The Forgotten Buick Muscle Car That Out-Torqued the LS6 Chevelle

A golden-era Buick muscle car is being overlooked despite being a serious sleeper with more torque than a Chevelle packing LS6 power. The 1970 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 could embarrass the Chevelle at stoplights, but auction values tell a different story. The Chevelle LS6 hogs the spotlight while the Buick gets tagged with the "Dad" label and ignored in favor of flashier options.

General Motors lifted its mid-size car engine ban in 1970. The ban, imposed in 1964, prevented midsize cars from using V8 engines over 400 cubic inches to reduce internal competition with the Corvette and address safety concerns. Divisions like Pontiac and Chevrolet used loopholes and COPO orders to get around the rules, but customer demand for bigger engines eventually forced GM to drop the ban.

5-liter) V8 rated at 360 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. Dyno tests suggest the real output is closer to 400-415 hp and 515 lb-ft, with the lower figures possibly intentional to avoid insurance surcharges. The Stage 1 package includes larger intake and exhaust valves, stiffer valve springs, a high-lift camshaft, a rejetted Rochester Quadrajet carburetor, functional hood scoops, and a Turbo Hydra-matic transmission with tweaked shift points.

3 seconds, with a top speed of 135 mph. 12 seconds at 108 mph, with a top speed of 140 mph.

Despite having more torque, the Buick was seen as underpowered due to its lower factory rating. Buick's luxury image for older buyers hurt it, while the Chevelle SS was marketed to younger thrill-seekers with bright paint and racing stripes. The Buick was more luxurious, with upgraded upholstery, wood-grain accents, and rear-seat speakers, and it was cheaper, $3,283 base, $3,482 with the Stage 1 package, versus the Chevelle's $3,500, $3,800 fully loaded.

Only 2,697 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 models were built in 1970, including 664 manuals and 232 convertibles. The Chevelle SS LS6 saw about 4,475 units, with some engines possibly going into El Caminos. Today, Buick GS 455 Stage 1 models in good condition sell for $45,000, $65,000, excellent ones for $75,000, $110,000, and pristine examples for $130,000, $200,000+.

Chevelle SS LS6s in driving condition go for $95,000, $120,000, excellent ones for $150,000, $185,000, and pristine models for $100,000, $250,000+, with convertibles reaching $390,000, $600,000+. Collectors still sleep on the Buick.

Sources: HotCars, Fastest Laps, Hagerty, Buick, Chevrolet