Those Buicks were really sleepers… massive torque and understated body. Lost to them many times back in the early 70’s. Good memories though!

Reminds me of the only "vacation" my family ever took before my parents divorced, we went to beechbend raceway in Bowling Green Kentucky to the Mopar Nationals. Dad was always a Mopar guy, he raced a 69' Roadrunner, and I remember him restoring a pair of GTXs as I was growing up. Great video, I wish there were more like this! As they pull the the line, he gives us a 5 second rundown of driver/car, they stage, greenlight, guy says the driver's name and the time-back to the burnout box. Nowadays watching a drag racing channel is similar to baseball, look at the ball, look at the batter, spit, wait ten seconds, shift nuts around, scratch nose, secretly smell finger, consider the pitch, restart the cycle, 7 minutes later...strike! Restart the process.

I agree, I'm a Mopar fan, but that 455 Buick was a killer

This is definitely a battle of beastly muscle cars. The Hemi and the Boss are legends of course, but those dang 455s from Buick are somehow the nastiest cars around!

Excellent video. It is refreshing having the speed and times called out as well as the car's performance packages.

Thank you for making these classic drag videos available to us!

Great video and well narrated. I turned 16 in 1969 and lived and breathed muscle cars since I was about 13. My dad was a Buick guy and I had a 67 Buick GS400 with the Super Turbine 400 trans. Kenne-Bell Enterprises out of West Covina, CA were the specialists in making Buicks go fast. It was a partnership between "Pop" Kennedy and Jim Bell and it was rumored that though the two cars were pure out the showroom stock, it was Jim Bell that did the tuning of the two GS455 Stage 1's tested by Motor Trend where the TH400 car turned the 13.38 @105.5 MPH, slightly quicker than the 4 speed. I rebuilt the motor on my 67 and spent hours on the phone with Jim Bell who patiently answered and my questions and provided invaluable guidance. My 67 had the 400 which was part of the 400/430/455 Buick engine series where they all shared blocks, cranks, rods, intakes, etc. The only difference were the pistons and Stage 1's had specific cams, different heads with larger valves, tubular push rods, stiffer valve springs and a modified Quadrajet carb. The 400/430/455 were over-square designs, (bore diameter greater than stroke length) and when they bored the block to 455 inches it breathed better along with the larger valves for the Stage 1 option. My rebuild was mild with the only performance enhancement being a Kenne-Bell "Mark II" cam which was slightly hotter than a factory Stage 1. I also had Mickey Thompson Headers and a 3.90 rear end. The car was heavy with A/C, PS, PB and power windows and I had Goodyear G70-14's when I got two runs in at the local strip in Union Grove, WI. Lot's of trouble getting out of the hole but the better of the two runs was a 14.05 at 101.5. Frankly, there weren't any factory stock vehicles I lost to in street races with the exception of a 66 GTO where the owner swapped in a modified 421 SD who in the quarter from a dead stop got me by a fender. I remember races with a 440 6 Pack Road Runner, a highly modified 383 Road Runner, a 427 Vette, a highly modified Mustang with a 351 Cleveland and the Buick took all by at least a length or two. I nearly totaled the 67 racing that 440 6 Pack and though it was rebuilt I sold it and bought a 70 Saturn Yellow GSX Stage 1 auto with 18K miles from the original owner and paid $2300. Though my street racing days were done there was no question the GSX would've blown the doors off my 67. The massive torque of that engine was to be respected and I found out the hard way. In the first week of ownership I had 3 guys in the car with me when I was showing off and put the trans in 1st and lit up the G60-15's from a stop with the rear sliding sideways. Problem is I waited too long to shift and then the steering went heavy and all the idiot lights lit up on the dash. The 455 threw all the belts when it shifted to 2nd by the transmission over-rev governor. I spoke with Jim Bell after and he said it was a common problem and I needed to use heavier Gates belts as the A/C Delco's didn't hold up. One last comment, for as powerful as the 455 Buick is the engine was never designed for racing abuse like Hemi's, 427/454 CBB or certain Fords. It didn't have 4 bolt mains or the consideration for oiling at high RPM and keeping the bottom end together which was an issue. Above 5000 RPM it was common for the 7 & 8 rod bearings to starve for oil and spin. Kenne-Bell worked with Buick to revise the oiling system and those modifications were incorporated in all of the 455's in the 1970 MY. Another issue is the 400/430/455 were GM's first foray into "thin cast" blocks to save weight and $$. This worked against the motor's durability under high HP and torque and when modifying to get HP over 550~600 the engine needs a girdle or filling to make it a "hard block". This channel is a great trip down memory lane for me and I really appreciate seeing all those cars compete from my youth.

These times are more in line with what I remember back when these cars were new. I’ve never seen so many Mercury Cyclones at one time. Great races.👍👍🇨🇦

Mesmerizing, can’t stop watching

Loved seeing guys I know racing back in the day! Muscle cars aren’t as fast as these newer cars but are much cooler!!

These are the days I first started going to the drag strip. Seemed more fun back then. Some of the cars weren't as fast as today but it didn't matter.

Thank you for making these classic drag videos available to us!. Thank you for making these classic drag videos available to us!.

I was 15 in 1987. I bought a '77 Nova Concours Coupe in '89 and with help from my late dad and late older brother, made it street/strip in '93. Raced it '93-'95. I really appreciate this 1/4 mile video time capsule!!!

If you follow this all the way through, you'll see that the black '70 GS Stage 1 was seriously sandbagging until the final rounds where it ran the quickest et of the event when it had too. I was there and saw it all. That GS was very quiet and docile ... not cammed up at all like some of the other entrants. It looked factory fresh and stock under the hood and even had factory a/c.

Buicks always "accidentally" have the fastest cars. From the badass late 60/early 70s 455 GSXs here to that killer V6 Gran Nationals in the late 80s. They were always like "oops" about it...

My brother and me were there that day. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 19 and my brother was 18. Now I'm 56 and my brother will be 55 in two weeks. My... how time flies!!!😎🍻

Wonderful format, with cameras at start and finish. The narration great as well. I don’t think I’ve seen a video formatted like this on any drag strips.

This is REALLY a nice video! All of these cars seemed to run honest times, as if they were driven straight out of 1970 to the present. A few clunker runs and slow starts... but as nice as it gets. Good to see the big boys come out and play.

Wish the 60's, 70's, and 80's were just set on repeat

80's and early 90's, the golden age of used cars. You could find these cars for sale everywhere for a few hundred bucks.

great cars,, they all should be in the low 13,s even as stock.. Them 455 Buicks are incredible and NOT ugly like many cars of the time.

Funny how Buick ( gs455 stg 1's ) were a luxury brand of gm yet enjoyed pimp-slapping street hemis all day long with 6-way power seats, pwr windows & cold a/c.

Dayum Buick’s was running 12s absolutely a badazz car❤️❤️❤️

At least we get actual representative times for these kind of cars. Instead of the lunacy I hear from some comments, thinking these cars were all in the 11's and 12's. No they didn't if they were stock.

These are the type of drags that really excite me love watching these type cars run

I saw a stock 428 Cougar that was his wife's car run mid 13's with only the exhaust removed in the very early 80s or late 70s. No slicks or anything that I remember. I had a 428 Galaxie but never timed it in the quarter.

3:09 - that rumbling "bleedee - bladda- bleedy- bladdah" idling is like sweet chocolate audio.

Thank you for posting this! I was at Beech Bend at this very race in 1987 with my dad, brings back some great memories!

Some of the all time Muscle car legends in this video, I wish they were all this good, not to mention the narration is awesome!

Great video brings me back to the day

I was 14 y/o in 1987 . . . . I had a 1969 Dodge Super Bee poster hanging in my bedroom. Man this video takes me back to Summer 1987 at OHIO "Norwalk" Drag strip 😊

I had a Buick Skylark in high school in the mid 80s. That car was a torque monster. My friends nickname the car Rush. I miss that car it was my first muscle cars but not my last.

I had a 74 trans am with a 455SD it got stolen back in the 80s never got it back and insurance only gave me 3 grand ..now they go for 150 grand ..so upset to this day

Money can’t buy happiness but it can buy you one these which is close enough

This is just pure badass! The cars, the simplicity of the video, NO MUSIC thank god. Hell, even white short shorts dude. :) I think I had a pair of those in 87. Damn!

I'm amazed some of these cars were raced. The was just the start of the muscle car craze and some of these cars were worth major bank in 87

87? I was 14. Too young to drive but aware of this stuff and have some memories of those days. Used to see this stuff on the street all the time, all the cool kids drove older stuff like this too. Great vid , it gives a little window into how quick some of this stuff was back then.

Those Buicks with the 455 were impressive.

Well done, cameras at each end of the track. Very cool, really takes me back. Narrator does a great job. Those torqueee Buicks really launched.

Really great video. Love that these cars were running stock times. All the cars were fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

Excellent video- reminded me of South Washington Ave in Grand Forks ND in High School! One thing I saw was GM midrange Torque/ HP wins if you nail the lights!

The only Buick GS to lose was to another Buick GS 😁

Love watching these old rods 😍

Real times that these cars ran back in the day. 😀

That Boss 429 that raced is extremely rare considering it is a notch back! One of a kind.

NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Cars are definitely a spectacle, but this drag racing is more fun to watch.

Perfect examples of all the cars you would meet on the street in the day. The Black Ghost could not have dominated any scene as proven by so many cars in this video, especially the Stage 1 Buick.

Just love seeing what to many would be sitting in a collection hidden from view. Love seeing the old ground pounders out there throwing asphalt and slamming gears. NO pc to plug in the grab another tune.

All beautiful cars . Good to see them run

Ah yes....back when 14s and 13s were respected as FAST and 12s and 11s made you a street god!

Omg! Great vid! I had a full E rection from the beginning to the end ❤

TRUE street cars!

Impressive times considering the actual weight of these behemoths!

Norm Diele used to bring that green GS Buick out on the street here in Detroit around 1988 was first time I saw him. Even then the car was a low 12s performer, not much later car was running low 11s. It was ridiculous how quick that car was on the street back then. Everything just worked.

OLD SCHOOL!!! HELL YEAH!!! brings back memories... Love it

having grown up in the 70s and 80s few people are left that remember the raw juice these cars had even before any modifications. i was fortunate enough to own a few of these cars and i do miss the rumbling thunder these big blocks were known for.

Love these videos. Hard to believe how "slow" these cars were by today's standards. My 1972 Mach 1 runs 13s (not stock) but is still slower than today's average car...amazing. And my C63S can run high 11s....with every possible creature comfort. I miss the old cars, but there is something to be said about new technology.

Gotta love them Buick's

Great vid. I love seeing the classics going at it.

This is one of the coolest videos I've ever seen.

So many great cars. Thank You I really enjoyed this God Bless

Great video! Very well done!

awesome commentary, awesome cars and drivers, and ofcourse awesome video

Very realistic ET's for for true stock muscle cars of the day.

i have the orange gs455 car that was john chamberlins car..buicks are quick but no mph.. the just go...and it has ac...for the ride home.. i miss the real street drags like these were, now 9sec on bias ply tires, but 800hp , but its fun..

Cool video. Love these old classics.

Wow that's awesome love the videos thanks

Looks like gm muscle spanked the mopars again. That's the way it was.

great stuff, right there!!

Had many a fun race with 1972 skylark. After I installed a 1971 Buick 455 engine with a bigger carb bigger cam headers and a street and strip turbo 400 tranny.

Great footage and excellent production.

Loved that Chevelle with the 454, that’s one awesome ride!

The '60 406 brought back some memories.

My compliments go out to the narrator of this video. Very nice appealing voice.

And the Buicks rule the track - again!

Wow. All you have to do is call it Pure Stock Drag and run them in. I hit an for a -2second ET 1/4. Great video, realistic times.

Miss those days. I had a 66 goat 6-pack and a 70 challenger 440 six pack.

great youtube channel, thx for posting it..

Man I love that 455 GS

Great stuff. No music or yapping. Just good old racing. Thanks for the upload!

When I turned 17 in 1980 my mother gave me her Buick Skylark that she had bought new. My brother tried talking her into upgrading the GS Version and she said it would burn to much gas. Wished my brother would I pushed the issue more!

Chevy fan but those Buicks 455/510 ftlbs of torque were kicking butt.Those Fords and Mercurys with the Boss 429 didn't show me anything.

ah the good ol days, my 66 GTO use to run 11.7 to 11.8 with 750 holley double pump, hooker headers, high lift cam street 60 series tires on premium pump gas

I've raced down this track. Awesome!!!

This was awesome to watch. So many nice cars.. I have been a Chevy guy all my life because my dad had a 1970 Chevelle SS but I love all of the muscle regardless of brand. Nothing will ever compare to these cars in my opinion. You can see a few video's of my Chevelle on my home page. Thank you for sharing this

That yellow Buick and cyclone are beautiful cars.

As others say... Thanks and keep these vids comming

I can't believe I found this channel, what a blast!

It would be awesome to have any of these cars!!!

Vaya buen video bro nostalgia Bro nostalgia sobre esos muscle Cars clásicos Bro buen video

Back in the day I owned a 428 Torino GT. So, yeah, I like muscle cars. Now, I drive a slightly modded 08 Civic SI econobox. On my everyday street tires, the car does 14.5@100 mph. Gets 33mpg@75 mph cruise. Depreciates every day, LOL. Luv it.

Really like the way you narrate this...

Cool video and gave a thumbs up.

Reminds me of grudge night at st louis international. Ran my 70 charger 383 magnum 4 speed. Won most of my races in 3rd gear. I could pull 105 mph in 3rd when the rest shifted at 100 mph

Been to that track many times. The good days of drag racing.

Like Edith Bunker sang, "Those were the days".

Glad they had a camera at the finish to provide perspective. Many of these do not.

Beauty of a 406 Ford there. Great narration also .

Impressive cars!

Ha my 383 4bbl B body. Ran 12.70 and that was in Automatic in 1970. Stock class but built by me from front to back. I worked in the engine lab at Chrysler. ROYAL dodge protested my run with them and retracted it when they talked to me.