Info about 70 GS455 St1 Conv

[antsgs]

Hi, I recently purchased a 1970 Stage 1 455 GS Convertible. I work at a bodyshop and the car was there for a few months and even though it needs a total resto, it is getting a lot of attention. I fount that there were only 125 or so of these made and this is one of two sold in RI. The vin checks out that it is indeed a Stage one and the motor has not been decked yet. What can this car be worth? It has solid floors and solid frame. The interior needs to be gone through. The top needs replacing. It has the usual rot on the rad support, fender skirts, door corners, quarter bottoms. The inside of the trunk is solid. It needs all the weather strips and rechroming. The engine runs strong but under load it has lower end noise, maybe bearings. Can this engine be rebuilt without losing the numbers? How much value is lost if the engine is decked? Any suggestions are appreciated especially the engine part. I have also heard that Year1 interiors don't fit good. Should I just have a local shop do the interior? Thanks all GS fans! By the way, even with the engine being tired after 111000 miles, it SCREWS!

[Mr. Tri-Shield]

You cannot verify the Stage 1 status by the VIN number on a 70. You can only verify its 455 status. If it has the original engine you need to locate the engine code. Its located by the dip stick and is stamped into the deck surface between spark plugs 5 & 7. It should be "SS". I assume its an automatic. The trans code is "BB"". Carb #7040246, dist # 1112016. The car must be made in Flint, Michigan as all Stage 1s came out of Flint in 1970. The 7th character in the VIN should be an "H". As far as what its worth...its worth whatever someones willing to pay for it. What will it be worth after you restore it? Exactly half of what you'll have into it. Year One interiors are made by Legendary. The fit and finish of their product is top notch. I have a complete Legendary interior in my 71. Decking the block will remove the codes. This will hurt the re-sale value for obvious reasons.

[yakman]

Do you still have this 1970 Buick Convertible ?
Did ya decide if wish to sell it ?

[DPelletier]

Originally Posted by Mr. Tri-Shield

You cannot verify the Stage 1 status by the VIN number on a 70. You can only verify its 455 status. If it has the original engine you need to locate the engine code. Its located by the dip stick and is stamped into the deck surface between spark plugs 5 & 7. It should be "SS". I assume its an automatic. The trans code is "BB"". Carb #7040246, dist # 1112016. The car must be made in Flint, Michigan as all Stage 1s came out of Flint in 1970. The 7th character in the VIN should be an "H". As far as what its worth...its worth whatever someones willing to pay for it. What will it be worth after you restore it? Exactly half of what you'll have into it. Year One interiors are made by Legendary. The fit and finish of their product is top notch. I have a complete Legendary interior in my 71. Decking the block will remove the codes. This will hurt the re-sale value for obvious reasons.

Good info and I'd agree with everything you said except for one thing: Cars like this are appreciating rapidly. The old "restoration costs are double what the cars worth" statements that have been true in years past aren't necessarily true anymore. Really rare and desireable cars (like Stage I convertibles) can often be restored for far less than their resale value. In the old days when you could buy a mint LS-6 or Stage I or whatever for 10,000 or $ 15,000.00, obviously spending $25,000.00 on a full resto wasn't a good investment. Nowadays with the ultra desireable stuff getting into six figures, the financial picture has changed somewhat. It's still easy to spend more than what they are worth for a bread and butter musclecar, however.

Anyway, I seriously doubt that the car in this thread is a stage I.

Dave

[antsgs]

I checked the engine block and it is stampes "ss". From my research, this is a stage 1. And the vin indicates it was built in the Flint Michigan plant.

[MrPbody]

FWIW, a friend called me last week. There's a '70 Stage 1 convertible for sale in Virginia, a partial "project", but they claim ALL the parts are there. Asking price is $10K.
E-mail me if interested. ([email protected])

[462cid]

Originally Posted by Mr. Tri-Shield

You cannot verify the Stage 1 status by the VIN number on a 70. You can only verify its 455 status. If it has the original engine you need to locate the engine code. Its located by the dip stick and is stamped into the deck surface between spark plugs 5 & 7. It should be "SS". I assume its an automatic. The trans code is "BB"". Carb #7040246, dist # 1112016. The car must be made in Flint, Michigan as all Stage 1s came out of Flint in 1970. The 7th character in the VIN should be an "H". As far as what its worth...its worth whatever someones willing to pay for it. What will it be worth after you restore it? Exactly half of what you'll have into it. Year One interiors are made by Legendary. The fit and finish of their product is top notch. I have a complete Legendary interior in my 71. Decking the block will remove the codes. This will hurt the re-sale value for obvious reasons.

I agree, and will add this:

Carb and distributor codes should also be Stage 1 specific for 1970