GS455: 5,589 Stage 1: 2,465 Total: 8,054 OR Total: 5,589 Stage 1: 2,465 GS455: 3,124 Steve weim55 Colorado
The 1st set seems correct. I don't think almost ½ the GS 455's were Stage 1's. IIRC there were almost 9k GS 350's (8890 maybe - Only reason I remember that is because exactly 10% were either manual or 4-sp.'s & I think that # is 889). I'm sure someone will post the correct #'s.
I was close - 4-sp. 350 was exactly 10% of TH350/350. Anybody have/know of any 3-on-the tree '70 GS 350's? 20096 total if I'm adding (in my head so...). Not a bad year & IIRC the highest by a good margin.
I meant does anyone on here actually own or know the whereabouts of any of these 48 rare machines? @Chris Lott would love to find one. I've seen a few of the 3-sp. floor shift 350's but never a 3-on-the-tree.
Thanks for the replies and the chart. Interesting numbers. I had no idea stick car production was so low compared to automatics across-the-board. All other GM A bodies are much higher for stick production (SS, GTO, 442). (??) Steve weim55 Colorado
I think you will find a surprisingly high number of automatic transmissions across all brands but Buick was especially high.
For other GM brands, it depends on the engine. For example, 1970 GTO Ram Air cars were more popular with sticks, but the standard 400 and 455, the automatic was more popular.
I was curious so I looked it up: 1970 GTO: Stick: 16,033 Auto: 24,117 1970 442: Stick: 6,921. Auto: 15,511 Could not find a breakdown for SS Chevelle for 1970. But yea, GS Buicks were produced with considerably fewer manual boxes by percentage than the GTO and 442 for ‘70. Interesting...... Steve weim55 Colorado
It's surprising to me that Buick even bothered w/making the stick cars let alone that they made the GS model line at all. I can't imagine that by the time they accounted for all the tooling, engineering, and marketing costs that it was very profitable - I guess back then it was just a given that they had to make the cars and if so, had to offer them w/a stick.
Just think if Buick would have produced a 1970 GS Stage1 in a 2 Door Post Sedan Model and yet with a 4 Speed.....HOW RARE WOULD THAT BE!!!!!! It would be as rare (Probably more rare, as Buick would have made even less of them) as a 1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 Post Sedan.....which GM did make.
I know this car and owner very well....This Buick is local to me, I have known this Buick for nearly 2 decades. It is a very nice example of, what if Buick ever Made a 1970 Buick GS Post Sedan. Check out the dreadful drooping dash pad....plus there is a good size dent in the dash of the 4 speed 2nd to 3rd shift If you have ever experienced a 4 speed Buick....and have large hands....it can really hurt!
That would've been amazing had buick made such a car. I wonder if it could've been done as an SCO although I doubt it unless it was 50 cars or more like the COPO's - All the parts were available. The closest would've been a post sedan with 350 Hi-Comp. engine & 3-on-the-tree plus trailer tow which I believe would've come w/a 3.91. I suspect in that case an SCO 4-sp. floor shift & tach/gauges could've also been had by a persistent dealer. I've had 4-sp. GS's since I was 19 and don't remember ever banging the dash like that.
I am building my Buick as My OWN Version of a "Day2" 1970 455 - 4 Speed Buick Post Sedan....It`s been on my to do list for over a decade.
