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 excited to offer this incredible 1970 Buick GS455 Stage 1
Convertible. Finished in its original factory color code (75B) Fire
Red over new Pearl White interior with matching White convertible
top (both originally black from the factory). Under the hood lies
it original, number's 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 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 to include air conditioning,
power steering, power brakes, power windows, Strato-bucket seats
with center console, electric folding convertible soft top with
glass back window, AM/FM Sonomatic radio with a rear speaker, front
& rear seatbelts, tilt steering wheel, remote outside mirror,
Rallye steering wheel, door edge guards, and Convenience Package-
trunk light, rearview map light, & glove box light!
According to the GS Historical Society information provided, this
special Stage I Convertible sold new from Morrow Cadillac-Buick
based in Torrington, CT in March 1970. It would remain with the
original owner before passing it on to his grandson in 1987. The
grandson would keep it and maintain it in the Connecticut area
until December 1999, when it sold into a collection in Lansing,
Michigan. It would finally spend the last several years in the
esteemed Carolina Classic Cars collection in Zebulon, North
Carolina. It has been cosmetically restored some years ago in
frame-up fashion to include a repainted exterior, all new interior
carpet, seating upholstery and underlying foam, new convertible top
and fitted boot cover, re-chromed bumpers, replacement exhaust, and
refinished chrome 5-spoke wheels with BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires
measuring 245/60R15. It retains its completely original drivetrain
from the Quadrajet carburetor to the 10-bolt rear axle, and it
continues to perform as it did right from the showroom in 1970! It
starts perfectly and insists on trying to destroy tires if you
aren't careful easing onto the throttle! Even the original radio
and electric clock continue to function perfectly!
Upon arrival to the St. Louis Car Museum, we performed a full
inspection and serviced the following: fresh engine oil/filter, new
air filter; rebuilt carburetor with kit supplied thru Daytona
Parts; new spark plugs/wires, distributor cap/rotor/points; new
front/rear brake cylinders, brake shoes, & new brake hoses; parking
brake cables; repacked wheel bearings with new seals; new front
shocks, sway bar bushings & end links; new valve cover gaskets;
retrofitted air conditioning system to R134a; transmission flush
with new pan gasket; new rear gear oil with cover gasket; along
with new radiator cap and wiper blades. We will include the
original owner's manual and Grand Sport Historical Society
documentation. It represents a very rare opportunity for collectors
of General Motors vehicles to own one of the best muscle cars of
all time! This one checks all the right boxes for an exciting
blue-chip investment!
