Back When Buicks Were Cool: 1970 GSX In Apollo White

Among the many Buick nameplates that have withstood the test of time is the Skylark-based Gran Sport.

This particular one is a 1970 GSX and according to its Mecum ad, it’s one of just 187 units produced in Apollo White. This car was supposed to get auctioned off as part of the Eddie Vannoy Collection in June, but the event has since been postponed.

Still, this is the type of classic worth keeping an eye on, because it represents Buick at its very best as far as the late 60s or early 70s were concerned.

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Originally, the GSX was based on the GS455, in turn based on the Skylark platform. The GSX Performance and Handling package was a $1,100 option on the GS455 and when all was said and done, this became Buick’s answer to the likes of the Pontiac GTO or the Chevy Chevelle SS.

Buyers could get the GSX either in Apollo White or Saturn Yellow, with the cars featuring a heavy-duty manual or automatic transmission (this one has the Hydra-Matic gearbox), F41 Rallye Ride Control suspension, contrasting body accent graphics, larger tires, bucket seats and that surprisingly awesome hood-mounted RPM gauge.

Other features include the variable-ratio power steering, power front disc brakes, factory air conditioning and a few other goodies.

Of course, what really made the GSX stand out was its performance. Its 455 CI big block V8 was rated at 350 HP and a highly impressive 510 lb-ft (691 Nm) of torque. In fact, its 510 lb-ft represented the highest torque output of any American production performance car – a record held for 33 years until the SRT-10 Viper came along in 2003 with its 525 lb-ft (712 Nm) of torque.

If this isn’t the very definition of ‘American Muscle’, we don’t know what is.