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Originally Posted by RussXLR8s
Well Sam, if you really read the history of these cars, you'd know better then to comment as you did. Only in 72' was the GSX an appearance package. 70' was the most modified and the peak performance GS & GSX's. In 71' was the beginning of the downturn in Horsepower due to increasing gas prices, but mostly government regulations, putting an end to the growing horsepower muscle car wars.
The 70's GSX stage1 was claimed at 360 - 365 horse power / 510ft/lbs of torque. The GS 455 was 350HP, / 510ft/lbs. If you read it's history at many websites available, there was a bunch of changes to the 70' GSX, rear gearing changed, hood Tach, suspension etc. In 71' the horsepower dropped off 15 HP to 345, and much lower in 72' when they started to go by Net HP rating, not at the crank. So every year of those 3 bodied years, they were different.
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Not quite. Sam is correct the GSX was an appearance package. You are confusing the ratings between the regular '70 455 (350/510) vs. the '70 Stage 1 455 (360/510). The Stage 1 performance engine was available in a non-GSX regular GS455 car. Same engine, same performance, less glee.
Also, I'd like to point out that the ratings are bandied about quite a bit, but please understand that many (most) supercar engines were underrated for insurances purposes and in GM's case, to make it seem like buyers of more expensive cars were getting more hp. eg. corvettes and full size cars. According to Musclecar Magazine, the true output of a Buick 455 Stage 1 is 420hp (which puts in the #8 spot, FWIW of regular production musclecar power producers).
As far as this poll goes, my vote is for the GS. My reasons are that while I recognize the advantages of the GNX, I view musclecars as art as much as vehicles. Looking under the hood of the GS, I know exactly what everything is, there is no plastic, computers, etc. etc. And you can't beat the visceral appeal of a high performance Big Block. I could care less about the gas mileage; neither car would be a daily driver if I owned it.
Dave