’70 BUICK STAGE I GS-455 – FIRST ADULT SUPERCAR

Posted on April 28, 2023 by MartynL

Certainly not in keeping with Buick’s traditional image, the ’70 BUICK STAGE I GS-455 – FIRST ADULT SUPERCAR catapulted the Flint automaker into the heat of the battle for Supercar supremacy. The Skylark GS-455, in 360 horsepower Stage I trim, was the industry’s first “adult” Supercar. It was a powerful, high-quality, well-balanced midsize coupe (or convertible) with superb ride and handling qualities. Yet it was almost invisible compared with competitive offerings like the SS Chevelle,...

BUICK GRAND NATIONAL & GNX.

Posted on September 2, 2022 by MartynL

Between 1982 and1987, Buick turned its cosmetic NASCAR Tribute Grand National into the GNX, the Grand National to end all Grand Nationals. They proved that you didn’t need a V-8 to beat a Corvette! Retired GM engineer Gary Witzenburg writes about the history of the BUICK GRAND NATIONAL & GNX. For 21 years before NASCAR started selling naming rights in 1971, its top stock-car racing championship was known as the Grand National, and the name lingered in public usage long after the series offi...

FLINT FLYERS: BUICK’S SECRET GS SKYLARKS

Posted on January 14, 2022January 14, 2022 by MartynL

Inspired by Chevy’s ’65 Chevelle Z16 Malibu SS-396, Buick engineers developed the FLINT FLYERS: BUICK’S SECRET GS SKYLARKS. Ken Kayser owns a rare survivor that’s prominently featured in his new Buick performance history book. Every Musclecar enthusiast knows something about the Chevelle SS-396, Pontiac GTO and Olds 4-4-2, and Chevy Malibu (RPO L37) SS-396 aficionados know all about the highly-prized 200 Z16 Malibu SS 396/375 Police Specials. However, virtually no one knows about Buick’...

’73 BUICK: STAGE 1 455 GRAN SPORT

Posted on August 12, 2020 by MartynL

Scott Oldham does a deep dive on Phil Roitman’s rare - and extremely well done – ’73 BUICK: STAGE 1 455 GRAN SPORT, one of the quickest, fastest and most forgotten Musclecars of the 1970s! Buick’s public relations department was asleep at the wheel in 1973. Although the brand’s Gran Sport Stage 1 was among the stoutest of the remaining midsize muscle cars offered that year, it was largely ignored by most of the major contemporary car magazines. Car and Driver, Road & Track, Hot Rod,...

TOP TEN: BUICK’S PERFORMANCE LEGACY!

Posted on January 14, 2016May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Ten milestone vehicles that established and advanced Buick’s performance heritage for more than 100 years. Performance has been part of Buick’s DNA since its earliest days, when stripped-down chassis and powerful Buick engines pushed the pioneers of motorsports to victory. Racing success helped forge the brand’s reputation for durability. Now, more than a century later, that legacy of performance complements the refinement for which Buick has always been known. Here are 10 milestone mod...

SULLY HISTORIC SITE: 42nd ANNUAL CAR SHOW!

Posted on June 25, 2015May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Justin Sprinkle captures highlights of one of the most eclectic antique car shows on the calendar. The previous night’s storm didn’t seem to keep the cars and showgoers away from the 42nd Annual Sully Antique Car Show, presented by The George Washington Chapter of the Model A Club of America and the Fairfax County Park Authority. Held on the grounds of the Sully Historic Site in Chantilly, VA, the main house, outbuildings and rolling hills provide an amazing backdrop to roughly a ce...

BUICK GNX: THE GRAND NATIONAL TO END ALL GRAND NATIONALS!

Posted on May 1, 2014May 15, 2017 by MartynL

Buick's GNX is one of the quickest, fastest and most legendary American performance icons of the 1980s. This one has been driven less than 100 miles! For performance enthusiasts, the 1980s did not begin on a promising note. Auto manufacturers were submerged in a deluge of government regulations covering safety, fuel economy and exhaust emissions; performance cars received little thought and even less effort. Nevertheless, Buick managed to add to its long performance history with the Rega...