These days, Buick is mainly a crossover brand that markets to younger GM buyers and is particularly adept at attracting women customers to GM showrooms. The GM sub-brand has what some may consider a little-known racing history, though, and once had a range of impressive performance offerings in its product portfolio. Just take the 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1 for example.
The video filmed by the good folks over at the Cars And Zebras YouTube channel is a wonderful example of Buick’s hot-blooded past. This video shows a concourse-worthy 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1 lining up against a bone-stock 1971 Plymouth Duster for a factory stock shootout that would bring a tear to the eye of any true Detroiter. As many GM Authority fans already know, the GSX Stage 1 features a 455 cubic-inch V8 producing a purported 360 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, which in this particular car is paired with a Turbo 400 three-speed automatic, as well as 3.42 rear gears. This is a very rare piece of GM’s past, with just 280 examples of the Buick GSX Stage 1 leaving the factory with the optional Turbo 400 automatic for the 1970 model year.
The 1971 Plymouth Duster doesn’t have quite as much firepower, rocking a 340 cubic-inch V8 producing an underrated 275 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque, which sent power to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission and speedy 4.30 rear gears. The Duster is fairly light for a muscle car, with this particular car tipping the scales at 3,440 pounds including its driver. The Buick, by comparison, tips the scales 4,180 pounds with its driver included – a difference that is sure to even the playing field between these two bruisers.
Check out the video embedded below to see which of these Woodward Avenue icons emerges victorious in this rather even match up.
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Comments
Gotta love the giant Frigidaire A-11 compressor hanging off the big block,gotta keep cool at the track! Hahaa! Awesome post,too! Thanks!
Finally two vehicles that are actually stock and run times are as they would from the factory. Usually they are not truly stock and run crazy fast times.
Dad was always on about Dusters with a 340 for HP potential, light car, and cheap price. No match for the big block Buick here tho. Brings back memories. Thanks