A couple of days ago, Jim Klein titled his 1989 LeSabre post “Was This The Best Buick Ever Made?” That does rather beg the question of which Buick was the best one ever made. I doubt many will pick the 1958; nothing very “airy” about those plodding monstrosities. But who knows? It’s a very subjective question, as the term “best” can be interpreted in so many ways. All the better…
Me? Having thought about it a bit too long, I have to fall back to one of my childhood sweethearts, the 1963-1964 Riviera. “Best”? In terms of styling in comparison to the competition, yes.
The Riviera wasn’t quite as much of a “show car” as the Thunderbird, but that actually enhanced its qualities to me. The T-Birds were heavy, slow and ponderous, and the 390 was prone to overheating. The GM cost-cutting that prevailed at the time resulted in the Riviera sitting on a shortened big car chassis and sharing its dash, but that made for a lighter and lither car. That all comes across quite clearly in Car and Driver’s exhaustive “Road Research Report” on a ’64 Riviera.
That’s not to say that Buick didn’t build some fine cars over the decades, including in more recent ones. But this is the one that will always stand out for me. Of course, it was originally designed to be a Cadillac, but who cares? It’s the best-looking Buick, and that’s largely what big American cars were all about.
Well, I think you answered your own question. Here’s my list of honorable mentions:
1941, entire line
1962 Skylark coupe, Special sedan and wagon
1963-64 Electra
1972 LeSabre coupe and convertible
1972-74 Electra sedan
1977-89 Estate Wagon
1991-96 Roadmaster wagon
2018-20 Regal TourX
I’d add the supercharged ’91 Park Avenue Ultra.
I agree with you, although I like the 1965 Riviera with the covered headlights.
My Top 10 favorite Buick’s ever made are
1. 1965-70 Buick Electra
2. 1965-70 Buick Wildcat
3. 1966-67 Buick Gran Sport
4. 1970-72 Buick GSX
5. 1963-65 Buick Riviera
6. 1966-67 Buick Riviera
7. 1971-72 Buick Electra
8. 1977-79 Buick Electra
9. 1977-79 Buick Le Sabre
10. 1963-64 Buick Wildcat
So many great Buicks over the years…
Personal Favorite: 1998 Regal GS. I owned one (I bought it from my Dad, then sold it to my stepson years later) It was a very nice, and powerful car. Excellent on a trip.
But there have been many other great ones. I’ve often been a contrarian here with respect to the Riviera, but the ’72 Boat-tail is my pick for the best looking Riv.
Jay’s ’55 Roadmaster, although highly modified, gets an honorable mention here.
You can’t have this discussion without mentioning the Grand National.
And then there were these two beauties that JPC wrote up a while back…
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classic-double-feature-1941-buick-super-and-1947-buick-roadmaster-the-look-of-success/
My wife, not a car person at all, but she knows and likes this one: the 1972 Skylark Convertible.
It’s just too hard to pick a favorite, but whichever you choose, Buick had one of the best road wheels ever…
I’ll say 1959, for peak flamboyance
The final year US market Opel Manta with fuel injection? Not totally serious but perhaps the only “Buick’’ I’ve ever considered owning and might even enjoy now 😀 I’d probably also pick a Riviera, first or early second generation, or one of the later RWD A/G Regals in T Type or T Sport trim. The Buick I’ve actually spent the most time in is the Terraza or GL8 minivan as a shuttle vehicle in China.
Boy, this is a difficult one for me and the word subjective is so true here. I think it really depends on what decade a person grew up and started to follow cars. For me, that was in the mid ’70’s. Here’s my strange list of my top 5:
1. 1980-84 Park Avenue with 5.0 V8
2. 1988-1991 LeSabre with 3800 V6
3. 1988-1995 Skylark with the V6’s
4. 1992-1996 Park Avenue
5. 1993-2005 Regal and Regal GS
I have a tie:
1. The 1949-52 cars. The end of the straight 8/Dynaflow era had developed these cars into maximum Buick-ness. They were impressive cars and nobody who bought one ever needed to convince anyone that it had been a wise choice.
2. The 1965-66 (and to a lesser extent 67-68) C body Electra 225. These were the end of the line for peak GM and were worthy successors to a long line of successful designs.
Western- themed ’58 Buick Estate Wagon- the Round Up. Built for Bill Mitchell. Companion to the Limited Wells Fargo convertible, made for actor Dale Robertson. Both cars featured calfskin and leather bucket seats, woodgrain inserts on the quarter panels. Mitchell’s wagon came sans holsters in the door panels, much less a console fitted with a pair of rifles.
My personal favorite are B body convertibles from the early to nearly mid-70s.
In my book, there is hardly anything to compare riding around in a city (has to be urban, because you really don’t want to be going all that fast) with the top down on a hot summer evening in something the size of your living room. It’s a feeling more akin to boating than driving, but I love it.
And like a boat, owning one of those LeSabre or Centurion convertibles is probably a far far second to having a friend who has one and who’s willing to let you use it from time to time.
I want to say the 1961 Special for pioneering a luxury compact almost concurrent with compacts going mainstream. Taking the time to do a lightweight V8 to give just right feel shows the care taken.
However Buick was all about big cars and like many brands had let them drop away. To out of the blue in 1992 come back with one that arrived with a storied but still tells the story name and better execution than the only competitor remaining, the Mercury Grand Marquis wins.
I’d add the ’61 full size of any series. A bit smaller than the preceding and far less bizarre looking. Last year for the cool ribbon speedo with the adjustable mirror. AC was well integrated and I remember the ride as being better controlled than the previous heavy metal Buicks. The Dynaflow had finally licked the unexpected case cracks that could cause reverse to fail on the 59/60 version. The ’61 delivered the Buick experience and Buick image in a more athletic looking body. If you were successful enough to afford 2 new cars in ’61, a Special and an Electra would have made a great pair.
The reason I picked the 90s Roadmaster comes down to the lack of in house competition from Olds. If we think peak Buick, we perhaps diminish the brand by the best having an Olds counterpart priced similarly but with a better engine. In my opinion, even the pre LT1 350 is superior to the Mercury’s 4.6, without even suffering an economy penalty.
You could say of course that the Special had platform mates. They however had more of direction toward sport, with thus those terrible turbos. Then the inevitable tendency to chuck the whole compact concept.
G Body Park Avenue/LeSabre
W Body Regal
I follow the church of the 3800, and these were really excellent cars. Reliable powertrain, comfortable interiors, excellent HVAC, capable audio, decent MPG, and modern enough safety. Even in 2022, I’d consider these for daily duty.
So many contenders, and I agree with many of the choices above, especially JPC’s.
Definitely NOT the “air born” 1958s!
Also, in a nod to aaron65, his ’53 Special Riviera and ’65 Skylark are excellent examples.
I have a soft spot for the ’58s, just for their over-the-topness. For better or worse – well, better – there were never be a car that looks anything like that again.
Thanks 210delray!
1996 Park Avenue. Luxurious, loaded with useful gizmos, super-smooth ride, quiet, great ergonomics, lots of room for 4, can squeeze 6 in a pinch, buttery-smooth 3800 V6, solid build quality, powerful, good outward visability, pretty inside and out. I prefer the base model as the non-supercharged 3800 is still plenty powerful and torquey (and runs on regular unleaded), and I prefer the soft velour seats to the Ultra’s leather. The ’96 model was the last of this generation and got improved steering, more under-leg support from a reshaped rear seat cushion, and a few other enhancements. Oh, and fully color-keyed burgundy interior – how many cars offer real colors inside anymore?
2nd place is ’78 Park Avenue.
The H body LeSabre from 1986 to 1999 is the most rational Buick, but my favorites would be the Park Avenues of 1976, 1980 to 1984, and 1997 to 2004; the Rivieras of 1966 to 1969 and 1977; the 1994 to 1996 Roadmasters; the Estate Wagons of 1970 to 1990; the 1986 and 1987 Regals with the 3.8L turbo; and the 1980 to 1985 RWD Century and Regal sedans.
Without reading the story or any comments, I pick the 1963 Century,
For daily driving: 1977 to 1979 C-body Electra. Traditional V8 RWD Buick plushness, elegant timeless lines, decent handling manners, safe, quiet, spacious and capacious, reliable, just a wonderful car all around and perfect for our laid-back (aka mature) driving style. Our ’78 225 LTD was one of the finest all around cars out of the more than 200 we’ve owned, I’d buy a new one in a heartbeat.
I can say stuff about how many post-1962 Buicks look (and many look great) but I can only opine on earlier Buicks I drove.
By now CC’ers know I fondly remember the 1950 Buick Super Riviera Hardtop dark green over light green w/Dynaflow that I drove on private property. Huge steering wheel to help with the non-power steering and all the moving characteristics of a 1940s wooden cabin cruiser (which I grew up on and fondly remember as well). The grill was an acquired taste; I acquire it!
I came to know true luxury when I would volunteer to wash my triple-nickle-burger boss’s 1962 Electra 225 6 window hardtop (while still on the $1.00 per hour clock). I had some experience back then with contemporary Cadillacs but would still put the 1962 225/6 at the top of the list. The Buick seemed more luxurious and more attractive to me than the Caddys. It drove like a cloud and jumped off the line like a frightened rabbit.
I’d chalk that up to my inexperienced youth -but- even today, those early 60’s Buicks still look better inside and out than GM’s top dog.
Here’s one in white; they’re nicer in black. This one is for sale in Eugene, Oregon, United States. Where is that?
Just in case anyone forgot what a 1950 Buick Super Rivera hardtop looks like, see below.
Those grill bars can be replaced one at a time, and the third from the left is ready for replacement.
It just needs a veneer, not an extraction.
Great reply Ralph L.
No love for the Reatta here, eh?
Enh, I’d pick the OG Riv also.
I saw a Reatta on the highway while driving with my 22 year old son the other day and had to explain to him what it was. Quite unusual and unlike anything on the road, especially today. My Dad had a ‘73 Electra 225 and a ‘76 Park Avenue I remember fondly. Also a ‘71 LeSabre that was his 1st new car but a dog, unfortunately. The ‘71-‘73 Centurion convertible is my GOAT Buick, though
OK, I’ll go off the deep end, and my choices are certainly made from personal experience and bias rather than any kind of study of past car articles, etc.
First off, it has to have a straight eight. Screw all this V-8, V-6, V-whatever crap. Real Buicks have long hoods, and an equally long engine block underneath them. Anything pre-1929 (I think, memory may be a big edgy here) and post-1953 is right out of consideration.
Secondly, the heck with Dynaflow. A real Buick has a three-speed manual, whether the shift is on the floor or the column doesn’t matter to me.
With those parameters in place, I’ll put my love on the 1934-38 cars for styling. Still having the long hood, the classically tall and narrow grille. And finally, you put the big block 320ci engine into the small Special body, and you have the Century. The ‘Gentleman’s hot rod” (later known as a “muscle car” in less genteel times).
And I’ve always felt that Buick has never done better than that.
I have to second this. There are many great Buicks listed that I agree with on the surface but for every one mentioned there’s a Chevy, or Pontiac or Oldsmobile platformmate that’s just as cool. Buick to me stood out above and beyond GM divisions in the immediate pre and postwar years, especially with the aptly named Century and I think Harley Earl’s design talent was best represented with Buick
1970-72 Skylark was one of the few Buicks that I have driven. I liked that car, but it was not well maintained and the owner junked it.
The Buick Rendezvouz gets my vote as the worst Buick ever. Being the Aztek’s cousin did it no favours.
My son is still driving our 2004 Buick Rendezvous with 210,000 miles on it. He hasn’t been able to kill it yet.
Um, anything between 1905 and, say, 1972 or so?
I agree with Paul on the Riv; it’s beautiful and I’ve always wanted one. On the other hand, my ’65 Skylark is such a good car, but my personal favorite is my ’53 Special. It’s not the BEST Buick though…
I’m out…too tough a choice.
That’s ’58 is an orthodontist’s dream, with 160 chrome teeth to clean and polish and straighten. It’s wild.
Love the Riviera. Is it a real Buick? Good enough for me, but if not put me down for 72 Centurion 2 door…beautiful and understated style that I can’t resist.
1956 Roadmaster
1965 Wildcat
Too hard for me to try. Best to me incorporates design style, build quality, material quality, mechanical reliability and driving characteristics. I would imagine that eliminates many unless I eliminate one of those categories.
Buick has had so many greats. I’ll throw some light on two not yet mentioned. The 66 and 67 Riviera were stunning. The Buick GNX shook the foundation at GM. It was like finding out that Grandpa was a poker king and he could shoot with deadly accuracy.
The best? Any 1949-52 Super or Roadmaster. Straight eights and Dynaflow at its finest. Big, serious cars for serious people.
The worst? 1958 Limited. Perhaps the most garish car ever made.
Color me biased, but I’m calling for the ’72 Centurion 455 convertible.
I dunno about the best, but I had one and while it was everything I didn’t want or like in a car, it did well.
I had a ’64 VW Bug. Then I didn’t. Long story I’ll not bore you with, I ended up with a ’64 Buick Electra. While still not my cup of tea, I was impressed by it. With I think, the base 401, or was it 400, V8, it was friggin’ fast. Yeah, I know, reference my 40HP VW. But it was quick, while not a stoplight GP racer, I did throw MPG to the wind on a few onramps. And it did well, except to one particular 911S. Even did ok on offramps, I dunno if it had a HD suspension due to the trailer hitch or what, but set it in a corner and it held pretty well. Not so much left and right, but throw it into a corner and he would hold.
MPG was another matter. I can’t remember anymore if it was 10 or 12, but going back and forth to college, mostly, it could achieve the above, if I babied it. I mean really softpedaling it. To the extreme. I’m sure lots of people got 8 out of them in town. And that was with the 401. The 425? I don’t even….
1960 Invicta the neighbors bought new and we rode to church in. Full power and very sleek compared to the car it replaced: a 1953 Special they drove for seven years.
1962 Skylark coupe – luxury in a small package. Judge Sara Hughes drove hers to Love Field to swear in LBJ as president on November 22. William Manchester mistakenly refers to it as a “sports car” in Death of a President.
1962 Wildcat coupe. Stunning car, inside and out.
1965 Wildcat convertible, 465 with four speed owned by good friend when I was in high school and got to drive often. Red, red interior, white top. Big car but fun to drive, a real torque monster. Have to believe the four speed was very rare. Family owned a GM dealership and ordered the car.
So many more up until the early 70s when styling and quality started to deteriorate. I’m with Aaron, maybe 1972 as a cutoff. A work colleague had a new Skylark coupe that year, ice blue with black interior, top notch in appearance and workmanship.
So many cool cars to choose from, but I think maybe…
That gorgeous blue 1950 woodie wagon seen in the movie “Julie and Julia”.
I drove Buicks all of my life. My love affair began after I received a brand new 1977 Regal Limited from my parents for my sixteenth birthday. That love affair came to an end after my final Buick, one of the final generation LaCrosse. Between Buick deciding to quit making sedans and that idiotic (my opinion) auto stop/start, I changed over to Toyota with a 2021 Avalon XLE and a 2022 Avalon Limited taking up space in my garage.
My favorite Buick has to be my 1993 Regal GS four door. In the twelve years I owned it from 1993 until 2005, that car gave excellent service and not one bit of trouble. Supremely comfortable, smooth, and quiet, it would eat up miles on the interstate. I could drive my mother 400 plus miles to Georgia to visit her sister, and then turn right around and drive that distance back home with no problems. An absolute gem of a car!
77 thru 79 LeSabre (and Olds Delta 88)
82 thru 87 Regal (and Olds Cutlass)
79 thru 85 Riviera (and Olds Toronado)
91 thru 96 Roadmaster (and Chevy Impala)
In my Time Machine, I’d grab a few of the above and drive them today!!
I remember when I was a Junior in High School in Victoria Texas, and we had a Car Bash to raise money for the school. They used a 1958 Buick.
The amazing thing, as I recall, was that after two dozen big football players hit the car for hours with a sledge hammer – the car was still recognizable as a 1958 Buick!!!
I found this picture in my yearbook of the Buick.
Over a 50+ year period of both collecting vintage cars as well as having a restoration shop and vintage car dealership, I’ve owned over 1,500 old cars. When it came to Buicks I’ve only had a few, but of those I’ve owned, they were wonderful cars. From the earliest:
1941 Limited LWB sedan for 5 people [wonderfully luxurious for the time, and incredible rear seat legroom!] Built on the same body as the Cadillac limousine, it was faster than the ’42 Cadillac limo I owned.
1956, I’ve had 2: Roadmaster convertible in red, and a black Roadmaster sedan with very COLD factory A/C. I actually preferred the red convertible to my 1956 Eldorado convertible.
1965 Riviera – I love those hidden headlights! Mine was a black Gran Sport with the dual quad 425 engine. The only reason I sold it was because it didn’t have A/C.
I’ll go with the Riviera. I had several, the Boat Tail was crazy unique, I’ve always wanted a 63-65 but never had one. I’ll go with the ’66 Riviera. Smooth and sexy like a show car, I drove one as a daily for many years.
When it comes to best model lists, I’ve found that 1967s are rarely a bad choice.
Same here, with Buick’s new 430-4v finally replacing the old nailhead. Make mine a Riviera, with that cool speedometer.
I own a ’58 Century hardtop sedan just like the one illustrated. I recently purchased a ’65 Electra 225 Custom hardtop sedan. Both cars are in very nice original condition and both were converted to RHD back in the day. (I am in Australia). Just like my kids, I love them both the same. The ’65 sure drives better though !!!