Buick was shooting for the stars in 1970 with their limited edition GSX. With 510 lb-ft of torque, the Stage 1 tune of the monstrous 455 V-8 lays claim to the highest ever for a classic muscle car.
Apparently, the brass at the # 2 division of General Motors knew what they were doing when they limited the colors of this special edition muscle Buick to Apollo White and Saturn Yellow. Apollo was an Olympian god in both Greek and Roman mythology. Saturn, of course, is one of the planets in our solar system, as well as a Roman god.
When Car Review magazine first published their“ 50 Fastest Muscle Cars” list in 1984, it surprised Mopar fans with its # 3 ranking of the GSX with Stage 1 455. Just two other classics were faster down the quarter mile. Number one was the lightweight and infamous 427 Cobra, of extremely limited production and just barely a street legal production car. Number two was another two-seat sports car, the 1966 Corvette with a 425hp 427. Buick, with a 13.38 @ 105.5 mph, proved faster than any other mid-sized or pony car from the 1960s / 1970s. Road testers clipped off these times on street tires.
Buick fans had known all along how fast their muscle Buicks were. Luxury, however, had been Buick’ s calling card for decades. The nail head V-8s of the 1950s and early 1960s were known for their small valves and decent fuel economy. When muscle cars
The 455 Stage 1 boasts the highest torque rating ever on a classic muscle car. The 510 lb-ft of torque is King Kong for muscle cars of the 1964-1972 era. Interestingly enough, the standard 455, which was the base engine on the 1970 GSX, also produced 510 lb-ft of torque. Of the 678 Buick GSXs built in 1970, 400 had the Stage 1 455, and the balance of 278 had the standard 455. The Stage 1 added $ 115 to the cost of the base 455, quite a bargain. The scoops are open to ram air to the Rochester four barrel via twin scoops that seal to the underside of the hood.
The GSX package cost an additional $ 1195. In addition to the stripes, front and rear spoilers, a hood tach and Buick Rallye wheel( chromed), the GSX included mechanical upgrades of heavy-duty cooling, stiffer shocks, front / rear sway bars, and power front disc brakes.
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