James Myers' 71 LeSabre! 2NABOT
It's my first car, I bought it in early 1984
from Fred Hughes Buick, in Abilene, TX (an excellent dealership!), for $1,285.
Its first owner was the transmission mechanic at Fred Hughes, and I'm the
second owner. It had 92,000 miles on it when I bought it, and it just turned
over the odometer at 275,000 miles. Still going strong!
We rebuilt the 350 engine (to 1970 GS specs, it
really hauls!) at 145,000 miles, because I burned a valve and I had money
burning holes in my wallet. Below is a list of how it started out, and what
all I'm in the middle of doing to it (455/THM 400 transplant). By the way,
note the enormous yet stock-looking air cleaner. It's off of an 80's Olds
Diesel, and hold the biggest air filter fram makes! And when you cut a couple
of 2" x 4" openings in the back of it, you get all kinds of airflow,
and the nitwits at the inspection station don't have a clue!
AS ORIGINAL (pretty basic car):
1971 LeSabre Custom 2-door hardtop
2-tone paint, dark green over light green (I think they called it "Dark
Emerald" and "Sea Foam")
Dark Green vinyl bench seat
Air Conditioning
manual windows and locks
"soft-ray" (?) tinted glass
AM-FM radio with front speaker
350 cid, 2barrel carb, single exhaust engine
THM 350 transmission
3.08 open rear axle
power brakes (front disks)
standard (ugly) wheel covers
ADDITIONS / CHANGES (at least when it comes out
of the garage):
chrome side trim (no more door dings)
Green cloth 6-way power bucket seats (Riviera)
Power door Locks
Cruise control
rear window defrost blower w/ 2-speed switch
remote trunk release w/ glovebox switch
courtesy lights (front footwells and rear sail panels)
lighted vanity mirror on passenger sunvisor
Optional Riviera steering wheel (sport wheel?)
AM - 8track player with four-speakers (8-track stereo)
455cid, 4bbl engine
Dual 2.5 inch exhaust
THM 400 transmission (maybe a switch-pitch, depends on the $$$, if not now
then later)
3.08 open rear axle
rear anti-sway bar w/ boxed lower control arms
heavy-duty cooling (4-core radiator)
Load-leveling system
15-inch Buick Sportwheels w/ Wildcat hub inserts
255-70-R15 tires
Non-Buick additions:
KYB gas-a-just front shocks (makes a HUGE difference!!!)
Poly bushings on front sway bar
dark-tinted glass all around
Map lights in rear-view mirror
Full length wooden console with armrest storage, door lock switches, power
outlets, cupholders, and an insulated 6-pack cooler! (console goes
from where the ashtray was to the rear seat)
AM-FM CD player mounted in console with 4 speakers (independent of the
AM-8track - yup, I can play them both at the same time!)
Gauges (tach, oil pres, eng temp, volts) mounted in console
Class 3 tow hitch w/ trailer lights
space- and weight-saver spare tire
James, you have a great car! I'm sure you already know this
though. I really miss my 71 LeSabre. It, too was my first car!
But now I have a convertible
Buick
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