1972 Buick GS Stage 1

Muscle car powered by 455 cid V8, 4-barrel, Stage 1 (WS code).

1972 Buick GS Stage 1 convertible front three-quarter view

Factory pathway Factory GS Stage 1 performance configuration

Engine evidence WS-code 455 cid 4-barrel Stage 1 V8; VIN engine letter V for GS

1972 net output 270 hp and 390 lb-ft reported for WS Stage 1

Known body styles GS 4G37 hardtop and 4G67 convertible

Reported Stage 1 production 728 hardtops and 81 convertibles in the production-number table

Story

1972 Buick GS Stage 1

The 1972 Buick GS Stage 1 was a factory Gran Sport performance configuration built around Buick's 455-cubic-inch V-8. Buick references identify the engine with the WS production code and the V fifth VIN character. The GS was available as the 4G37 two-door hardtop and 4G67 convertible, with reported Stage 1 production of 728 hardtops and 81 convertibles.

The 1972 Stage 1 used a four-barrel carburetor, 8.5:1 compression, and a 270-hp SAE net rating with 390 lb-ft of torque. Buyers could pair it with a Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 automatic or a floor-shifted four-speed manual. Positive Traction and a 3.42:1 axle ratio are reported for the Stage 1 combination.

Buick's 1972 paint and trim charts document a broad range of colors, stripe combinations, seat trims, consoles, gauges, and wheels. Those charts show what was available, but an individual car's VIN, body plate, engine stamp, build sheet, window sticker, and other paperwork determine how it was originally built. Power front discs are documented on representative Stage 1 cars and in Buick option references, while the exact standard-versus-optional brake rule still needs a 1972 dealer order guide.

**1972 Buick GS Stage 1 convertible rear three-quarter view**Greg Gjerdingen via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

A verified original price is not yet available for this car.

Market Observations

Auction sale $64,900

Jan 11, 2026 · Mecum Kissimmee 2026
Stage 1 convertible 4G67V2H100224 after a frame-off restoration, color change, and installation of a date-correct replacement Stage 1 engine. · restored · excellent Mecum and Hagerty record a $64,900 sale for VIN 4G67V2H100224. The archive documents a frame-off restoration, color change, original automatic transmission and 3.42 rear axle, and a date-correct 1972 Stage 1 engine rebuilt to 1970 specifications. Restored classification does not imply an original engine or original paint color.
1972 Buick GS Stage 1 convertible 4G67V2H100224 1972 Buick GS Stage 1 convertible 4G67V2H100224 past sale
Auction sale $50,000

Dec 15, 2025 · Bring a Trailer
Stage 1 hardtop 4G37V2H227342 with an older refurbishment and non-stock induction, camshaft, exhaust, and ignition equipment. · modified · good Bring a Trailer records a $50,000 sale for VIN 4G37V2H227342. The archive documents a circa-2001 refurbishment, Holley carburetor, Edelbrock intake, aftermarket camshaft, exhaust and ignition changes, plus aged tires and fluid leaks. Modified/good classification separates it from original or recently concours-restored examples.
1972 Buick GS Stage 1 hardtop 4G37V2H227342
Auction sale $55,100

May 24, 2025 · Bring a Trailer
Automatic Stage 1 convertible 4G67V2H100680 refurbished in 2022 with Buick microfilm and disclosed cosmetic flaws. · restored · good Bring a Trailer records a $55,100 sale for VIN 4G67V2H100680. The archive documents a 2022 refurbishment, engine and transmission overhaul, Buick microfilm, and disclosed top, interior, and corrosion flaws. Good condition reflects those visible and disclosed limitations rather than the listing's presentation alone.
1972 Buick GS Stage 1 convertible 4G67V2H100680
Auction sale $154,000

Mar 9, 2024 · Mecum Glendale 2024
Four-speed Stage 1 convertible 4G67V2H201749 with Sloan documentation, repaint, replacement vintage engine installed, and original matching-number block included. · modified · excellent Mecum records a $154,000 sale for VIN 4G67V2H201749. The archive identifies one of 24 four-speed Stage 1 convertibles, Sloan documentation, a repaint, and a replacement vintage engine installed while the original matching-number block accompanied the car. Modified classification prevents the result from being presented as an untouched or numbers-matching drivetrain comparison.
1972 Buick GS Stage 1 four-speed convertible 4G67V2H201749
Auction sale $133,455

Mar 11, 2022 · Bring a Trailer
Four-speed Stage 1 convertible 4G67V2H127387 with Sloan records, prior refurbishment, and MCACN Concours Gold recognition. · restored · concours Bring a Trailer records a $133,455 sale for VIN 4G67V2H127387. The archive documents a prior refurbishment, numbers-matching 455 and four-speed, Sloan Museum records, and 2021 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals Concours Gold recognition. The sale is a documented concours-restored convertible comparison, not a baseline for ordinary hardtops.
1972 Buick GS Stage 1 four-speed convertible 4G67V2H127387
Auction sale $48,400

Mar 26, 2021 · Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2021
Documented Stage 1 hardtop 4G37V2H172017 represented as an all-original time-capsule car. · original unrestored · excellent Classic.com records a $48,400 Barrett-Jackson sale for VIN 4G37V2H172017. Contemporary reporting identifies the hardtop as an all-original, documented Stage 1 with its correct engine compartment and preserved presentation. The classification follows those archive representations and does not independently certify originality.
1972 Buick GS Stage 1 4G37V2H172017 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2021 Original 1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 Hits the Auction Block at No Reserve
High bid $42,000

Jan 4, 2020 · Mecum Kissimmee 2020
1972 GS Stage 1 convertible 4G67V2H187637 offered at Mecum Kissimmee 2020. · unknown · unknown Hagerty and Classic.com preserve a $42,000 high bid and no-sale result for VIN 4G67V2H187637. The observation remains unknown for build state and condition because the reviewed auction archives do not support a sufficiently conservative classification. A no-sale high bid is not a completed transaction.
1972 Buick GS Stage 1 convertible 4G67V2H187637 past sale 1972 Buick GS Stage 1 convertible 4G67V2H187637
Auction sale $60,500

Jan 12, 2018 · Mecum Kissimmee 2018
Sloan-documented Stage 1 convertible 4G67V2H134036 after a body-off/frame-separated refreshing and AACA Grand National recognition. · restored · concours Mecum records a $60,500 sale for VIN 4G67V2H134036. The archive identifies a factory Stage 1 convertible, Sloan documentation, matching-numbers drivetrain, body-off/frame-separated refreshing, original interior, and AACA Grand National First Junior and Senior awards. Auction descriptions remain consignor representations.
1972 Buick GS Stage 1 convertible 4G67V2H134036

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Transmission

Factory transmission Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 automatic
Factory transmission 4-speed manual

Options

1972 Buick Stage 1 455 engine specification and WS-code referenceClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

A1 Stage 1 engine option optional · performance · Hemmings identifies Stage 1 as sales code A1; TeamBuick engine references identify 1972 GS Stage 1 as WS/V-code.
A9 455 engine option / GS 455 optional · performance · Recorded as the GS 455 option in the Hemmings buyer guide; retained here to distinguish base GS 455 from Stage 1.
G80 Limited Slip Differential required · chassis · Option-code reference names G80 limited slip; Hemmings reports Positive Traction was mandated for Stage 1.
M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 automatic transmission optional · performance
M20/M21 4-speed manual transmission optional · performance · Option-code reference lists 4-speed manual variants; Hemmings reports a floor-shifted four-speed choice for A1/A9 GS buyers.
T41 Special sheet-metal hood optional · appearance · Option-code reference label only; target-specific Stage 1 hood availability requires dealer-order corroboration.

Paint

**1972 Buick GS Stage 1 grille, hood, and front-end detail**Greg Gjerdingen via Wikimedia Commons; site crop · CC BY 2.0

11 Arctic White factory · solid
14 Silver Mist Irid. factory · metallic
18 Charcoal Mist Irid. factory · metallic
21 Crystal Blue Irid. factory · metallic
24 Cascade Blue Irid. factory · metallic
26 Stratomist Blue Irid. factory · metallic
28 Royal Blue Irid. factory · metallic
36 Heritage Green Irid. factory · metallic
43 Seamist Green Irid. factory · metallic
45* Emerald Mist Irid. unknown · metallic
48 Hunter Green Irid. factory · metallic
50 Sandalwood factory · solid
53 Cortez Gold Irid. factory · metallic
54 Champagne Gold Irid. factory · metallic
56 Sunburst Yellow factory · solid
57 Antique Gold Irid. factory · metallic
62 Sierra Tan factory · solid
63 Burnished Copper Irid. factory · metallic
65 Flame Orange Irid. factory · metallic
67* Deep Chestnut Irid. unknown · metallic
69 Nutmeg Irid. factory · metallic
73* Vintage Red Irid. unknown · metallic
75 Fire Red factory · solid
77* Burnished Bronze Irid. unknown · metallic
19 Regal Black factory · solid

Production

1972 GS Stage 1 transmission and Positive Traction rear-axle referenceClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

1972 GS Stage 1 hardtop; 455 Stage 1; 4-speed 101, TH400 automatic 627 by body · 728 · documented
1972 GS Stage 1 convertible; 455 Stage 1; 4-speed 15, TH400 automatic 66 by body · 81 · documented
1972 total GS production all engines/body styles total · 8,575 · documented
1972 GS series 4G37 hardtop all engines by body · 7,723 · documented
1972 GS series 4G67 convertible all engines by body · 852 · documented

Authenticity

1972 GS Stage 1 power front disc and rear drum brake referenceClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

VIN fifth character V for V8-455 4-BC Stage I in GS/Skylark use · VIN plate at top of dashboard, driver side, visible through windshield · fraud detection
Engine production code WS for 1972 455 Stage 1 GS engine · 455 engine production code stamped between the left exhaust manifold and the two rear spark plugs; engine serial number on front of right cylinder bank · numbers matching
Body style on body plate 4G37 for GS hardtop or 4G67 for GS convertible · Body number plate on firewall below rear edge of hood · trim correctness
Trim and paint tags Paint and trim must match documented 1972 Buick paint and GS trim-code charts unless special-order evidence exists · Body number plate paint and trim fields · trim correctness
Stage 1 axle requirement 3.42:1 Positive Traction limited-slip reported for Stage 1 · Axle stamp/build sheet/protect-o-plate or other vehicle-specific paperwork · numbers matching

Still Researching

brakes The collected sources identify Buick option-code labels such as JL2 front disc and J50 power brake, but no target-specific factory order guide was collected to verify standard or required brake equipment for 1972 GS Stage 1.
option packages Dealer order-guide mapping for all 1972 GS/Stage 1 package prerequisites is incomplete; current records cover major drivetrain options only.
authenticity markers No individual-car build sheet, Protect-O-Plate, window sticker, or Sloan/GM Heritage report is available in the reviewed references.

Codes & names