Buicks were a high line luxury class vehicle in the 1950s and 1960s. The muscle car era, however, threatened to leave Buick behind. Their concession to the popularity of muscle cars was the Buick Skylark Gran Sport. Because it was produced in limited numbers these cars are rare today. The most sought after among this limited production series was the 1970 Buick Gran Sport Stage 1 Convertible, like the one shown here. According to the Stage 1 Registry there were only 232 Stage 1 convertibles produced. The Muscle Car Club.com says only 164 were produced with a Turbo 400 automatic transmission that year.
This 1970 Buick Gran Sport Stage 1 Convertible is being offered for sale by Just Toys Classic Cars out of Orlando, Florida. They are the newest member of the Cars On Line Dealer Network made up of classic car and specialty car dealers. Newsletter readers will be seeing more from them on the New Listings page during the weekend. They tell us this is a Brass Hat car meaning it was purchased by an insider who knew how to order this car fully loaded. The color is Seamist Green with a Pearl White interior and white convertible top. The current owner has owned this car since it was six months old. He says it garnered 396 out of 400 points to win the Buick Club of America Gold Senior Award.
Stage 1 equipment included a high-lift camshaft for the big block 455 engine, 10.5:1 compression pistons, positive traction rear axle, special Stage 1 4-barrel carburetor and low restriction dual exhaust. With the Stage 1 package the big 455 increased in brake horsepower to 360 at 4600 rpm. Stage 1 badges replaced the 455 emblems with a logo replaced the 455 emblem in the left side of the grille.
This car has gone through a complete restoration about 10 years ago. Everything on the car was gone through and checked out. All of the sheet metal is 100% original right down to the quarter panels, the people at Just Toys tell us.
“We can just not say enough about how nice this car is,” they wrote in their ad description. ” When you first walk up to this beauty you are going to see the flawless Seamist Green paint and you will just be drawn in by the Peal White interior. You are not going to find a flaw in the interior anywhere. The interior was completely redone during the restoration, but the seat belts that you will see including the rare optional shoulder harnesses still have the date codes on them. You can sit back in comfort with your ICE COLD air blowing if you choose to not put the top down, and you never have to worry about your rear window fogging up, because this has a rear defroster as well. This car is also equipped with AM/FM radio, as well as power steering, brakes, windows, and power seats. You will also be able to get in and out in comfort with the tilt wheel. Now you know that Stage 1’s were known for their torque and horsepower, but if you just wanted to sit back and cruise, this baby has cruise control as well. You have the best of all worlds with this car. The ability to cruise in comfort with the top up or down, and then have that same comfort when you put your foot to the floor of this powerful engine.”
In testing the 1970 Buick Gran Sport Stage 1 for a feature story, Motor Trend magazine called the 1970 Buick Stage One, “The quickest American production car we had ever tested.” In a reference to the popular Doors hit single from the era, Buick pitched their Gran Sports as “Cars to light your fire.” Various magazines tested the Gran Sport Stage 1 and determined that it would do 0 to 60 mph in between 6.5 and 7.5 seconds. It is possible that at the peak of the muscle car era Buick produced the fastest muscle car of all time. After 1970 they detuned the 455 big block each year making it less powerful.
The big number however was the torque. The Stage 1 put out 510 ft/lbs at just a low 2800 rpm’s. The heads had 2.005 intake and 1.630 exhaust valves and a hydrolic .490 lift cam with 360 degrees of duration. The dual exhaust was a free flowing 2.25” as well. This car was also equipped with the F41 suspension option which included a rear stabilizer bar, front and rear firm ride tuned shocks, rear firm ride springs (GS 455 only) and rear lower control arm assembly.
This car has been SOLD.
There was 47 convertibles for the 70 model year that was painted Seamist Green.