Another 1970 GS Stage 1

If so George, should there not have been a third column for Stage 1 on the order form ?

 

I thought that there were three different wheel combinations when the G-60 Wide Oval tires were selected -
1. 15 x 7 steel rims with std. hubcaps ("poverty caps") - these were the default if no extra cost other wheels were selected;
2. Super Stock or Super Sport option wheels (see Rich Johns avatar) which added chrome trim rings to the combination in 1. above (limited time option ... disappeared around Dec. or mid year due to so few takers); and
3. 15 x 7 Chrome Wheels (WG's in the later half of the year).

The G-60 15's were the std. tire and 15 x 7 (WG's) were std. wheel only for the '70 GSX. All other '70 GS's came with 14" steel rims as std. (with hubcaps) - small or bigblock - unless some other tire (like 15" tire) or replacement wheel was selected (like chrome wheels) or wheel covers were selected (full wheel covers or wire wheel covers). I will say that I do not know for sure if one of the 'Custom trim' options or packages included full wheel covers as the upscale interior option or other optional exterior trim packages may have included wheel covers for 14' wheels.

 

"Can these be ordered at normal bookstores or must they be ordered at certain retailers in the US ?"

You cannot buy my books from a bookstore. I only sell mine thru myself, and I think David does the same.

"Wouldn't V2 only have been used for a 14" chrome rim (assuming there was only one width 14" avail?) since the 15" chrome rim was part F7?"

That may have possibly been how it was intended.
They also changed the Wholesale Car Order forms during the 1970 model year. I have the original version and Revision #1 only, there may have been another version as well. They changed the availability of option codes all the time, so I would be hesitant to agree with your theory unless I had all the info.

I know for the 72 model year they changed the option codes for the glass, and there is no "Wholesale Car Order Form" revision that shows this. Again I have the original and Revision #1, maybe there was a revision #2 that would show this.

The way the cars were optioned depended on when they were built, as options were added and discarded during the model year.


"My Sloan info has NO tire option (nothing highlighted in the "F" section), but does have option V2- chrome plated wheels. As my 70 is a November of 69 build, I would assume it's a 14" rim.."

George,
If you have no option code in the tire section then that means no "OPTIONAL" tire was selected, therefore you would have received whatever was the standard tire for that model. Which in your case would have been a 14" tire.

I checked with the assembly manual and your car would have come with a "base tire" (for a GS/GS455), which would have been a G 78-14 " blackwall" tire on the 14" Chrome wheels.

Just like this scenario, if they did not order a radio for the car then it came with a "Delete" panel.

That is what we call them today, but the name is not correct for our year cars. Nothing was "deleted" from the car order form, the radio was simply not added.

When I was trying to figure out how all the 1972 GSX's were ordered, the first thing I had to figure out was how a "base model" was built. Once I had that done it was easy to add the options and know exactly how every one "looked" as it left the factory.
Duane

 

"I thought that there were three different wheel combinations when the G-60 Wide Oval tires were selected -
1. 15 x 7 steel rims with std. hubcaps ("poverty caps") - these were the default if no extra cost other wheels were selected;
2. Super Stock or Super Sport option wheels (see Rich Johns avatar) which added chrome trim rings to the combination in 1. above (limited time option ... disappeared around Dec. or mid year due to so few takers); and
3. 15 x 7 Chrome Wheels (WG's in the later half of the year)."

No,
All the info I have says the G60-15 tires were only available for the 1970 model year in two ways,
1. 15 x 7 steel rims with std. hubcaps "poverty caps/dog dishes"with trim rings (These rims were called "Sport" Wheels) (I had a 70 Stage 1 4-speed car with these wheels.)
or
2. With the Chrome Plated wheels

If you got 14" wheels with the "poverty caps/dog dishes" then they came without the trim rings.

Also it shows they added the G60-15 tires to the assembly manual in June of 1969, but they were not included on a Wholesale Car Order Form until the Revision #1 form, which was dated Nov, 1969. I have no idea how they were ordered before that. The only thing I can figure was the salesman must have received some type of notification that they were available.



"Super Stock or Super Sport option wheels ... disappeared around Dec. or mid year due to so few takers);"

They are actually called "Sport Wheels" and your statement is true, but these wheels were available up until the middle of the 1971 model year, not the 1970 model year, then they were discontinued due to few takers.
Duane

 

"The Hartford frame" had the Sport Wheels (F4) from the factory. I sure would like to find a set of those.

 

I had a 70 Stage 1 4-speed Diplomat blue with white vinyl top and white bucket seat interior with those wheels. The wheels were also different codes. Two of them were the early wheel code and the other 3 wheels were the later code. I think the different wheel dates were several months apart. Just goes to show how few of them were built.

Boy that was a beautiful car, with the blue paint and the silver wheels with the trim rings. Sold the car to buy my first GSX.
Duane

 

Duane, I have sent you a message about buying your book.

I checked all five rims today and they were all dated 1 27 with 7.0 for width.

 

I saw your PM thanks.
Duane

 

Today I spent some time getting the bucket seats out of the car. Since the bolts were stuck from rusting so long I had to cut up what was left of the floor. When I opened the drivers seat I found this piece of paper in it.

It looks like 78 on top. Under it is 4637- 189 which makes sence.
Then it continues with A01 B22 D57 M20 U80 AK1 and last a F. Some of it makes sence, but not all of it.

Now to the questíon: why would you put a handwritten note with info like this in the drivers seat ?

 

They are usually found against the springs on the bottom of the Passenger seat. The sheet was placed there by Fisher Body to make sure the correct seats made it into the correct car at Buick's Final Assembly.
Duane

 

Ok Duane, but I´m thinking that the lower part of that sheet contains optioncodes. Why would they write those down and put the sheet in the back of the drivers seat ? I mean, why not just write the Fisher bodynumber on the sheet ?

 

Great post Guys. I've enjoyed the CSI on this stage1, as well as the other personal experiences dealing with Buicks. You guys should get together and wright a book. I see Duane has a book about date coding? Great. To much info from history to be lost. THANKS..
Very impressive find. How long was the car sitting there? One pic I see the big block steering shaft, and the inner fender still has the A arm cover stapled to it. There are no cars left here on the coast of MS. like that to find outside.

 

I've got to ask. G1, performance axle and posi.
1. Is it a 10 or 12 bolt ?
2. I'm guessing 12 bolt to be performance ? Or did they actually have a better 10 bolt axle. More splines, ect?
Educate me.

 

Hey Brad Conley or Brett- could we cut and copy the discussion about wheel/ tire options and place it as a "sticky" in "The Hides" section? Also, Duane, if you could find that chart you had posted on the old BPG forum and in the news letter about wheel codes, types, etc... The chart and discussion (from BPG) was much more detailed than what I have found on here. It would also be great if people can post pictures of their original rims, along with stampings, for reference for everyone who is restoring these cars to concours quality correctness.

Thoughts?