Why was A1/L-75 Stage 1 not part of the GSX package?

I guess I was lucky as we had a white 70 GSX that rolled around my home town when I was in high school. 80-82. It’s actually the same GSX that Buick restored and it’s still in the GM heritage collection.

We also had a guy that ran around town in a 32’ ford with a blown Stage 1 in it. Candy apple red. Before that he had the motor in a 70’s Chevy truck.

Wanted to buy a 65 skylark with a transplanted Stage 1 in it in high school but my dad said no way. Lol. Buddy of mine ended up with it. Only took me another 40 years to finally get my 65.

 

Interesting info on the "pontiac" that was not a judge.

Though the car looks like a '70 Judge, there are no Judge decals. In the original Wurlitzer screenplay, The Driver even refers to it as a Judge at one point, but it's not in the movie.

Though the engine is referred to as a 455 throughout the movie, the engine callouts on the fenders, like the Judge decals, are absent. If this was a '70 Judge with a 455, it would be just 1 of 17.

To further the yarn-spinning quality of the character G.T.O., he deftly describes the GTO's engine incorrectly a few times in the movie, referring to it as a 455 with Mark IV Ram Air, a Carter high-rise set up and 390 horsepower. A "Mark IV" is a big-block Chevy, the Pontiac engine didn't come with a "Carter high-rise" but rather a Quadrajet on a cast-iron intake and no Pontiac engine at the time was rated at 390 hp


What was this tread originally about?

 

Still the best car movie ever!

 

Now I have to see if Netflix is showing it. I have to see it again.

Actually never knew about the movie, I happened to come across it on TV 30 years ago.
I thought Wareen Oates character was driving the GTO cross country as a corporate test, review, etc.. car for people. He didn't know cars and remember him telling some facts to the girl like the 500 ft. lb. the motor puts out and saying whatever the heck that means..

My memory is bad though

 

Yep, we have veered this thread off course for sure, but since we are already there I'll add a comment about the TLBT GTO Judge. It is indeed a real '70 GTO Judge, Orbit Orange, 400 c.i. Ram Air IV, TH400 and 3.90 gears. It's been a many years ago but the last time I saw it surface it was owned by a guy in Alaska. I have no idea where it is today but I wish it was in my garage. I'd trade my Stage 1 GSX for it without batting an eye. The Orbit Orange color was intended to be available only on the Judge but it's possible that there may have been some regular '70 GTOs special ordered in that color. Here is the text from the bulletin where Pontiac made the color available. It specifically mentions that it was for the Judge:

According to Car Distribution Bulletin no.5 dated 10/3/69:

"Effective immediately, Orbit Orange paint code "T" has been released as a special Judge color for the 1970 model. This paint is a no charge option on the G.T.O. when ordered with The Judge package code 332.

Recommended trim combinations with Orbit Orange code "T" are as follows:
257 - Sandlewood, bucket seats
258 - Black, bucket seats
267 - Sandlewood, bench seat
268 - Black, bench seat

To order, specify paint code "T" in the "Other Accessories" section of the Wholesale Car Order form.

E.H. Swartz
Office Manager
& Car Distributor

EHS:es

Pontiac Sales Promotion Blueprint dated 10/24/69, P.S.B. 70-20 is titled "Orbit Orange for "The Judge"

 

Keeping with the current theme of the thread. From the movie Dazed and Confused

 

I missed this post earlier Brian, interesting read.
I believe there are other “bits” of Stage 1 included in Base GSX, why Stage 1 was cheaper. Those bits, like the special steering wheel, aren’t mentioned in the order form. Has anyone confirmed if a non - stage, 4spd, non air 70 GSX has 3:42 or 3:64 gears? After a long delay for other life activities, finally getting into mine and curious if I’ll find 3:42 assuming never changed.

 

I don't think that Buick did a bad job of marketing.. It's just that the GS was relatively expensive in comparison to other comparable A bodies of the time.. In 1970, you had to get into the rarest of the rare, full boat optioned convertible, or a loaded 442 W30 car, to break the 4K mark with every GM A body, except the GS.. which often had loaded hardtop big block models closer to 5 K on the show floors..

For the young buyers of the time, that extra 1000-1500 dollars put the GS out of reach.

If you went into the Dodge and Plymouth dealers, the price of the GS seemed insane.. The 1970 Super Bee, with a 440 six pack, was just barely over 3K..

Only the Hemi Cuda Convertible, at $4400 was even close the the price of the run of the mill 70 GS 455.

JW

 

$3283 vs $3074. As mentioned in your earlier reply, the base 455 car could hold its own against the competition. However, as you already alluded to, the Buicks were frequently ordered with lot more options than the typical Dodge...so I could see some sticker shock if someone just looked around town at what was on the dealership lots. I think it safe to say how you ordered a GS back in the day determined your prospective buyers.

If there was a '70 GS instead of the GTO in TLBT, I might agree with you.

There were two GTOs used for filming. “…the GTOs were loaned to us. We kept them after filming and I actually drove one for about three months. I think I had more tickets in that three-month period than I did in my whole life outside of that time. The cops would explain to me, “Well, you know, it’s because your car is orange. It just stands out more.” –Director Monte Hellman


If there was a song about the GS, I may agree with you. Instead, we have Lil GTO by Ronnie and the Daytonas. Promotion needed to be more than a few very conservative magazine and newspaper ads.





If a similar model was available for the GS, I might agree with you...we waited a long time for the Monogram 1/24.

 

There are TV promo's for the old ADAM-12 show.
One quick scene showing them chasing a orange 70 Judge around a corner.
It has to be the same car as how many orange 70 Judges were made?? Kidding but wow TV networks really wanted the orange ones.

 

I was watching an episode of Columbo snd the bad guy was driving one:

 

Looks like the Columbo car has keystones like the TLBT car. Same car?

 

Adam 12, Car also has keystones so it appears to have made the rounds with movies and shows.

 

Then you have Dodge's promotional activities: factory backed Nascar, factory backed Super-Stocks, factory backed clinics & clubs. The sheriff did tours and commercials. Plymouth had their version with Sox & Martin, Richard Petty, and the Rapid Transit System.

 

…And, reminiscent of 1970, Dodge will now sell you 360 to 720hp for 35-80k. Much like 1970, there are other companies that have gonzo hp (Chevrolet, Cadillac, Ford, 650-700hp, +- 80k) but (1) aren’t courting that customer like Dodge does and (2) are a little pricier. Cadillac’s CTS-V and CT5-V Blackwing (668hp, $84.9k) occupy the similar space now compared to a Hellcat (700+hp, 72k) that a Stage 1 did then, with the exception that you can’t order a stripper Cadillac.
Patrick

 

Inflation calculator says $189 in 1970 now equals $1,347.30..

 

The 1970 Buick GSX came standard with 350 horse non stage 455, M21 Close ratio muncie 4 speed and 3:42 posi rear axle standard.

Stage 1 was optional and was less money $113.00 because 3.42 posi rear axle was already part of the GSX option.

Again, only NON AC ordered Stage 1 GSX's received deeper ultimate performance, 3.64 posi rear axle.