I started working at an Oldsmobile dealership in 1973 so I would have chosen the W30. At the time, I owned a '69 W32 and, of course, wish I hadn't sold it. I didn't buy my first Buick until 1984; a Grand National.
I'm not sure we can call that period the "golden" age of muscle cars anymore. I think todays American muscle cars are just as (if not more) exciting than the 64-72 era. But I digress...I want born until 1979 and I can only imagine how cool the corporate sanctioned legendary street races were.
In 1967, when I graduated High School, I had a 1965 Mustang 2+2 fastback. Ran off the road one night and put it in the bottom of a lake. In 1968 I had a 1966 SS 396 4-speed that had already had the 396 replaced with a 427. It always was a fun car to drive and street race. Drove the SS till I got drafted into the Marine Corps in 1969. I had gotten marred 4 weeks before I was drafted and my new wife could not drive a 4-speed. Bought her a 1962 Impala with automatic trans and parked the SS at my parents house. Due to all the training and schooling the Marine Corps put me through, I did not get my first leave until I had been in the Corps for about 5 months. When I got back home, the SS was gone. My Dad said that no one could stand to drive it as it was too radical for the street and got bad gas mileage so he traded it in on a 1966 Chevy pickup. 1970 and 71 was spent in service to the government and they did not pay enough for someone to purchase a new car of any make. If I could have afforded it, I would have gone with another SS as back them, I knew nothing of the torque and performance of a Buick GS. Today, I own a 1970 GS 455 4-speed with 3.91 gears. Marv.
While I will agree that todays musclecars are faster, safer, handle better and get better gas mileage, I couldn't disagree more that they are more exciting than the `64-`72 era cars.
I just recently got the GS running and have taken it down the road about two miles and back to ensure the M22 shifts ok. No mufflers on the car yet and I picked up tags for it this morning. Marv.
On Jan. or Feb. 1970 I was 7 years old. My mother and step father ordered a new Ranch Wagon from Valley Ford in Florissant, MO. I remember a bright yellow B0ss 302 Mustang sitting in the showroom along with a loaded Country Squire, and a 4 door green Torino. I went crazy over that Boss 302, I wanted my mother to buy it because she was not happy about trading her '67 Mustang in on a wagon.
I think I would of scooped up one of those ugly winged plymouths sitting on the lot that nobody supposedly wanted. White with a hemi and 4 speed please.
If I walked into an Oldsmobile dealer in 1970 and this 69 was still in the lot, it would of came home with me.
I think 69 was a better year for the GTO & 442 than their 70s. I like the 70 GS & Chevelle better than their 69s though.
To be honest Jim I would have probably wrecked it. I was coming home in a blizzard, I was in the Pontiac, could not see 50 feet and ran into a snow plow as he was turning around. Just did not see him at all and hit him broadside behind the plow right in the fuel tank under his driver door. I heard that little voice that said don't drive into that whiteout. But I knew the country road well and figured no other fool is out here and bam; then a trooper drove into me. Man was he pissed.
Not sure I can agree with you on the 442 at all. The 400 just does not cut it. It has to be a 455. And the 70-72 Olds Ram air hood is the best ever. If you have never got to sit in one and look over that hood when it starts to lift you are missing out on one of life’s great thrills. When I got a ride in my friends when I was about 15 I knew I needed one.
For you guys thinking about buying one back then for future investment unfortunately you have to look past GM and over to Mopar. This pretty plain looking yellow Cuda at Mecum sold the day before my GSX. And it sold for a fortune. It had the Magic Hemi 4 speed and was a convertible. There is just no explanation.
And what did it sell for you ask? Yes you read that right $2.6 MILLION. I have never been that close to over 2 Million dollars. I could have touched it but I didn’t.
You are 100% correct on both points...there's no way to adequately explain the post-WW2 evolution of the American car culture...you had to experience it...
and that would have been the only car i could have bought 26 hp and if you are lucky, you get it 10 years after ordering
In January 1970, I decided it was time for me to purchase/order a new car - either a '70 GTO or '70 Chevelle. I spoke to my insurance agent and he informed that the insur for the GTO would be $150 /yr vs $75 for the Chevelle. (learned later that the GTO was so high because my brother was on the farm policy). I ordered the '70 Chevelle Malibu with 350V8 (300hp), white buckets, 350 th, posi ....... Colour was forest green. The price was $4206. Now with a '65 nove SS (6 cyl, auto) as trade in, cost was $3300 + tax.
I wanted this… But only being eight years old, couldn’t afford it! My neighbor had a 69 carousel red judge that I would have acccepted as well. I didn’t know about Buicks until much later
