1954 Buick Skylark

This 1954 Buick Skylark Convertible is an absolutely stunning, ultra-rare luxury cruiser that was outfitted with great options during its comprehensive frame-off restoration.

In 1954, Buick's accountants must have winced. Each Skylark that rolled out of Flint was said to have cost General Motors significantly more to build than its sticker price could recover—hand-finished bodywork, custom wire wheels, a lowered and modified chassis that shared almost nothing with the standard Buick production line. It was, by any rational business measure, an act of extravagance. But GM's design chief, Harley Earl, was not interested in rational business measures. He was interested in building the most beautiful automobile in America, and in 1954, that is precisely what he did with the Skylark.

Only 836 customers took delivery of a 1954 Buick Skylark. In a year when Chevrolet alone sold over a million cars, that number borders on the invisible. Yet seven decades later, it is the Skylark—not the Bel Air, not the Roadmaster, not anything produced in six-figure quantities that year—that commands reverence and serious collector attention. Scarcity alone doesn't explain it. The 1954 Skylark earns every bit of that attention on its own extraordinary merits.

Harley Earl had spent the early 1950s pushing General Motors' design studios toward uninhibited ambition. The Motorama show cars of those years were his laboratory, and the Skylark was his proof of concept brought to the street. Riding a lowered chassis, with special Skylark-only fenders, an aerodynamic decklid with pronounced chrome fins, sweeping uninterrupted body lines, and elegant wire wheels framed in wide-open wheel openings that no other production Buick offered, the Skylark sat and moved unlike anything else on American roads.

Powering it was Buick's Nailhead V8 that offered smooth, torque-rich motivation perfectly suited to a car that was equal parts grand touring machine and rolling sculpture. The '54 Skylark also came absolutely loaded with incredible standard options including an automatic transmission, power steering and brakes, plush interiors, power seats, convertible top, windows, and antennas.

The 1954 model year holds special significance within the Skylark's earliest era. The 1953 car had been the sensation—the announcement. The 1954 was the refinement, the version in which Earl's vision reached its fullest and most coherent expression. Collectors and historians have consistently recognized the distinction, and the market has followed.

Under the hood of this '54 Buick Skylark is a 322 Cubic Inch "Nailhead" V8 topped with a single 4-barrel carburetor that together were said to have produced 200 horsepower when new. The Nailhead V8 is mated to a Twin-Turbine Dynaflow automatic transmission, making this rare convertible an easy and enjoyable car to drive. At idle and while cruising, a terrific throaty sound emanates from the single chrome-tipped tailpipe.

As one can expect for a high-end luxury convertible of this era, this Skylark is loaded with options. Power steering makes parking and maneuvering effortless, and factory power brakes provide confident stopping power for this 4,000+ pound vehicle. The black vinyl power convertible top is in excellent condition and can be raised or lowered easily with the push of a button. When lowered, it tucks neatly below a new convertible top boot cover.

Riding on wide whitewall tires mounted on Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels, this Skylark has a lavish look whether parked at a car show or cruising down the road. The body has been refinished in beautiful Carlsbad Black paint, accented with red-painted inner fender wells, completing the exterior look of this ultra-rare Buick.

The interior is absolutely stunning. The front and rear bench seats have been restored in black checkerboard-stitched upholstery. The matching black carpeting, door panels, dash, and steering wheel remain in their stock configuration and are in great shape. The front seat is power-adjustable for comfort, and all four power windows operate effortlessly.

Instrumentation includes a 120 MPH speedometer, amp gauge, oil pressure gauge, temperature gauge, and fuel gauge. The dash features heater controls, a cigar lighter and ashtrays, a locking glovebox, a clock, and a "Selectronic" AM radio, allowing you to enjoy 1950s tunes while cruising.

Whether you're an established collector seeking to add a rare Buick to your collection or buying your first classic car, this 1954 Buick Skylark Convertible is an excellent choice. Call Ellingson's today at 763-428-7337.