Frame Off Restored Skylark Convertible 322 Fireball V8 Dynaflow Automatic PS

SUMMARY

1 of 1690 Skylarks produced for the 1953 model yearCorrect 322 cubic inch Fireball V8Correct Twin Turbine Dynaflow 2-speed automatic transmissionCorrect Kelsey-Hayes wire wheelsFactory power steeringSale includes restoration photos and service recordsFactory power windowsSelectronic AM radioMatador Red paintFrame-off restoration completed in the late '90s

For 112 years Buick has provided substantial unpretentious luxury to everyone from Wall Street bankers to professional athletes. You might say the storied brand has done it all. It's the foundation for today's General Motors Company. It's the foundation for America's growth in the world's largest automotive market. And in the '50s when Detroit was at the top of its luxury game fine automobiles like this magnificent Skylark gave serious credibility to the line "When better automobiles are built Buick will build them". Commissioned to celebrate the brand's 50th anniversary this fully sorted cruiser is 1 of only 1690 Skylarks assembled for the 1953 model year. Visually it's some of the coolest metal to ever roll down an assembly line. Thanks to a remarkable combination of smooth power and world-class style the car sits at the pinnacle of luxury engineering. And if you're a cultured enthusiast who's looking for a clean investment grade classic it's the carefully restored masterpiece of your dreams!

The 1953 Roadmaster Skylark was one of three specialty convertibles created to promote General Motors' leadership in design and innovation. Like its Fiesta and Eldorado stablemates the Skylark was a limited-production hand-made halo that was overwhelmingly admired by the public and rewarded with a very successful sales rate. Today roughly 60 years later the car's world-class design characteristics can be found in pretty much every modern automaker's aesthetic DNA. And its unique blend of optimistic swagger and unmatched exclusivity make it one of the most coveted classics on the planet.

BODYWORK/TRIM

The beneficiary of a thorough frame-off restoration that was completed in the late '90s by Fort Wayne Indiana's R&S Classic Auto this killer drop-top is one of the sweetest tri-shields we've ever seen! The restorers began by stripping the car's curvaceous mostly handmade body all the way to bare metal. When that heavy cleaning was complete all those Harley Earl-designed panels were assembled into a correct profile that presents largely blemish-free surfaces. After that thorough test fitting a smooth coat of Matador Red paint was teased to a glossy show-stopping shine. And today this Skylark's prestigious appearance is a lust worthy representation of one of America's most glorious eras of motoring.

ENGINE

Lift the car's 'alligator hood' and you'll find a 322 cubic inch Fireball V8 which wears a correct "V2I0457" assembly stamp and twists a stout 188 horsepower into 300 ft./lb. of low-end torque. Nicknamed the "Nail valve" and eventually known as the "Nailhead" this fully detailed mill employs greater lift and better duration to create a Kansas-flat power band. Funny thing is: hot rodders of the day actually coined the engine's nickname as a derisive description of its puny valvetrain and restrictive plumbing but they certainly couldn't ignore its stellar power! The proven block has undoubtedly been rebuilt and probably looks much better today than when it growled off the assembly line. Aesthetically the mill which perches a massive air cleaner and big 4-barrel carburetor above factory heads has been painted a traditional green hue. There are many fresh pieces like pliable belts a tagged Delco-Remy generator and proven Hypalon ignition cables. A glossy firewall meets satin fenders to frame those pieces in a construct of distinctly American curves. And overall the engine seems clean simple and highly functional.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

Essentially Buick's original Skylark is a fully optioned and highly customized Roadmaster. And the firm's decision to use its proven C-Body architecture certainly wasn't a bad one as quality and reliability words rarely uttered in the same sentence as "highly customized" remained solid. The basis for this drop-top's solidity is an industrial strength chassis that rides on a correctly restored suspension. At the center of that suspension a new-for-1953 Twin Turbine Dynaflow which wears a correct "J" assembly stamp twists power to a factory rear end. At the edges of that drivetrain big drum brakes initiate quick drama-free stops. Turns come courtesy of factory power steering. A single-pipe exhaust system makes good use of a factory replacement muffler. Everything rolls on familiar Kelsey-Hayes wires which spin 235/75R15 Dayton whitewalls around "SKYLARK" branded center caps. And with a fully sorted undercarriage that's ready to hit the road this big cruiser would be right at home chauffeuring the family to their favorite dinner spot.

INTERIOR

An excellent mix of new world style and old world luxury this Skylark's striking interior restored by Jenkins Restorations of North Wilkesboro North Carolina is the perfect place to parade down Main Street. The car's plush benches are stuffed with thick padding covered in pleated leather and trimmed in era-correct hardware. In front of those seats a Matador Red dash hangs a correct Selectronic radio a rebuilt clock and chrome-trimmed gauges behind a textured instrument panel. At the base of that dash high quality carpet is anchored by slick "Skylark" branded sill plates. At the sides of that carpet ornate chrome-trimmed door panels found small power window switches between correct chrome handles. In front of the driver an intricate color-keyed steering wheel spins a full horn ring around a customized centerpiece. And behind the passengers a snug-fitting cowl snaps over a fully restored trunk that centers a fifth wire wheel inside a fifth whitewall tire.

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION AND ACCESSORIES

A framed collage of restoration photosMiscellaneous service recordsTwo display boardsA framed poster

Combining a thorough restoration with acute detailing this investment grade Skylark is one of the best classics money can buy! Add in the car's smooth drivetrain and low production numbers and it's virtually guaranteed to gain value AND exclusivity. We all know it's becoming increasingly tough to find top-notch correctly restored post-war metal. Don't miss your chance to own one of the coolest Buicks on the planet!