Starting in 1969, several performance cars began to appear with distinctive stripes and spoilers, such as the Hurst/Olds, Cyclone Spoiler, and Cougar Eliminator. In fact, the Pontiac ET, a proposed answer to the Plymouth Road Runner, famously evolved into the GTO Judge, an orange crush that featured a salami-slicer spoiler and psychedelic stripes. Buick got into the act mid-year 1970 with the GSX and continued the package through 1972. One of these is our Pick of the Day: a 1971 Buick GSX offered for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Greenville, Tennessee. (Click the link to view the listing)
The GSX package from 1970 was only available on the GS 455 hardtop and included Apollo White or special Saturn Yellow paint with painted headlight bezels, stripes, front and rear spoiler, hood tachometer black bucket seat interior, Rallye steering wheel, special 15-inch tires on chrome-plated mags, special emblems, four-speed transmission, gauges and clock, sport mirrors, HD cooling, power front disc brakes, front and rear stabilizer bars, HD suspension, and positive traction rear axle. The Stage 1 455 was an option and installed in 400 out of the 678 GSXs built.
Despite sales that could be described as underwhelming, the GSX package continued into 1971, though in different form. It does bear mentioning that the Gran Sport series also was in different form: rather than having a separate GS 350 and GS 455, the Gran Sport was merely streamlined with the 350 standard, and 455 and Stage 1 as options. For 1971, the GSX package included most of the same equipment but now was available in six colors: Stratomist Blue, Cortez Gold, Arctic White, Platinum Mist, Limemist Green, and Bittersweet Mist (though several other colors area known to have been special-ordered including black, red, and dark green). Special instrumentation, sport mirrors, hood tachometer, and front spoiler were now optional.
The newly expanded GS series would suggest those with the GSX package would have wider appeal considering a more insurance-friendly 350-powered GSX was available. However, only 124 GSXs were built in 1971, and most appear to feature one of the two 455s.
This Cortez Gold 1971 Buick GSX is powered by the standard 260-horsepower 350 backed by an automatic. It has less than 250 miles since a complete frame-off restoration, with the frame having been sandblasted and repainted with “protective chassis media.” The 350 was rebuilt by Bad Attitude Performance Engines out of Morriston, Florida, though it now features several modifications such as an aluminum hi-rise manifold with Holley carb, electronic ignition, and power disc brake conversion. It also has some of the good stuff like front spoiler, sport mirrors, and hood tach. A complete photo log of the restoration is available to the curious.
“The car runs and drives just like a brand new 1971 Buick,” says the seller. In fact, what’s great about the post-1970 GSXs is that they are able to run on no-lead pump gas, which makes drivability so much easier. Plus, the 1971 GSX is a great conversation starter because everyone thinks they only were built in yellow or white. It will take $82,500 (OBO) to bring this Buick home, which ain’t cheap but it has a mix of rarity, quality, and power are rarely products of cheap labor anyway.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
The 1970 GSX had a standard 4 speed transmission and an optional turbo 400 was available. It was quicker than the 4 speed.
Both engines and transmissions that year came with the 3:42 posi rear end when A/C was ordered, but a 3:64 posi rear end was fitted for the non A/C cars.
The quickest cars were like mine, Stage 1, auto, no air.
This is not true for 1971, the year of the car in the article.
Went to HS with a wealthy parents young guy (’74-’78) that had a top ’70 GSX 455 in yellow with the auto.
Brutal torque, lumpy stock cam, and a WOT sound to die for, but he didn’t race and wouldn’t even allow his girls to wear shoes in the thing- I’m sure it’s been at Mecum or B/J auctions as a “never molested”.
Wish I could’ve…
Love this car! But car appears to have an incorrect dash pad. With factory a/c it should have a center vent.