BUICK Gran Sport Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Buick dismissed the former 400 and introduced the 455 in 1970 as an alternative to the Chevelle, and it was one of the last true-blooded muscle cars made by this brand before the malaise era began.

General Motors eased the ban on its brands on placing larger than 400 cu-in engines and allowed Buick to install the monster 455 cu-in engine in the Gran Sport. After all, it was a more luxurious brand and a more expensive vehicle than most of its GM siblings. The base version had a sticker price of around 3,300 USD.

The automaker made the two-door hard-top vehicle with four headlights on the front fascia. They flanked the split grille, and underneath these, Buick installed a flush to the bodywork chromed bumper. The automaker placed two functional air intakes on the hood that fed fresh air directly to the carburetor via the air filter. From its profile, the absence of the B-pillar created a faux-cabriolet image, while the sloped-down rear end created a sporty image.

Inside, there was room enough for five adults, with two bucket seats at the front and a bench in the back. Despite the tall transmission tunnel, a third passenger could sit in the middle, mostly for short jaunts. The driver fronted the dashboard with individual clusters for dials, where the speedometer took center stage. On the left, the automaker placed the gauges for the fuel level, water temperature, and oil pressure, while on the right was the tachometer.

Even though it wasn't the most powerful version of the Gran Sport, the 455 could smoke its tires thanks to its vast, mid-range torque.