1953 Buick Skylark Convertible

Description

1953 was a big year for Buick, which was celebrating its 50th anniversary. It was also the year that the infamous "Nailhead" V8 was introduced, replacing the venerable straight-8 that dated to 1931. To celebrate, GM built the lovely 1953 Buick Skylark, which, alongside its cousins the Oldsmobile Fiesta and Cadillac Eldorado, became the hits of the 1953 Motorama show.

The Skylark started as a standard Roadmaster convertible, but thanks to extensive hand work, it took on an entirely new look that was ostensibly designed to make it into a sports car. Now whether a 4000 pound Buick can be sporty is a discussion for another time, but there is no question that this is a fantastic-looking piece of 1950s art. Wearing soft pastel yellow, it has a wonderful '50s look that's a bit more interesting than its original Majestic White. The paint is showing some age, but in this time of over-restored Skylarks sitting on show fields, it's a relief to see on that you can actually drive and enjoy without worries. All the fantastic Skylark details are still intact, don't worry, from the sweepspear side molding to the dip behind the front doors to the stacked taillights. Chrome is a big deal on any car from the '50s, particularly a Buick, and it's all in good shape, including the toothy grin up front and massive bumpers with neatly integrated bumper guards. And as a lifetime California car, the sheetmetal is in absolutely fantastic shape.

The handsome black and white interior is recent, using correct leather (not vinyl!) and lots of new parts. Fresh carpets, beautiful new Dy-Noc appliques on the doors and dash, a fresh chrome horn ring, and a myriad of other parts really makes the interior look its best. The instruments are standard Roadmaster, along with the stack of controls flanking the radio speaker, and you'll note that everything was standard on the top-of-the-line Skylark: power windows, power seat, power antenna, power steering, and a heater/defroster. All of the hydraulic systems were recently rebuilt so they all operate smoothly, including the black canvas convertible top, which is brand new. The low-slung driving position certainly makes the car feel sporty, yet there's room for six in the massive bench seats. There's also a giant trunk that's neatly finished with black carpets and a full-sized spare.

Skylarks were all equipped with Buick's all-new 322 cubic inch "Nailhead" V8, which is an absolute torque factory. Topped with a massive air cleaner assembly, it looks tightly packed into the engine bay, but thanks to a recent detail job, it looks just right. There's new Buick Turquoise paint on the engine, fresh decals and labels, and a fresh tune-up. It starts easily and idles with a muscular hum that's just right for the upscale Skylark and as I mentioned, there's massive torque available to move the big ragtop with ease. Buick's famous Dynaflow automatic transmission was the only option, and while you'll have to accustom yourself to its peculiar feel, there's no question that it's the smoothest automatic transmission ever invented. The car has superlative highway manners and cruises effortlessly at modern speeds with little more than a whisper from the single tailpipe out back. Buicks always offered fantastic braking, and with fresh shoes and new DOT5 fluid inside, these are plenty capable. And no Skylark is complete without those lovely Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels, which are wrapped with fat 6.0-15 wide whites.

Unquestionably an A-list collectable, this is arguably Buick's finest work of the 1950s. Prices are not coming down, so grab this beautiful Skylark at a realistic price before it gets away. Call now!