World Class Investment Grade GSX 455 Stage 1 4 Speed

In the fall of 1969 Buick introduced a “Brand New Brand of Buick” called the GSX. And the mighty GSX Stage 1 would eventually become the division's answer to Pontiac's GTO Judge and Chevrolet's Chevelle SS454. Modestly rated at 360 horsepower and a whopping 510 lb./ft. of torque, the Stage 1 was described by some as a more luxurious HEMI 'Cuda because of its lighter weight and amazing power. This particular example, a numbers matching 4-speed car that won Concours Gold at both the 2010 Buick Performance Group Nationals and 2010 GS Nationals, is a true investment grade classic that has all the right stuff to be your ultimate muscle car. Why buy some bland Chevrolet or a tarted up Lemans when you can own the baddest Buick ever built and stand out like a Lion in a field of house cats?

Before we get too far into the car's first rate credentials, here's a breakdown of its original fender tag:

70 – 1970 model year
4 – Buick
46 – GS
37 – 2-door coupe
FL 1 – Assembled at GM's Flint, Michigan manufacturing facility
254189 – Production sequence number
188 – Black vinyl trim
10-10 – Apollo White paint

That pristine Apollo White paint comes courtesy of a frame-off rotisserie restoration by Then and Now Automotive in Woodstock, Georgia. Literally every nut and bolt on this awesome GSX Stage 1 has been replaced to factory standards and buffed to a show worthy shine that ensures major points from any judge. And every weld and gap on the car is virtually perfect making for excellent panel fit, great functionality and a menacing, yet luxurious appearance. Check out how well the GSX-specific headlight housings match the Apollo White hood and fenders. Notice that the standard black GSX side stripes line up perfectly with the GSX-specific rear spoiler. And step closer to admire how the GSX hood stripes flow together around the functional cold air induction into a familiar Buick grille.

As the elegant beauty of this award winning A-Body draws you in, you'll find that no detail was overlooked during its professional reboot. Chrome bumpers, door handles and window trim add an element of class that puts the 'more' in more luxurious. The car's combination of black, white and chrome is complemented by small splashes of color like the rear GSX decals and red pinstriping around the GSX side graphics. Red, white and blue Buick tri-shield center caps are bolted to chrome, GSX-specific Rallye wheels. Those subtle yet stylish Rallye wheels are wrapped in reproduction Super Wide Oval tires, just like the car left the factory with. And if there's any question as to whether those tires can spin, a hood-mounted tachometer pokes through an otherwise subdued tuxedo to reinforce this muscle car's pavement-splitting credentials.

Making those tires spin and that tach peg is an engine which held the title of highest torque rating in an American car until 33 years after its release. Buick's mighty 455 cubic inch V8 was one of the first motors to utilize thin wall casting and as a result is lighter than a comparable Chevrolet 454. Take one look under the hood at this car's numbers matching 455 and you'll see why this GSX is a gold winning car. Everything from the battery to the decals has been restored to showroom quality and nothing less than best of show. As noted, this beautifully restored example was upfitted from the factory with the Stage 1 performance package which added a hotter cam, bigger valves, low restriction exhaust and revised jets in the Rochester Quadra-Jet carburetor. The result is an unpublished rating of roughly 425 horsepower and a ride that you'll never forget!

But what would an unforgettable ride be without the hardware to utilize all that power? This Buick came equipped from the factory with the Rallye Ride Control Package which features a rear stabilizer bar, firmer front and rear shocks, rear firm ride springs and rear lower control arm assemblies. Connecting that massive power with this enhanced driving system is a factory option, numbers matching close-ratio 4-speed transmission. Equipped in only 188 Buick GSX's for 1970, that transmission sends the torque to the ground via 3.64 gears in a numbers matching high performance Buick Posi-traction rear axle. At the front corners, factory power assisted discs and at the rear corners, factory power assisted drums bring everything to a stop. The guys at Then and Now topped off the restoration with a new fuel tank, new fuel lines, new brake lines, new body mounts and a fresh satin black undercoating.

Now that the elegant looks of this Buick have lured you in and the VIN stamped powertrain has evoked dreams of tire melting horsepower, open the car's door and sit in the GSX-exclusive bucket seats. Even after 40 years this cockpit still feels luxurious and comfortable. The gauge cluster features a clock and brightwork set against wood grain texture. The seats and door panels feature upgraded vinyl and add to the fresh feeling created by the nicer GSX dash. But don't get too cozy in that seat. This interior was available in only one color for a reason; to be taken seriously. Grab hold of the GSX Rallye steering wheel in one hand, glance out the window over the massive 455 toward the hood mounted tachometer. Grab the Hurst shifter in the other hand, and imagine slower, less luxurious muscle cars disappearing in your mirrors.

The sale of this blue chip Buick includes the car's Concours Gold plaques from both the GS Nationals and Buick Performance Group Nationals, and documentation from the GSX Historic Society showing the car to be GSX number 622 of 678 produced for the 1970 model year.

Documented, numbers matching, expertly restored, and judged at the highest level, this killer GSX IS the best of the best! If you're looking for the nicest 1970 Buick GSX 455 4-speed on the planet, here it is -- we've sorted it for your enjoyment!