1970 GS STAGE 1
George Bassett, Coral Gables, Florida
George is the original owner, and this is the car that prompted the formal formation of the company. We did a complete, frame-on performance restoration to it, with a 500+ pump gas 455, VP Turbo 400, and 3.55 geared 12 bolt rear.
This car was the prototype for many of the products listed elsewhere in this site. When we wanted a particular product, and it was not available, or the current stuff did not meet our high standards of performance , reliability, or appearance, we designed a new product or system, to suit our needs.
This car has the fuel system, and the thru-the-frame trans line kit. Also has the VP activation Kit, the hidden MSD ignition system.
These are the before pictures of the engine compartment. The intake, a vintage B-4-B, was painted silver. It had a Mrk-2 KB cam, headers, and a 1000 cfm Thermo-quad, when it came to us.
It also had no oil pressure at idle!!
Here is some more before pictures, note the painted headlight bezels, the "interesting" header collectors, and the over-spray from a previous paint job on the hood hinges.
The car did have nice paint, and the only thing we had to re-paint was the inside of the outer fenders, in the engine compartment. And, of course, the inner fenders, firewall, and frame, and all of the suspension components. The car was entirly dissasenbled to do this, for a high-quality "look". This car was meant to be a driver, not a perfect type resto. Therefore, it was required to run on pump gas, and be a reliable low - maintenance deal. But still perform !! It had poly front control arm bushings, and stiff AC springs, and rode horribly. The trans shifted ok from first to second, but had a considerable lag into high gear. The interior, (white bucket seats with console) was showing signs of age, had turned yellowish in the sun, and the front seats were torn.
The car was in typical to better condition for a southern car (Florida), that had not had any attention for a long time.
George sent it to us, to get that attention!!
Engine
We selected an NOS shortblock for the basis of the engine build for a couple of reasons. First, we wanted to preserve the numbers matching motor, and secondly, with the rather thin cyl walls of a 455, a standard bore engine will dissipate the heat better. This block was a '73 vintage, with little core shift, and good size lifter bores and deck surfaces.
Here it is, in all it's cosmoline glory.
The last picture is George picking up his award for best 70-72 GS at the 2000 Buicks at Bristol. Congrats George!
This album will be updated soon, with more pictures.