1970 GS455 Stage 1 "Bimbo"

Discussion in 'Members Rides' started by JesiM, May 16, 2018.

  1. turbotimmer

    turbotimmer Well-Known Member

    Yup, I totally agree. Mine is no different. No power anything, aluminum manual drum brakes. But it does have a vinyl top, WG wheels, and remote driver’s side mirror.

    Jesi, please keep the updates coming. This is one of my favorite threads on the board.
     
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  2. BYoung

    BYoung Stage me

    Cool options on your car!
     
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  3. JesiM

    JesiM Well-Known Member

    After doing research and learning so much about this car, I've come to realize how much of a gem I have and I want to make sure it's done right. So, slow and steady, making sure all the work and restoration is done smoothly and correctly!
     
  4. Dano

    Dano Platinum Level Contributor

    Tim, does yours have a radio and if so, rear speaker (another seemingly popular option even on the low option cars). What else? Bench seat too or buckets? I never did see it - Wasn't @ the Nationals that year. I'd also meant to reply to you about my old GSX on the other thread - I wish you'd have bought it too:). Deal turned into a mess.

    My low option Stage 1 4-sp. is bit schizophrenic - Disk Brakes, but no PS, A/C, or F-41, buckets but no consolette, Gauges/Rallye Clock(?), AM/FM/Rear speaker, 14" chrome wheels with wide oval white letter tires, Rallye Steering Wheel, and of course the requisite remote mirror & vinyl top, but with an upper peak molding twist.

    My old one was nearly identical (never knew for sure what wheel or radio options it had), but had tach, consolette, and F-41 plus the requisite vinyl top & remote mirror.

    The black one I sold Brett was an anomoly - It had neither a vinyl top nor remote mirror, but had AM/rear speaker. Had that car not had PS & had it had 15" tires, and maybe disk brakes, it would've been optioned about exactly how I'd have ordered one brand new: Buckets/consolette, F-41, Rallye Steering Wheel, gauges/tach.

    Even the super low option rust-free basket case in Vegas that's been for sale for sale forever has a vinyl top. IIRC, besides the Stage 1/4-sp, only options are AM/8-track/rear speaker, G60-15 (steel wheels), trailer tow (?), & tinted windshield. On a 350 4-sp, the trailer tow option got a higher gear ratio, but I can't imagine why they ordered it on that car.

    Sorry Jesse, don't mean to hijack your thread, but you're now one of the low option Stage 1 4-sp. crowd:). There were seemingly only a handful of people in '70 that knew that a stripped down Stage 1 4-sp. was the car to buy to rule the streets.
     
  5. turbotimmer

    turbotimmer Well-Known Member

    Dano, I did not yet acquire the Wayne Roberts docs on my car yet. I’m only going by what the previous owner told me. It’s a blue bucket seat interior, but no consolette, etc. Just the buckets and shifter. Not sure what radio option. It has an old cassette player in it now. All gauges, tach, and thumb groove wheel.

    Jesi, sorry for the hijack. Like I said earlier, please keep the updstes coming. These stripped down “all business” Buicks hold a special place in my heart.
     
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  6. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    I see on Jesi's report that it doesn't have the asterisk and the word "sold" at the end. Which means that Jesi's car wasn't a customer ordered car correct?

    My Aquamist car seems to be ordered similarly as Jesi's. Only differences I see is that mine has buckets and consolette but Jesi's has discs.
     
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  7. Dano

    Dano Platinum Level Contributor

    I was thinking there was one more page that would've showed that - I thought Wayne's reports showed whatever the status was (sold, stock, or zone)
     
  8. JesiM

    JesiM Well-Known Member

    Mike Sobotka sent these to me, he had them ordered back in 2007. The only page I didnt include in the photos was a summary page....this one
     

    Attached Files:

  9. Dano

    Dano Platinum Level Contributor

    I was mistaken here - If it's ordered for stock, it's not shown on the report. What Jason is referring to Jesi is that the last "option" shown on the order form (see next post) would indicate whether a car was a demonstrator, fleet, or sold (I.e. Special ordered) and Jason is correct here - I thought it also showed if it was for dealer stock, but that's the default (i.e. no "option") so it's not shown (sorry).

    I do have a report for a very oddball '70 GS (I'll start a thread on it eventually) and there's virtually no chance that this car was ordered for stock, but it does not show the "*6 Sold" option. I thought I'd remembered the report showing it ordered for stock, but just checked and it doesn't. Same report also doesn't show the painted top that the car obviously (per the data plate & physical evidence) came with & Wayne surmised it was a clerical error and therefore the dealer was never invoiced for it so it's likely the *6 option was also just not entered. Point being mistakes did happen and I'd suspect that probably not all, but most of these low option Stage 1 4-sp.'s were special ordered - Few dealerships would probably risk having one sit on the lot.
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2018
  10. Dano

    Dano Platinum Level Contributor

  11. turbotimmer

    turbotimmer Well-Known Member

    I believe mine was customer ordered and never picked up. Mine was sold new at a dealership in the nashville area in 71. I can only assume the ordering customer didn’t buy it. It then sat there because who would want a 4 speed Buick with no power steering or brakes. I can imagine the sales manager back then maybe giving a cash bonus to the salesperson that moved it. I was told by the gentleman I bought it from that the oroginal owner wasn’t even a car guy. Just walked into the showroom and wanted a manual transmission buick.
     
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  12. GS44667

    GS44667 Worlds First Stage1 Conv

    Royal Moore Buick. Really
    Jesi I have a cool story for you.
    I'll be in touch.
    John
     
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  13. JesiM

    JesiM Well-Known Member

    Hey guys sorry I've been away awhile. Friday is 1 year since dad passed away. Weather hasn't allowed me much work on my darling, but today we (finally) got the crank to turn by hand. I was gifted a lot of spare parts that I won't be using. A couple auto trans, a full 455 engine, heads etc. All will fit the 70. So I'm weeding through those as well. Will be getting more done since the weather is nicer :)
     
  14. OZGS455

    OZGS455 Oh what a wonderful day!

    Goodonya!..Ill be keeping an eye on this thread, I'd leave her looking rustic for sure.
     
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  15. moleary

    moleary GOD Bless America

    Subscribed! Keep the progress pics coming. Your dad must be right with you every day!
     
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  16. dyll

    dyll Well-Known Member

    wish you the best of luck with the car!! hopefully it will make your father happy! sorry about him as well
     
  17. Brian Albrecht

    Brian Albrecht Classic Reflections



    Thanks to Chris "CJP" for pointing me back towards this thread! Jesi appears to not have been on here for a full year. Anyone know anything?
     
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  18. Dano

    Dano Platinum Level Contributor

    Wow, I didn't realize it had been so long. A PM would show up in her email.

    Jesi, where are you?
     
  19. no1oldsfan

    no1oldsfan Well-Known Member

    Love this post. Cheers
     
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  20. Mike Sobotka

    Mike Sobotka Founders Club Member

    I'll see if I have her number and try to reach her.
     
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