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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