More Reynolds Racers: 1968 GS400

Pop Kennedy and Pete Reynolds with the brand new 1968 GS400

One of the most important Buick racers in our history is our 1968 GS400. You will recall that the new 400 engine family made its debut in 1967, and which just happened to coincide with Pete Reynolds' two year cycle for the racing cars. But only one year later the totally restyled 1968 intermediates made their debut, so Pete retired the '67 and ordered a new 1968 GS400.

The car was registered on the Reynolds log book on January 23, 1968, It was painted in the same special gold color as the 1965s and 1967 had been, and was a very good looking automobile. These photographs were taken shortly after its arrival to the dealership. Pop Kennedy was very fond of this car because the restyled fenders would allow this one to run on wider racing slicks than the others (Pete Reynolds wasn't so keen on whacking the fender wells with a hammer, you know.)


Pop Kennedy and the new ride.


Pop and the kids- the '67, '65 and '68 Reynolds Buick racers.

This faded bottom photograph was hanging on the office wall of none other than Jim Bell himself and shows the 67 and 68 as the torch is being passed, and in the middle, none other than the second '65, which was purchased by Pop Kennedy himself in 1967. He loved the '65 and drove it for years.

The '68 is more significant to Buick than almost anyone else. Denny Manner, Buick Powertrain Engineer Extraordinaire was developing the high performance Stage 1 and Stage 2 engines and was banned from racing by GM dictate. But he was allowed to supply parts to outside racers for testing and validation, for example, Jim Bell at Kenne-Bell Racing. And so our '68 GS 400 became a very important link in the development of the ultimate Buick Gran Sports of the era. A beautiful car, which we remember with much affection.

More Reynolds Racers- Rio Red '61 Invicta

I don't have a picture of the '59. Reynolds Buick's first race car, and a very successful one at that. Called the "winningest Buick of all time", the Tampico Red Invicta coupe with the huge batwing fins and the red and white interior. The car accumulated an astonishing 132 trophies in its career before being retired in 1961. On its first run, the Tampico Red finned beauty turned a 15.0 at 90 mph. With milled heads and a 4.44 rear end, the time dropped to 14.70 at 93 mph. On the Reynolds books as a demo, upon retirement it was sold as a used car- and I have one lousy, grainy picture of it.

Someone must have given Pete a Kodak Brownie before the '61 came in. Buoyed by the success of the '59 Invicta, Pete ordered another Invicta- a '61 in a deeper maroon known as Rio Red with a sexy red and white interior. Pop Kennedy set up similarly to the '59 with a 4.44 rear end and milled heads, plus headers and his Casler tires.

This Invicta turned a 14.21 at 97.70 mph and won 38 consecutive races between May 21 and Sept 10, 1961- NO losses! Pete sprung for gas money, so Pop put the racing slicks in the trunk and DROVE the Invicta to Indianapolis where he was rewarded with a class win- a feat that he repeated in 1962. Thankfully there are quite a few nice pictures of this one. Take a look at them, Pop Kennedy, Pete Reynolds, and Irv Reynolds Sr are posing proudly with their thoroughbred.

Incidentally, the lettering on the side was removable tape, so no Buicks were harmed in the making of this race car. The professional lettering would come later, with the first '65. At this stage, the program is more of a glorified weekend racer than a full scale dragster. And don't forget, after two seasons of racing, the glorious Invicta was sold as a used car! Wouldn't we love to have it back...

More Reynolds Racers- the Swingin '67

Our Trophy Winning 1967 GS 400


Passing of the guard. Pop Kennedy with our 1965 (which he purchased), 1967, and newly arrived 1968 Gran Sport Racers.

Our racers are, by and large, a pretty well known group of Buicks. Our '59 Invicta was known as the "Winningest Buick of all time." Our pair of '65's were legendary, and so beloved that one prominent collector created an exact recreation of our second '65. This Tribute Car, as we call it, made its public debut at last year's Reynolds Buick Open House. And there's our legendary '70, the unofficial factory racer.

But along the way, there were a couple of very important cars that are less well known today, like our very important but less famous 1967. This was an evolutionary car. Although Buick had been extremely successful with the tough little "nailheads", the engine itself was becoming dated. So the big news for 1967 was a new engine. In fact, a the basis for a whole family of new engines.

For the GS, that translated to a new 400 cubic inch big block. Rated ay 340 HP with a 10.25:1 compression ratio (in stock trim), Jim Bell outfitted the '67 Reynolds Buick racer with his usual magic and estimates that the new engine in comparable tune easily produced 75 hp more than the nailhead, which is a HUGE increase. He did strike a concern about reliability on the '67, recalling that they blew up the new engine with alarming regularity. Thankfully, when that happened, a phone call to Buick's Bill Trevor at the General Motors Training Canter made a new engine appear. So it had teething pains- But he recalls it being FAST.

As prepared by Jim, Bell, this car ran 12.10 seconds at 111 mph. The style change caused Pete to replace this car with a new one. The Gold Mist 1967 GS400 was campaigned for only one season before the totally new intermediate body was introduced for 1968, at which time Pete Reynolds, with an eye toward selling new Buicks, felt compelled to order a new '68. A regular customer bought the '67 from Reynolds, but unfortunately its current whereabouts are unknown.

Come Down to the Reynolds Open House Event to Celebrate Our 95th Anniversary!

We’re turning 95 soon! On Thursday, October 21st, Reynolds Buick GMC invites one and all to come down and have food and fun with us to celebrate our 95th anniversary. Come between 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and enjoy prizes and jazz music, as well food from an In-N-Out truck that’s catering the whole event. But that’s not all, Reynolds is proud to be able to feature not one, but TWO amazing classic Buicks at the open house, each with a long and detailed history.

The first is a 1965 Buick GS that has been completely restored by Jack Mancini, a Buick historian and car buff out of Rhode Island and a friend to the Reynolds family. Mancini has been meticulously researching the exact specifications of the 1965 Buick GS driven by Lennie “Pop” Kennedy and sponsored by Reynolds Buick GMC in the sixties in order to re-create the vehicle down to the last detail.

Jack Mancini restoration

Remember, we said we’re featuring another classic Buick as well? This second Buick is being brought from Wisconsin because of its significance to the Reynolds family. While the car we mentioned above is a tribute to the original that was driven by Pop Kennedy, this Buick actually WAS driven by Kennedy himself, and made the quarter mile run in 10.89 seconds at 126.85 mph! This 1970 Buick GS 455, now owned by Guy Parquette, was once owned by Pete Reynolds. Pete Reynolds was once the proprietor of Reynolds Buick GMC, which is now owned and operated by his son, Don Reynolds.

So remember, be sure to come to Reynolds Buick GMC on October 21st from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for delicious food, great music, outstanding prizes, and the chance to get to see two rare and classic Buicks on our 95th anniversary.