1972 Buick GS - Speak Softly And Carry A Big Stick

Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President, used the proverb, "Speak Softly and Carry A Big Stick", to  describe his style of foreign policy. He might as well have been describing a Buick GS powered by a  455 cubic inch V8.

 

 

While it looks like Granny's Buick, for it certainly could be, it's anything but a timid, mild mannered grocery getter. That, again, to those who appreciate understatement, is part of the appeal. No wild tape job, no crazy two tone racy paint schemes for the GS. No, sir. This car made itself known through power. Brute power. 360 foot pounds of torque, at just 2600 rpm, worth.  

This car was Buick's answer to the Pontiac GTO. GM was so big back then that they actually had models and makes competeing against each other. So, for those who thought the GTO and the even Olds version of this car, the 4-4-2, had gotten too gaudy, the GS, based on the humble Skylark, was "decorated" just right. I also like the Chevrolet version of this car, the Chevelle SS, but the Chevelle screamed what it was in a way that the GS doesn't. "Speak softly...



and carry a big stick." This is the only indication that behind this grill is lies a very big stick. The GS also came with an upgraded suspension. Oh, let's not forget about a heavy duty battery too.  

"Speak softly and Carry A Big Stick". Although Mr. Roosevelt used the proverb before his monumentally remarkable presidency, Roosevelt used military muscle several times throughout his two terms. Most notably to enforce the Monroe Doctrine, to quell the Anthracite Coal Strike in 1902 and to  give questionable U.S. diplomatic actions during the pursuit of a canal across Central America some muscle. Right or wrong, his use of military might was judicious and prudent; the threat of greater use of force used to stem off any hostility.

One would be wise to be judicious and prudent while driving this car. As much fun as this Big Stick  is, repeated heavy stabs of it will drain the gs tank quickly. That gets expensive even with gas at half the cost of what it is today. Even gentle use of the 455 results in mileage that's not much better than terrible.



GM is a far cry from what it once was and they certainly don't make 'em like this anymore. They also don't make Presidents like TR anymore.

I'll practice what TR preached and leave this at that.