Since Cadillac didn’t offer a muscle car in the 1960s/1970s, the job of offering one with both performance and luxury fell to Buick. And they did it admirably beginning in 1965 with the Gran Sport, shortened to GS in later years. The 1970 model year was perhaps its penultimate as the insurance companies and Federal mandates began calling for the auto builders to pull back. This ’70 Skylark-based GS 455 with the Stage 1 option seems to downplay the luxury angle with “poverty” hub caps and a bland (but attractive color). Located in Chino, California this survivor-quality automobile is available here on eBay where bidders have raised the stakes to $26,669.69, not yet cracking the seller’s reserve.
Buicks’ Skylark intermediates were unorthodox in appearance for 1968-69, so the designers dialed down the styling and made the car more squarish in appearance (which was a great move, in my opinion). In 1970, the GS received the 455 cubic inch V8 for the first time (the 400 had been the top dog previously due to GM corporate engine size mandates). With the Stage 1 option (air induction), the 455 conservatively produced 360 hp and a whopping 510-lbs.ft. of torque. The result was a family-looking car that could pull 13.4 seconds in the quarter mile at 105 mph.
Gran Sport’s production was far less than its other contemporaries at GM. In 1970, 20,096 GSs were built overall and just 1,785 had both Stage 1 and an automatic transmission (TH-400). In the case of this one, the seller purchased it from the original owner in 2017. The Buick here appears to be finished in Bamboo Cream with no mention of a repaint, which would seem likely after achieving more than 96,000 miles. The body and paint look quite good as does the passenger compartment with split front seats.
We’re told this is a numbers-matching auto, backed up by a lot of documentation. But the engine, tranny, and rear end have all been rebuilt, also documented. Though it looks like a sleeper, the Buick has the requisite power-assisted steering, disc brakes, and windows. All GS models came with a heavy-duty cooling system and suspension which this Buick continues to “sport”. This rare car appears to want for nothing and should command some big bucks when the dust settles from the auction. While I’ve seen several GS Buicks over the year, this one looks to be the plainest of them all.
Wow!
All GS 455 Stage 1s built in 1970 were assembled at the Flint, Michigan, plant; look for the H designation in the VIN
And if i had this 455 Buick in my possession Al, I’d put that hydra-matic automatic in D and lay rubber all the way through downtown Flint.
I see a Z in the VIN. Are you saying this in not a true Stage 1?
eBay ad states GS 455
Emblems we’re added
This car was special ordered in August 1969 with power steering power windows power disc brakes and power seats AM/FM radio with the speaker in the rear along side the rear window defroster. Tilt steering along with the ram blower steering wheel which is included in the cell along with the four original hubcaps which is also the way he ordered the car car is a complete numbers matching engine transmission rear end distributor engine has been balanced and blue printed with forged pistons along with components from TA performance Buick torque at its finest with this car right here
The dog dish hubcaps, like the front floor mats, are not day one items.
Jack, those dog dishes are correct for 1970 though. The mats? Obviously not.
The dog dish wheels may be correct for a 4 door sedan, but not a Gran Sport.
https://www.conceptcarz.com/w9518/buick-gran-sport.aspx
I second that. If no wheel or wheel cover options were chosen these caps are what you got, on a skylark or GS. There are even documented Stage 1 cars out there with optional wire wheel covers, just like your 4-door sedan might have.
Poverty caps seem a little strange on a Buick.
Probably the original buyer who ordered it didn’t want to spend the extra money for fancy wheels.I like the look
How do you know? Do you have the build card or window sticker? Those were 100% correct for 1970.
Bamboo cream, dog dish caps and a 455….yes please! Beautiful car that looks like not much expense was spared in restoring. Bidding is up to 30ish but I am sure the reserve is in the 60’s+. Very nice Buick. If I just has the $…
Beautiful. Just Beautiful.
Dog dish caps would make any cop show proud.
I’m an Olds man. A 68 Hurst Olds 455 blueprinted to 425hp. T-400 with a dual gate, 4:33 rear end… The only Stage ones I saw were the ones I put in the weeds…so they are Boo-ick.
Looks like the floor mats are a paper type with the original dealership name and information maybe for car shows
Looks like seller has documents from original owner that shows they ordered the car with hubcaps also the rim blower steering wheel which is included in the sale. Full size hubcaps
I really don’t understand why car makers made factory tape players SEPARATE with redundant controls!, taking up space & inviting theft, when they could have instead offered a tape player built into/HIDDEN inside the radio behind a hinged faceplate, like on Kraco stereos, for ex.
My guess is the owner might want to continue keeping the original radio in the car. Personally, I’d remove anything aftermarket that is visible from this car
The size of the company, Delco Radio at the time, things moved slowly. Every decision involved bean counters, engineering and investment dollars. I remember these add on “under the dash units” they were quality 8-track players when there were not many others available. I don’t recall any in hidden inside the radios back in the ’70s. I could be wrong. Radios with cassette players built in and hidden came along in the mid 1970s. “Those were the days”
73’ I know for sure cars came with 8-Track AM/FM Stereo with 8-Track hidden in radio. Just pushed the tape in through front.
This is a beautiful Gran Sport. I like the low key outside appearance, but it is pretty loaded on the inside ,power windows, AM/FM radio , 8- track player , tissue dispenser, tiltwheel , gauge and tach pkg ,Sport steering wheel .It seems like the original owner didn’t want the extra attention . That’s a good way to surprise a few ansaspecting drivers on the street .
I thought if you wanted performance and luxury you’d buy an Oldsmobile ? Wasn’t Oldsmobile was above Buick ? Or have I been living a lie my whole life – lol
You are correct! Caddy, Olds, Buick,pontiac and then Chevy was the GM Family pecking order!
You are both TOTALLY wrong. Buick was above Oldsmobile, lol.
And you need to go back to school as well. Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, Buick, Cadillac was the hierarchy. Same corresponding makes at Chrysler–Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, Imperial. Ford was only 3.5 makes–Ford, Edsel (for 3 yrs), Mercury, Lincoln, Continental (separate division for a few years as well).
Well, hate to tell you this but, you’ve been living a lie.
No Buick was second, only behind Caddy.
Somebody told you wrong. Buick was always above Olds. That is why they are still around.
Couple of thoughts here:
-Buicks sat above Oldsmobile in the GM heirarchy
-the mats are dealer display items, used to see them in service cars returned to the customer
-this car was originally equipped with full “volcano style” wheelcovers and whitewall tires
-Dog dish caps were the base equipment for this car, and were not uncommon (especially for buyers that already had a set of mags waiting for the car..)
-very interesting option load, I’d say specifically ordered by the original owner who was looking for a comfortable Q Ship that looked like an ordinary Skylark?
Yep exactly
This car always brings back fond memories of my high school days, my daughter was conceived in the front bench seat of one of these. Ahh, good times!
That happened to a lot of us, drive-in, bench seat, 9 months later Daddy
This car was special ordered in August 1969 The owner ordered it with power windows power seats power steering power disc brakes AM/FM radio along with the speaker in the rear tilt steering with the optional rim blower steering wheel rear window defroster The original four hubcaps will be along with the sale as well as the steering wheel this car is completely matching numbers engine transmission rear end distributor and intake n carb The engine has been completely rebuilt with forged pistons along with balance and blueprint along with TA performance parts cam timing cover and gears along with this car is an original logbook which includes oil changes well before 3000 miles points tires etc. even gas mileage and gallons of gas purchased the original owner was an engineer and this was his pride and joy
Awesome looking car. I love the grille of the 1970 Buick GS. If only the asking price wasn’t so expensive! Even given what it is, $26k seems rather expensive, more than what I’d be willing to pay for the car. Assuming everything on the car works like it should, I’d pay close to $15k for the car.
You might be without a car for some time, like maybe forever.
rhett 👍🏽👏🏽🔥🤣
Boy you’ve been asleep for a few year’s! This car is every bit worth 25-k plus,, 15-k is an insult!
Love the 8-Track. I hope it comes with the original owner’s collection!
We have had this conversation before , I always thought that Oldsmobile was a step up from Buick. If you look at the interior of the two Oldsmobile always seems nicer than Buick but, it has been pointed out to me that price wise the Buick was more expensive that the Oldsmobile. Still to me the Oldsmobile is a much nicer car, just compare the inside of a 70 443 vs a 70 GS the olds is so much better looking. And lastly please, please can we stop putting on the worse looking wheels (steelies and dog dish hubcaps) on these beautiful classics, I don’t care if some came that way they just ruin the looks of the car.
Base Olds 442 Holiday Coupe (hardtop) msrp was approximately $3740
Cool Buford. Back in the mid ‘70s my boss/friend had a ‘70 Skylark GS 455 which was ordered from the factory radio, heater, defroster, wiper delete. Boy! Could it haul the mail! Base Olds 442 Holiday Coupe (hardtop) msrp was approximately $3740 Buick Skylark GS 455 w/Stage I package was approximately $3400. GM hierarchy:
Cadillac
Oldsmobile
Buick
Pontiac
Chevrolet
Check msrp- numbers don’t lie.
You’re comparing apples to oranges. Regardless of your preference for the Olds, the fact remains that Buick was priced above a comparable Olds, and it was ALWAYS #2 at GM (except perhaps when LaSalles were still being made). Any place where you see GM’s divisions listed, Buick is always a step above the Olds. Can’t argue with facts.
I never heard of factory wiper delete! Not even on drag cars, like hemi dart!
Nope, wrong, Look at the VIN. Buick 4, Olds 3, Pontiac 2, Chev 1.
Regardless of the pecking order – the Olds 442 and Buick GS were both high end high performance stormers; That said- you could get either one with dogdish hubcaps.
Buick was always ahead of Oldsmobile and the proff is they are still selling them.
Then why did Oldsmobile have more amenities than all the others! ?? Other than Cadillac? Push button ash trays, 6 way power seats? Old 98 was as luxurious as any Cadillac back in the day, the Buick Electa 225 was close! But! Still no Olds 98 or Cadillac Deville!
Your opinion, but unfortunately totally incorrect. You need to do some re-learnin’! Check GM’s own listings.
I hade a hand full of Buick 225 and olds 98es years 70 71 don’t underestimate the buicks my 71 was loaded 4 door built for plant manager hand written in owners Manuel it jade 455 red letters on each front fender green with green vinyl roof plush seats. What a beauty dud not take a back seat to no caddy or olds 98 I have owned them all Buick in the 7oes was banging so was GM
As much as I agree about Oldsmobile interiors, and they certainly had some unique engineering, we have to put this hierarchy discussion to bed forever.
It’s been written about just about everywhere, look no further than GM’s own Wiki page (under “post war growth”):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_General_Motors#:~:text=The%20other%20five%20settled%20into,%2C%20Oldsmobile%2C%20Pontiac%20and%20Chevrolet.
The Olds steering wheels are hideous compared to the Buick.
‘So he came up with a concept he called “a car for every purse and purpose“. The idea was to have five distinctive brands which did not compete with each other (which form lowest cost to most expensive went) – Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac but offered choice and variety to different groups of customers. Customers could, as their income grew, move from brand to brand, moving up what Sloan called “the ladder of success.”
http://www.theprisonerandthepenguin.com/?p=915
Now then, let stop with this gibberish that Oldsmobile was the more premium brand than Buick…
this car was special ordered in august of 69 with these options
included with the sale is the full disc hubcaps and the rim blower steering wheel.
the orignal owner wanted to fly under the radar with this car. early build car has pointed dash lens clear top coolant tank lid along with plastic radiator cover. log book has oil changes well before 3000 miles also gas mileage with gallons purchased. orignal owner was an engineer and this was his pride and joy. anyone who has driven one of these torque monsters knows how had they pull you into the seat.
70 Stage 1 13.38 qmile! Olds 442 no where near it. It’s called 510ft lbs of torque. Nuff said
Oldsmobile was considered GM’s “experimental” division. Automatic transmission, OHV V-8, diesel engine(ouch!), etc. were all tried out on Olds first. Buick, however, was always between Olds & Caddy in the GM Hierarchy. And don’t ask me why an SS-396 is worth much more than a GS.
What about pontiac’s radical endura bumper in ’68? & UNIFIED (not HEI) ignition in ’72? & having the most powerful V8 in ’73 & ’74 that rivaled many ’60s motors even with its low 8.4 to 1 compression! & cockpit dashes. & the 1st to have voltmeters in cars – in ’70, i believe. & the 1st car maker to offer a car with ventless front windows AND hidden wipers – click “more photos” in …
https://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/1967-pontiac-grand-prix-hardtop-coupe-c-13865.htm
& 8 lug wheels.
& swiss cheese frames.
Pontiac had a period of innovation during the 60’s and 70’s, but the things you’re describing are mostly styling choices and brand preference. You could argue that unified ignition LED to HEI, but none of the other things you mention had the impact of Oldsmobile’s engineering contributions to GM as a whole..
That Z Hass to be an H or it’s not a stage one
There is a Z instead of an H in the van that is not a true stage one be careful people this could be a clone Nice car but not a stage one big difference
Tony Primo, I have a legit 1970 GS Stage 1 that was factory equipped with steel wheels and dog dish hubcaps. The original owner put A F/X aluminum slots on shortly after bringing it home. The window sticker is a bit confusing – I have the original – but even though it it not common, GS’s could come from the factory with dog dish huncaps.