ie; Shave a P off a P225 Radial or to paint over/alter the tires). The Red line tire in the above post is a P225 Radial therefore not allowed as are the white and black wall P225's available. Catch 22. At least there was a partial solution.

I have done that and have had numerous discussions via email and phone with Eric Marsh VP of judging. The 14 in wheel with G 70 14's RWL or G 78 14 WW tires or H 78 14 oversize (from my option list) WW tires seems to be my only option at this moment. I am hoping in the future some Co. will repop the GR 70 15's in WW or BW instead of only RWL. It also seems I was told that the VP of judging no longer writes these letters for judges and you must recieve said letters from tire dealers/Companies. I am a little sad I cannot find correct Radials as that is how my car was ordered from the factory. Either way it is all good. I was lucky to have a set of 14 in. Rallye rims on one of my other cars as they are super hard to find. All part of the pleasure of owning old cars. :-) P.S. I will use the Bias Ply 14's with rims only for AACA shows.

No I cant use them #1 is they are redlines #2 as I stated 225-70-15's would be a proper replacement for the GR 70 15, NOT P225-70-15's. Something about the P (Metric) and not available till 1979? I was told by numerous tire Companies that the P means passenger tire and isn't a metric classification. Oh well, just to let you know I think BFG also makes P225-70 15's in a whitewall. (SilverTown)

After speaking to AACA VP Judging (Thank You) a 225/70/15 would be a correct replacement for the GR/70/15 in whitewall or blackwall without the P prefix though. These tires are also currently not available without the P. I am downgrading to 14 inch rims w/G70/14 RWL Wide Oval tires that were also an option on my car to be 100% correct for AACA.

Hi Ted. Yes I will be taking a 73. Hopefully I will see you at Norwalk / BPG and then this event.

I just wanted to post here as a newbie going to my first meet this year in Virginia beach. I posted a week or 2 ago about my difficulty in finding the correct tire for the car I am taking to the meet.(Judging forum) I got 1 option response from a member that was close but was raised White letter instead of a White wall. I want to thank John W Harvey here on this board and post for a great response by PM. I received copies of the rules which I knew, but for also providing me with Herb Oakes info (VP Judging) and his own personal example for how he solved the same exact problem with the same exact tire combination. I could not have asked for more and have just 5 minutes ago e-mailed Mr Oakes my problem and hopeful solution with complete documentation, etc. This response from Mr. Harvey has made my day and makes me look forward to attending the Va Beach even more if that is possible.

I plan on being there and have made hotel reservations. There is a thread about this event on the board. (Sticky: Calling all Gran Sports.) It sounds like a wonderful show with some other things going on such as a Friday evening BBQ and show, the Good Guys Nats in Columbus is that weekend also. I am looking forward to it.

Found them raised white letter. Guess I can reverse them. Seems the Corvette guys have the same problem. $350 Ea. WOW.

I have entered my 73 Stage 1 Sun Coupe for the Virginia Beach Spring Meet. I have a question as this will be my 1st AACA Meet. I cannot find GR 70 15 tires anywhere. (Coker, Tire Rack, etc.) I can find G 70 15 tires. My car came from the factory with the radial tires (GR 70 15) either black wall or white wall. What is the correct tire size that I can use for my car? 215-R70 or 225 R70 or? I would like to put on Radials as that is how it was ordered/optioned from the factory and not put on Bias Ply. Thank you for any answers in advance.

$159 for an Ocean front Deluxe room.

Looks like a Toyota Solara. Generic Motors at its best. What a shame. I will hold back my real opinion till I see it at the press preview @NYIAS

Room is booked at the Crowne Plaza. Now I have to register for the show. :-)

Recieved my application to the show and sent it out this morning. This is my 1st AACA meet and I am super excited to attend and meet some of you. Host hotel rooms are booked and the wife is coming to this also.

I just ordered mine 2 minutes ago. Thanks for the reminder.

I have a car being restored at Then and Now Auto Marietta Ga. He does a great job and a lot of different cars, very eclectic. All Concours quality. Excellent work and owner. His name is Mark Reeves. Worth checking out IMHO. Good luck with the car.

If anyone out there happens to have or knows someone who has a center dashboard A/C vent for a 1973 Century or Regal I am looking. I think the cars thru 77 had the same A/C vents.

Thanks. Going to bring the Stage 1 Sun Coupe and see how it does. It is original and I am going to try class 39F I believe rather than HPOF. I think the car is good enough. I never thought of bringing the race car to an AACA event. Can never tell what the future may bring. I want to see how this car does and then I have a 4 speed undergoing a body off restoration that should be finished after the winter to start showing also. Looking forward to a good and very busy 2015 season.

Host Hotel room booked. Thanks for all the information. I missed Hershey this year due to other club commitments. This will be my 1st AACA meet with a car getting judged. I am excited and even the wife is looking forward to this.

BCA Nat meets should at least have the option of judged classes. I missed the 100 anny so I have no comment. Was in Batavia 2005 for my 1st BCA Nat.. I missed Charlotte due to illness. The Nats move all around and getting to one is a chore that I accept to have a car judged and to see many new and old friends. I for one have been working on 2 cars for the event 1 that won a gold in o5 and another undergoing a body off resto as I write this. AACA is one thing and showing and being judged by BCA and your peers in the club is another and important to me at least. If there is no judging it would probably be better to show up with my 2010 Enclave and be done with it. P.S. There are AACA events all over the country and I am sure if a BCA Nat was held elsewhere without judging you would hear just as many complaints from those areas. This post is probably useless. What a way to run a club folks. P.S. This is also the first I have heard of this being a non judged event. Was this written about in the Bugle? I must have missed it which seems unlikely. Must be getting old! P.S.S. All my cars even the BCA winner and the one getting the resto are driven and raced and taken on tours etc. Driving the cars always takes priority here but, having them judged is icing on the cake that should always be available.