Buick Bruce

68 GS trunk lid had two trim strips running from front to rear (like the hood), attaching to a chromed diecast trim plate above the bumper/license plate that said either "GS 350" or "GS 400".<BR>The 69 GS trunk lid used a covered trunk lock with a swing-up GS emblem as the cover (you could tell if it was a 350 or 400 by the rear quarter side marker light lenses).

I've had both 67 & 69 California GS cars. They were based on Special 2-door post bodies and I believe were intended to be a budget priced GS. The California option gave you a high compression 340 (in 67) or 350 (in 68 & 69), GS hood, rallye wheels, and a vinyl top with bright window garnish. Other than that, they were minimally optioned (all I've seen had crank windows and bench front seat, auto trans, radio, heater, power steering, sometimes power brakes, that's about it). What you got was a low priced, light weight Buick, with alot of power that you could easily burn off a set of rear tires with.

Sidemounts were an option - and not very common on closed 50 series '31's. Sidemount fenders were factory produced, along with other hardware that held the tire secure. It's possible but not very likely a dealer could have ordered the tire wells and installed them on non-sidemount fenders, but the other hardware would still be required to make it all work.

I was lucky enough to get a pair of original valve cover stickers at a BCA National about ten years ago that have the tri-shield logo with "430-4 STAGE 2". I always figured these were for 1969; last year of the 430 and first year of the "stage" options.