GM/BUICK ENGINEERING TEST MULE

THIS CAR WAS USED BY BUICK/GM ENGINEERING AS A TEST MULE FOR THE U. S. MARKET ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH A 1. 1 LITER ENGINE AND A 4-SPEED ON 11/21/66 CONVERTED BY BUICK TO A 1. 9 LITER AND A 2-SPEED AUTOMATIC THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE 1. 9 LITER ENGINE IS 19S-V0000059 DEALER INSTALLED A/C WAS ADDED NECESSITATING THE RELOCATION OF THE BATTERY BUNKIE KNUDSEN WAS VP OF GM AND HEAD OF OVERSEAS OPERATIONS 1965-1968 SOLD TO BUNKIE KNUDSEN’S BROTHER-IN-LAW JOHN K STEVENSON ON 12/8/67 THE CAR REMAINED IN THE FAMILY UNTIL 11/16/88 EXTERIOR HAS BEEN REPAINTED IN THE ORIGINAL GRANADA RED THE INTERIOR AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT ARE MOSTLY ORIGINAL WITH KNOWN EXCEPTIONS BEING THE FRONT CARPET AND SERVICE PARTS UNDER THE HOODKNOWN FACTORY MODIFICATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS 4 - SPEED REMOVED 2 – SPEED ALUMINUM CASE POWER GLIDE AUTOMATIC INSTALLED 1. 1 LITER ENGINE REMOVED 1. 9 LITER ENGINE INSTALLED SERIAL NUMBER 19S-V0000059 RADIATOR CORE SUPPORT CUT AND MODIFIED TO ACCEPT LARGER 1. 9 LITER LARGER RADIATOR INSTALLED ENGINE MOUNTS MODIFIED TRANSMISSION MOUNTS MODIFIED DEALER INSTALLED AIR CONDITIONING ADDED NECESSITATING BATTERY RELOCATION BATTERY RELOCATED FROM PASSENGER FIREWALL TO DRIVER’S FENDER ONE-OFF BATTERY SUPPORTS FABRICATED TO ENABLE RELOCATION FRONT POWER DISC BRAKES WERE ADDED TO COMPENSATE FOR ADDITIONAL WEIGHT SUPPORT BRACKETS WERE FABRICATED TO SUPPORT THE MASTER CYLINDER CUSTOM-MADE CONSOLE COVER WAS FABRICATED TO ACCEPT THE AUTOMATIC THESE MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE BECAUSE GM THOUGHT THE U. S. MARKET WOULD DEMAND A LARGER ENGINE THAN THE OPEL FACTORY WAS CURRENTLY OFFERING IN THE U. S. AS WAS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. GM ALSO ASSUMED THE U. S. MARKET WOULD DEMAND AIR CONDITIONING. TURNS OUT THAT GM WAS CORRECT AND IN 1968 THE OPEL FACTORY ADDED THE 1. 5 AND 1. 9 LITER ENGINE TO THE LINE-UP AS WELL AS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. This car is in excellent running and driving condition. It was recently gone through by an Opel mechanic where the master cylinder. booster and rear shoes were replaced. The motor and transmission mounts were changed as well. The front suspension was also aligned. I do not have a definitive piece of paper from GM/Buick that states that this VIN number is one of the cars they modified. I have contacted the GM Heritage Center and have been told that they do not have records on their pilot and test cars prior to 1970. I do have copies of the first title issued to Bunkie's brother-in-law that shows the car coming out of Michigan. I also have copies of all but one title ever issued for this car. This car stayed in the family until 1986 when it was traded in to a Michigan Pontiac dealer. I have spoken which one of the engineers that worked with Bunkie in the 60's and he confirmed that while he does not specifically recall this car he confirmed that this was the type of changes they were trying out for the US market at the time. I have also spoken with one of the original family members who does remember receiving this car from Bunkie as a gift to the brother-in law and he is willing to do a certified letter stating that the car was given to the family as a gift from Bunkie and that the current modifications were already done to the car when they received it. Will consider offers but keep in mind I have turned down $7. 00 twice. This car is for sale locally and this listing is subject to cancellation if locally sold. Car will not be released for shipping until all funds are cleared. On Feb-22-15 at 13:27:33 PST. seller added the following information:This listing was posted from my draft so I am adding information that may have not been legible in the original posting. I was going to post it with a buy it now at $9. 500 or best offer so please make any offer via e-mail as it was posted wrong. This car is in excellent running and driving condition. It was recently gone through by an Opelmechanic where the master cylinder. booster and rear shoes were replaced. The motor and transmission mounts were replace as well. The front suspension was checked and aligned at the same time. I do not have a definitive piece of paper from GM/Buick that states that this VIN number is one of the cars that they modified. I have contacted the GM Heritage Center and have been told that there are no records on their pilot and test mule cars prior to 1970I do have copies of the first title issued to Bunkie's brother-in-law that shows the car coming out of Michigan. I also have copies of all but one title ever issued for this car This car stayed with the original family until 1986 when it was traded in at a Pontiac dealer in Michigan. I also have spoken with one of the engineers that worked with Bunkie in the 60's and he conformed that while he does not specifically recall this specific car he confirmed that this was the type of changes they were trying out for the US market when they received the car. I have spoken with on of original family members and he remembers receiving the car from Bunkie as a gift to the brother-in-law and he is willing to do a notarized letter stating that the car was given to the family as a gift from Bunkie and that the current modifications were already done. I will consider offers over $7. 00. 00The car is for sale locally and this listing is subject to cancellation if locally soldThe car will not be released for shipping until all funds are cleared. The car is sold as is where is.