What color should a muscle car be? Menacing black? Shiny red? Perhaps orange, or purple. But beige? I’m not saying it’s ugly, just that it suggests “sleeper” more than “street racer.” Perhaps that’s what the original owner of this 1970 Buick GS 455 Stage 1, now up for auction here on ebay, was thinking when specifying the paint code. If you want to be the next caretaker of this gem, then be prepared to better the current bid of $36,500, and then some, because this beauty is still short of reserve at that number with three days to go. Should you find the seller’s price, be prepared to head to Chino, CA to trailer your new supercar home.
Will you fool anyone as to this car’s muscular nature? Not when you get up next to them and they see the hood treatment and the fact that the factory call-out badge indicates that this is a GS Stage 1. But coming from far back in someone’s mirror, they might just spy the exterior color and think, “Little old lady car” without noticing the go-fast signs. Of course, at some point, that 455-CID engine will surely create a ruckus that won’t be missed. On the other hand, maybe the charm of the body-colored steelies with Buick poverty caps affixed will distract them long enough for you to roar off in a haze of tire smoke. Be a bit careful, though—your new engine is just a few ticks shy of 100,000 indicated miles, though it has gone through a documented rebuild.
Lucky thing is, there are few mysteries with this car, because you have almost all the paperwork an old car could ever some with, including a logbook, sales information, and receipts galore for the work that’s been done. This latter list extends to an engine, transmission, and rear end rebuild. If you get looking closer, you’ll also find an extensive list of standard equipment, including power windows and seats, power disk brakes, heavy duty cooling, upgraded F41 suspension, a rear speaker, and rear defroster (yes, people use those in the Golden State). The various pieces are said to be numbers matching, also. Does that extend to the alternator case or other things that the most nit-picky amongst us will check? You have to assume so, though this is not enumerated.
With a car this nice, your real question is going to be what to do with it. The underneath is super clean. Do you drive it? That might depend on where the sales price lands up. This one has all the underbody tags and some grease pencil markings, so clearly it was restored to win trophies. Do you want to add to that legacy, or hit the streets and surprise a few people, though at the expense of getting a little dirt on the car and thus possibly affecting its value?
“Just plain vanilla”, an overworked expression but in this case denoting it’s has the ordinary look of something nondescript until you find it hits like a big shot of rum on the way down..
Terrific show car, probably a hoot to drive but if it’s possible some are redone TOO well.
But then again, what fun it would be to drive up innocuously in a Buick and suddenly fry the street when you stand on the loud pedal.
Holy Moly ! Is that a Steppenwolf 8-track tape I see winking at us from that optional factory installed 8-track tape player ? Please tell me it isn’t so toto. What a sweet street sweeper! BIG TIME NICE. Lucky someone.
Wow 3.64 rear gear ⚙️ std issue from Buick. 3.42 opt. As if they needed even more tq. No wonder they were boulevard brutes, and almost unbeatable in light to light races. Fantastic 🏁
Definitely a repaint!!! Any reason why?
Ummm… full resto?
I would tend to think that the original paint pigment probably went south. You can only buff that paint so many times. If the code is correct who cares. She could have spent some time of her life outside with the cat?
It sure checks alot of my boxes.
I’m in love.
Not sure if any car of this vintage can be a sleeper or little old lady’s car anymore. They all stand out nowadays. This car certainly has the stuff to have been an apex predator its day and one of the few that can hang with modern muscle.
Will cost you, but it’s worth it.
Any vehicle don’t care iffin car,bike,trike,jeep,truck,4runner,golf kart,tank,etc looks awesome in Hearing Aid Beige.
Huh ? What’d you say there sonny?
I think that interprets to mean color doesn’t matter to a cool ride…
De-badge it and then only the exhaust note would give this thing away. Oh what fun this thing would have been in 1970 and definitely still today.
One of my all time favorite muscle cars. I don’t love the color but I would drive it as much as I could!!!
I have always been in love with the Buick GS, I had a 71 I rebuilt in High School with a 400 Stage1 I salvaged from a 69 GS, then later I had a 70 455 4spd, non Stage1 but built. I have never seen one this color or with Poverty caps
Makes me want another
My high school friend, Smokey McCord had a 1970 GS Stage 1 in the yellow with rally wheels. That beast could literally melt the bias ply tires off if he wanted. However, even in 1970 or 71, not many knew the GS Stage 1 was as big a hit as it was. Didn’t get the respect it deserved Hell, another friend had a Cutlass SX that was a real sleeper. Break traction at 35-40 mph. Those were the days
Not sure if any car of this vintage can be a sleeper or little old lady’s car anymore. They all stand out nowadays. This car certainly has the stuff to have been an apex predator its day and one of the few that can hang with modern muscle.
Will cost you, but it’s worth it.
I think this was Barrett-Jackson or Mecum a few months back
Yep, I knew the minute I saw it that this was a TV auction car. You can just tell from the too-nice appearance that it was dressed up for TV.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just going to take big $$ to land this one.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/422915/1970-buick-gs/
It was also a no sale at Meum in Vegas in ’21 where this observation was made:
Lot # S131 1970 Buick GS 455 Stage I Sport Coupe; S/N 446370Z110025; Bamboo Cream/Brown vinyl; Enthusiast restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $45,000 – 455/360hp, column shift automatic, front disc brakes, Rallye Ride Control, steel wheels with hub caps, Goodyear Polyglas tires, power bench seat, power windows, tilt steering column, tinted glass, tissue dispenser, 8-track, Protect-O-Plate documented. – Represented as a matching numbers two-owner car, sold new in California. Good older paint with one sloppy touch up on the tail, but the chrome and brightwork are aged and a bit tired. Fresh, nearly spotless engine bay. Excellent restored interior. A mostly very good, and quite well-equipped GS let down only by some cosmetic shortcomings. – This car was a no-sale here last year at a high bid of $56,000, which is a modest number for a good GS Stage 1. This offer, though, is even lower. “Why” is a mystery although the enthusiast restoration leaves some concerns for bidders. The seller might be wondering “why”, too, but the bidding progression isn’t encouraging.
Most likely the color combo, to subtle for most people.
Yep turned down $45,000 2 years ago Mecum
The color is Bamboo Cream, which is really more yellow than beige. All those pix, yet no photo of window sticker affixed to the quarter window.
Are you sure? Our family had a 1970 Chevy Kingswood wagon with a very similar color, and the color designation was “Gobi Beige”. Matched with a “Champagne Gold” interior. I miss that hauler.
Never mind. I checked the 1970 codes and paint color #50 was known as Bamboo Cream on Bucks and Gobi Beige on Chevys.
Own a 1970 Monte Carlo with Color Code 50, Gobi Beige. An understated, but seductively stunning color.
I had a convertible in the same color only with white interior, complimented with a black dash and carpets. Mine had ac and full power. I believe mine had a 3:23 rear
The car moved well. My mother wrecked it. I never got the full story but she hit a concrete center divider dead on and that was that. That little box next to the 8 track under the glove box is a tissue dispenser. These cars had so many neat features. Something for everyone. After my Buick debacle I made sure if I was away that none of my cars would start, that ended my mother taking one out because she was too lazy to put fuel in hers. Even way back there weren’t many in this vanilla color. A really great example here. I miss mine, that one still stings when I think of it because there is no doubt I would still have it today as I kept all of my cars from decades back.
Sounds like your mother came out alright. Sad to hear that the car was not.
My dad was a Buick dealer from 1965 – 2002. The first car I ever topped 100 in was a ’70 Stage 1 GS in this color (It did have a brown vinyl top). Great memories!
“Get your motor runnin’
Head out on the highway
Looking for adventure
In whatever comes our way
I like smoke and lightnin’
Heavy metal thunder
Racing with the wind
And the feeling that I’m under”
Still one of my favorite colors. Easy to care for and still looks good after a rain. This one is a beautiful brute.
Poverty caps? Those are a police special unmarked unit hubcaps! Good luck, great Buick.
While I could live with the colour, the dog dishes would have to go. A set of Buick Rallys would do nicely
While I could live with the colour, the dog dishes would have to go. A set of Buick Rallys would do nicely.
Being a recent owner of a Buick GS stage one from 1970 that Vin on the dash Hass to be an H which I believe is the only place they built the stage ones that one is a Z beautiful card but a very good cologne maybe 😬
The dog dish hubcaps are meant for the cute li’l pup in the driveway to the left rear of the car.
Am I really the first one to notice him?
New owner will have a hefty tire budget.
Beautiful car, a genuine wolf in sheep’s clothing. It’s in nice shape, and is well optioned.
Compared to a Chevelle SS or a GTO Judge from that period, it’s a good value.
It will be a good deal for its new owner.
I’d love to drive this to the grocery store! Plain wrap please. Awesome ride!
I drove a GSX and I’ll tell you,it was a hell of a ride. My Charger R/T was quick but the Buick was quicker. I almost bought a 435HP 69 Vette, that one was also a hell of a ride
Ended at 44K, Reserve Not Met.
It’s still for sale call me to get the full history and information
Matching number car
909-455-68 two six Joseph
I’m the second owner
Plenty of documents