1970 Buick Mid-Size Cars Fact Sheet

Series 43500: The Skylark 350 was identical to the Skylark, except for the addition of 350 emblems to the body and a Buick emblem for the center grille. Interior trim was slightly upgraded.

Series 44400: The plushest intermediate model had a Buick emblem centered in the grille, lower body and wheelhouse moldings and Skylark signatures on the hood, deck and rear fenders. The Custom badge appeared beneath the rear fender signatures. Interiors were done in all-vinyl or Kenora cloth and vinyl. A bench seat was standard, with bucket front seats available for the convertible and coupe.

Series 43437: Buick’s cosmetic muscle car for 1970 was a one-model series. It was a mild-mannered intermediate with the trimmings of the potent GS 455. A textured black grille was used, with hood scoops on the panel above. GS signatures appeared on the left hand grille, front fenders and deck. All-vinyl bench seats in Sandalwood, blue or black were standard. An all-vinyl notch back seat was optional, as were individual front bucket seats. Standard equipment approximated that found on the Skylark Custom.

Series 44637: This was the truly muscular Buick with a new big block V-8 and Hurst-shifted performance transmissions. Functional hood-scoops dumped cold air into the big V-8’s intake. Chrome red-filled lower body and wheelhouse moldings were used with five-spoke 14 x 6 inch chrome wheels standard. A GS 455 emblem appeared on the left-hand blacked-out grille with others showing up on the front fenders and a GS monogram appearing on the deck lid. Standard interior appointments were the same as on the GS. 

Series 43437- GSX / GSX Stage 1: The GSX Performance and Handling package, released mid-year, was a $1,100 option on the GS455. The GSX was Buick’s answer to Pontiac’s GTO Judge, Oldsmobile’s 4-4-2 W-30, and Chevrolet’s Chevelle SS 454. It came standard with the 455 CID engine with or without the optional Stage 1 performance engine upgrades. The GSX was equipped as a GS 455 with more options as standard.

The GSX did not appear in the standard model catalog for 1970, however a GSX brochure was made available to the public. Only 678 GSXs were produced in the second half of the 1970 model year beginning in March 1970. and ending in May of 1970. Just 278 were equipped with the standard 455, a further 400 purchasers selected the optional Stage 1 performance package. At 510 lb-ft the Buick 455 produced the highest torque output of any American production performance car.

In 1970, the GSX option was available in only two colors, Saturn Yellow and Apollo White. All GSXs had the distinctive full body length black stripe that crossed over the standard equipment rear spoiler and was outlined in red pin stripes. A large area of the hood was also black with a hood mounted tachometer, and black front “chin” spoiler. Also standard equipment were black bucket seats, floor shifter, wide oval tires, quick ratio steering and anti-sway bars front and rear and a limited-slip rear differential. Some other choices were automatic transmission or four speed manual, Air Conditioning. (See the attached GS 455 and GSX order sheet to determine the differences).

V-8: Overhead valve. Cast iron block. Displacement: 350 cubic inches. Five main bearings.
Bore and stroke: 3.8 x 3.85 inches.
Compression ratio: 9.0:1.
Horsepower: 260 at 4600 RPM.
Torque: 360 ft. lbs @ 2600 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft duration:  Intake  282°, Exhaust 288°, Valve Lift: Intake 0.3818″, Exhaust 0.3890″ Overlap 62°.
Carburetor: Rochester 2MV two barrel

250 HP 350 CID V-8: Overhead valve. Cast iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 350 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 3.8 x 3.85 inches.
Compression ratio: 9.0:1.
Horsepower: 285 at 4800 RPM.
Torque: 375 ft. lbs @ 3000 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft duration:  Intake  282°, Exhaust 288°, Valve Lift: Intake 0.3818″, Exhaust 0.3890″ Overlap 62°.
Carburetor: Rochester 4MV Quadra-jet four barrel.

350 CID 315 HP V-8: Overhead valve. Cast iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 350 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 3.8 x 3.85 inches.
Compression ratio: 10.25:1.
Horsepower: 315 at 4800 RPM.
Torque: 410 ft. lbs @ 3200 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft duration:  Intake  282°, Exhaust 288°, Valve Lift: Intake 0.3818″, Exhaust 0.3890″ Overlap 62°.
Carburetor: Rochester 4MV Quadra-jet four barrel

Gran Sport 455 V-8: Overhead valves. Cast-iron block Five main bearings.
Displacement: 455 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 4.3 x 3.9 inches.
Compression ratio: 10.0:1.
Horsepower: 350 at 4600 RPM.
Torque:  510 ft. lbs. @ 2800 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft duration: Intake: 292°, Exhaust:  322°, Lift: Intake 0.3873″, Exhaust 0.4584″. Overlap 67°.
Carburetor: Rochester Quadra-jet 4MV

Gran Sport Stage 1 455 CID V-8: Overhead valves. Cast-iron block, Five main bearings.
Displacement: 455 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 4.3 x 3.9 inches.
Compression ratio: 10.0:1.
Horsepower: 360 at 4600 RPM.
Torque: 510 ft. lbs. @ 2800 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft duration: includes ramps Intake: 316°, Exhaust:  340°, Lift: Intake 0.4070″, Exhaust 0.4584″. Overlap 90°.
Carburetor: Rochester Quadra-jet 4MV

Gran Sport Stage 2 455 CID V-8: (Dealer Installed) Overhead valves. Cast-iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 455 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 4.3 x 3.9 inches.
Compression ratio: 11.0:1.
Horsepower: 360 at 4600 RPM.
Torque: 510 ft. lbs. @ 2800 RPM. 
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft duration: includes ramps Intake: 340°, Exhaust:  360°, Lift: Intake 0.4550, Exhaust 0.4800″. Overlap 120°.
Intake manifold: Edelbrock B4B Aluminum,.
Carburetor: Holley 850 CFM.