We arent paid for reviews or other content. Push button ash trays, 6 way power seats? Fortunately, a loyal and dedicated group of friends and family stepped in, not only with a commitment to Guzek's day-to-day support but also with pushing through the rare Buick's restoration. While the owner realized I was serious, he was initially reluctant to sell me the car sight-unseen. -this car was originally equipped with full volcano style wheelcovers and whitewall tires Success came at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in January 2017. In 1970, the GS received the 455 cubic inch V8 for the first time (the 400 had been the top dog previously due to GM corporate engine size mandates). I see a Z in the VIN. Old 98 was as luxurious as any Cadillac back in the day, the Buick Electa 225 was close! This is one of those situations where rare, doesnt necessarily mean more desirable. This delay also gave me the time to get the title in my name, register, and insure the car. I immediately joined. No photos with the top down. "The car was very strong and ran in the 12s through closed exhaust and on street tires," he says. -the mats are dealer display items, used to see them in service cars returned to the customer It's also noteworthy that a number of people supporting him with the restoration are part of the crew behind the Michigan State University Project W-31, which was featured in "Independent Study: Project W-31" (Nov. 2018). How much can you save on your, My experience with Jerry has been absolutely incredible. Joe Guzek's grand plan for restoring his one-off, special-order 1970 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 was literally decades in the making. Soon after, on the advice of his engineer contact at GM, Guzek spoke to Buick engine performance pioneer Jim Bell (later of Kenne-Bell fame) and ordered a camshaft package and a set of Mickey Thompson headers. That think was fast, I never saw him street race it, but he was a regular on Tuesdays at the local drag strips Grudge Night. Not even on drag cars, like hemi dart! The foam pads in front of the air cleaner sealed the induction system to the hood, feeding cool outside air to the Quadrajet below. He encountered the first hurdle after insisting on a special-order 3.91 rearend, which wasn't available. I had one with factory 3 speed, swapped it for a 4 speed..couldnt wait to put the 3 back in. If I just has the $. It's a truism we can all relate to, especially when it comes to car projects and the career demands, family obligations, and plain-old procrastination that conspire to thwart them. The once-formidable A-body was the stoplight scourge of Lansing, Michigan, but it would be rejuvenated yet, thanks to aloyal and dedicated group of friends and family who stepped in to push the rare Buick's restoration and support Guzek himself. This is the only known example special-ordered with the Cinnamon Firemist exterior color. Get new comment updates via email. Tires: P245/60R15 BFGoodrich Radial T/A The important thing is this rare Stage 1, with its special-order features, is back on the street, thanks to a tremendous group effort. eBay ad states GS 455 So, assuming the 'take rate" for specific Stage 1 colors was the same as non-stage cars, the percentages of Stage 1 cars with each color should be something like this: https://www.hotrod.com/articles/muscle-car-paint-trim-color-combos-look-mismatched-actually-arent/, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. I can't say enough good things about Buick people. It took some arm twisting to get that order through, but as an engineer at auto supplier and wheel manufacturer Motor Wheel Corporation, he had connections within General Motors. If you ordered the 4-speed transmission, Stage 1 cars also got a larger clutch. "This car represents a lot of great memories from a time when I wanted to show taillights to anyone who challenged. Nope, wrong, Look at the VIN. & the 1st car maker to offer a car with ventless front windows AND hidden wipers click more photos in Our hero carthe red, four-speed GS featured herewas sent to racers Doug Jones and Dave Benisek. Doc'edIt probably comes as no surprise that Joe Guzman kept his one-of-a-kind Buick's important documents, several of which are seen here. Decades after its racing career ended, the Jones-Benisek Stage 2 received a frame-off restoration back to its racing configuration. ", As it turns out, the factory was right in abandoning the color, as Guzek admits the finish wasn't good, noting how it "was splotchy and uneven.". The factory production order body sheet shows "Cinammon" at the bottom in reference to the car's special-order paint. You build an even more brutal engine. You can extrapolate and make a numerical guess at it, but it is still just a guess. Special parts: Custom rear axle, roll bar, Read MoreAll the Cars Being Discontinued for 2020GM's X-Cars: Anatomy of a Miserable FailureThis Enigmatic Buick Race Car Was Way Ahead of Its Time. And while time slips are not publicly available for the Kenne-Bell car, the team reported quarter-mile times in the 10s. Skylark GS sales were small compared to the competition from Ford and Chevrolet, but the few that made it out the door left their mark. Powerful and beautiful, this 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1 is also quite rare, offered as one of just 118 units built. Despite the $4,579 list price for the car, the dealer sales sheet from April 1970 shows an out-the-door price of $4,100not a bad bit of haggling for a one-off muscle car! Bidding is up to 30ish but I am sure the reserve is in the 60s+. Of those 232 cars, 67 were equipped with a Muncie M21 four-speed transmission, and only 22 rolled off the line with air conditioning. (Special Car Order) that included the custom paintjob. PDF Skylark Gran Sport Production Figures 1965 - 1972 When was I coming? Occupying the engine Bay is a 455ci V8 that pumps out 350hp and an incredible 510 ft/lbs of torque. Im looking to buy a newer used car, and I like the Ford Focus ST. The first modification I made was to remove the straight bench and replace it with a notchback bench seat. The muscle car era peaked in 1970 and was the pinnacle year for big block power plants from General Motors when it came to horsepower, torque, and compression ratios. Buick's Sonomatic AM radio was a $69.51 option in 1970. I remember these add on under the dash units they were quality 8-track players when there were not many others available. Im an Olds man. And dont ask me why an SS-396 is worth much more than a GS. Someone was actually selling one of the 67 1970 Stage 1 four-speed convertibles. RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks. This is not saying that the parts that replicate the GS Stage 2 Buick 455 cu-in motor arent under the hood, but the only originally GS Stage 2 Buicks that exist are the ones that were sent out by Buick to, Buying Parts To Turn Your Stage 1 Into A Stage 2, Buick didnt let the roadblocks get in the way of giving their raced-crazed consumers what they wanted. This one's the GS455 equipped with the Stage 1 performance package. You see, Buick offered a similar hue, dubbed Fireglow Orange, in 1969, which is when Guzek took a liking to it. Chevrolet gives sixth-gen Camaro a Panther-themed sendoff. Now, before many of you start writing in to protest, throw shade, or skeptically ask which axle was installed at the factory (i.e., a specially fitted "corporate" axle or perhaps the Canadian-market Chevy 12-bolt), the short answer is we don't know. Since Stage 2 iron askedI'll ask a similar question if this detail of data exists: No breakdown by specific paint color with vinyl top. Base Olds 442 Holiday Coupe (hardtop) msrp was approximately $3740 Ive been on the lookout for a 1970 Buick GS Stage 1 but Im not having any luck. A decade later, it had scarcely covered a further 2,500. log book has oil changes well before 3000 miles also gas mileage with gallons purchased. Get new comment updates via email. The result was a family-looking car that could pull 13.4 seconds in the quarter mile at 105 mph. Tires: G60-15 Goodyear Polyglas My mom has been carless for a few weeks because the battery in her 2013 Honda Accord died and she cant afford to replace it. Besides, it's a thousand miles away, and these cars don't come up for sale often, if ever," I said. 1972 Buick GS The cars bring you together, but the people keep you together. Duane Heckman, the Buick guru, will forget more than I'll ever know, but he's been more than willing to have many hour-long conversations to share his knowledge over the years. RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks. Pontiac had a period of innovation during the 60s and 70s, but the things youre describing are mostly styling choices and brand preference. Ten years ago, you could get a GS 455 in the mid-$20k range. Engine: 455ci/360hp Buick Stage 1 V-8 Lets find out. It's also noteworthy that a number of people supporting him with the restoration are part of the crew behind the Michigan State University Project W-31, which was featured in "Independent Study: Project W-31" (Nov. 2018; bit.ly/2PwamZU). Detailing This car, Lot 707, sold for $110,000, including buyer's premium, at Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale Fall Auction on October 24, 2020. The original went to the scrapyard decades ago, and Guzek doesn't recall what axle was actually installed, only that it had the 3.91 gears he wanted. & having the most powerful V8 in 73 & 74 that rivaled many 60s motors even with its low 8.4 to 1 compression! We also don't know how many of the Fire Red or Regal Black cars were Stage 1's, and how many were GS455's w/o the stage 1 option. Guzek daily drove the car for about five years. The GS 455s already-astounding 510-lb ft of torque was complemented by the 10 additional horses added by the Stage 1 option. The whole idea of the Buick Stage 2 prototype was to eventually turn the project into a production off-the-line streetable drag car that could compete in Super Stock classes at the drag strip. The only issue? Looks like the floor mats are a paper type with the original dealership name and information maybe for car shows, Looks like seller has documents from original owner that shows they ordered the car with hubcaps also the rim blower steering wheel which is included in the sale. The paint holds a wonderful depth of color and shine, with no apparent blemishes or problems. Buick GSX: A Limited Edition Muscle Car (1970-1972) The once-formidable A-body, which was the stoplight scourge of Lansing, Michigan, languished for years in restoration purgatory. The Buick chrome road wheels look very similar to Magnum 500s especially these, which fit the smaller GM bolt pattern used on compact and mid-sized cars but the spokes are more narrow and have a slight concave curvature, where the Mag 500 spokes are straight. And they did it admirably beginning in 1965 with the Gran Sport, shortened to GS in later years. To keep track of the results for the Stage 2 Buick GS and all the other great cars at Mecum Las Vegas, download the free Hagerty Insider app, which allows you to access Hagertys price guide, follow along with live auctions, and see details of recent sales of your favorite cars. Oldsmobile was considered GMs experimental division. ), etc. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 3) Diplomat Blue - 1769. The Skylark received a period-perfect facelift for 1970 and was paired with a new optional big-bore 455 in GS trim. the orignal owner wanted to fly under the radar with this car. 1970 Buick GS 455 & GS 455 Stage 1 | Hemmings Still its a nice car, and if youre planning to drive it, the best thing to do would be swap in a 5 or 6 speed in it anyway, and put the 3 speed on a shelf. We know how many Fire Red or Regal Black cars were produced, and we know how many cars were produced with black vinyl tops, but we don't know how many had both. Base Olds 442 Holiday Coupe (hardtop) msrp was approximately $3740 Buick Skylark GS 455 w/Stage I package was approximately $3400. , (Introductory description courtesy of Barrett-Jackson. From Buick 1970 They're the cars you've been asking us to make. First of all, the torque on this engine is ridiculous. 09/23/2018 Comments: 0 In This Article Category: Muscle Cars Buick shifted gears with its 1965 Gran Sport introduction, powering away from the geriatric Geritol consumers and heading straight for the youth of America who were quickly becoming major players in the automotive market. The odometer had just over 1,000 miles on it in 2010 when it first appeared at auction. Cant argue with facts. If only the asking price wasnt so expensive! And at the time, few cars were capable of beating those numbers. "This car represents a lot of great memories from a time when I wanted to show taillights to anyone who challenged. Rare 1970 Buick 455 Stage 1 Drowns and Needs 45-Year Rescue Because a similar color was offered by Cadillac for 1970, the special paint order was finally accepted. The 1970 Buick GS Stage 2 was going to be produced as a predecessor to the Buick GS Stage 1. Muscle Crusher - 1970 Buick GS Stage 1 In 1988, my daily driver was a 1971 Skylark convertible, the most fun daily driver I have ever owned. included with the sale is the full disc hubcaps and the rim blower steering wheel. Built on the thin-pillar coupe chassis it came equipped with the 340 ci/260 hp engine and Super Turbine 300 transmission. Hagerty was great to work with, understanding my situation exactly. Luckily, it was replaced in the restoration with a 3.91 gear in a custom setup from DTS. Ultrarare 1970 Buick GS455 Stage 1 Four-Speed Convertible Is Driven - a Surprised to see how popular it was back then! Of these, 232 . It's a relationship that has spanned about 30 years, as Reeve and Guzek's network and friends and relatives pushed to get the resto over the finish line in time for the 2019 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals. You could argue that unified ignition LED to HEI, but none of the other things you mention had the impact of Oldsmobiles engineering contributions to GM as a whole.. That Z Hass to be an H or its not a stage one, There is a Z instead of an H in the van that is not a true stage one be careful people this could be a clone Nice car but not a stage one big difference. rkammer Gold Level Contributor. Currently there's a modern radio behind the stock eight-track. The color had long since disappeared from the paint chip books, so Reeve mixed and mixed again until the correct color was matched against a sample on an original panel that hadn't been exposed to sunlight. T-400 with a dual gate, 4:33 rear end The only Stage ones I saw were the ones I put in the weedsso they are Boo-ick. Total GS production for that model year was 20,096 cars, making this Convertible a tiny slice of what was a pretty delicious pie. Buick, however, was always between Olds & Caddy in the GM Hierarchy. The exra yraction and the lack of that extra shift cost me a couple of defeats at the track. The body and paint look quite good as does the passenger compartment with split front seats. That happened to a lot of us, drive-in, bench seat, 9 months later Daddy, This car was special ordered in August 1969 The owner ordered it with power windows power seats power steering power disc brakes AM/FM radio along with the speaker in the rear tilt steering with the optional rim blower steering wheel rear window defroster The original four hubcaps will be along with the sale as well as the steering wheel this car is completely matching numbers engine transmission rear end distributor and intake n carb The engine has been completely rebuilt with forged pistons along with balance and blueprint along with TA performance parts cam timing cover and gears along with this car is an original logbook which includes oil changes well before 3000 miles points tires etc. -Dog dish caps were the base equipment for this car, and were not uncommon (especially for buyers that already had a set of mags waiting for the car..) GM really, really didn't want to spray the Buick that color. Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. Hardtop 400 Stage 1 9 415 832 1,256 Convertible 400-4v 48 213 1,303 1,564 Convertible 400 Stage 1 4 77 131 212 TOTAL GS PRODUCTION FOR 1969 19,257 1970 Models Engine Type Manual Auto Number 3 speed 4 speed 350 400 Produced Hardtop 350-4v 224 884 8,840 9,948 Hardtop 455-4v 66 510 5,013 5,589 Hardtop 455 Stage 1 16 664 1,785 2,465 Emblems were added, This car was special ordered in August 1969 with power steering power windows power disc brakes and power seats AM/FM radio with the speaker in the rear along side the rear window defroster. I have learned to become involved in the things I enjoy. Two cars were selected as testing prototypes for the Stage 2. Black over brown/saddle interior smells like a color change to me. Your premiums wont automatically lower once you own your car, but youll likely have the option to reduce your coverage, which results in lower premiums. Only 21,832 original miles show on the odometer. in 1970 This one should be mine! I have always been into Buicks. Owned by: Joe Guzek See all 26 photos. Those Buick engines made loads of torque, and it felt great.". Factory options included power steering, power disc brakes, an AM radio with a rear speaker, G60-15 steel wheels with dog-dish hubcaps, A/C, tinted glass, a remote driver's mirror, and a tachometer and full-gauge instrumentation. Plain Jane Brawn: 1970 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 | Barn Finds I felt I had made a huge mistake selling it and leaving me Buick-less (thankfully, that only lasted three months). I could be wrong. When I was in high school, a local cop had a black, white interior, 70 GS 455 Stage 1, automatic coupe. How does Farmers roadside assistance measure up to competition like AAA? & swiss cheese frames. Sign up for our free daily email and youll never miss another find: Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases. If considered as an original survivor, this Buicks interior appears to need nothing.
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