1970 Buick GSX (455 & 455 Stage 1) - Performance & Luxury in a Muscle Car & How to Buy One Cheap!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ม.ค. 2023
- Learn more about one of the best muscle cars in automotive history: the 1970 Buick GSX, powered by a high compression 455 Buick V8 engine.
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Poor Adam doesn't realize that he created the ultimate old man boomer channel.
Thanks Adam for this channel, you really bring back some great memories
Hey, I'm Gen X
@@manthony225 Me too.
@@manthony225 Same here
Same here
I'm Gen Z
I bought a 1970 Buick GSX in saturn yellow brand new (I know, I'm old) in May 1969. I got the car loaded with Turbo 400, A/C, PW, PL, etc. which was very rare for that car back in those days. I believe I paid about $5,700 for it. A lot of money for an intermediate car back then. The 1970 GSX came with a 3:64 axle ratio, but with A/C, it was 3:42 like you mentioned. I kept the car about 3 years.
Even with all the options, it could beat mostt LS6 Chevelles in a race. And they couldn't get A/C on their LS 6 engine cars.
Boy did that hurt the Chevy guys. Good times and so many memories.
More muscle cars please Adam.
I took my car into the dealer and they gave me a GSX as a loaner. I drove that 455 cu.in. Monster for two days. All I can say is WOW! Just WOW!
That 70 Buick GSX was one mean car in the day. I remember it in that yellow color.
Although the Olds 442 remains my favorite, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Buick GS & GSX models…and now I know why… Buick and Olds really did some fine work on their muscle cars.
I was in grammar school in the mid to late 60's and nothing was more exciting than a new American car. Every September was like heaven.
I'm an old guy and lived thru this era. I'm A Blue Oval guy, but the GSX may be my ultimate muscle car. I knew a guy who had a HEMI Super Bee back then and the GSX was the only car that could beat him. Other favorites are the Hurst/Olds, big block Torinos with the laser stripe and window louvers, AAR Cuda and 1969 Mach 1 Cobra Jet.
I remember back when I was a kid and working at McDonald’s
The guy on the grill had a GS 455 stage 1, mint green
Ah what a beautiful car it was but back in 78 it was just another performance car you could have bought for $1000, like my 1970 chevelle as 396 Muncie 4 speed
Boy you just don’t know what you have till it’s gone
Crazy torque down low made these dominate at stop lights. Fast in the quarter, they were even faster in the eighth.
There's also the 69-70 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ (that has muscle car performance in a personal luxury coupe) as well.
My parents got a good deal on a well taken care of 1968 LeSabre in the 80s so they bought it for me to drive to high school and I hadn't even got my license yet. Even though it was only the 350 4V, it had 10.25 compression and a beautifully tuned cam for the engine, producing 280 hp and 375 lbs/ft of torque. This was also an engine developed as a lesser option for the Gran Sport of '68 brought over to the LeSabre.
It was the most beautiful sounding V8 I've ever owned, with only a very lightly modded Ford 5.0L pushrod and also the 4.6 SOHC coming anywhere near close.
I loved that car and regretted selling it.
I can't imagine how wonderful the 455s must have been.
Hey Adam, thanks for the history lesson on this very rare Buick!! I find the information fascinating!!! I'm glad that you are sticking your toes into the muscle car pond!!! 👍🙂👍
I worked from age 12 to buy my first car when I turned 16. I saved a thousand dollars but my Dad didn't want me to buy a car immediately after getting my license. One evening in 1978 he came home and told me he had bought me a car and I owed him $1000. I asked what he got me, A Buick he said. I was crushed as I thought Chevies or Fords were the cars to get. Turns out he bought a convertible 1970 Buick GS Stage 1 with a 4 speed. So my first car was one of the fastest and rarest cars to come out of Detroit at the time. I believe only 68 were made in that configuration. It was a tough car to learn how to drive a manual on.
That’s a pretty awesome first car!
It was, can't replace the experience or the car. the 455 Stage 1 had oil issues so most have not survived. Almost impossible to find a numbers matching car and if I could I wouldn't be able to afford it :)
All I can say Tom, is you have one GREAT dad!
My Dad was great but didn't know about cars, he had thought he bought a nice safe Buick :)
The GSX is very under rated IMO. Comfortable luxury car with a big engine crammed up front and muscle car styling made for an interesting ride in comparison to other offerings.
I owned a 1968 GS400 Convertable. Bought new for around $3200. I had it for 5 years.I loved the car but replaced 4 water pumps !
I’m usually a Ford fan but I love Buick muscle! The perfect blend of luxury and performance
Thank you for a great review of the GS & GSX! Our HS shop teacher had two GSX’s. I’ve had a soft spot for them ever since ;-). He was a great instructor!
Have always loved Buick V8s
Adam, I see you are venturing out into heavily charted territory. 😉 😉 It was certainly a surprise to learn about the Buick Century's performance past.
Why not give it a try? Put my own spin on it.
@@RareClassicCars You certainly did that by astutely directing us to the far more attainable Wildcat and LeSabre. 😁
@@RareClassicCars it's kind of like when people are talking about the GTO some people start talking about the awesome Catalina 2+2
@@RareClassicCars keep it up. And I definitely want to see more vids about your monte.
@@mowallday Yes, we are due for a full video on the Monte Carlo.
Adam, I was briefly worried that you were falling down the muscle car rabbit hole... But I was mistaken. Great video, as always. Informative, as always.
Nah. I love them, but my spin is more about the history and less about the performance.
Muscle cars are cool but way out of my financial wheelhouse.
@@jeffrobodine8579 Agreed, they've become too "cool" and popular, and priced into the stratosphere. Many of the cars Adam presents are within many people's grasp, or at least closer to it. That's part of why he has such a good channel, it's much closer to the average person.
Luckily Adam was wearing his full harness with sensible safety helmet and steered us back towards more attainable full-size Buicks in the end. 😉
@@rightlanehog3151 Precisely!😊
A half century ago I had a 1972 GS convertible. Amazing car, I still wish I'd kept it. Drank gas like a fish, of course, but fast and luxurious and the last year before the bloated '73 models with no drop tops.
Nice!
My dad had a 72 GS back in the 70's. He loved that car. This past Thanksgiving, we surprised him with a solid black one with a 4 on the floor. Granted, I drove it around a bit just to work out any bugs it could have. I see why he liked it so much, it is a lot of fun to drive.
The '73 Grand Sport was still pretty cool and had plenty of power still, much more rare to see in nice condition these days than a '72.
THAT old Buick Century is beautiful.
I should have guessed that the GSX would be Adam’s muscle car! “Go fast with class”, I’ve seen written…
My favorite muscle car.
1973 Javelin with the 401 .
What a cool car.Good looking and drew a lot of attention.I owned a 73 amx for about 8 years.Purple or plum g4 paint.
The 70 GSX Used To Whip Them All At The Pure Stock Muscle Car Drags.
Always my favorite of any brand of muscle cars from 1970, even more than the very close runner up, the 1970 Chevelle SS 454.
Indeed, one of the best muscle cars
Great video! The 1970 SS Chevelle 454 LS6 and the 1970 GSX 455 Stage 1 are some rare and awesome GM muscle cars.
My old bud three decades ago had this same Saturn Yellow GSX. Last I heard he still has it. Enormous torque is what it had! Beautiful awesome car.
This car is from a time when GM was on top of their styling game. And I say that as a Ford guy, although I do make an exception for Corvettes.
Great job Adam, as usual. My friend, back in the mid-seventies, had a gorgeous 1971 GranSport with a 350 coupled to a 4-speed and that car was still scrappy even with the smaller engine
The GS and GSX are my favorite Muscle car. I have a diecast model of both. I would love to own one one day. Thanks for another great video.
AHHH, wish I never sold mine. I had a 70 455 GS four speed and the frame on the passenger side where it starts to curve up to meet the upper control arm would crack by a hole that was punched in the frame. I had the same problem on a 70 Chevelle 454 four speed and that frame cracked almost in the same spot. To fix the cracking I took both cars to a frame shop, and they made a doubler plate to weld onto the frame, neither frame cracked again. Is seems that as time went on from 1964, the engines got bigger with much more H.P. but the frames were beefed up for the extra power and torque. Thanks to Adam for posting.....
Cool, my fave musclecar. I had a 71 skylark i swapped in a gs455 and turbo 400. Loved that car.
Adam and Steve Magnante are walking encyclopedias of the automotive world. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Agreed. By my rough estimate, they should meet somewhere in northern Pennsylvania to split the distance. 😁
Eh... they're both knowledgeable. But I've caught them both making mistakes. This video has one I've already caught regarding the highest torque rating statement he made near the end.
Very cool. I had a '70 GS455 in the early 80's. Not a GSX, but still cool. Torque monster for sure, and the nice Buick interior, good ride quality. Compared to what was on the market for new cars in the early 80's, it was really a rocket. Top end, not so much, but from a stop, not much could match them.
Those Buick's from the late 60's ran like a striped ape. Mom had a 1969 Electra with 430 barrel, raced a kid with a 1977 Trans Am. He beat the Buick out of the hole but by second gear the Buick took an immense lead and it was game over.
Honestly, you are very accurate. Hands down the best automotive guru.
Adam great video brother as always. The Buick Skylark, GS, GSX, and Grand National GNX are definitely by far the coolest Buicks ever.
Probably the coolest of all time. An older guy up the street had a GS455 when I was growing up. I remember the thump thump of the motor and screeching tires. Pity I didn't understand at the time just how cool and unique it really was.
The 1964 Pontiac Tempest GTO is often regarded as the first factory muscle car. It was the factory’s take on hot rodding. Putting a bigger engine in your car for more performance. Jim Wangers gave it a name, “Ferrari GTO” and an image. The big block Buick engines were OK stock, but they all came with a cast crankshaft that wouldn’t survive long after upgrades.
At the time, Car & Driver actually put the Pontiac GTO up against a Ferrari GTO. It wasn't a true head-to-head test, but both cars were put through similar tests. They concluded the Ferrari would be much quicker around a road course (as it should be; it was built for that), while the Pontiac would win a drag race.
In my opinion, the 61 Impala SS was the first true factory muscle car that started it all, even before the GTO. Dan Gurney destroyed the British in Europe with his own 409 and the world was shocked at how powerful it was, that's when everyone got to see the true American muscle.
@@victoria.beilstein996 That was a full size car. The Tempest GTO was an intermediate. A lot of historians sited that as part of being the first. But… the 1962 Downsized Plymouth and Dodge B body cars had the 413 available. Those same cars became the intermediates in 1965. Who knows. The ‘61 SS 409 Impala was certainly a high performance car.
@@drippinglass Cool fact! Never heard about those b-body mopars. The one thing I know for sure is how proud to be american the muscle cars make me feel, then I remeber that i'm mexican of german and french roots without a single drop of high octane usa blood in my veins 🙃.
Some people think the 57 Rambler Rebel 327 was the first muscle car.
Even the Le Saber and Wildcat are so cool!
The lowly Skylark was a pretty nice car although lacking the cubes under hood, the loss is negligible most of the time.
While my friends were always arguing on Pontiac, Dodge/Chrysler, Chevy, or what have you, I was the lone Buick guy. Love them, and hard to beat them, imo. My first was a 1969 LeSabre 400 18 years ago. Miss it dearly.. Miss it so much so, I just got a Buick 350 to mod for my current G-body ('87 Pontiac Grand Prix LE). Great subject, and love your channel! '70 Buick GSX Stage 1 455 is my favorite muslce car during the day as well, dream car!
Of the GM intermediates of 1970, the Buick Skylark and Chevrolet Malibu were the most similar in exterior appearance. But if you sat inside, you could definitely see and feel the difference between the value division and the more luxury-oriented Buick division.
Buicks are in our family’s blood. My first car was a 1972 Electra 225 Sedan with a 455.
I remember my Dad’s 1970 Buick GS. Nice car it was, wish we still had it today!!!
One more thing, how true this is, I don’t know. The story goes like this, back in 1970 a Buick executive wanted a 1970 GSX painted a different color, supposedly it was to be painted black with gold strips. How true that is, don’t know. Never saw any existence of that car, it’s just a story. But if it is true, that car would be worth big bucks$$$. Just like production car 001 of the “G” Body, the 1987 GNX, which Buick still own’s to this day!!!🇺🇸
Buick made one 1971 Black GSX and it exists today.
Thanks for keeping me up-to-date, Adam, I have never seen or heard of this one. What a beast.
Thr turbo Buick GNX is ancestor to the GSX they were classy and fast
The 68-69 Skylark and Gran Sport are immensely gorgeous cars. While they might've not had the sem performance cred of the GSX, I'd gladly take the earlier looks.
Really enjoy your videos this is especially good. I realize you are busy and have a family but could you at some point cover the mini truck craze of the 70s and 80s and the history behind the mini truck. For me that was basically my first truck and got me started into owning trucks.
More Buicks and muscle cars please. Father had ‘70 Electra 225. Loving old Buicks since day one. Your videos are very enjoyable, educational, and well done. Thank you.
Thanks for another great video. This has become the channel I most look forward to watching when Adam releases new videos.
Damn, that 36 Buick is beautiful, I dont recall seeing one before, good as always Adam, Thanks.
Very good video and I liked hearing about the cars you mentioned Adam. Very good history and footage with the video. There was indeed Buick performance before Regal Grand National and GNX. It is appreciated Adam.
Had the exact car and exact colour here in Australia and couldn't sell it for the life of me. Finally found a U.S buyer and sold it for $200,000AUD and bought my dream car a 1970 HG Holden monaro GTS, had to put in another $50k to buy it, but it's insured for $700,000k. Goooo Australian muscle!!! 😜
My oldest brother had a 72 Buick GS with 350 and 4 speed and it was no slouch. Loved that car . I wish I would have gotten it but was too young when he decided to sale it. To me it was always the" One car" that got away lol.
You excluded the 1970 Riviera which is guaranteed to come with the 370hp 455 where it's optional on a LeSabre. Rivieras could have also had GS and Stage 1 options. Buicks 510 lb-ft of torque is still lower than the Cadillac 472's 525 lb-ft and the 500's 550 lb-ft.
The end note about other cars to substitute was excellent, with the details
1963-1973 is the best decade for American cars. 1970 was the last year the big blocks were pure. But the ones afterwards are easily modified to make that power back
Great video. Thanks for all the research you do.
I would recommend a Riviera GS for half the cost. Also the 1965 Riviera GS was not much larger than a GTO. Came with dual quads and was quicker than the 65 Gran sport. The switch pitch 2800 stall really performs better than the TH400. You could also get rear gears ranging up to 4.45 ratio.
I personally own a 1967 Riviera GS with no power options and a set of original 3.91 gears posi trac. It is every bit as fast as an SS427.
Buick could of named it the GS430 if they wanted to.
The way my Riviera was order makes it a tire scorcher and weighs the least. It has no power windows or A/C as well as the upgraded strato bench. Power antenna was not ordered.
The bucket seats and console didn't cost extra but they weighed more.
My car comes in at 4150 LBS.
Something to consider. A Riviera GS of any year with the low gear set and I promise you, you will feel the POWER!
I've always wondered if the 70 Riviera GS either had or could be ordered with the Stage One? Any thoughts?
Buick accidentally 🎉installed 150 Stage 1 engines in the 1970 Electra and kept quiet about this. I heard this from a top Buick guru in the Buick GS Club back in 1988. He found one in a junk yard and pulled the engine. Code is SS on the block.
4150 is pretty light for a car that size. My 95 Road Master came in at 4,200.
Thanks for doing a Muscle Car! My fav subject.
Hi Adam, nice video, The 1970 Buick GSX is one of the most valuable High Performance Automobiles ever produced. I like the term "High Performance Automobile" over the term "Muscle Car" because I think that "Muscle Car" is more of a figure of speech. Please reply. Dave...
Adam, please do a video of when, why, and how American auto manufacturers started to hide screws in the interior and exterior of cars.
I enjoyed the video but have had my fill of muscle cars. I REALLY enjoy your everyday cars which is what I remember most.
In the late 70's, my buddy had a 70 GS455 convertible. This car was easily as fast as another friend's 69 Chevelle w/454, and also yet another friend's 70 Mach 1 with a Boss 351 engine. Thing about that GS is that it had 9.5" drum brakes all around, and no rear sway bar. To say that car was dangerous would be an understatement! Insane power with no brakes and suspension, you could easily get into trouble...which my friend did. He crashed it, and off to the junkyard it went. It really was a great car, but it needed some better brakes and suspension.
A great review of this car, Adam. And I"m glad you showed a white one -- yellow ones are usually featured.
My little brother had that yellow beast a few years ago with the 4 speed
HI ADAM,, THANK'S FOR BRINGING OUT THE BUICK MUSCLE CARS ,,GREAT VIDEO!! I DID'NT SEE A 1978 BUICK SKYLARK IN THE VIDEO SOME GUY'S ARE BUILDING THEM UP THAT YEAR ,,. MY SELF INCLUDED.. THANK''S,,..
I Like where you're going with some muscle cars. Keep it up
The first muscle car is the Chrysler 300. A factory production model made specifically for performance based of a regular car. Impala SS, Pontiac GTO, Falcon Sprint, Mustang GT followed from what the Chrysler 300 started regardless of size.
A car lover could be very happy never buying anything but Buick. I mean it.
Love the GSX. Small correction though - you stated that the 400 was a destroked version of the 430, but that isn't the case. The 400, 430, and 455 engines all shared the same 3.9" stroke crankshaft; it was the bore size that was different between the three.
I thought the Pontiac GTO was generally regarded as the first true muscle car, but I see this will always be debatable. Good video and the 68 Skylark GS picture reminded me of one a family friend used to own.
Thanks Adam…. was wondering when you’d get around to some muscle….
Not a muscle guy in my youth, but today I would love to have a banker’s hot rod…like a ’71 GS. My dad had a bunch of Buicks… ’52, ’55, ’56 Roadmasters, a 61 Electra, and a ’66 Riviera GS, which became the first car I drove legally.
When I went off to college and needed wheels, dad gave me a blank check and said “Get what you want” - despite doing the same with my brother…..and regretting it **.
Did I chose a ’71 GS?…… Noooooo. Inexplicably, I chose an Audi 100LS. It was a great car in all respects and I loved it…. but in hindsight I wish I had continued the family tradition with a ’71 GS 455, perhaps in burnished cinnamon…. no vinyl top.
** my brother got a ’66 Impala SS, 427 (w/full race factory options) which would never start on frigid New England mornings…..NOTE: push starting with a Riv is not recommended.
Love buicks my uncle still owns his buick GSX stage 1 455 1970 saturn yellow his has a little over 50k miles since he purchased new he paid over 42 or a little over 4300 bucks back then
Enjoyed!!!
Adam, how about a video on the Buick Apollo? They usually had a stock 350, at least most of the ones I saw back in the day, and could easily be upgraded to a 4 barrel for a nice sleeper ride. The Nova based Skylarks were also pretty nice
Good advice about getting that great stump pulling torque in a slightly larger package. Impromptu road trips become no-brainers with the cavernous backseat and trunk. Besides, room for friends and thier accoutrement
What a treat !
Fun fact, if you install an aluminum intake on a Buick 455, it will weigh the same as a vintage small block Chevy. It also weighs 150 pounds lighter than a 454 Chevrolet big block.
Then 17 years later Buick unloaded the GNX that was quicker than anything except the 911 Turbo. I have the vidoe of it spanking the TT Callaway Vette.
I had a 1970 Buick Wildcat that had 370 h.p & 510 ft. lbs. of torque & I don't believe for one second that the Stage one wasn't at least 400 h.p!!!
I happen to own a couple of these die cast cars, in both Apollo white and Saturn yellow. Unfortunately both are not for sale
Good for you, using the word alacrity!
A girl in my high school had one Buick 455 stage..
She never checked oil blew engine and junked it..
I tried to get it but to late..
Great Adam! Do you own cars in this category?
that's my baby i have both the real gs and the skylark 350 TO ordered with a tow package so both have the BOP 8.5 rear axle HD sway bar and jounce bars i love A bodies i know every bolt every seem and spot weld the only down side is thin frames anything other than perfect museum pieces i box and rap the frame like I'm building a pro hopper lowrider you can twist the factory frame by hand sitting on jack stands when I'm done they drive like their on rails. PSA the rear HD sway bar and front jounce bars from a 9C1 caprice police car work amazing on these and help reduce stress cracking in the frame. FYI the 1964 pontiac is the father of all muscle cars not the rum runner.
Sure is hard to follow what you write when its one long sentence. Seems like you have cool things to say.
Me gusta el carro
Lets see more muscle cars please
I have 2 1965 GTOs and 2 Grand Prixs. I gotta say I like the Pontiacs better but the Buick GS and GSXs were nice too.
the 400 isn't a de-stroked 430, it has the same stroke but smaller bore. And the Buick 455 also has the same stroke but larger bore than the 430.
Unfortunately a ‘70 LeSabre coupe didn’t come with a manual transmission and bucket seats. But something in black, red or navy would certainly turn my head 😊
You could get a manual in it. Auto trans was optional.
@@RareClassicCars Only a column shifted 3 speed from what I recall though. They probably made 5 of them.
I'd love to find an old Buick 455 to put in my 1996 Roadmaster sedan. The LT1 is pretty good. But the Roadmaster is just begging for a big block.
Nooo keep that baby stock! Its the last and best of the B bodies! Its $$$$$$ you kill the resale with aftermarket mods!
It seemed like every time Buick made a muscle car, they sold the heck out of them. But then they would revert back to making your grandfather's cars.
1:03 The Rocket 88 was also the inspiration for what some have called the first rock & roll record, which itself helped launch the career of bandleader Ike Turner. th-cam.com/video/260hXID0Yo0/w-d-xo.html
Are the 64 Tempest GTO and the Buick GSX the book ends of the muscle car era? What's the last muscle car of the 70's?
It depends on what you consider a "Muscle Car". Are pony cars Muscle cars? Some folks say no. Was a Monte or a Tbird an Muscle car? How about a Chrysler 300? Some folks limit 'Muscle cars' to intermediate models like The Satellite, Road Runner, Coronet, Charger, Fairlane, Torino, GTO, Chevell. 442 or GS, or AMC's Rebel. It all depends on how far you want to stretch the definition. Some of the Rivieras were fast too!
@@keithstudly6071 I always define "muscle car" as an intermediate with a high output V8
Or if you're like me in my younger days you buy a 70 Electra yank out the motor rebuild it with extra goodies and stuff it into a 68 gran sport and you get a big block camaro eater ahh what fun that was
I bet the Buick 430ci or 400ci would make a great engine to turbocharge. Sadly the 455 has too large of a bore and they are susceptible to breaking over 500-600hp n/a. I love the way the Buicks look and the interior is a huge step up over a Chevelle.
I would expect 426 Cudas to get poor traction at the drag strip unless modified.
At 510 ft lbs of Buick torque,I'm sure it had worse traction issues.