Buick
GSX (1971)

Why it matters

The 1971 GSX was the second year of Buick's dress-up and handling package on the Gran Sport. Output dropped to 124 cars, far fewer than the 678 of 1970, which makes it much rarer than the debut-year car.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

For 1971 Buick carried the GSX over but supported it less, with only a paragraph in the sales brochure, and sales fell by 86 per cent from 1970. Nine colours were offered, Apollo White and Saturn Yellow were dropped, and a bench seat and a 350 cu in V8 became optional for the first time.

The 455 was rated 315 hp or, as Stage 1, 345 hp and 460 lb-ft. All 1971 GSXs were hardtops.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The Mecum example confirms the colour via the trim-tag paint code (53 for Cortez Gold), a factory rear spoiler, and VIN and casting numbers in sequence for the build week. The 1971 car has matte black hood and body stripes with red pinstripe (gold with white pinstripe on black cars), a hood-mounted tachometer and 5-spoke wheels with G60 tires.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Buick GSX: A Limited Edition Muscle Car (1970, 1971, & 1972) Level B Muscle Cars Illustrated · 2022-05-18

   • Buick produced 124 GSXs in 1971
   • 455 CID V-8 Stage 1
   • Stage 1 with 345-hp/460 lb-ft
   • 345-hp/460 lb-ft
   • choice of a 4-speed manual shifter or 3-speed automatic
   • Power front disc brakes (Mandatory on 455’s only)

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   Hagerty Media – Hemis are the baddest, rarest muscle cars out there. Or are they? Level B

   • 124 GSX built in 1971

   Accessed 2026-11-12