1953 Buick Skylark

Description

The 1953 Buick Skylark was a triumph of design and drove Buick's image for decades (you can still see its sweeping fender profile in today's cars), and there's no doubt that they're Grade-A collectables. Nevertheless, the guys who built this astounding custom Skylark have truly elevated the slinky Buick to greatness without erasing any of the incredible style that makes it so iconic.

Purists should probably stop right here, but even if you prefer original cars you will find that the craftsmanship and attention to detail on this car are worthy of the Skylark name. Thanks to a three-year, no-expenses-spared frame-off build, this car has won many national awards and attracts more attention than a man on fire at a firefighters' convention. The look is pure Skylark, save for a few shaved bits of trim, including the hood ornament, emblems, and door handles. The dramatic "sweep-spear" that runs the length of the body was invented by this car and remains in place, sharply contrasting with the vivid red paint that looks pretty darned close to the original Matador Red but not even the Motorama show cars looked as good as this one does. Fit and finish are exemplary and there's no question that a good portion of the $200,000 build cost went to the chrome shop, because the shiny stuff is spectacular.

If the exterior is subtle, the interior is all-out. Custom tan leather buckets replace the original bench and flank a fabricated center console with cup holders, a storage bin, and built-in speakers. See, this car was actually built to be driven, so a lot of thought and care went into the interior to make it user-friendly. It's got power windows, A/C, a tilt column, and a powerful AM/FM/CD/DVD stereo system with a disappearing navigation screen, all designed to create a vintage Buick that feels modern. The LaCarrera steering wheel looks like it might have been there originally, but the factory instrumentation has been replaced by modern dials by Classic Instruments. The original Sonomatic radio and chrome speaker grille remain in the dash for purely style purposes, which was the right choice. A tan canvas power top with a custom rear window seals up well and it includes a matching boot for open-air motoring. The trunk is also fully upholstered and includes a spare tire (the continental kit is purely for show).

Buick's 322 cubic inch "Nailhead" V8 debuted in the Skylark, but it's been replaced by a modern 350 cubic inch Chevy powerplant that's more powerful, more refined, and more efficient, the perfect motivation for this incredible custom. Lots of chrome defines the show-quality engine bay, along with lots of functionality, since this is a car that can be driven anywhere. The front clip is from a Camaro and uses Air Ride suspension components to get that low stance. A TH350 3-speed automatic transmission twists a 10-bolt rear end that hangs on a 4-link setup instead of the Buick's torque tube setup. Custom pipes make the dual exhaust sound wonderful, and flashy 15-inch chrome wire wheels achieve the right look and wear 235/75/15 Coker wide whitewall radials.

There's over $200,000 in the build and it shows in every single detail. Shockingly, this custom Skylark is available for a fraction of the cost of a stock one, so this is your opportunity to own a legend that has a few tricks of its own. Call today!