Gold Painted Roof,Code 50 Bamboo cream body,Two tone sandlewood interior.Go Stock or Change?

[Stage3]

Okay Gentleman,

1970 Numbers matching GS-455 (October 1969 build date)

Not going to start on it for awhile but I am researching parts availability and everything keeps coming around to going back original or "just doing what I want". I am very "bad" about wanting to go back all stock but have others whispering in my ears "Make a GSX" "Put buckets and a console in it" etc etc.

Argument for making a GSX is "If done correctly it will be worth more" .Even though I have an original (still has QQ Saturn Yellow paint on it after I started sanding through primer!) 1970 Spoiler,have hood tach,have one year only GSX steering wheel,original GSX dash plaque (guy found in his underwear drawer after selling his passed Dad's X) etc etc. Also have a brand new in the box black deluxe 1970 GS/GSX interior.

Anyhow have allot of the needed parts but being a October 69 car it is pretty unique in it's own right.Has the pointed "Tit gauges", I am told this sandle base interior is very handsome new, and the color combo of painted dark gold "hat" on Bamboo while not a "sell me red" or other spiffy color that will turn a bunch of heads, down deep I think it could be pretty unique as so many have been changed.

Money is virtually non existent right now so the "in stock" black interior would be a huge shot in the arm towards getting the car cosmetically sound but the car is also a "base interior" with straight bench seat and interior kit is for bucket seats so there I go again.Seat tracks,console,bucket seat cores (probably have all of this but seat tracks).

To do a GSX "right" ALL the original interior goes,the pointed gauges go as no GSX had these due to build date,have to grind down posts for the optional upper reveal molding (stainless trim the rides top of outside door and under 1/4 window) them grind down posts for painted roof trim,mount sport mirrors,cut hole in original hood for tach (car already has the "24 hour clock" as in a GSX but being late 1969 the numbers are longer on all gauges.......sigh).

Anyone who has read all this see the road blocks I keep running into?

I can take time to sort this out (why I am asking for wisdom now instead of later) but I do have to make one decision immediately in regards to the missing steering column and of course that is a potential conflict and I don't have money to just throw around. Since the car was parked since 1992 and the column is gone I imagine it was probably a tilt column (had the optional rear window defroster which was also removed but has been relocated). If I replace it with another column shift tilt wheel that kills the GSX conversion.

I will quit typing now.Sometimes I wish I was more of a person that could "JUST DO IT" and never have regrets but I do know it will never be a GSX although some say a GS is just a GSX "without the clown package"(ha ha always remembered that one) but although mechanically equipped the same in most regards it will never feel right.

Well, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Car has some options (a/c,rear def.,tilt,clock,455,optional trim etc) and just hate to be the one to change a unique combination and do everything I can to hide it's original sleeper personality. I DO like a sleeper

[60FlatTop]

You reminded me of a picture I had stashed away. With all the talk about greening and sustainability maybe the natural look would turn heads in the future:

[JohnD1956]

As time goes by all of these are getting more rare. What with the proliferation of clones and tribute cars, I'm thinking an original unmolested GS is a desireable rarety.

[Stage3]

I think that top is only legal in California!