This car in the forefront is Tom Wustrack’s baby, racing Perry Carlini at the last racing event in 2000 at Byron.
This is the 1972 Skylark that Tom has crafted into a 1972 GSX. Tom bought the car 1993 with no motor or transmission that came painted gold with half of a black vinyl roof. Hi first engine was a totally stock low compression 455 and TH 400 switch pitch transmission with a stock manifolds and a dual exhaust. On 275 Fleet-Farm tires and it ran 14.90s
Tom has done a lot to restore this car with a fresh trunk floor, a Year One quarter panel on the passenger side, a clean drivers side fender and a patch panel on the passenger side front fender. Tom painted car over the winter of 1999-2000. He continues to thank the NAPA store in Berlin Wisconsin for all the advice they gave on painting the car and choosing the color and type of paint to use. He requested a white paint that would be easy to use since he painted it his garage. Being the first car he ever painted with the change from gold to white there was a lot of work to paint it.
A grille and clean bumpers completed the bright work. Features include a sandalwood interior with leather seats from a 1996 Regal GS, and the sport mirrors. Tom has been busy mechanically as well as the current engine is the third 455 he has installed in the car.
The latest motor features a 1972 - 455 block with ported 1970 heads modified to Stage 1 specifications with S1 stainless valves, sealed power forged pistons with stock rods with ARP bolts and ARP studs in mains and BHJ balancer. Valve train includes a Poston 105A cam, pushing Poston push rods, and used K-B rollers and T/A springs. Fuel management includes a T/A SPI intake, ported by Baker Racing with an old 1050 Holley carburetor. K-B 2” pulse headers handle exhaust duties. Spark is provided by an Accell ignition box with stinger S4 distributor.
That 455 power is delivered to the rear wheels through a TH 400 transmission with a 10” 3400 stall Trans King converter powering a 4:10 geared 12-bolt differential.
Tom added the Stage II scoop on the Skylark hood, and just bought a Poston girdled oil pan and a big Buick club cam for his goal of 11:30’s or 11:40’s in the quarter mile. Tom admits suspension work will be needed with the cam change this year. Tom’s winter project will include installation of a roll bar to keep the track folks happy.
Tom has done all the work on the car, and incredible as it sounds it still runs on pump gas. The best time to date is 11:552 second at 115 MPH this past October at Byron, on the new motor. The picture is from that run. As we said in the beginning Tom has crafted quite a car.
Tom says “I hope to see you all this year at Byron, and maybe at Wisconsin International Raceway, in Kaukauna, WI.” Please make sure you congratulate Tom on all his hard work when you see him racing this summer. His beautiful Buick represents what going fast with class is all about.