Text by Patrick Bell.
Today we are bringing another battery of Buicks and their people for your viewing pleasure. There is a good selection, including some convertibles to keep those warm weather thoughts going.
We begin our gallery with a photo from Daytona Beach, Florida, shot in February of 1971, and titled “My Mother and her New Car”, all per search results. The car is a ’71 Skylark Custom Sport Coupe that does look new and is equipped with a vinyl roof. There were three 2 door hardtops offered in the Skylark line that year, and this middle level Custom was the middle range in popularity as well. In the background at the curb, a beige ’67 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Holiday Sedan, light blue ’64 Mercury Comet 202 2 door sedan, and the white car has the look of a Renault R10.
It must have been a cold day as this well dressed gentleman is also warmly dressed. He may have been a traveling man with extra clothes hanging in the back of his sharp ’60 Electra 225 4 door Riviera Sedan with a curb feeler on the rear. The Riviera Sedan (6 window style) and the regular 4 door hardtop (flat top style) both had a list price of $4300 and were Buick’s most expensive for the year. This Riviera Sedan was the most popular of the two with 8,029 produced, which amounted to 3.16% of total sales. Not many stepped up that high on the Buick ladder.
The whole gang is out for a top down ride in a ’64 Electra 225 convertible with a fairly early issue California black license plate. This was the second most expensive Buick of the year and the least popular Electra. The Riviera came in at $11 more to win the highest base price award. Of the three full size convertibles offered, it came in second with the Wildcat the most popular and the LeSabre the least.
There are two Buicks in this shot, the main one another ’64 model from California, a Skylark Sport Coupe dressed up with wire wheel covers. It was the most popular of the Special/Skylark line comprising almost 23% of sales. Across the street is a ’63 Skylark Sport Coupe or convertible. The Sport Coupe was a good seller but it came in second to the Special Deluxe 4 door sedan. Further up the street looks like a Peugeot 404 and a ’64 Plymouth.
Here we have another ’64 Skylark Sport Coupe, this one with the optional bucket seats and standard spinner type wheel covers. A set of whitewalls would help it out, in my opinion. However, the lady behind the wheel seems to be happy with it. In the driveway next door is a ’62 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 Convertible Coupe, and parked on the street is another Oldsmobile, a ’56 Super 88 Holiday Coupe.
One more ’64 model, this one a Special convertible, which of course was the easiest way into a drop top Buick with a base list of $2605. The Skylark was $229 more and was the better seller. Maybe this gentleman always wanted a Buick convertible and when he saw this bright red one for a reasonable price, he finally bit the bullet. And now he is showing it to his lady friends.
Now we are up in the mountains where a couple of stick men were rehearsing their comedy routine. Search results say the man that posted this found the slide and it was dated April of 1967. The car is a ’66 Skylark convertible that looked good in this color. It was midway in the three intermediate convertible offerings and was the most popular, with the Special second and the GS last.
I get the idea this lady did not want to have her photo taken. Her shirt had a monogram that was probably her name. The building has the look of a motel and a sign on the wall that might say ‘Louis’, also with the number ‘2599’ below it. The car is a ’70 LeSabre Custom 4 door hardtop and has a vinyl roof as well as heavy duty bumper guards on the front. It carried a base list of $3571 and was the second best seller after the top of the line Electra 225 4 door hardtop.
Wouldn’t you rather have a Buick? Just look at the versatility here. Who needs ground clearance when you can have a car that just floats along? The onlookers are fascinated! The Skylark Custom for ’68 was the least expensive convertible with a base list of $3098, and best selling with 8188 units out the door for the year. I could not find any information on the rare Amphibian package.
An impromptu concert was underway on the hood of this ’69 Wildcat Custom convertible. Of the five drop tops offered that year (Skylark, Gran Sport, LeSabre, Wildcat, Electra 225) this one had a base list of $3948, which was the second most expensive after the Electra. With 2374 units produced it was quite rare and was second from the bottom in the popularity contest with the Gran Sport at the bottom rung. In the background is a ’69 Pontiac Grand Prix.
This is a young Ghaus M. Malik, MD, a neurosurgeon who has been practicing for 55 years in the greater Detroit area. He is leaning on a ’69 Special Deluxe or Skylark 4 door sedan. Neither one were all that popular with the Special moving 16,571, and the Skylark at 27,387. They both did beat the Skylark Custom which came in at 8,066. The two door models were much more popular during this time period. In the background, left a ’66 Dodge Coronet 500 2 door hardtop, and to the right a black ’65 Ford Mustang Hardtop.
Las Vegas is the seat of Clark County, Nevada, where this ’66 Skylark convertible was from. It had some damage to at least the deck lid and rear bumper, and was parked next to a mobile home in what looks like a fairly new park. The happy couple were likely owners of both the car and mobile home.
A man posing with a ’70 Skylark or Skylark Custom Sport Coupe with a vinyl roof. It has a California license plate and that likely is the location as well. 1970 brought a styling refresh and sales increased by a little over 20%. The two door models outsold the four doors by over a 2 to 1 margin.
Sequoia National Park in California was where these New York tourists were taking advantage of a photo opportunity. They were traveling in a ’73 LeSabre or LeSabre Custom. The ’73s had a minor refresh in the styling department as they were in their third year since the ’71 major restyle. Sales increased a bit over 8.3% and this marked the last year a full size Buick listed for (barely) under $4000. The low end LeSabre 4 door sedan basic list was $3998. As might be expected in the full size line, the four doors outsold the two doors by a shade over 40%.
It was a cool day when this man posed with a ’73 Electra 225 or Electra 225 Custom Hardtop Sedan with possibly an Illinois license plate and bravely in a Mopar neighborhood. This car in the Custom trim was the best selling in the entire Buick line for the year with 107,031 units sold. The non Custom trim model listed for $177 less, but only sold a shade over 16% of the Custom. You have to wonder why they bothered. Behind it is a ’70 or ’71 Dodge Polara and across the street is a ’69 Chrysler Town & Country with a bruised upper lip.
Our final shot was an entry level ’70 Skylark 2 door sedan from California. This one had a base list of $2685 and was least expensive way into a new Buick in that year. It does look on the plain side with those standard hub caps, but the red and white color combo really brighten it up. In the background is a ’75-’78 Chevrolet Nova with a yellow license plate, so one of these is away from home.
Thanks for joining us and to all good day!
Such a well-curated selection of photos, many of which show such apparent pride of ownership by the people in frame. Most of these people seem a bit more mature and somewhat classy – much of what I would expect from typical Buick clientele of that time period. Great post.
Back then, most folks would 🎵 really rather 🎶 have a Buick 🎵. They actually were CARS. Fun fact, Two 63 🤔 ELECTRAs were featured in *HUSH! HUSH! SWEET CHARLOTTE * stealing scenes from Bette Davis.
I’ve seen that photo of the ‘68 Skylark crossing Oak Creek in Sedona, Arizona before … perhaps even here at CC. It’s no longer open to vehicles there. I’ve waded across a few times. It was pretty deep in spots.
Another excellent collection of fascinating period pics.
I wasn’t able to put it into proper words as a kid, but I definitely saw as a child, Buicks of the late 60’s and early ’70’s often had borderline bland, and nondescript styling. I knew Buick was usually competing with several other General Motors divisions. Presenting their own unique styling, using the same basic platform. Chevrolet and Pontiacs tended to have more mainstream looks, and defining design elements. Better than the later blatant badge engineering. But some of these division styling efforts, were not that exciting.
The ’68 Skylark and ’70 LeSabre here, have their polarizing sidesweeps. Which I was not a fan of. Other than the expected ventiports, Buicks could have some pretty generic lines. As reflected, in the earlier and later Skylarks here. The ’70 era Skylark coupe (and sedans) for example, left me very neutral, then and now.
Love these posts. Thanks, Rich and Patrick.
The picture with Dr. Malik, the neurosurgeon, was taken on the campus of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. The skyscraper in the background is the Fisher Building.
The other unique structure in the photo is the Henry Ford Hospital parking deck – the modernistic structure with the squiggly columns on the left side of the featured picture. That parking deck is still standing, and has actually been added onto with larger, matching parking decks. The vintage photo was taken from a surface lot that’s still there, but no StreetView, so here’s a modern image from the adjoining street:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XevN9LqjyQwnAHsJ8
Great collection of pictures, love the twin thin whitewalls. Buicks mostly had to walk a fine line between being too close to Cadillac and a little fancier than Oldsmobile, at least in my mind.
Many people then (and now) feel that Cadillacs are too over the top and showy – though some people today (as then) like and want that attention.
Just like today, you want your lawyer, accountant, etc. to drive up in a nice car, but not too nice. A Buick shows they are successful but not taking advantage of their clients.
Loved your bit about the “rare amphibian package” for that Skylark fording a stream. Not sure I would try that.
I was also taken aback by that super-red ’64 Special convertible. A bold color for an oldster (but good on you!).
The photo of the green ’73 Electra was taken in the West Ridge neighborhood of Chicago. Below is a then-and-now comparison of the location.
Google StreetView link:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/51YP6fGv6zNK3WQ89
That is a remarkable comparison. Suspect the two Fuselage Chryslers, had the same owner.
Some time you’ll have to post a then/now”, pic of my old neighborhood..lol Txt book case of urban decay.
Saw it last year. Couldn’t help but think a “tear it down”, is urgently needed.
Yikes!
Amazing – thanks, Eric! This is probably not all that far from where I live.
Nice Buicks. Looks like Roy Orbison on the 69 Wildcat Convertible playing his guitar and singing “Pretty Woman:.
Richard, finished up my mini shop today, tell JoAnn I said hey.
You forgot to note the Ford in the 9th picture. Looks like a 20000 BC model.
Can’t forget Kojak and his hard-working Buick Century
Speaking of Kojak, I saw that video on Youtube.
I quote the description:”Today I’ll be customizing a 1970s Corgi 1/64 scale of TVs KOJAK Buick Century unmarked police car. I used Monoblock’s gold rims for a unique look, and lowered her down for a more interesting, modern stance. Thanks for watching and be sure to subscribe for more video updates! -See ya guys soon!”
Several in the precinct drove them, as I recall.
“I don’t buy that”.
My favorite line Telly often used.
There were a couple of Buicks around me as a kid. Since I was like eight years old at the time, my impression of cars were how comfortable the back seat was.
My uncle had a 1973 Buick LeSabre four door hard top. This car had a roomy back seat and there it was considered a good design by me.
A family friend had a 1970 Skylark two door. The back seat was cramped and seemed like a black hole to me as visibility wasn’t great on these cars. Needless to say, I didn’t like the Skylark very much.
Older couple across the street got a new “65 Special”, sdn when I was a kid. Neighbors two houses up had a “59 ” gray, tudor, something until about “1966-7”.
Think it was greenish.gray, inside.
Been too long.
When California plates are mentioned I always take a close look. The first black AXX563 is definitely in the early years (1963 start) for that plate. The second, however it may look black, but the 899EBM is incorrect in format. The third and fourth with the 000XXX format in gold on blue is correct from mid 1969 and on. I pay close attention since I needed to change out the license plates on three of my cars for correct era and correct letters for the years of my cars. So the second car may be a 64 but the plate would be 72 meaning a transplant.
Nice pics.
I’m reminded of my grade 9 teacher who had a red, 68 GS350. Beautiful car for him and his wife before they had children. The Skylark lost its appeal with me as a teenager by 1970 when it took on more squarish lines. My father was in the market for a new car by 1970 and liked the Wildcat but that sized car he quickly realized would not fit in our garage. He opted for a Cutlass Supreme 4 door hardtop which did fit, with some room to spare on each side.
What? No mention of the ‘67 or ‘68 Sting-Ray in the picture with the guy playing guitar on the hood of his ‘69 Wildcat?
That’s a guess at the year, based on the apparent color. Schwinn’s blue was a bit brighter in the ‘70(s). That one appears to be a one speed stripper with a coaster brake with the only option being a horn.
I had a blue ‘71 Sting-Ray with a 40 mph speedometer, 3 speed transmission with a suicide stick, and hand brakes. This one was the mid trim level.
Other kids in the neighborhood went for the top trim “Crate” or “Peeler” series with the 5 speed, but the added weight and the shock absorbers on that model slowed them down. My bike was faster. 😀
I guess the pic won’t attach…. nevermind
Scott — The picture can’t be bigger than 1200 px wide or 1200 px high, and it has to be JPEG format.
First photo…my Dad never owned a Buick, but he was the original owner of a ’68 Renault R10. His was silver/grey; he had it up until about Feb 1974…it was the first “new” 2nd car in our family (1st car was usually a large domestic wagon, though he owned a ’65 Olds F85 Wagon when he bought the Renault). So I guess his answer at the time to the question “wouldn’t you really rather own a Buick?” would have been “I have an Oldsmobile instead”. He never owned another Oldsmobile either after the F85, he had one Pontiac (a disaster…worst car he ever bought) and a trio of Chevrolets, a Caprice Classic wagon and his last 2 cars were both Impalas (a ’01 and ’06 the latter of which my sister took over when my mother stopped driving a few years ago).