Few 1970 cars could take down Buick’s torque-monster GS 455, and the powerful understated mid-size Skylark-derivative earns a spot on many enthusiasts’ Top Ten Muscle Cars. This 1970 Buick GS 455 convertible in Rochester, New York left public roads in 1976, after what must have been a rough six years! With nearly every panel bent or rusted or both, the idle years have not been kind to this once-fearsome muscle machine. According to buickperformanceclub.com, Buick made only 1040 GS-455 convertibles with automatic transmissions, and there’s no telling how few survive today. Sadly, an “early ’70s” 455 replaced the original GS-spec 455, decreasing potential restored value. The listing here on eBay has driven bidding above $4500.
The GS Cool-Air Package fed the big 455 cid (7.5L) V8 plenty of fresh air. Some sources suggest the rating of 360 HP may be sandbagged. In a dyno test, hotrod.com found a nearly-stock ’70 455 made an impressive 426 HP and a velvety 513 lb-ft of torque, the latter on par with the GS’ 510 lb-ft rating. Thanks to hemmings.com for some details. This car’s 455 is unlikely to match those numbers even if it is usable, and that’s no guarantee. I’m no Buick expert, but I believe that’s an air conditioning firewall. It may be hard to get excited about this car’s potential, but I love the idea of the brown and black Buick laying waste to flashy-colored cars of its day.
Though largely complete, the interior offers few salvageable-looking parts. The bucket seats and console look sportier than the standard bench seat. Buick offered the 455 GS with a bench seat and a three-speed column-shifted manual transmission, and sold only 18 such convertibles.
The listing features only one exterior shot, but several pictures show extreme rust in every area of the car. Here’s one showing a horribly rusty cowl and body tag. Prospective buyers may cringe imagining decades of rain water having its way with this forgotten Buick. Numbers-matching GS 455 convertibles top out over $70,000, and this was one super-cool and powerful ride before sitting idle for decades. Do you think it will ever see a second life?
Rough Rough says scobbie doo 😎
Hard pass and nom engine as non orig means never hitting the restored all original pricing 👀😉
I have seen this color hue on a ’68 chevrolet with that orange-pink oxidation. Then, the owner worked I. The paint and it came back to life. It was burgundy again. I’m not going to use the “p” word here, but I would love to get this in great mechanical shape, drive it a year or so before making the leap to the full restoration. During the time, someone may what to but it from you, and you’ve had your fun!
I heard a news report today about a shortage of soup cans because of so many people being home. The owner should perform a public service by taking this to a local scrapyard.
I would say that rusty gas tank is bad(but not expensive) news, but does the frame just have surface rust?
Steering wheel isn’t original – my ‘70 GS Stage 1 had a brushed stainless steel three-spoke wheel.
Steering wheel could be the least of the issues on this project.
If the numbers can be verified, as an actual GS 455 Convertible, it should be saved. Too many phony mopars are recreated along with GTO’s and Chevy SS’s without hesitation. Going yo be hard to find an 70 GS 455, but it probably can be done thru a group or individual Buick guy, who would appreciate it being used right. I had a beautiful hardtop Brown Buick 455 GS that lived across the ally when I was About 9 years old. It was gorgous and about as bad as anything around, including a 70 442, and two 69 Roadrunner convertibles in flourescent like orange and barney purple. Love to see it saved!
The sport wheels were optional on all GS cars.
The cowl tag shows it to be an original GS455 convertible. The 44667 is the key. The first 4 is Buick, the 46 is big block, the 67 is convertible
I agree ; there are so many clones out there ! You would be surprised at how many people at shows and cruise nights think my Duster 340 is a clone ; there’s so many out there everyone assumes its not a real one.
At least there are plenty of 70-72 Skylarks still around to supply body parts .It would be worth it if its a verified GS 455 ragtop
This car is rough, at least it’s a no reserve auction. It would make a better parts car than restoration project.
Steve R
For being on the road for a mere six years it sure looks ROUGH! The VIN tag rivets don’t pass muster either. This Buick is a total Frankenstein.
The VIN rivets are CORRECT.
The VIN tag rivets from the underside on this Buick Dash and when looking you will find the correct “Rosette” rivets. The plastic trim VIN cover is missing from the dash board.
This poor car started rusting as soon as it was delivered to upstate NY…
This may have been delivered by a Great Lakes freighter and slipped off the deck somewhere on Lake Ontario. Apparently it washed up on the beach in Rochester.
This piece gives new meaning to that old adage ‘run hard and put away wet’!!
At the current $5K bid this car is a BARGAIN!!!
Lot’s to like here with the exception of the original color.
A 1970 Buick 455 is not hard to find IF you wanted to waste you time looking for one. Rust is minimal considering NY. Buckets, Console, A/C, Power top, 455 Convertible with what appears to be a good 197 one year only grill. Ya a great car to restore.
By the way the steering wheel is the standard and correct steering. The 3 spoke brushed center wheel was an option.
It’s only a bargain if you have a base convertible that you need a donor car to increase its value.
Then it is only a Buick. No offense to any Buick enthusiasts. (I once had a 70 Stage 1 455 4 spd. and know them well)
In the GM food chain Buick was the least advertised for performance. That does not mean they were inferior in terms for performance. Their core buyers then as now were over 40. The Chevelle SS 454 The GTO and Camaros are top dog when it comes to money. Rare does not = value.
This car needs everything. Once if done who would your core buyer be then? Sure won’t be someone in their 20’s. Your core buyers are hitting 70 years old now. The ones that know and who actually remember them on the road. Sad but true. With current events with what they are anyone wanting to take on something like this really needs their head examined.
Times are bad.
Whenever cars in this condition come up there’s the comments about resale return. The buyer for cars like this aren’t flipping or investing.
There is too much time and money involved for that to happen.
You buy this cause it’s the car you want to rebuild and enjoy for your own experience.
You don’t make money back for a vacation you enjoyed.
Your 2 yr old $1000 flat screen is now $500 and if you bought a new vehicle in the last 20 yrs you lost money on it’s value
I still think the money paid for these condition cars is nuts
Why bother unless the yard needs a new planter.
The car is crusty but it is restorable. If this was a 68-69 charger or an 70 SS chevelle it would be 18k.
My wife thought I was “crusty but restorable” at one time. I wonder if she misses me?
Put 30K in it you will have a 22K car.
This car is in this dire shape after only 6 years on the road? Doesn’t add up for me.
Someone doing most the work themselves and this would be a worthwhile restoration. Not to concourse condition, but certainly for enjoyable driving. It seems that folks on this site are always figuring out the cost for almost perfect restoring, which is fine for a car that will sell for lots when done, but for others what’s wrong with getting it looking just decent? And then enjoying.
I lived in upstate NY 20 years ago. You don’t need a car. Buy a snowmobile. Cars rot out in 4 years up there. I know. As one guy said, it is incredible what Barrett Jackson dreamers pay for junk these days. Rare car. Sad. Stupid owner leaves something like this to rot.