While the 1970 Buick 455 with the Stage 1 package has a reputation as one of the stoutest engines from the muscle car era, it’s less well-known that the first Stage 1 was actually introduced in 1969 as a 400-cubic-inch big block. Not many were built (1,468), and even fewer had four-speeds (415): This Code 59 Lime Green GS 400 hardtop is one of them. It’s being sold as a non-running project that may or may not need a complete engine rebuild, but fortunately, all the parts are there and the car is mostly solid. Plus, some of the work has already been done over the course of the current owner’s nearly 30 years of ownership. Barn Finder T.J. found this Stage 1 on Hagerty Marketplace in Omaha, Nebraska, and with eight days left on the auction, the high bid is a measly $2,601, which is certainly not enough to take this (once) fast Buick home.

The Stage 1 package in 1969 gave the buyer a significantly hotter camshaft and heavier valve springs, ram air air cleaner, a 3.64:1 rear axle ratio, and several other improvements. Buick was not forthcoming with horsepower numbers for the GS, but we can assume that it’s a significant improvement over the stock 400’s 340-horsepower rating. Anything from 345 to 360 is bandied about in my research, but even the 1970 Stage 1 455 was advertised as being only ten horsepower stronger than the base engine; Buick held its cards close to its vest in the muscle car era.

The seller includes pictures of the engine in the car, but the ad also includes pictures of a 400 in a state of disassembly. They have this to say:

This is a non-running project. I found the number eight exhaust valve pushrod bent because the lifter was sticking. I pulled all the lifters and pushrods at that time of inspection of motor. The engine looks good enough to rebuild, and all other parts are there for the car.

The seller has made some inroads toward restoring the GS, including a refurbished dash pad, “speedometer cluster and bezel,” interior lighting, and some other minor details. It will need a carpet and a headliner, but the seller includes pictures of most of the interior items (including a headliner) in boxes, so the new owner shouldn’t have to go scouting around for many parts.

The body is mostly solid, too, with only a few rust spots and imperfections that need to be dealt with, including (according to the ad):

• Dent in passenger quarter panel behind door and ahead of rear wheel opening
• Rust on driver’s quarter panel behind rear wheel opening
• Rust present on front and rear suspension components
• Front clip [that] requires alignment for proper panel gaps
• Rust spot at driver’s side rear window trim
• Rust on left rear edge of deck lid
• Underbody undercoated

This GS presents an interesting conundrum: How far does the new owner take it? It’s certainly a car that would be appreciated in the Buick community, so a full restoration would be a worthwhile project. On the other hand, 1969 models are not as valuable as those from 1970-72, so stripping it down for a full paint job and professional restoration would probably exceed the car’s value, and that’s assuming you can buy it at a reasonable price to begin with. As usual, I’d do what I could to make it run and drive and enjoy it, and if that means rebuilding the engine, there’s a lot of help and camaraderie in the Buick community. The choice is yours!