@@cali2468 LOL check your facts and educate yourself. 268 GSX cars Buick built had the non-Stage 1 455 in 1970. By the end of production inn '72,the 350 was an engine option from the factory for the GSX. Have a nice night!
@@bbb462cid Don't play stupid. We are talking 1970 NOT 1972. 🙄 Yes, the base engine was a 455 rated @ 350hp. Then there was the Stage 1 @ 360hp. It's been a while, forgive me, but there was no 350 option for a 1970 GSX.
I drove a new 70 GS455 Stage 1 when it was almost new. Friend of mine had it and he was afraid of it. It would run like a scalded cat. Off the showroom floor, it very well could have outrun everything in 1970. I saw it race a lot and I drove it in some of those drag races. Never saw it get beat but the competition were lightweights. It got an impressive 10 MPG. Pontiac 455s would get up closer to 18. It was just a freak of nature that Buick decided to build. It had a mean reputation and it was all true. It would burn a set of tires off in one night of drag racing. I got pulled over by the police for barking the tires in 2nd gear. It had an automatic. He let me go with a smile. Good ole days.
Got pulled over once for doing a massive burnout in my 71 Plymouth 340 Duster. Turned out the cop was a Mopar fanatic and told me the only reason he pulled me over is because he wanted to talk to me about my duster hahaha
Coolest cop I've ever met. Actually was smokin a Doobie too as I got pulled over....cop didn't care at all. He just wanted to check out my duster. Told me he had an all original 69 roadrunner 383 4 speed car that he bought and was in the process of restoring
That is awesome and imagine if they made that same car today but changed the rear fender Wells where you could fit fatter tires under it for more grip and put fuel injection on it for even better gas mileage wow
and I should mention when I was younger I had a 70 Camaro SS with a 396 it was Factory nothing tampered with and I raced one of the white ones about half a mile does a straight Country Road and that thing took me by a good car and a half LOL the only car I could never get
I'm a MOPAR guy! I love the Cuda, but I've always said, if I had to pick my favorite car of the muscle car era it would be the '70 Buick GSX, hands down!! In yellow!!!!!!!
@@AlejandroP1980s the Buick is faster! Ford's were good on the streets but very few could handle the big Buick. Maybe a hot 351C or a Boss 429 could run with it. Look for a you tube video featuring 1970s street racing Deeters Cougar. Bad ass car running 351C.
@@camclarke9952 your that guy aren't you ? I'd pull into the A&W with a Cuda, Camaro or a Mustang and have a car full while you are parked in the back corner with your father's Buick.
I did a huge amount of street racing during the years of these cars. While I know the HEMI is one badass engine I never ran across a good running one in stock form. We actually jumped all over them when they came into the drive inn restaurant we hung out at. If we saw one with dealer tags we look at them like a fish on the hook. Many guys bought them on reputation and they were faster than anything they had ever owned but in street trim most were mediocre performers. In the hands of someone that knew how to drive and tune them they turned into a beast. We were smart enough to leave those alone. Same thing with the Boss 429 Mustangs. I raced many of them in showroom trim and they were not very impressive. The 428 Cobra Jet cars ran better than most other muscle cars of the day off the showroom. The LS6 454 Chevelles were exceptional in showroom trim. I drove most every muscle car made during those days but I never drove a GSX Stage 1 Buick. They are sharp cars and I know in NHRA stock and Super Stock trim they are great performers. All the muscle cars in those days were so much fun to drive. It was a great time to be a car lover.
It's hard to believe that at 17 I had a Buick GSK (and lived to tell the tale). I'll ALWAYS love that monster big block, tire shredding machine, and the fun I had 😎
Motor Trend did NOT start this so called rivalry. Anyone who's been around long enough knows that it was started by a post in Muscle Car Review magazine in I believe 1984 by a Hemi owner named Roy Badie. He stated in a response to an article on Buick GS's that "Buick's ran like they were tied to tree's". That didn't stand so well with Richard Lassitor (not sure on spelling) who was the president on the GS Club of America who contacted the magazine and offered to run his 70 GS 455 Stage 1 against Badies Hemi car. The magazine set up a race between the two and the GS smoked Badies 70 Hemi GTX 3 out of 3 races. THAT'S what started the rivalry.........
Motor Trend January 1970 started the rivalry. The Muscle Car Review was November 1984. 'HEMI KILLER' licence plate and t-shirts were on Buicks for 14 years before Rich and Roy ever lined up to race each other.
I had all but forgotten about the Hemi Cuda - vs GS-X feud. Thanks for bringing that back to the forefront! I’d love to see a real deal race between the two! Another hit from Muscle Car of the Week. Thank you, Kevin, for your continued dedication to not only this but to the hobby/industry that we all love.
Although the GSX is an awesome car...im taking the Hemi Cuda every time. Easy choice for me. The Hemi became much more streetable in 1970 with the switch from a solid to a hydraulic valvetrain. Both bad ass rides though for sure
My first car was a 1970 GS 350. Pretty good running car, it was no slouch either. In 78, the transmission needed work so I replaced the turbo350 with a modified 400. Chirped the tires into 2nd w/o trying and even got the a 3rd chirp once. My dad had gotten the best performance 350 offered when he bought it and it ran like a champ till the late 80's. Then my brother got it, wrecked it, rebuilt it, and total'd it. So loved that car.
Growing up I live near the drag strip and went quite often and I have to admit I've seen Buicks disappoint a lot of Mopars and Chevys especially when they came out with that V6 turbo Regal. And the GNX.
The 86-87 Turbo Regals are now legendary 'semi-modern' muscle cars in every sense of the word. With just a few low cost mods, they run 12 second 1/4 mile times. Buick REALLY knocked it out of the park with those cars...
From what my friends who've owned gs,gsx and Hemi Cars have said. If you want a car to take to the track and beat the piss out of it, take the hemi. But if you wanted a street car you could drive all day,and when needed to embarrass someone at a stop light,a gs was the way to go.
I love the Buick's. Even with the 350 4-bbl's, the acceleration is like nothing else that ever rolled off the showroom floor. However, the Hemi was a tricky one. It wasn't the greatest right off the line, but the speed would just keep increasing as you went down the 1/4 mile. Anyone can 60 foot a Hemi, but only a select few could maintain that lead to the end. Of all the cars out there, the only one that could REALLY be called "Hemi Killer" was the 1969 L88 Corvette. Bolt on a set of drag slicks and you're running 10's & 11's all day long. Personally, I think the Stage 1's real competition was the 440 6-pack. Both of those cars were the product of the factory's learning that doing all your R&D on the strip only builds a peaky "top endish" powerplant that just doesn't make much power in the low end - mid range rpm's, where most cars spend 99% of their lives. The Stage 1 and the 440 6-pack show that the "real street power" is better left in the 1500-5500 rpm range. Build the engines with more low end/mid range punch and you'll have a car that'll be easier to live with and will kill'em at the stop lights, every time.
@@andrewp1998, What Mopar did in 68 and 69 was literally shoehorn their most potent motors into their smallest car, the Dart. The 440 dart with 375 HP weighed only 3200 pounds, and the HEMI Darts were just under 3000 pounds. The L88 Vette might be a match for the 440 Dart, but not even close to a HEMI Dart.
So true. I lived the rivalry in the late 70's early '80s. All the camaros graduated in '77 then disappeared. There was a gsx just like in your video. He only came out 2 times a year. The car left to defend our city was a stock 70 bee w/383 mag. He was out everyday for "battle" and did rather well. Quick story about the gsx. Everytime he did a burnout, his license plate fell down then slammed back closed, lol. I campaigned 4 different mopars thru those years. 73 charger, 73 challenger, 69 rr, 69.5 bee 🐝. Raced my way to top dog. By then everybody was sick of me beating them up and wouldn't race me any more. I got mad and sold my car. We did have a 70 hemi cuda. Unfortunately it was a dog. I should write a book, lol
Now don't get me wrong. The Cuda is a mean car in all aspects. But being a life long Buick Fanatic........well it would be a no brainer for me as well! The GSX Stage 1 hands down. But that is why they make all makes and models! You can't go wrong with either car! No way no how! Great job from Buick and Mopar!
@@robintaylor1490 "Bad girls" no doubt. There's a '71Cuda in a car port (that can be seen driving by) that hasn't moved in 3 decades. The old man sends all comers who ask about sale packing. I think several people are waiting for him to pass away hoping the wife is reasonable.
My father had the same motor in his 71 buick centurion except it breath the cold air from the bottom of the motor it was a great force to be reckoned with.
Back in the late 90s I had a 70 Hemi Cuda and had attended a car show at the Indy 500 track all day. On my way home I stopped for gas late that night at a small gas station. As I filled up I noticed three younger men working on a car in the bay. I walked over to pay and noticed it was a brown 455 Stage 1. After talking to them they gave me a bunch of BS over his Stage 1 walking hemi cars. I called BS, and pointed out that I was driving a Hemi Cuda. They were freaked out and walked out to take a look. My car looked 100% stock but was far from it. The motor was built by a Super Stock racer from Ohio and had a 13to 1 CR, roller cam, heads done by Cylinder Head Service in California, two 750 Carter AVS carbs on a ported intake and would rev to almost 8000 RPM. It was a 4-speed car, and I had it slick shifted by Sonny's Trans Service in Greenfield in. They challenged me to a race, I told them $100.00 for one hit no whining, they accepted. They had just put on some older slicks but the car had a 3:45 gear, I was running 4:10s and almost new M/T cheater slicks that had black sidewalls, no lettering. The interstate was near by and I took the fast lane, did some dry hops and was ready. They counted it down, I put three cars on him in first gear, then drove away. His friends at the station were upset, but he told them that he never had a chance and that I pulled him in every gear. I have owned several nice and super rare Mopar's over the years and loved them all. So that's my Hemi vs Stage 1 story.
Completely overlooked here is that this rivalry really began at the Gainesville Drag Strip back in Dec. 1984. It was Roy Badie's 1970 GTX Hemi vs. Richard Lasseter's 1970 GS Stage 1. 4.10 gears vs, 3,42's. (No GSX was involved). Both cars were similarly and lightly modified street cars. The GS was even driven the 135 miles down there and back from Georgia The GS easily won despite a slight vapor lock condition due to a borrowed 700 cfm carb (a long story). This was all noted in that original magazine article. What wasn't told (but shown in the only 5-min. video of the event) was later that very same afternoon, the GS also outran Roy Badie's friend's 1970 Hemicuda. This race has become legendary.
Buick 455 Stage 1 was head and shoulders above a 426 hemi. So was the LS6 454 Chevrolet engine. The MOPAR 440 6 pack and the Ford 427 side oiler was also better and stronger running than the hemi.
That’s because there were few people who knew how to get the dual quad carbs of the Hemi dialed in. I used to work for a guy who was a mechanic on a Mopar racing team. He said off the showroom floor a 440 6 pack was faster than a Hemi. And unless you could get the carbs dialed in, you were better off with the 440. But if you could get the Hemi dialed in nothing could touch it.
@@mikee2923 But yet and still the ones who had a hard time dialing in a dual quad hemi had no issues dialing in a dual quad 409. Lol....get real. Dude, I smoked a 426 Hemi with my low 13 second 70 Chevelle high revving 350/300 Turbo 400 auto with a 2800 rpm stall and a 4.11 rear back in the day. It didn't even have headers....just duals with glass packs. 426 Hemi ain't no big deal on the street or the 1/4 mile track.
@@mikee2923 Not on street cars it isn't. The American hemispherical headed engine was first utilized by Ford and Chrysler just copyrighted the name "hemi" for marketing purposes. Now you just keep on with your Chrysler fanboy hoopla. It is quite comical. Buick is the quickest muscle car ever made and your goofy comments doesn't change that fact. But, I'm sure, in ur mind, you think you can comment a street hemi into being some sort of a race winner. Hemi ain't no big deal. Any real person that turns wrenches will tell you that. Now say hello to bigfoot.
I've been a Buick fan since my mom's 68 Buick Electra 225. She bought it from my uncle when I was 4, and as of last Thanksgiving at 30 I finally got the keys to it. Though my dream car is the black 87 GNX, All tuned up Buicks are beautiful to me. Appreciate the video!
I knew nothing about tri-shield until I owned my grand fathers 84 Buick skylark. Yeah I know it was a fwd econo car. But after enjoying the quality and learning more about drive trains. I wanted a 70s rwd skylark. I did for a short period of time own an 87 cop magnet Buick Regal. But now I really want a 67 wildcat 2 door hard top or a 66-67 rivera. Especially with those Buick rally wheels. 😜
Saw a stage 1 lay whoop ass on a hemi road runner in 1970.Buick ran 13.1 to 13.5 for the rr. and it only needed one carb. The factory stock hemi cars were over rated.
Opinions and personal preference are both nice barometers for judging which is better. Another good barometer is how much buyers are willing to pay. Which one consistently brings top money at auction? Which brings the most money? I’m thinking Hemi ‘Cuda but my judgment might be forever tainted by that day when I stood on the block at BJ when the gavel fell on a gorgeously stunning triple black ‘71 Hemi ‘Cuda at $3.2 mil. I think that was 2005, maybe 06. Either way it was back when $3.2 had a bunch more gravity than today’s inflationary dollar has.
Thanks, nice overview… my first new car was a 1970* CORONET 500/383/4 BBL/ Dual Exh/auto,auto,ps,pb, BLACK DELUXE int/ console/ RALLEY red/ vinyl top…… (:actually powerful,not a Handler),@ @ $
The Cuda could never be a sleeper. I'll take a Buick Stage I and GS handling package on a Seamist Green or Desert Gold Skylark with poverty caps any day of the week. The Stage 1 was a light to light brawler with calf skin leather gloves. The Cuda in my mind would be a more balanced package with the 440 SixPack. Torque throws a better party than horsepower, kids... remember that. Ultimately, it's really impossible to not love them both though, right?
Hp win races though, not torque. Being a qualified mechanic and an experienced engine builder, i watched with ammusement on one of the engine masters shows when this was the subject of topic. For some reason people actually think torque wins races- it's quiet funny as torque only indicates the amount of twist where as hp is a measure of work an engine is capable of. Unfort torque monsters like this are fun until about 3500 - 4000RPM where they fall flat on their faces. Not fun if you actually want to go fast. Loads of fun if all you care about is spinning tyres. Even then, you still don't see people using engines that fall on their face half way through the rev range in the Australian burnout comps- and spinning tyres is the only thing that matters to these guys. They know what's going on. Big revs and lots of hp wins burnout comps
I'd have drove off in the GSX too. I know you love the fact the Brothers bought it for the collection. I'm glad they did too. Dee How many miles are on it? How many have you put on it? I can almost see your grin now as you think back about driving that car.
GSX was Grand Sport Experimental and years later again with the turbo V6 Grand National Experimental . Both quarter mile demons of their time. I like how Buick did that. 👍🏻✌🏻
I had a 1970 GS 455 Stage 1 back 40 years ago and it was the quickest car in town. Mine wasn't a GSX but being the same drivetrain it was fast enough that my father called it a "flying coffin" after he took it out for a run. It would spin the tires at 30mph if I recall correctly. Gloriously dangerous to drive.
The 10 bolt Buick is a very modified rear. They used special bearings and the pinion is hd. The really over built the right side of the rear to take the massive forces of the high torque engines. The Buick rear takes less hp to turn ,so the parasitic drag was much less. The Axel's are bolt in, not c clipped.
The GSX is super cool and I love all that old Detroit iron, but the Mopars top them all and are my favorite 💜. Especially the Hemi & 440+6 cars and also love them e bodies, that is a sweet Cuda
I had a 1970 GTX 440+6 Super Bee with 4.10 gears. Quality was so bad compared to GM. My first loss (but a close one) was to a 1970 GS Stage 1. Surprised the hell outa me.
I had a friend with a black on black 70 GS 455 Kenny Bell edition, if I'm remembering right. That thing was a monster, but the hemi Cuda is the ultimate muscle car. Off the floor or with engine work it's hard to beat that 426. Now let's talk about what they're worth!!!!!!!
There was no "Kennedy-Bell" edition. K-B just sold parts.. The GS Stage 1 and the Hemi cars were about the same performance-wise. All old road tests showed this to be true, but the Hemi had twice the carburetion and way more head flow. Worth? Fools with $$$ listen to hype, not facts.
You can say whatever you want to about the Buick but the fact is the 455 buick engine was never designed for racing at all. Sure maybe once in awhile a GS stage one or a GSX would nose past a completely bone stock Hemi Cuda but if you put slicks on the Cuda and run the stock exhaust manifolds open with no head pipes or mufflers and re jet the hemi carbs for the open exhaust and advance the timing a bit. Then run it against that Buick set up the same way and watch that Hemi put a length or 2 on grandmas land yacht engine every time. Bone stock the Buick has a good chance but as I am sure many restoration people will agree with more guys modified their Hemi cars than didn't and it doesn't take much to make a huge difference in horsepower and traction. So stock maybe but modified even slightly never gona happen.
All of the fuss about the Hemi vs. Buick stage 1 is fine but I'd really like to see Hemi vs. Buick stage 2. If you're going to have one car with an engine that was developed for racing and equipped with dual Quad carburetors shouldn't we at least have Buicks top dog against it?
I bought 1980 trans am. I thought it had a Oldsmobile motor in it but I did some research turns out someone dropped a 1970 Buick stage 1 in it. It had some insane torque it almost looked like an aluminum block too but it was made of nickel really light weight for a 455.
Really? What color is it? A good friend did this to a white '79 403 Olds-powered TA. He used a mildly built 455 Stage 1. That car was never outrun on the street back then. He sold it after he was caught street racing about 25 yrs. ago. That 455 Buick, even with headers, dropped right in ... perfectly.
What, you never heard of the STAGE 2 HEADS & conversion for the Stage 1 Buick engine? Research it, you'll be surprised. Don't get me wrong, I like all the good engines from all the auto makers at one time or another over the years. Most guys don't know about the "factory challenge" 1/4 mile races that didn't invite public spectators. I'm not kidding, they used some track, I forget where, and all the auto makers only, could bring a car, a team, and nothing but factory parts, even experimental parts could be used. Buick had a special program going to build a handful of factory prepared Stage 2 engines, and there was more to those engines than just the Stage 2 head upgrades. But I think only the Stage 2 heads were available to be sold as upgrades to the public. Anyway........when the Buick team showed up with their GSX test car and all factory prepped Stage 2 engine.......everyone watched it race the "Test Mule" Oldsmobile ( or it may have been a Pontiac, I can't remember now ) that was out-running EVERYTHING. After 2 races, both times, that Stage 2 Buick GAPPED the Test Mule......they said the distance the Buick walked away was downright shameful. After those 2 passes, NOBODY would even attempt to race it.......and yes, all the guys were there with their special factory-prepped test racers, including the Mopar guys. True story, everyone from every factory team admitted it, and several articles written about it, along with eye witness testimonies to go with it. Look it up. With the exception of what's being made today.......the REAL factory equipped test car Buick Stage 2 was the fastest car in the 1/4 mile to ever roll out of any plant. ( 2 decades later, Buick did it again with the turbo V6 powered Grand National that WAS available to the public, and NOTHING but the fastest Ferrari could run with it. )
@@howabouthetruth2157 I have talked to Buick engineers that were doing the test and yes the 455 stage projects were awesome,but the Buick bosses didn't like it much .the engineers at the time didn't think much of the hemi as a street combo. They experimted with them and unless you were all out racing the hemi is ill suited for the street. Buick even went so far as posting quarter mile times of the hemi vs both stage 1and stage 2 cars on some dealerships sales floors. They knew the hemi was tough but they could beat it.
I noticed that too. Whenever Kevin was off camera, the sound seemed a bit off, like in a barrel or something. Still, it didn't detract from another great video.
Bet you went straight back to high school racing that GSX at the end. Right, Kev? Would love to see you review a Stage 2 GS. If the brothers can find one, that is.
Stage 2's were not factory, they were a dealer built option! 1970 Stage 1's already out-torqued the Hemi at lower rpm's giving them the 1/4 mile advantage, even against the lighter E-bodies! Mercury was the underdog in 1968 NASCAR and Buick was the underdog in 1970 street and strip racing!
@@GrandFunalleyMedia, I like all old cars and music, from Cat Stevens to Black Sabbath, including Jon Anderson and Jon And Vangelis, as well as other solo members albums from prog rock! And Olias of Sunhillow is my top favourite since 1978 when I first heard it! I listen to it at least three times a month in its entirety and never get sick of it! Did you ever hear Bread Tecolote? Black Sabbath would have been proud to put their name on it! I've heard that first back in 1972-'73, even before I had ever heard of Black Sabbath! At the time, I was more into Cat Stevens and I went from folk to heavy metal overnight, and then hearing Yes Fragile in 1974 for the first time, turned me into prog! And my first car was a '70 GTX when I was 15-16 years old in 1979! A beat up 383 Road Runner engine in it that I had built up and won 5 out of 7 street races with it until I lost the tranny and sold it to another kid who kept it in his backyard with six or seven other MoPars and eventually junked them! Long live vintage prog rock...and classic cars!
It's an inspiring album. Moon Ra ALWAYS gets my pulse rate going. It's kind of like Ravel's Bolero in a way. Never heard of Bread Techolote. Will have to listen. YES has been one of my top 5 since around 1979. They inspired me to become a bass player. Wow, you could afford a GTX at 16 years old? Well, then, a ten year old car depreciated a lot back then. With all the power we had back then, and no ABS, etc. it's amazing some of us survived. I bought a 69 Charger with a 383 for $250 in 1982. Ugh... If we only knew then. ;-( I restored a 68 Torino GT a few years ago. I'll own it until I die.
I downloaded the video of the 1984 match up called "Hemi Killer". I really wish there was a high quality version out there. 1970 Buick GS 455 stage 1 vs 1970 Plymouth GTX hemi. They weren't stock. It was still fun to watch.
"Parity" was the word regarding this match-up between two average enthusiasts. Neither car was specially built to race the other one. I have the original March 1985 MCR magazine that covered this race. THAT was THE race that started it all. Kevin sure seemed to miss that point!
1970 was the absolute pinnacle of styling and power for muscle cars! There were a few 71 cars that still had the horsepower but the styling went downhill. 73 and 74 Super Duty Trans Ams the exceptions!
It's funny that for all the Chevy owners cackling and crowing, in 1978 their top cars (Camaros, Firebirds, and yes even Corvettes) were trashed by Dodge pickup trucks. And, in the 80s, Buicks came full circle and ate Chevys for breakfast, lunch and dinner, once again; both times, based on Regals.
The Dodge pick up was a 360 powered beast for the time.In the 80s dodge was weak playing with 4 cylinder turbos which ran pretty good considering what chevy and ford were doing.Till about 85,86 when the 5.7 TPI came out and of course the formidable 5.0 Ford!
Except Mitsubishi powered Omni GLHs were kicking the crap out of Chevy 5.0 H.O.s (still wondering where the High in High Output was). Those 5.0 Mustangs were a lot cheaper than anything that GM put out.
@@mocharger06 on what planet ? Stock Omnis were pulling mid 15 second quarters not bad for what they were but they weren't winning any street races!....my brand new 86 cougar 5.0FI would beat an 85 5.0 carbed h.o. Monte ss or Camaro.
@@rjmzz430, on Earth. According to Shelby Omni GLH were running 14.7s in the 1/4 mile. I would hope your Cougar would outrun Chevy 5.0s. They were overpriced pigs.
Now you got it right I own a 70 hemi cuda since i was 14 my sons have it now not much scares me except 440's and GXS's And I have told them those 2 never title for title
What it came down to was two companies using different approaches, to achieve the same thing. Plymouth opted for top end performance. the Hemi was all top end, slower off the line, but great when it could stretch it's legs. Buick took a more conservative approach, the 455s strong point was low end torque and power, and Buick simply built on that with the stage 1. They were pretty evenly matched, so more often than not , it came down to driver skill. But in all honesty, the Buick approach was far more practical. the 455 developed the torque and power sooner. Of course, s for build potential, there is no substitute for the elephant Hemi, there is no way you could ever squeeze the Hp out of the Buick engine that you could from the elephant. But from the factory, Buick had a slight advantage. Sorry Guys, I am a Mopar man myself, but I am honest enough to acknoledge the reality.
In 1989 I bought a copy of Peterson’s Hot Rod magazine. In it they listed the 50 fasted America off the showroom Floor in the quarter mile! I don’t think anybody can guess without looking it up ! I never would have guessed this car to be the quickest? If anybody gets it , I will tell them they Did!
The fact that Motor Trend could get a better 1/4 mile out of the Buick mostly reminds us how much easier it was to keep the relatively mild Buick in tune than the dual quad Hemi with an aggressive factory cam that was known to foul spark plugs. It also reminds us that Motor Trend's drivers have historically been competent at a road course but often clueless at the drag strip. As the 13.10s recorded by other automotive magazines show, a well tuned and competently driven Hemi Cuda had the potential to be a lot faster at the drag strip.
The GSX was a torque monster.
510 foot pounds...crazy
The GSX could be had with the 350. Just an FYI, but GSX doesn't mean "455" or "455 Stage 1".
@@bbb462cid Wrong. The GSX was available only with a stage 1 455ci V8. The GS (without the "X") came standard with a 350.
@@cali2468 LOL check your facts and educate yourself.
268 GSX cars Buick built had the non-Stage 1 455 in 1970. By the end of production inn '72,the 350 was an engine option from the factory for the GSX. Have a nice night!
@@bbb462cid Don't play stupid. We are talking 1970 NOT 1972. 🙄 Yes, the base engine was a 455 rated @ 350hp. Then there was the Stage 1 @ 360hp. It's been a while, forgive me, but there was no 350 option for a 1970 GSX.
I drove a new 70 GS455 Stage 1 when it was almost new. Friend of mine had it and he was afraid of it. It would run like a scalded cat. Off the showroom floor, it very well could have outrun everything in 1970. I saw it race a lot and I drove it in some of those drag races. Never saw it get beat but the competition were lightweights. It got an impressive 10 MPG. Pontiac 455s would get up closer to 18. It was just a freak of nature that Buick decided to build. It had a mean reputation and it was all true. It would burn a set of tires off in one night of drag racing. I got pulled over by the police for barking the tires in 2nd gear. It had an automatic. He let me go with a smile. Good ole days.
Got pulled over once for doing a massive burnout in my 71 Plymouth 340 Duster. Turned out the cop was a Mopar fanatic and told me the only reason he pulled me over is because he wanted to talk to me about my duster hahaha
Coolest cop I've ever met. Actually was smokin a Doobie too as I got pulled over....cop didn't care at all. He just wanted to check out my duster. Told me he had an all original 69 roadrunner 383 4 speed car that he bought and was in the process of restoring
That is awesome and imagine if they made that same car today but changed the rear fender Wells where you could fit fatter tires under it for more grip and put fuel injection on it for even better gas mileage wow
and I should mention when I was younger I had a 70 Camaro SS with a 396 it was Factory nothing tampered with and I raced one of the white ones about half a mile does a straight Country Road and that thing took me by a good car and a half LOL the only car I could never get
not a 70 hemi cuda!
I'm a MOPAR guy! I love the Cuda, but I've always said, if I had to pick my favorite car of the muscle car era it would be the '70 Buick GSX, hands down!!
In yellow!!!!!!!
wedge4hire which faster Buick gsx vs a 1970 boss 302 or mach 1 scj twister special or a 1970 mercury cougar eliminator
@@AlejandroP1980s the Buick is faster! Ford's were good on the streets but very few could handle the big Buick. Maybe a hot 351C or a Boss 429 could run with it. Look for a you tube video featuring 1970s street racing Deeters Cougar. Bad ass car running 351C.
Back in those day with tweeking of the hemi always won. If the Buick won it was because the hemi wasn't set up right or a shitty driver.
@@robintaylor1490 wrong. the buick is a luxury car while the mopars a Tin can...and the buick would still win think about for a minute...
@@camclarke9952 your that guy aren't you ? I'd pull into the A&W with a Cuda, Camaro or a Mustang and have a car full while you are parked in the back corner with your father's Buick.
As a diehard mopar fan, the cuda is a no brainer butvthat Buick is one of two GM products I’d own
1969 chevelle?
No disrespect to the Hemi but I'll take the GSX
I did a huge amount of street racing during the years of these cars. While I know the HEMI is one badass engine I never ran across a good running one in stock form. We actually jumped all over them when they came into the drive inn restaurant we hung out at. If we saw one with dealer tags we look at them like a fish on the hook. Many guys bought them on reputation and they were faster than anything they had ever owned but in street trim most were mediocre performers. In the hands of someone that knew how to drive and tune them they turned into a beast. We were smart enough to leave those alone. Same thing with the Boss 429 Mustangs. I raced many of them in showroom trim and they were not very impressive. The 428 Cobra Jet cars ran better than most other muscle cars of the day off the showroom. The LS6 454 Chevelles were exceptional in showroom trim. I drove most every muscle car made during those days but I never drove a GSX Stage 1 Buick. They are sharp cars and I know in NHRA stock and Super Stock trim they are great performers. All the muscle cars in those days were so much fun to drive. It was a great time to be a car lover.
Love that Buick.
2 of the baddest muscle cars ever made
It's hard to believe that at 17 I had a Buick GSK (and lived to tell the tale).
I'll ALWAYS love that monster big block, tire shredding machine, and the fun I had 😎
Those GSX's were unbeatable
Both are great cars!👍🏁
Motor Trend did NOT start this so called rivalry. Anyone who's been around long enough knows that it was started by a post in Muscle Car Review magazine in I believe 1984 by a Hemi owner named Roy Badie. He stated in a response to an article on Buick GS's that "Buick's ran like they were tied to tree's". That didn't stand so well with Richard Lassitor (not sure on spelling) who was the president on the GS Club of America who contacted the magazine and offered to run his 70 GS 455 Stage 1 against Badies Hemi car. The magazine set up a race between the two and the GS smoked Badies 70 Hemi GTX 3 out of 3 races. THAT'S what started the rivalry.........
Thanks for clearing that up.
There's a lot more meat to your story. I'm withya !
History I can read about that's meaningful!
@Landre Wilkinson A heavily modified GSX creamed the Hemi.
@@TheInsaneShecklador Incorrect, BOTH cars had a few mods.........
Motor Trend January 1970 started the rivalry. The Muscle Car Review was November 1984. 'HEMI KILLER' licence plate and t-shirts were on Buicks for 14 years before Rich and Roy ever lined up to race each other.
GSX GETS MY VOTE WITHOUT ANY DOUBT !!!!!
I had all but forgotten about the Hemi Cuda - vs GS-X feud. Thanks for bringing that back to the forefront! I’d love to see a real deal race between the two! Another hit from Muscle Car of the Week. Thank you, Kevin, for your continued dedication to not only this but to the hobby/industry that we all love.
Michael Clarke just RUclips F.A.S.T stock drags.
Although the GSX is an awesome car...im taking the Hemi Cuda every time. Easy choice for me. The Hemi became much more streetable in 1970 with the switch from a solid to a hydraulic valvetrain. Both bad ass rides though for sure
I remember a yellow GSX around here many years ago. I love those cars.
Gotta love your channel and what you do for us all.
The shade of Yellow on the Buick is much nicer than the Cuda👍
@BwayneAnnaLee(shutdown has been hacked) Oh YES!
i love that Buick
My first car was a 1970 GS 350. Pretty good running car, it was no slouch either. In 78, the transmission needed work so I replaced the turbo350 with a modified 400. Chirped the tires into 2nd w/o trying and even got the a 3rd chirp once. My dad had gotten the best performance 350 offered when he bought it and it ran like a champ till the late 80's. Then my brother got it, wrecked it, rebuilt it, and total'd it. So loved that car.
Thanks, see my 1970 First new Car buy…..:::: a long , long trip.
Both are awesome. If I was able to choose one between the two, I would choose the GSX.
im a gm guy but not me,no way
You would be makin a BIG mistake SORRY sir HEMI CUDAS are the KINGS of Muscle cars
@@kenwalters3914 far from it,the stage 1 ls6 Chevelle are king.
@@camclarke9952 YOUR FREAKIN DREAMIN OBVIOUSLY YOU DONT KNOW SHIT ABOUT HEMIS AND MOPARS NO ONE COULD TOUCH HEMI CUDAS DO YOUR HOME WORK
@@camclarke9952 My first loss in my '70 LS6 was to a 1970 GS Stage 1. Surpised the 'ell out of me.
I’d go with the BUICK
The Gs x combined brutal power, luxury and Buick quality a very rare combination for muscle cars of the era.
Growing up I live near the drag strip and went quite often and I have to admit I've seen Buicks disappoint a lot of Mopars and Chevys especially when they came out with that V6 turbo Regal. And the GNX.
The 86-87 Turbo Regals are now legendary 'semi-modern' muscle cars in every sense of the word. With just a few low cost mods, they run 12 second 1/4 mile times. Buick REALLY knocked it out of the park with those cars...
I'm just going to go ahead and say it.
You had both of them lined up, camera's rolling and then...........YOU LET US ALL DOWN!!!!!!!
Steven Marzullo yeah, wouldn't be the first time!
Both of these cars are very well matched.
360 HP at 4,500 rpm, but power kept building all the way to the 5,500 rpm shift point.
Buick admitted it rated it low for insurance reasons.
Lol so we're the hemi' s
Agreed,
Buick also didn't rate the engines by the highest output seen in a selection of engines. They didn't cherry pick the best numbers.
@@jeffh.5106 Yes, but look at the difference in carburetor alone! Geez!
i
@@bbb462cid TRUE!
growing up in the late 70,s early 80,s we used to call the stage 1 Buick the hemi killer
Nope, they were more like tied with the 440 -6. the hemis beat the stage 1 most of the time ..
@@andrewp1998 The 440 beat the hemi most of the time. the hemis were terrible street engines.
@@jordanwiley4582 so I heard they perform better at higher speeds
Only if the street guy didn't know how tune his Hemi, they'd eat em up and spit them out for lunch tuned properly!!!
Andrew Pereira it’s more so the opposite
Never underestimate the 455. Definitely the best motor GM made. Just a monster.
GSX...all...the...way!
If I had to pick between the two cars I’ll have to go with the hemi cuda
yes, would go neck and neck with the 427 vette.
both awesome cars, no doubt about it. BUCKLE UP & GOOOOOOO ENJOY ☆☆☆☆☆
The 73/74 -455 SD is dam near as fast
Buick: the Unsung HERO! but that Hemi is just sooooooo SCARY fast! 💥
Faster or slower, the Buick is 10 times the car.
From what my friends who've owned gs,gsx and Hemi Cars have said. If you want a car to take to the track and beat the piss out of it, take the hemi. But if you wanted a street car you could drive all day,and when needed to embarrass someone at a stop light,a gs was the way to go.
I love the Buick's. Even with the 350 4-bbl's, the acceleration is like nothing else that ever rolled off the showroom floor. However, the Hemi was a tricky one. It wasn't the greatest right off the line, but the speed would just keep increasing as you went down the 1/4 mile. Anyone can 60 foot a Hemi, but only a select few could maintain that lead to the end. Of all the cars out there, the only one that could REALLY be called "Hemi Killer" was the 1969 L88 Corvette. Bolt on a set of drag slicks and you're running 10's & 11's all day long. Personally, I think the Stage 1's real competition was the 440 6-pack. Both of those cars were the product of the factory's learning that doing all your R&D on the strip only builds a peaky "top endish" powerplant that just doesn't make much power in the low end - mid range rpm's, where most cars spend 99% of their lives. The Stage 1 and the 440 6-pack show that the "real street power" is better left in the 1500-5500 rpm range. Build the engines with more low end/mid range punch and you'll have a car that'll be easier to live with and will kill'em at the stop lights, every time.
the l88 vette would go neck and neck with the hemis.. they were preety much evenly matched from what I have seen
@@andrewp1998 True, but the 'vette had aerodynamics on its side, too. When you get up around 110-130 mph, it can make a difference.
Put the L88 Vette up against either the 440 Dart or the HEMI Dart...that would be something
@@markdubois4882 dont get wha you mean but lets keep it simple, the mopars rule most of thr time
@@andrewp1998,
What Mopar did in 68 and 69 was literally shoehorn their most potent motors into their smallest car, the Dart. The 440 dart with 375 HP weighed only 3200 pounds, and the HEMI Darts were just under 3000 pounds. The L88 Vette might be a match for the 440 Dart, but not even close to a HEMI Dart.
I'm a mopar guy but those gsxs are freakin gorgeous
The GSX is a jewel. Uber rare.
So true. I lived the rivalry in the late 70's early '80s. All the camaros graduated in '77 then disappeared. There was a gsx just like in your video. He only came out 2 times a year. The car left to defend our city was a stock 70 bee w/383 mag. He was out everyday for "battle" and did rather well. Quick story about the gsx. Everytime he did a burnout, his license plate fell down then slammed back closed, lol. I campaigned 4 different mopars thru those years. 73 charger, 73 challenger, 69 rr, 69.5 bee 🐝. Raced my way to top dog. By then everybody was sick of me beating them up and wouldn't race me any more. I got mad and sold my car. We did have a 70 hemi cuda. Unfortunately it was a dog. I should write a book, lol
Now don't get me wrong. The Cuda is a mean car in all aspects. But being a life long Buick Fanatic........well it would be a no brainer for me as well! The GSX Stage 1 hands down.
But that is why they make all makes and models! You can't go wrong with either car! No way no how! Great job from Buick and Mopar!
The GSX "got the girl".
Just asked my wife and 5 other girls and they all said cuda ... lmao
@@robintaylor1490
"Bad girls" no doubt.
There's a '71Cuda in a car port (that can be seen driving by) that hasn't moved in 3 decades. The old man sends all comers who ask about sale packing. I think several people are waiting for him to pass away hoping the wife is reasonable.
@@johntempest267 better than a goodie 2 shoes
I like that Buick
Thats why the gsx was called the hemi killer
My father had the same motor in his 71 buick centurion except it breath the cold air from the bottom of the motor it was a great force to be reckoned with.
Linwood Cole what about gsx vs a 1970 boss 302 or a mach 1 scj twister special or a 1970 mercury cougar eliminator
Both the boss n the eliminator werent slouches the stage 1 455 was a force to be reckoned with a totalled torque monster
Both beautiful powerful beasts...not brand loyal whatsoever I love them all Ford Dodge GM and AMC...they all were gorgeous in separate ways.
Love them both but the GSX will always be my favorite. Don't underestimate Buick torque!
Back in the late 90s I had a 70 Hemi Cuda and had attended a car show at the Indy 500 track all day. On my way home I stopped for gas late that night at a small gas station. As I filled up I noticed three younger men working on a car in the bay. I walked over to pay and noticed it was a brown 455 Stage 1. After talking to them they gave me a bunch of BS over his Stage 1 walking hemi cars. I called BS, and pointed out that I was driving a Hemi Cuda. They were freaked out and walked out to take a look. My car looked 100% stock but was far from it. The motor was built by a Super Stock racer from Ohio and had a 13to 1 CR, roller cam, heads done by Cylinder Head Service in California, two 750 Carter AVS carbs on a ported intake and would rev to almost 8000 RPM. It was a 4-speed car, and I had it slick shifted by Sonny's Trans Service in Greenfield in. They challenged me to a race, I told them $100.00 for one hit no whining, they accepted. They had just put on some older slicks but the car had a 3:45 gear, I was running 4:10s and almost new M/T cheater slicks that had black sidewalls, no lettering. The interstate was near by and I took the fast lane, did some dry hops and was ready. They counted it down, I put three cars on him in first gear, then drove away. His friends at the station were upset, but he told them that he never had a chance and that I pulled him in every gear. I have owned several nice and super rare Mopar's over the years and loved them all. So that's my Hemi vs Stage 1 story.
Completely overlooked here is that this rivalry really began at the Gainesville Drag Strip back in Dec. 1984. It was Roy Badie's 1970 GTX Hemi vs. Richard Lasseter's 1970 GS Stage 1. 4.10 gears vs, 3,42's. (No GSX was involved). Both cars were similarly and lightly modified street cars. The GS was even driven the 135 miles down there and back from Georgia The GS easily won despite a slight vapor lock condition due to a borrowed 700 cfm carb (a long story). This was all noted in that original magazine article. What wasn't told (but shown in the only 5-min. video of the event) was later that very same afternoon, the GS also outran Roy Badie's friend's 1970 Hemicuda. This race has become legendary.
Thanks L R. You are of course correct. I still have the original magazine and it shows a pic of that Hemi cuda Lasseter smoked....
The fact is there were fast cars of every brand. Driver makes the difference.
Buick 455 Stage 1 was head and shoulders above a 426 hemi. So was the LS6 454 Chevrolet engine. The MOPAR 440 6 pack and the Ford 427 side oiler was also better and stronger running than the hemi.
That’s because there were few people who knew how to get the dual quad carbs of the Hemi dialed in. I used to work for a guy who was a mechanic on a Mopar racing team. He said off the showroom floor a 440 6 pack was faster than a Hemi. And unless you could get the carbs dialed in, you were better off with the 440. But if you could get the Hemi dialed in nothing could touch it.
@@mikee2923 But yet and still the ones who had a hard time dialing in a dual quad hemi had no issues dialing in a dual quad 409. Lol....get real. Dude, I smoked a 426 Hemi with my low 13 second 70 Chevelle high revving 350/300 Turbo 400 auto with a 2800 rpm stall and a 4.11 rear back in the day. It didn't even have headers....just duals with glass packs. 426 Hemi ain't no big deal on the street or the 1/4 mile track.
@@LT1HILLINGHOE Then you woke up. The 426 HEMI is THE most successful engine in drag racing history.
@@mikee2923 Not on street cars it isn't. The American hemispherical headed engine was first utilized by Ford and Chrysler just copyrighted the name "hemi" for marketing purposes. Now you just keep on with your Chrysler fanboy hoopla. It is quite comical. Buick is the quickest muscle car ever made and your goofy comments doesn't change that fact. But, I'm sure, in ur mind, you think you can comment a street hemi into being some sort of a race winner. Hemi ain't no big deal. Any real person that turns wrenches will tell you that. Now say hello to bigfoot.
@@mikee2923 NEXT!!
Love em both ❤️
I've been a Buick fan since my mom's 68 Buick Electra 225. She bought it from my uncle when I was 4, and as of last Thanksgiving at 30 I finally got the keys to it. Though my dream car is the black 87 GNX, All tuned up Buicks are beautiful to me. Appreciate the video!
Great vid Kevin. Beautiful cars my friend.
Nice i got 2 68 rivieras one is a gs i installed a 455 engines in both of the cars
I knew nothing about tri-shield until I owned my grand fathers 84 Buick skylark. Yeah I know it was a fwd econo car. But after enjoying the quality and learning more about drive trains. I wanted a 70s rwd skylark. I did for a short period of time own an 87 cop magnet Buick Regal. But now I really want a 67 wildcat 2 door hard top or a 66-67 rivera. Especially with those Buick rally wheels. 😜
Always remember it is torque which gets you moving.
Saw a stage 1 lay whoop ass on a hemi road runner in 1970.Buick ran 13.1 to 13.5 for the rr. and it only needed one carb. The factory stock hemi cars were over rated.
Ive always like the Buick GS stage 1 better then the GSX.
yavin99 and what about a 1970 Buick gsx stage 2 vs a 1970 boss 429 or a 1970 Shelby gt500 vs a 1971 boss 351
The 1970 GS 455 Stage 1 was a distinct model, but GSX cars commonly had the 455, and many of those were Stage 1 cars.
@@AlejandroP1980s I would take a GM over Ford any day but Mopar is my favorite although I do respect Ford.
A friend in hs had this car, even same color. He woul d smoke the tires often after school was out. It was awesome sounding and a torque monster.
I have drag raced against guys like you Kevin in good ole days when street racing was the only thing available. That was funny.
Opinions and personal preference are both nice barometers for judging which is better. Another good barometer is how much buyers are willing to pay. Which one consistently brings top money at auction? Which brings the most money? I’m thinking Hemi ‘Cuda but my judgment might be forever tainted by that day when I stood on the block at BJ when the gavel fell on a gorgeously stunning triple black ‘71 Hemi ‘Cuda at $3.2 mil. I think that was 2005, maybe 06. Either way it was back when $3.2 had a bunch more gravity than today’s inflationary dollar has.
If i had to choose between these two i would have to have a few drinks to make that decision.
Thanks, nice overview… my first new car was a 1970* CORONET 500/383/4 BBL/ Dual Exh/auto,auto,ps,pb, BLACK DELUXE int/ console/ RALLEY red/ vinyl top…… (:actually powerful,not a Handler),@ @ $
The Cuda could never be a sleeper. I'll take a Buick Stage I and GS handling package on a Seamist Green or Desert Gold Skylark with poverty caps any day of the week. The Stage 1 was a light to light brawler with calf skin leather gloves. The Cuda in my mind would be a more balanced package with the 440 SixPack. Torque throws a better party than horsepower, kids... remember that. Ultimately, it's really impossible to not love them both though, right?
Hp win races though, not torque. Being a qualified mechanic and an experienced engine builder, i watched with ammusement on one of the engine masters shows when this was the subject of topic. For some reason people actually think torque wins races- it's quiet funny as torque only indicates the amount of twist where as hp is a measure of work an engine is capable of. Unfort torque monsters like this are fun until about 3500 - 4000RPM where they fall flat on their faces. Not fun if you actually want to go fast. Loads of fun if all you care about is spinning tyres. Even then, you still don't see people using engines that fall on their face half way through the rev range in the Australian burnout comps- and spinning tyres is the only thing that matters to these guys. They know what's going on. Big revs and lots of hp wins burnout comps
A Beast!!!
I'd have drove off in the GSX too. I know you love the fact the Brothers bought it for the collection. I'm glad they did too. Dee How many miles are on it? How many have you put on it? I can almost see your grin now as you think back about driving that car.
I'll take either car
GSX was Grand Sport Experimental and years later again with the turbo V6 Grand National Experimental . Both quarter mile demons of their time. I like how Buick did that. 👍🏻✌🏻
I had a 1970 GS 455 Stage 1 back 40 years ago and it was the quickest car in town. Mine wasn't a GSX but being the same drivetrain it was fast enough that my father called it a "flying coffin" after he took it out for a run. It would spin the tires at 30mph if I recall correctly. Gloriously dangerous to drive.
10 bolt BOP rear- all you need to know...
LOL- true
@@turbojetpowered8299 Comparing a 4th gen rearend to a BOP 10 bolt. Lol
@@turbojetpowered8299 apples and hand grenades comparison 8.2" vs 7.5" ring gear....seriously,why do you bother?
The 10 bolt Buick is a very modified rear. They used special bearings and the pinion is hd. The really over built the right side of the rear to take the massive forces of the high torque engines. The Buick rear takes less hp to turn ,so the parasitic drag was much less. The Axel's are bolt in, not c clipped.
The GSX had a 12 bolt rear end, not 10 bolt. The 10 bolt can't handle 500 lb. ft. of torque.
Nope
The GSX is super cool and I love all that old Detroit iron, but the Mopars top them all and are my favorite 💜. Especially the Hemi & 440+6 cars and also love them e bodies, that is a sweet Cuda
me too..
I had a 1970 GTX 440+6 Super Bee with 4.10 gears. Quality was so bad compared to GM. My first loss (but a close one) was to a 1970 GS Stage 1. Surprised the hell outa me.
I had a friend with a black on black 70 GS 455 Kenny Bell edition, if I'm remembering right. That thing was a monster, but the hemi Cuda is the ultimate muscle car. Off the floor or with engine work it's hard to beat that 426. Now let's talk about what they're worth!!!!!!!
There was no "Kennedy-Bell" edition. K-B just sold parts.. The GS Stage 1 and the Hemi cars were about the same performance-wise. All old road tests showed this to be true, but the Hemi had twice the carburetion and way more head flow. Worth? Fools with $$$ listen to hype, not facts.
The Plymouth color is called "Lemon Twist".
The Stage 1 was very close to the top of the musclecar hill, but stock for stock, nothing outran a Hemi
@Facts Matter Nope, not a chance. And testing back in the day proved it--when it came to regular production cars, the Hemi was king
@Facts Matter You can't make up facts.
@Facts Matter LMFAO!!!
other than a stock gsx stage 1 and several other cars with better drivers,sorry mate.
You can say whatever you want to about the Buick but the fact is the 455 buick engine was never designed for racing at all. Sure maybe once in awhile a GS stage one or a GSX would nose past a completely bone stock Hemi Cuda but if you put slicks on the Cuda and run the stock exhaust manifolds open with no head pipes or mufflers and re jet the hemi carbs for the open exhaust and advance the timing a bit. Then run it against that Buick set up the same way and watch that Hemi put a length or 2 on grandmas land yacht engine every time. Bone stock the Buick has a good chance but as I am sure many restoration people will agree with more guys modified their Hemi cars than didn't and it doesn't take much to make a huge difference in horsepower and traction. So stock maybe but modified even slightly never gona happen.
All of the fuss about the Hemi vs. Buick stage 1 is fine but I'd really like to see Hemi vs. Buick stage 2. If you're going to have one car with an engine that was developed for racing and equipped with dual Quad carburetors shouldn't we at least have Buicks top dog against it?
I'd love to see a Buick Gs455 stage 2 run against a Hemi Challenger :) I got my money on the Buick
My first car was a 71 GS 455 stage 1 convertible and no stock car ever beat me at front Street in Philly, none.
I bought 1980 trans am. I thought it had a Oldsmobile motor in it but I did some research turns out someone dropped a 1970 Buick stage 1 in it. It had some insane torque it almost looked like an aluminum block too but it was made of nickel really light weight for a 455.
crack is not a good drug
@@trillrifaxegrindor4411 have you tried it?
@BwayneAnnaLee(shutdown has been hacked) Yes ... all true.
Really? What color is it? A good friend did this to a white '79 403 Olds-powered TA. He used a mildly built 455 Stage 1. That car was never outrun on the street back then. He sold it after he was caught street racing about 25 yrs. ago. That 455 Buick, even with headers, dropped right in ... perfectly.
@@trillrifaxegrindor4411 LOL, I guess you think engine swaps didn't happen back in the day?? Lay off the crack pipe....
Both are great but the Hemi's had so much more 'day two' potential than the GSX.
What, you never heard of the STAGE 2 HEADS & conversion for the Stage 1 Buick engine? Research it, you'll be surprised. Don't get me wrong, I like all the good engines from all the auto makers at one time or another over the years. Most guys don't know about the "factory challenge" 1/4 mile races that didn't invite public spectators. I'm not kidding, they used some track, I forget where, and all the auto makers only, could bring a car, a team, and nothing but factory parts, even experimental parts could be used. Buick had a special program going to build a handful of factory prepared Stage 2 engines, and there was more to those engines than just the Stage 2 head upgrades. But I think only the Stage 2 heads were available to be sold as upgrades to the public. Anyway........when the Buick team showed up with their GSX test car and all factory prepped Stage 2 engine.......everyone watched it race the "Test Mule" Oldsmobile ( or it may have been a Pontiac, I can't remember now ) that was out-running EVERYTHING. After 2 races, both times, that Stage 2 Buick GAPPED the Test Mule......they said the distance the Buick walked away was downright shameful. After those 2 passes, NOBODY would even attempt to race it.......and yes, all the guys were there with their special factory-prepped test racers, including the Mopar guys. True story, everyone from every factory team admitted it, and several articles written about it, along with eye witness testimonies to go with it. Look it up. With the exception of what's being made today.......the REAL factory equipped test car Buick Stage 2 was the fastest car in the 1/4 mile to ever roll out of any plant. ( 2 decades later, Buick did it again with the turbo V6 powered Grand National that WAS available to the public, and NOTHING but the fastest Ferrari could run with it. )
@@howabouthetruth2157 I have talked to Buick engineers that were doing the test and yes the 455 stage projects were awesome,but the Buick bosses didn't like it much .the engineers at the time didn't think much of the hemi as a street combo. They experimted with them and unless you were all out racing the hemi is ill suited for the street. Buick even went so far as posting quarter mile times of the hemi vs both stage 1and stage 2 cars on some dealerships sales floors. They knew the hemi was tough but they could beat it.
A little sound inconsistence...microphone problem? great vid again, not to criticize, I like all your videos
I noticed that too. Whenever Kevin was off camera, the sound seemed a bit off, like in a barrel or something. Still, it didn't detract from another great video.
Bet you went straight back to high school racing that GSX at the end. Right, Kev?
Would love to see you review a Stage 2 GS. If the brothers can find one, that is.
Stage 2's were not factory, they were a dealer built option! 1970 Stage 1's already out-torqued the Hemi at lower rpm's giving them the 1/4 mile advantage, even against the lighter E-bodies! Mercury was the underdog in 1968 NASCAR and Buick was the underdog in 1970 street and strip racing!
@@oliasofsunhillow7116
Regardless, I want to see one
@@oliasofsunhillow7116 Someone's a Jon Anderson fan. *Nice!*
@@GrandFunalleyMedia, I like all old cars and music, from Cat Stevens to Black Sabbath, including Jon Anderson and Jon And Vangelis, as well as other solo members albums from prog rock! And Olias of Sunhillow is my top favourite since 1978 when I first heard it! I listen to it at least three times a month in its entirety and never get sick of it! Did you ever hear Bread Tecolote? Black Sabbath would have been proud to put their name on it! I've heard that first back in 1972-'73, even before I had ever heard of Black Sabbath! At the time, I was more into Cat Stevens and I went from folk to heavy metal overnight, and then hearing Yes Fragile in 1974 for the first time, turned me into prog! And my first car was a '70 GTX when I was 15-16 years old in 1979! A beat up 383 Road Runner engine in it that I had built up and won 5 out of 7 street races with it until I lost the tranny and sold it to another kid who kept it in his backyard with six or seven other MoPars and eventually junked them! Long live vintage prog rock...and classic cars!
It's an inspiring album. Moon Ra ALWAYS gets my pulse rate going. It's kind of like Ravel's Bolero in a way. Never heard of Bread Techolote. Will have to listen. YES has been one of my top 5 since around 1979. They inspired me to become a bass player. Wow, you could afford a GTX at 16 years old? Well, then, a ten year old car depreciated a lot back then. With all the power we had back then, and no ABS, etc. it's amazing some of us survived. I bought a 69 Charger with a 383 for $250 in 1982. Ugh... If we only knew then. ;-( I restored a 68 Torino GT a few years ago. I'll own it until I die.
Nice Interior"s !!!????
I'll take the buick definitely.
I downloaded the video of the 1984 match up called "Hemi Killer". I really wish there was a high quality version out there. 1970 Buick GS 455 stage 1 vs 1970 Plymouth GTX hemi. They weren't stock. It was still fun to watch.
"Parity" was the word regarding this match-up between two average enthusiasts. Neither car was specially built to race the other one. I have the original March 1985 MCR magazine that covered this race. THAT was THE race that started it all. Kevin sure seemed to miss that point!
YES
Cmon dude, you can’t make this video and not show a legit drag race
Buick totally under rated the hp on the stage 1
The audio levels in this video are all over the place. Loud then quiet then loud then quiet.
The GSX has a better fit and finish. Cuda was sharp, but not the top banana.
I thought both cars are cool rides an alot of others in 70s , but the baddest fish of all was the '71 Cuda . Very few can sit along side of it!
1970 was the absolute pinnacle of styling and power for muscle cars! There were a few 71 cars that still had the horsepower but the styling went downhill. 73 and 74 Super Duty Trans Ams the exceptions!
That Buick rear wing looks somewhat like the 1969 T/A wing.
It's funny that for all the Chevy owners cackling and crowing, in 1978 their top cars (Camaros, Firebirds, and yes even Corvettes) were trashed by Dodge pickup trucks. And, in the 80s, Buicks came full circle and ate Chevys for breakfast, lunch and dinner, once again; both times, based on Regals.
Yup-They also ate Mopars and Fords for lunch and dinner.
The Dodge pick up was a 360 powered beast for the time.In the 80s dodge was weak playing with 4 cylinder turbos which ran pretty good considering what chevy and ford were doing.Till about 85,86 when the 5.7 TPI came out and of course the formidable 5.0 Ford!
Except Mitsubishi powered Omni GLHs were kicking the crap out of Chevy 5.0 H.O.s (still wondering where the High in High Output was). Those 5.0 Mustangs were a lot cheaper than anything that GM put out.
@@mocharger06 on what planet ? Stock Omnis were pulling mid 15 second quarters not bad for what they were but they weren't winning any street races!....my brand new 86 cougar 5.0FI would beat an 85 5.0 carbed h.o. Monte ss or Camaro.
@@rjmzz430, on Earth. According to Shelby Omni GLH were running 14.7s in the 1/4 mile. I would hope your Cougar would outrun Chevy 5.0s. They were overpriced pigs.
Mines the 87' Burk Grand National with a stage (3) chiperuski.. 3.8 liter on a cool autumn eve. Turbo car will scoot
Now you got it right I own a 70 hemi cuda since i was 14 my sons have it now not much scares me except 440's and GXS's And I have told them those 2 never title for title
Good review. You are right.
What it came down to was two companies using different approaches, to achieve the same thing. Plymouth opted for top end performance. the Hemi was all top end, slower off the line, but great when it could stretch it's legs. Buick took a more conservative approach, the 455s strong point was low end torque and power, and Buick simply built on that with the stage 1.
They were pretty evenly matched, so more often than not , it came down to driver skill. But in all honesty, the Buick approach was far more practical. the 455 developed the torque and power sooner.
Of course, s for build potential, there is no substitute for the elephant Hemi, there is no way you could ever squeeze the Hp out of the Buick engine that you could from the elephant. But from the factory, Buick had a slight advantage. Sorry Guys, I am a Mopar man myself, but I am honest enough to acknoledge the reality.
Back in the day...if you could put 100% of your torque to the ground in a Stage 1 Buick, you would never lose a race.
In 1989 I bought a copy of Peterson’s Hot Rod magazine. In it they listed the 50 fasted America off the showroom Floor in the quarter mile! I don’t think anybody can guess without looking it up ! I never would have guessed this car to be the quickest? If anybody gets it , I will tell them they Did!
Cuda rule!
Who goes on One?
Great old muscle cars, both of them! But, I'd bet a 67 L-71 Corvette coupe could outrun them both. Cheers! 😀🔧
The fact that Motor Trend could get a better 1/4 mile out of the Buick mostly reminds us how much easier it was to keep the relatively mild Buick in tune than the dual quad Hemi with an aggressive factory cam that was known to foul spark plugs. It also reminds us that Motor Trend's drivers have historically been competent at a road course but often clueless at the drag strip. As the 13.10s recorded by other automotive magazines show, a well tuned and competently driven Hemi Cuda had the potential to be a lot faster at the drag strip.
Stage 1s had no issues running in the 12s....
@@camclarke9952 Correct ... I saw it personally with my older brother's GS Stage 1.