Vehicle Description
1970 Buick GS455 GSX
During the late Sixties, performance was being served up by nearly
every domestic auto manufacturer. Pony cars, intermediates and
full-size leviathans were all fair game for those with a heavy
right foot in need of a fast cure. Stripes, hood pins and fat
15-inch, five-spoke wheels all added a go-fast vibe. The
combinations therein seemed ceaseless. And then, just as it
appeared it couldn't get any better, the 1970 models were
unleashed. Unknown at the time, the year became the pinnacle of
Detroit's power prowess. In one swift moment, all the rules were
thrown out the proverbial window, particularly at General Motors,
which finally lifted the self-imposed 400ci engine restriction for
intermediate platforms.
For consignment, and equipped with the newly developed 455ci.
engine, the GSX 455 touted a whopping 510-lb.ft. of torque-this
from a division that catered to the upright businessman and the
moderately successful family alike-bolted into a car that, had he'd
potential to wipe away the competition in one fell swoop, all the
while looking very classy. 1 of the 491 Saturn Yellow GSX's built
for the model year, with all the correct numbers in the VIN and on
the trim tag, this gentleman's muscle car from the Buick camp is
calling for you to tear up the boulevard all the while wearing your
best 3 piece suit.
Exterior
For this hardtop sport coupe from 1970 and GM division of Buick, we
have a very bold statement in many ways right here. Screaming in
Saturn Yellow with black stripes, this zonker comes to our
consignor and eventually to us through the Grant Miller personal
collection. It is all in excellent condition, and has certainly no
rust or major faults in the straight steel which appears to be all
original to this car. A V shaped grille surrounded by shiny trim
has a dual flanking headlight setup on either side. A nicely
preserved bumper below is matching the shape of the front of the
muscle car, along with a small black chin spoiler just below the
bumper. The hood has dual wide black satin stripes running up the
center, these have dual intakes in the mid section and a drivers
side mounted exterior tachometer looking back to the driver's wheel
through the front glass. On the sides, a black decal trim spear
starts upfront, and runs to the back, ever widening as it goes on
its journey. It has a pair of thin red stripes just outside its
borders. On the back, it takes a sharp turn upward and runs across
the top of the rear spoiler. A beautifully gracefully curved rear
glass gently lowers itself to the trunk deck and that spoiler, all
with stainless around the glass. Below the trunk is a built in
shiny rear bumper which undulates with the shape of the back of the
car, and sports inset tail lighting, and a B U I C K badge. The
roofline is very sexy for this 2 door coupe, and on the bottom, the
car floats on shiny 15-inch Buick Rallye wheels wrapped in G60/15
Goodyear Polyglas rubber forum the 18th week of 2020.
Interior
A swing of the doors reveals some smooth black vinyl covering for
the doors on their insides. Horizontal embossing adds some interest
to these panels within which float an armrest, actuator window
crank and mirror joystick, along with a 3D red GS badge. Inside,
medium high back sport buckets are in front with a bench in back.
These chairs have textured woven inserts in tuck and roll, and
shiny but slightly textured black bolsters and snappy molded in
headrests. The bench in back is all excellent for the rear
passengers and in the same pattern also in black, and factory
condition. The dash is extremely clean, and all original with its
trio of square inserts with round gauges and a chronograph clock in
front of the rally steering wheel. Just below is a wood applique
horizontal strip of walnut with various dials, toggles, and pulls.
In the center is a factory AM/FM radio and just below the console
starts its journey past the buckets and ending prior to mid
buckets. This console is in molded plastic and shows as black. Here
we see an inset Buick triple shield badge, the Hurst shifter and
some chromed trimmings wrapping the hump which is all covered in
clean like new black carpeting. A black tight headliner in vinyl is
above all this muscle menagerie.
Drivetrain
A flip of the hood and it's all gleaming with excitement as are my
eyes opening into this muscle car madness. Here I note a 455ci V8
which is the correct engine for the car but the stamping and suffix
code has been machined off so there is no VIN or engine stamping
code to verify it is matching. It does however show an engine
casting number that is correct for the car and falls into 1970-71
production of the 455ci V8. On top is a single 4-barrel carb which
is correct for the stamping code for the car, but would have been
installed at the factory on a 1970 automatic GSX. Topping this mill
off is the factory correct dual snorkel ram air air cleaner
assembly dressed to the nines in black paint and sporting GS 455
and Stage 1 decals. The transmission is a 4-speed manual Muncie M20
which codes out as a 1966-1967 model now strapped to the rear of
the mill. Way back presents us with a 10 bolt 3.42 Positraction
rear axle with an OO stamping code.
Undercarriage
Just showroom quality with no dirt and all black surfaces with no
rust. Some shiny parts are also intermixed like the gas tank and
exhaust system which is factory correct. Stamped floorpans are
perfect, and the engine bottom end has no drips or leaks with any
blowback. All very clean with power disc braking upfront, and power
drums on back. Independent coil springs are in front and a 4 link
with coil springs are in back.
Drive-Ability
A quick starter and smooth running car with plenty of power. Bias
free panic stopping, and smooth shifting via the Hurst lever. The
wipers were not working and the brake lights did not go on when I
pressed the pedal.
A very nice condition piece of sleeper muscle car history,
sleeper.....how is a blazing yellow Buick a sleeper, but I digress.
With over 500ftlbs of torque on tap and plenty of big number ponies
to go around, the first thing to beg for mercy will be the rear
tires when you put the pedal to the metal. Very nicely
preserved/restored and a GS455 GSX which is a very unusual and
sought after find.
446370H304529
4-Buick
46-GS 455
37-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
0-1970
H-Flint, MI Assy Plant
304529-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
ST 70 44637-1970 GS455 2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
BDY FL1243307-Flint Body #
TR 188-Black Vinyl, Madrid & Laredo Grain
PNT QQ-Saturn Yellow
04E-5th Week April Build
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.