1972 Buick Skylark

Description

Buicks offer tremendous value compared to the Chevy and Pontiac cousins, and this neat 1972 Buick Skylark takes the best-looking Buick muscle car of all time and makes it affordable and fun. 350 cubic inches make it fun to drive and with a few bits of Buick luxury, it's a high-visibility alternative to the usual Chevelle or GTO.

The GSX was reduced to an option package by 1972 and only on the big block cars, but that doesn't mean that the same look won't work on standard Skylarks. Vivid Saturn Yellow paint with distinctive black graphics make the biggest, baddest of the Buicks highly visible, and this car is like that snake that has colors similar to a copperhead, but isn't quite as deadly. Finish quality is actually quite good, particularly for the money, and the vivid paint covers every visible surface, so you know it was a trim-off respray. The black hood stripes and side graphics give this Skylark the image of a fast car and there's a proper spoiler on the deck lid, an integral part of the look. The chrome and stainless trim is still in good original condition, a nice indicator of a machine that has probably led and easy life someplace warm, and proper emblems were added as necessary.

You could probably call the interior white or even parchment and nobody would argue, and it definitely looks fantastic in the bright yellow Buick. The seats themselves are in great shape with no notable tears or splits in the material and even with the light color it seems to be defying the years pretty darned well. Black carpets and a matching dashboard help keep it from getting too overwhelming inside and they, too, are in good order. The factory gauges cover the basics of speed and fuel level, but remember that this was 1972 and performance was a bad word. On the other hand, as a Buick, you got lots of creature comforts, including factory A/C, power steering and brakes, and more sound deadening materials throughout the body. That's a good thing, because there's a Sony Xplod AM/FM/CD/iPod stereo system with speakers stashed throughout the interior that sound fantastic. The trunk is beautifully finished with correct spatter paint and a full-sized spare with restored jack assembly.

The standard Skylark engine was a 350 cubic inch V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor, and that's what lives under the hood today. Smooth, torquey, and surprisingly energetic, it makes great V8 sounds and moves the sleek coupe with a swell of easy-to-use torque that's a lot of fun on the street. Beautifully detailed with lots of chrome, Dante Red engine enamel, and plenty of evidence of recent work, is makes this GSX lookalike even more convincing. Backed by a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission and a 10-bolt rear end, the powertrain won't give you any hassles and it does sound great with a rumbling dual exhaust system behind it. The chassis is original but in good order thanks to a lifetime in a warm climate, and it rides and handles with a tautness that is unexpected in a Buick. Classic Buick Road Wheels are always right on a sporting Buford and they carry fat 215/70/14 white-letter radials at all four corners.

Nicely documented with the original bill of sale, window sticker, dealer invoice, and owner's manual, this is a great-looking Buick that gives you the high-profile look for a fraction of the price. Call today!