Car: Buick Skylark Hardtop Coupe
Year: 1971
What makes it special: Buick’s Skylark model was made in six production runs, during 46 years, over which the car’s design varied dramatically due to changing technology, tastes and new standards implemented over the years. Beginning with the 1968 model year, it received a significant change for the Buick Skylark. Although still using the same basic chassis, all of GM’s mid-sized cars adopted a policy of using two different length wheelbases. Two-door models used a shorter wheelbase of 112 in, while four-door models used a longer wheelbase of 116 in. The basic Skylark was available as a two-door hardtop coupe or a four-door sedan.
What made it famous: For the 1971 model year, the base Skylark was available only with the inline-6, now only putting out 145 hp due to emission control devices, but in a two-door hardtop coupe body-style in addition to the previous two- and four-door sedans. The Skylark 350 had a V8 engine that put out only 230 hp. It was now available as a two-door sedan in addition to the previous two-door hardtop coupe and four-door sedan.
Why I would want one: It’s kind of the “Forgotten Buick model” due to the popularity of the GS and Stage-One muscle car models. But the Skylark can be kept as a pristine resto, or easily converted to a GS or Stage-One tribute.
Fun fact: Production of the Buick Skylark ended well into the 1990’s. The last Skylark rolled off the assembly line in December 4, 1997.
