Vehicle Description
The Gentlemen's Muscle Car that you could drive fast with class!
Buick's Gran Sport name became synonymous with high performance
power as soon as it started production in 1965 with its 400ci V8,
which was the largest engine permitted by General Motors. In 1970
the power increased even further with the addition of the Grand
Sports big block 455ci V8 producing the most torque of any American
production car of its era! The Stage I Performance Option bought
you a high output 455ci with ram air cold air induction, ported
heads with larger intake/exhaust valves, aggressive high lift
camshaft, stiffer valve spring & damper assemblies, high volume
fuel pump, rejetted Rochester carburetor, special built TH400
automatic transmission (if equipped), heavy duty radiator, low
restriction dual exhaust, and performance axle ratio with positive
traction. Publicized as having 360 horsepower, most felt Buick
clearly unrated its true output. Only 232 GS455 Stage 1
Convertibles were produced in 1970 making them one of the hardest
cars to find on the market today! With insurance and emission
standards on the rise, these powerful cars became even more
desirable and sought after as productions cars after 1971 just
weren't the same.
We are very proud to offer this incredibly original 1970 Buick
GS455 Stage 1 Convertible. Finished in its original factory color
code (45) Seamist Green over (175) Pearl White interior with
matching White convertible top! Featuring an original, numbers
matching 455ci Stage 1 Ram Air V8 producing 360hp and
ground-pounding 510 lb-ft of torque paired with its factory Turbo
Hydra-matic 400 Stage 1 pitch automatic transmission and 10-bolt
3.42 rear axle ratio with Posi-traction. Being only 1 of 232 Stage
1 convertibles produced, this Grand Sport was special-ordered
loaded with options including air conditioning, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, 4-way power adjustable vinyl notch
back bench seat, electric convertible soft top with rear window
defrost, AM/FM radio with a rear speaker, custom front & rear
seatbelts with unique front shoulder belts, tilt steering wheel,
cruise control, remote outside mirror, tachometer & instrument
gauges, Rallye steering wheel, door guards, California emissions,
and the Rallye Ride Package which includes Super Sport wheels, rear
stabilizer bar, firm ride front & rear shocks, firm ride rear
springs, and rear lower control arm assembly!
This Buick was a special "Brass Hat" vehicle meaning a factory
executive from the company ordered this Gran Sport specifically
equipped with every option they desired. After approximately 5,000
miles of corporate use being driven around the Detroit area, the
car was finally sold "new" through Glen Wilson Buick-Oldsmobile Inc
in Fenton, Michigan. It would be titled for the first time to
Kenneth Anderson on March 18th, 1971 from Oak Park, Michigan who
kept this treasured vehicle in his possession for the nest 46
years! During his ownership, it would travel to his home in Los
Altos, California, and later to a new residence in Orlando,
Florida.
During a car show in Kissimmee, Florida, Ken would meet Mike Norman
who just happened to specialize in GS455 Stage I restorations,
having already completed 4 Stage I cars at that time. The chance
meeting sparked the idea of restoring this special Stage I
Convertible in preparation of Buick's 100th Anniversary Celebration
held in Flint, MI in 2003. Not only was it professionally finished
in time for the show, but it was also driven every mile from
Florida to Michigan under its own power to successfully showcase
amongst 2,000 Buick automobiles at the festival! It would then go
on to another journey to Batavia, NY for the 2005 Buick Nationals
earning its Buick Club of American Senior honors.
It would eventually sell to a prominent collector of rare muscle
cars in North Carolina in June 2017, and ultimately come to our
facility in May 2022 totaling just three owners since new! Included
with the sale are the original warranty Protect-O-Plate with the
original owner's name, laminated window sticker, owner's manual,
copy of former title in original owner's name, Sloan Museum/ Buick
Gallery Research Center factory production breakdown, and Car
Collector magazine September 2005 featuring the amazing story of
this GS455 Stage I Convertible. These Ram Air Buicks are incredibly
difficult to find, and rarely come to market. Especially in such an
amazing condition and long option list! Blue chip muscle car
collectors should not hesitate when offered the chance to own one
of these ultra-rare General Motors big block convertibles. Thanks
for your interest and please call our sales team with any questions
or to schedule a viewing inspection.
