1970 BUICK GSX
source: Flickr
Some of our stunning muscle cars earn their keep on subtle design elements, rare motors, or simple mystique. Others crash through the wall with open headers and wild options that scream American muscle. None would be more suited to epitomize this visage than the 1961 Buick GSX.
Beginning as a special prototype in 1970, the GSX is one of just a few cars that had an amazing built concept and managed to roll off the factory floor with a final design that was just as cool, if not cooler. Take, for example, the GSX’s 3-piece rear spoiler, or its wild hood-mounted tachometer. Yes, the tach was mounted outside the cab, just behind the left hood scoop.
White-lettered tires cupped flashy five-spoke, chrome wheels. Color-keyed sports mirrors adorned the doors, and painted headlight bezels allowed the chrome bumper to shine without competition. Black stripes and functional hood scoops made no mistake about what the GSX was designed to do, and its powerplant did not disappoint.
source: Wikimedia
That’s because the GSX threw the gloves off right out of the gate, with its 455 c.u. engine punching over 350 horses and a whopping 510 torques at anyone who dared run against it (those numbers are said to be underrated to combat fuel and emissions regulations). That happened to be the torque record of the time, and the GSX held it for over 33 years, only to be beaten by the V10 Viper. A Hurst shifter sat atop a Turbo Hydra-Matic trans that pushed all that power to a 3.61:1 Posi rear.
Heavy-duty quad-linked suspension, massive front and rear sway bars, and power front disc brakes barely kept the GSX tame. Indeed, the 1971 Buick GSX was a top pedigree Muscle car before it even hit dealership floors, and Buick secured 678 pre-orders because of it.
The GSX was introduced as a direct competitor to the Pontiac GTO Judge and Plymouth’s HemiCuda, so its impressive performance made sense. But what really made the Buick stunning was its luxury appeal. Black and white X-patterned seats and door panels hugged those ballsy enough to take a ride, while chrome and black decals made an entrance at every light.
Sadly, the Buick GSX was gutted to meet those nasty fuel and emissions restrictions, with compression lowered, axle ratios reduced, and advertised power slumping far below the 510-torques mark. Sales fell around 50% the following year, and the GSX was killed off soon after. The few 1970 cars remaining are highly collectible, with prices tickling the $100,000 mark.
