'70 Stage 1 questions, Options vs. Standard equipment

Discussion in 'The "Paper Trail"' started by GoldBoattail455, Dec 18, 2012.

  1. GoldBoattail455

    GoldBoattail455 462 -> TH400 -> Posi

    Just got the sloan docs for this '70 Stage 1. I'll provide a few specs about the car and what questions I have.

    70 GS Stage 1 hardtop. built the fifth week of October (27th-31st). Delivered to an IL dealer Nov 7th. Flint built car as I think all Stage 1 cars are, GS 455 can be Flint or Fremont. Original sticker price is ridiculously low.

    There are only six options on this car, A1 (Stage 1), B3 4-speed manual, C1 power disc brakes, D1 sonomatic radio, O5 remote outside mirror and X2 rallye steering wheel. *6 is a sold unit.

    I'm speculating but it being marked as sold indicates that the car was ordered? That would make sense since the delivery date is so close to the production date.
    It says 4-speed manual for B3 and then M20. But this trans in the car is actually an M21 and is stamped with the correct VIN #. Is it supposed to have a M20 or M21?

    How do I determine if the car is a 1 of X vehicle?

    What wheels are standard for a GS 455 in 1970, the wholesale car order form doesn't show 15" steel wheels with hub caps but is that standard? The car was optioned with a sonomatic radio, did buyers have to check a box because as far as I can tell this has always been a radio delete car. The holes near the windshield where the antenna for any radio would attach have never seen any hardware. How would a "delete" option show up on the order form?

    I thought I had read through everything and then I noticed the blue boxes next to each option indicating what is standard for GS or GS 455 vehicles. Is GS 455 equipment still standard when it is a Stage 1 car? Any help is appreciated. Thanks
     
  2. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    The option code for the manual trans was M-20 even though the car came with a 21.

    You can look in Mike Troms production guide but you really cant drill it down too much. It will tell you how many Stage 1 4 speed hardtops were made, but it wont tell you how many were made with the exact options and colors like a Ford "Marti" report does.

    As far as option or lack thereof, if you didnt check off anything as far as a radio, you got nothing. As far as wheels and tires, the base wheels and tires were 14" steelies with doggies and a double white pinstripe tire. The 15" steelies with doggies and G60's were option F4 and were only available on big block cars.

    A Stage 1 is just another option on a GS-455. Your your Stage 1 is really just a GS-455.

    And where did you get a Stage 1 4 speed??:shock:
     
  3. Rich Johns

    Rich Johns Platinum Level Contributor

    Rob Sounds like a great 70 GS Stage 1 car you have there!

    *6 means the car was an ordered car.

    M20 is the Sales code for 4 speed transmission (Buick GS 4 speed cars were only built with close ratio M21 trans).

    Standard wheel and tire option on a lowly 1970 Skylark or mighty GS Stage 1 was a a 14 x 6 plain steel wheel with Buick Dog dish cap and G78 -14 blackwall polyglas tire.

    Starting in 1970 on all GM A bodies radio antenna was inbedded in the centre of the windshield glass.

    Post some pics of your car and what is the cars factory color combo?

    Maybe post your firewall body tag info as it appears on tag.
     
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2012
  4. Duane

    Duane Member

    Whitewalls were an option....................and if it shows "D1" then it came with an AM radio from the factory.
    Duane
     
  5. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    Didnt realize whites were an option. Always thought the 14" double pinstripes were standard. Learn something new everyday
     
  6. Postsedan

    Postsedan 13427 L78

    Rob,

    Is this Stage1 really yours :Do No: Congrats!

    Pics, Pics, Pics!
     
  7. GoldBoattail455

    GoldBoattail455 462 -> TH400 -> Posi

    Okay, now I have a few more questions. It is a triple blue car, Diplomat Blue top and bottom, blue interior. Bench seat (lighter than buckets!) Trim 121

    Since it was optioned with the Sonomatic Radio, it appears that it never made it on the car in Flint. I will check the windshield for a correct date code.

    There are a number of different wheels listed on the wholesale order form, none are marked as standard for a GS or GS 455.
    -F1 Whitewall Tires G78-14
    -F2 Oversize Whitewall Tires H78-14*
    -F4 Super Wide Oval/White Billboard Lettered Tires G60-15 (incl. Sport Wheels)
    -F7 Super Wide Oval White Billboard Lettered Tires G60-15 (incl. Chrome Plated Wheels)
    -F8 Wide Oval Red Line Tires G70-14
    -F9 Wide Oval White Billboard Lettered Tires G70-14

    So are the 15" steel wheels called the "sport wheels". I ask because the GS has 15 x 7 steel wheels on it with the hubcaps. Guess I will have to check those for a date code as well. Or are the sport wheels the "Chevrolet" style wheel that was available?

    Is a bench seat from a 1972 any different from a 1970 if were talking about the basic "plain-jane" style? Currently the car has buckets.
     
  8. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    Everything on the order form is optional equipment. Here is a bulletin I have on the F4 and F7 wheels. and some literature from the Color and Trim book.


    2012-12-19_22-18-10_905.jpg 2012-12-19_22-18-54_781.jpg 2012-12-19_22-19-16_379.jpg 2012-12-19_22-19-23_148.jpg
     
  9. Duane

    Duane Member

    Rob,
    A 70 std interior is an entirely different interior design then the std interior for 71-72. Also the frames were the same but the cushions were a little different.

    A std no option 70 wheel package would have been 14" steel wheels with dog dishes, and NO trim rings. Plus, depending on the color, it was often color keyed to match the exterior color of the car.

    For 70 the "Sport Wheel" option (F4) was 15" steel rims with dog dishes AND trim rings, with the G60-15 Goodyear Polyglass tires.


    According to your Sloan decode the car had the following options;
    A1 Stage 1
    B3 4-speed manual
    C1 power disc brakes
    D1 sonomatic radio
    O5 remote outside mirror
    X2 rallye steering wheel


    It's pretty simple to see it originally came from the factory with an AM radio, 14" not 15" steel rims and G78-14" blackwall tires.


    Also the term "radio delete" implies that ALL these cars came with a radio as standard equipment, BUT this was not the case in 1970.

    If your car did not come with a radio then nothing would have been selected in the "D" option boxes.


    You also state that the car now has bucket seats. Obviously things have been changed on the car during its 40+ year existence.
    Duane


    PS. The only thing the Sloan info decodes are the options because the microfilm was originally designed to track each vehicles cost to figure out tax revenue.

    If you want to figure out what a base model 1970 455/Stage 1 GS a-body would look like you need to reference the "Wholesale Car Order Forms" & Assembly Manuals and piece it together.
     
  10. BUQUICK

    BUQUICK I'm your huckleberry.

    Here's an example of the standard wheel & tire on a '70 Stage 1. This was Dave K.'s '70 Stage 1, 3-speed, convertible.

    blackwall G78-14s on 14x6 wheels.
     

    Attached Files:

  11. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    Duane, Are you sure the 15 inch did not come with red lines?:Dou:(inside joke)
     
  12. Brad Conley

    Brad Conley RIP Staff Member


    :rant::rant::rant::rant::rant::laugh::beers2:
     
  13. GoldBoattail455

    GoldBoattail455 462 -> TH400 -> Posi

    Thank you for the clarification. Its making sense now. I also see that I was reading the wholesale car order form wrong. If the box to the left of the option's description was shaded in, it means that it was NOT available on that particular model.

    Guess it will need some 14 x 6 steel wheels. That does make sense, I had forgotten that the 14" wheels will clear the disc brakes. You really don't see many 14" wheels on restored Stage 1's.
     
  14. Duane

    Duane Member

    Rob,
    You need to make sure you get 70-72 14" rims. I don't think the 69-earlier ones will clear the disc brakes.
    Duane

    PS. I reeeeeeeeeally do have some special friends don't I. (Where is the puking pumpkin icon when you need it?)
     
  15. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    If that car has 15" steelies with doggies on it, leave them on!! That is such an awesome look for that car. Especially with it being so bare bones.

    So clue us in! Is it yours???
     
  16. jj455

    jj455 1970 Stage 1

    Rob, There is a near twin to this car your describing, up in Barrington, Ill.
     
  17. GoldBoattail455

    GoldBoattail455 462 -> TH400 -> Posi

    Okay, just checked and there was a small sheet metal plate that is painted black and was covering the hole where the antenna for the windshield passes through the firewall.

    The car is not mine but is next to the Electra. This car has some significant racing history behind it. Jason, the car will retain the 15" steelies for now since the goal is chasing down a low 11 second ET. It has already been in the 11's in the 1980's. The top of the rear axle tubes show marks from the u-bolts that held the ladder bar setup.

    This car use to be owned by Manny Gonzalez, i think? He also had an GS 455 hardtop which I believe is owned by someone else in the Chicago area. If anyone knows how to get in contact with Manny, please let me know. Still trying to track down the original carb.
     
  18. dl7265

    dl7265 No car then Mopar

    Rob,
    sounds like the car you were marketing for a friend on the board a few years ago ? I thought it sold ?
    I think your 14" steel wheel code for '70 should be HF if I recall..


    DL
     

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