Buick celebrated its 50th anniversary by introducing the Buick Skylark for the 1953 model year. Based on Buick’s flagship Roadmaster platform, the Skylark had a more streamlined appearance courtesy of a three-inch shorter wraparound windshield. The Skylark bodywork was hand finished, featuring bobbed rear fenders, large chrome taillight nacelles, enlarged and elongated wheel well cutouts painted in contrasting colors, all of which combined to make it the most expensive Buick, with a sticker price north of $5,000 (in comparison, the Corvette’s sticker price was just over $3,700).
The 1953 Buick Skylark was powered by the 322 cubic-inch overhead-valve Fireball Nailhead V8 that made 180 horsepower. The Dynaflow automatic was the sole transmission offering for the Skylark. The suspension consisted of an independent coil spring front end, live axle rear end utilizing semi-elliptic leaf springs, and power drum brakes at all four corners.
The 1953 Buick Skylark was loaded with luxury appointments including Kelsey Hayes chrome wire wheels, Selectronic AM radio, power windows, power convertible top, and full carpeting. Though similar to its corporate cousins the Oldsmobile 98 and Cadillac Series 62 Eldorado, the Skylark outsold both, with 1,640 copies leaving the factory.
The Buick Skylark became a model unto itself for the 1954 model year, based on the shorter Special/Century platform. 1954 brought changes to the bodywork and trim, with a more rounded rear end, unique hood ornament, and more pronounced wheel openings. The Skylark was marketed as a sports car, as it was lighter than the previous year and the Nailhead V8 made twenty more horsepower. Pricing dropped to $4,355, which was still $400 higher than the Roadmaster, securing the Skylark’s position as Buick’s most expensive offering. Only 836 1954 Buick Skylarks were produced.
Our feature 1954 Buick Skylark has been the recipient of a comprehensive restoration. Number 638 of 836 built, it gleams in Carlsbad Black paint with red inner fender wells, black convertible top and a bright red interior. It is powered by the 322 cubic-inch Fireball Nailhead V8 producing 200 horsepower. The Nailhead is backed by the Dynaflow automatic transmission. The Skylark is equipped with power steering, power brakes, power convertible top, Selectronic AM radio, and chrome Kelsey Hayes 40-spoke wire wheels with wide whitewall tires.
This striking 1954 Buick Skylark will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Glendale, Arizona event Friday, March 21st.
Comments
Beautiful restoration. Those old cars are so cool.
I like the interior. It may be a little too red for me, but at least it’s not the modern day gray rat fur that GM seems to love to use.
Buick made so many really cool convertibles over the years. And yes, I would buy one today. Make mine a Wildcat with chrome wheels.