I'm soon to be an owner of a 70 Stage 1!

I'm brand new... but a long time Buick (and Olds) fan. I've agreed on a price for a very nice Fire Red GS Stage 1. Because I don't own the car yet, I can't pull the valve cover to get the head casting number. The external number on the head says "73". Can anybody tell me what that number means? I'm hoping that will at least tell me it is at least a 70 455 head casting number.

 

the heads our from a 1973 455.i bet block is also incorrect.also trans should have bb on tag.be careful.

 

I was afraid that they were 1973 heads. The car is a factory 75 paint (fire red)I nice condition. Absolutely rust free car. Perfect interior. 70,000 miles. Really cool options include: Sport mirrors, bucket seats, console, factory tach, power windows, tilt wheel, rear defogger, factory AM/FM. VIN obviously proves it is a real GS455. Stage 1 emblems have the right amount of wear to show they have been there a long time. I emailed the VIN to Sloan. The should have the records. VIN is 44637H191XXX..

 

Look on the passenger side of the block near the firewall and see if 73 is not also cast there. If so, the block is a 73 also.

Plus the casting numbers under the valve covers give no information regarding whether heads are from a stage 1 engine. The casting numbers are the same for small valve engines of the same vintage.

 

Here are a few pics. I'm betting that Sloan comes back and says it is a real Stage 1 body. Assuming the engine & trans aren't original, any opinion as to the value?

 

I really appreciate all of the help. You guys are awesome. I'm curious to see what you guys think its worth...

 

With the info so far provided, its as much a skylark with a resale-red paintjob as it is a stage1

Was it restored ? was there rust repair ? what does the underside / suspension / mecahincals look like ?

Does it even drive and stop ?

.. not much to go on as far as value

Tread slowly and take deep breaths - there a plenty of nice cars out there these days

 

OK.. never any rust and 0 rust repairs (and yes, I know what I'm looking at). Paint is 5 years old. Paint quality on a scale of 1 - 10 would be a 7+ (driver quality paint). Suspension in good shape, runs good, drives good, stops good. Underside is VERY good - again, zero rust, suspension in good original condition, 3.64 10 bolt posi with sway bar and boxed lower control arms. Does that help?

 

As far as I know Sloan won't help you, only on 71-75, need to use GS Society for 1970-before verifications. Anybody?

 

My understanding is because the sequential numbers are below 193XXX, Sloan has the info for the earlier 1970 models.

 

Is the seller representing the car as "all original" or "numbers match"? If they are, and with the info these guys, who know their stuff, are telling you, I'd pass. The seller would be a liar. That said, price and how much you like it should come into play. Wouldn't hurt to see if any of the guys/gals on here are in your area to take a look at it. Sometimes a second opinion looks past the rose colored glasses.

 

This looks like the car that John Poling sold I am interested in seeing what the Sloan paperwork says

 

There are a few tid bits that can be confirmed to help with originality. I know the overview, but you can search the site or ask here for the specifics.
1. All A/C and Stage 1 non-A/C cars had a fuel return line from the fuel pump
2. Carburetor and Distributor have specific p/n's for Stage 1. Automatic transmission for Stage 1 was coded "BB".
3. Block casting number is on top of the block at firewall just aft of the intake manifold. Engine code is located on the deck surface of the block that is exposed by the relief in the cylinder head around the dipstick tube. Like mentioned before, head casting numbers do not decipher Stage 1 or standard heads. `70 Stage 1 engine code would be "SS".
4. 3.64 gear ratio cars had specific size engine pulleys
5. GS cars had support braces added to the upper control arm mounts for the rear end.
6. the car is 45 years old and fakes have been around for 44-1/2 years, the `70 Stage 1 is faked the most and is fairly easy to do.

 

Just did some looking...."OH" should be in the VIN. Not correct IMO. Steer toward a different car.

 

Investment ......Love the money ?
Passion ...........Love the car ?
LOVE IS A POWERFUL FORCE. Some cars I have owned (and loved) were worth more TO ME than any book value. Honestly, it just didn't matter about the money.
Consider....A fixer- upper can cost more in the long run than buying something that is what you want, and ready to drive. Many of us have more invested than what we can sell ours for.
I would just consider what it is worth to you and how it fits the budget.
Just don't go over the top on what they say it is, and regret it later.

Show me a 10 second Buick that has less invested than what it will sell for today!!!!!.........I still say, it's about love and passion.

 

Guys, I'm no rookie. I currently own a real 70 Cutlass w-31, 1969 Camaro SS 350 4-speed with 35,000 original miles and a 71 442 W-30 convertible. I know what I'm looing at. I did typo the vin. This is one of the most rust free cars I've ever seen. Interior has almost NO wear whatsoever. The seller isn't representing it as anything. He has almost no idea what the car is. The STAGE 1 badges look very correct and old. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that at the bare minimum the car is a rust free 70 GS455 with a great interior. This is not a car that he guy is asking $30,000 for. I have the car bought for a crazy low amount imo... If its a Stage 1 it is a bonus... after some help from you guys, I'm sure the engine isn't original. For this price, I don't care...

 

Is this car up by Rochester N.Y.

 

LOL... yep... I take it you looked at it too?