A special example of a fourth-generation Buick LeSabre is up for auction in Michigan on Hagerty. It’s a stretched-out, six-door Buick with three bench seats for up to nine people. It was built at the GM Fairfax plant in Kansas, and it was subsequently customized by Armbruster/Stageway, a limo conversion company founded in 1887.
This Buick LeSabre rides on the iconic GM B platform, which was shared in its day with a wide range of GM models, including the Chevy Impala, Pontiac Bonneville, and Oldsmobile 88. Power for this model comes from a 7.5L (455ci) V8 Big Block with a 3-speed automatic transmission routing power to the rear wheels. It was originally rated at 205 horsepower and 345 pound-feet of torque.
A vinyl top and a stand-up hood ornament complement the luxurious aura of this Buick limo. Other than the extra doors and seats, this is surprisingly similar to a regular LeSabre of this vintage with only four doors. It appears that it got the typical limo treatment of being effectively chopped in half with extra body added in the middle and, in this case, two extra doors and another bench seat.
This is based on a LeSabre Custom, and features include automatic level control, power windows and locks, air conditioning for everyone, power steering, power front disc brakes, full-foam seating, woodgrain interior trim, and an electric clock.
According to the Hagerty listing, the consignor states that the car “starts and runs exceedingly well for a 49-year-old vehicle.”
This auction runs until Wednesday, May 21st, and the high bid as of this writing is $7,007. It’s a little hard to determine the car’s value since it’s so rare. This one is offered with no reserve, so it’s definitely going to a new owner at the close of the auction.
Is this six-door, nine-seat, stretch Buick LeSabre a cool oddity, or are limousines best left to Cadillac?
Comments
For a limo, should have been based on the Electra.
The ‘71-‘76 Electra 4doors were only hardtops. They needed a pillared sedan for stability with the stretch. They made it look a little like an Electra with the full length side trim, rear fender skirts and even the Electra’s hood ornament. But it still has the LeSabre grill, and 3 ventiports. This is also more of an airport car than a limo.
Cool car, if you need a limo.
yeah, veryy interesting but in our garage only a 1/3 of this pass in
Gorgeous Buick.
indeed. as exterior shape in fact love, but never liked the interiors with wood those times, even when those seats were very comfortable, do not understand why today industry skip this shape and the seats are cheaper ergonomically. Most seats today are very hard and cansative for just 30 km ride
Agree, the new seats are not nearly as comfortable as they used to be. My grandparents had a couple of new Oldsmobiles in the 80’s and they had the best seats. They resembled mini pillow top mattresses with an extra cushion on top of the seat. The second most comfortable GM seat I can recall was in my 1991 Chevy Astro mini van. With crushed velour covers and sculpted seat and back cushions they were comfortable for hours and hours of driving. The adjustable armrests were icing on the cake. Our Nox Premier leather seats are the most uncomfortable I have ever sat on.
Agreed on the Astro … I had a 2004 model with the “dutch doors” on the back, sure wish I had it back !
Show up at an autocross and ask which class you’re in.
Only thing that scares me is the fact that it’s in Michigan. Is there any metal on the bottom side?
My Doubt : Why USA people do not like sedans like this anymore ?
Idea! Take a 3-row Buick and extend the back to have a trunk, lower the vehicle to look sportier, fix the roof to look formal and you might come close to this limo….maybe. Oh, you need to change the front end on the 3-row Buick to look better also. Something from the last Riviera will do. You probably need to swap the lawn mower engine for a V-8 so it can move.
I bought this Buick Limo and after driving it I believe it’s money well spent! It’s been awhile since I’ve owned a car because I just simply didn’t need one owning 3 Harleys and living in Nevada! They just don’t make cars like this anymore and I will be happy to drive this one when not riding my bike! I can’t say enough about this car, it’s very comfortable and a joy to drive and definitely doesn’t come with the dreaded crumple zones of cars today!! So happy to own this car!!