1953 Buick skylark, To commemorate 50 years of Buick
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- Today on what it’s like rare look at a rare limited production king of the Buick hill skylark convertible with a price tag of $5,000 in 1953 (that was Equivalent to $55,000+ in 2023, but came standard with just about every option) Lots of period ads specs take the tour buttons switches and knobs enjoy this one
If you’re looking for an absolutely stunning Buick skylark convertible this one is currently for sale at classic automotive click the link below for more information pricing and pictures
 www.classicaut...
Strange magic by ELO
Yeah buddy congratulations you got it. =)
1952 ford club coupe is coming up next
Beautiful!
I have checked my American Car Spotter's Guide 1940-65 that the Skylark was the only model that didn't have port holes on sides in that year.
Super car‼Now, I'm no Jay but I think (no, I don't know for sure) "Selectronic" was the name brand given tothe the special Buick Radio that could be tuned by the press of your foot on that floor button you were wondering about. In Oldsmoblile they were known as Wonderbar radios. Just sayin'. I THINK😉 Great review as always👏
I think your right I wasn’t sure if it was to early for that radio I thought it came on the scene around 55 but could be wrong.
Glad you dig this episode
Pure art. The 53 skylark is one of the most beautiful cars of the 50s. Easily the most beautiful Buick of all time (along with the 63 Riv).
Totally agree =)
She sure was! Especially in fire-engine red.
What a beautifully restored Buick. That chrome looks superb.
One of the reasons for GM going to 12-volt systems on 1953 Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, and senior series Buicks was the increased electrical demands of various accessories (including power windows, tube radios, planned air conditioning) would tend to overwhelm the 6-volt system. The rest of GM followed suit in 1955 MY. The Dynaflow transmission was revised for 1953, with the "Twin Turbine" feature added to give faster take-off. The original 1948-52 Dynaflow was a single rotor arrangement that was slow on the takeoff (unless Low was manually selected by the driver).
Awesome thank you so much for sharing that information as well as insight =)
Harley Earl's styling creations were a genius! I love the toothy chrome grill that makes the car (and me) smile!
This car was great the whole car looked like it was sculpted =)
All the GM cars from this era seemed to have been designed by Mr Earl.
Thanks for showcasing the glorious 1953 Buick Skylark! Series 76X, and the Roadmaster was simply Series 76. My high school friend Richard Buckley owned one in 1964, in metallic Forest Green, with two-tone green and cream beige interior. He called it "Spot" when he first got it, since it had primer spots all over it, but he eventually got it repainted with original lacquer GM paint, and fully restored it (his father was a certified GM mechanic) and it was gorgeous! We had a lot of fun cruising around in that car, and going up into the mountains around Los Angeles with top down, enjoying the windy breeze! In 1965, he sold it and bought an all gold 1958 Oldsmobile Starfire convertible which was gorgeous in spite of its terrible design. In 1966, he sold that one and bought a beautiful metallic green 1964 Oldsmobile Super 88 convertible, which he kept until the 1970s.
Awesome story thank you so much for sharing those memories with all of us =)
The '53 and '54 Skylarks were breathtaking, and great favorites of mine. I prefer them to the Eldorado and Fiesta hands down. I remember seeing a '54 parked at a.gas station as a little kid. I knew it wasn't the garden variety Buick and remembered it clearly years later when I found out just how special it was. It's on my lottery garage list.
The fiesta is an interesting weird very rare car I still can’t get over the price tag it cost more than the Buick.. $717 more which is totally crazy to me
How interesting! I had no idea the Fiesta was more expensive, let alone by that much, which accounts for its lackluster sales. The Eldorado was even pricier. The Skylark is still my favorite though. My dad had a black and beige coupe of that era, so maybe that's why.
The 1953 Skylark-Fiesta-El Dorado trio were virtually hand built. The front windshield was chopped down and the whole car was lowered 1 inch on the chassis. Notice the "Darrin Dip" in the beltline which was not found in the rest of the Buick line. (Harley Earl's tribute to Dutch Darrin, the stylist over at Kaiser-Frazer)
Howard Dutch darrin designed one hell of a packard as well good catch on the darrin dip they loved it so much all gm cars had it in 55
Hey Jay, wow,.this beautiful Buick is a work of art!!! This Skylark is a true classic, it's very rare & looks like it just rolled off the assembly line!!! Thanks for sharing this exciting video!! 👍👍🙂
Glad you liked this one =)
Hi Jay, even before seeing this, I know that this lineup of Buick Skylarks is going to be killer, man. So classically beautiful in line and style. Achingly beautiful
Totally agree =) I can’t wait to find a wagon I found one last year.. But it’s sold before I could get over there
@@What.its.like. Damn, a wagon variant would be an amazing treat, as they were, each model, in part a restyling exercise, for the rear of the vehicle, to conform to the same ethos, while still keeping its own identity. There is a lot to this, which most people have not considered, I suspect you may agree?
This car is a bad momma inside and out! The waterfall dash and door panels are super cool!
Howard Hughes had a 53 Roadmaster 4 door that He had fitted with a custom made air conditioner/filtration system. It sold at Barrett/Jackson a few years ago for 1.6 million bucks. Just a great timeless classic!
Wow that’s crazy I saw them selling for $150,000 which is a lot this one wasn’t priced as high
@@Jack_Russell_Brown I never knew about that car. Makes me wonder where that is and the history behind it.....
@@Radiowild As I heard it at the Barrett Jackson auction, Mr. Hughes' special air conditioner had a filtration system that was built to recirculate and "clean" the air while introducing no outside air into the interior. Apparently, that was due to Mr Hughes' fear of germs, which was instilled into him by his folks during childhood and just got worse as he got into old age. I guess his family didn't realize that without giving yourself access to fresh air and some germs, your body can't build up a normal resistance to disease. If Howard had been around for Covid-19, he likely would have barricaded himself into an old gold mine somewhere.
Thanks Jay, for an amazing 1953 Buick Skylark video. One of my favorite cars from the
early 1950s.
Can’t wait to find a 54 =) glad you liked this video
@@What.its.like. The 53 has much classier wheel well cut outs than the 1954, and I was expecting the 53 to pass the camera in the glove box test with flying colours - which was correct.
That glove box was huge.. unfortunately the 52 Ford I couldn’t do the glove box test for the one that’s coming up because I couldn’t get it open some of them are hard to get open especially if you don’t have fingernails
@@What.its.like. Wasn’t the later Buick Skylark the name of their compact or midsize car? In the 60s or later?
The magnificent Buick Eight badging at the show's beginning, is a perfect tribute to the 50s & 60s, when anything considered a white good, would be advertised under the logos of the companies team colours. From toasters to vehicles and fridges; each pf them with a seeming internal lit red through to gold iridescence.
Beautifully restored Buick that one! The doohickey on the air inlet will just be a silencer for the induction. I didn't know about 12V either, but yes, there are 6 cells on that battery, so 12V it must be. That battery must be made to order, so would cost a heap, and the price of the car must be terrifying!
It was an expensive car that’s for sure the crazier thing yet is that Oldsmobile fiesta was even more money $5,717 for an Oldsmobile in the early 50s
Thank you so much for telling me what the Doohickey was it was the weirdest thing I ever saw..
I often enough watch Adam, over at 'rare & classic cars' I think it's called. He is in the unique position of purchasing the cars that are of interest to him, and can even afford the storage fees. He seems to mainly concentrate on the large range of Ford & GM vehicles down through the 60s and forward. I don't know how he is able to find so many of his cars with 7000 miles on them for a cheap price. Most of his collection looks factory fresh, despite being 50 + years old. He drives them in all weathers except winter, where the roads are salted, sensibly.
I want to collaborate with him one day he’s close enough that we could probably make something happen I watch his channel periodically.. Adam seems like a prettydown to earth cool dude =)
That second button is probably for the selector on the radio. The center button on the wiper knob is probably for the washers.
Awesome thank you so much for that
The button on the floor looks like the station changer for the Wonder Bar radio. Depressing the gas pedal engages the starter after turning on the ignition.
That could very well be thank you for that =)
A source of endless delight to me, is that these 5.2 metre behemoths have less rear legroom than a tiny Japanese cat or dog has provided to them, simply to sleep soundly. The USA managed to get in early on a new craze of the world in the late 19th & early 20th centuries, which accepted the need for ghosts, and all the spurious things that went with them, such as nostalgia. Immediate nostalgia, for the things that happened a few minutes ago, is the invention of the American century; and is clearly embodied here.
Gm and ford had the least amount of rear space.. if rear space is what you desire Chrysler is the answer (in the 50s they rear space room is second to none)
Undeniable style setter, destined to be a classic from the beginning!!🤩 It has such a bold, tough look, that screams opulent luxury cruiser, or flashy, sporty roadster, like so much rolled into one! 😎 Video
It was built solid too just had such a quality feel about it
The Fiesta, twin tone with an orange rear and a creamy body, was a real beauty of its day, in my opinion. More attractive than a Packard or a Studebaker of the same period could have hoped.
I still can’t believe how much of the Oldsmobile Festival convertible cost $5717 wow
@@What.its.like. Really crazy optimistic prices, for a crazy optimistic time. The historical circumstances were so rare, I do not believe we will see their return. Of course, it all crashed in 58 with a new depression, but well..
Absolutely beautiful Skylark, so answers to your questions. Switch next to break is for the radio to switch channels for safety. The checks on the dash and door is called Dynark , the skylark horn button was the only one with a special “Customized for” , each original owner who ordered this car had there name scripted into the horn button. Skylark only had zero port holes VS roadmaster/super with 4 and special with 3 . Also special still offers the straight 8. This Skylark also offered a continental kit option. Last all wheel wells in 53 were painted white from factory no matter the color of the car. All in all in the 53 lineup the Skylark had the most production of the “4” at 1690 .. Eldorado at 502 , Olds Fiesta at 458 and for the motorama of 1953 always gets over looked the Corvette which came only in white over red with 300 built. Hope this helps you even are inquiring more about cars let me know! I love this stuff and have over 35 cars including most on your channel!
Awesome information thank you so much for sharing all that information and insight =)
This is a jewel, and the color ……meant to be driven by the sea, to be sure, I believe Perfect.
I absolutely love how this car was sculpted in the interior was my absolute favorite I love teal it was so nice inside.. I wish the gauges didn’t glare as much I was kind of bummed with the footage of the dashboard
Those old 6V systems with a negative chassis were a nightmare for corrosion, what I don't understand is why nobody picked up on the problem earlier? After all a DC voltage, can be as readily applied with a reversed polarity, and have a positively ground chassis, which won't encourage the accumulation of dirt, salt or passing chickens. Speaking of, for a brief period I drove a 63 Volkswagen Beetle with the 1300cc engine, the 6V system was negatively ground to the chassis which allowed the floor to be rotted away by the tin worm. Curiously, it was terrific at letting rain water in, but not for draining it. So after a thunderstorm the car would fill up with many litres of water, which didn't announce itself, till the first time I applied the brakes, and then a sudden tidal wave of water would travel to the firewall and break all over my feet. Additionally, it suffered a complete brake failure once, which left me slowly drifting across several lanes of very busy traffic, yet nobody hit me? On another occasion, I foolishly drove 3 members of my family to the family Christmas do, and I stuck a hill, which genuinely needed negotiating, by having my 3 passengers get out, so I could rise far enough up the steep incline for them to get back in and continue the journey. Why did I do these things to myself?
such a beautiful car.
The big can on the front of the air cleaner is a muffler. The second dimmer switch is for the radio to change stations with your foot.
Thank you so much =)
Silencer on the air cleaner who knew oil bath or paper filter
The Dynaflow was a non-shifting transmission. Yes, it had 2-speeds forward, but it did not automatically shift. Whatever forward gear you selected, "D" or "L", it stayed in that gear until you moved the gear selector to another position.
The "L" position was for engine braking or a faster getaway. The transmission used a torque converter to make up for the shortage gears .
The can on the air cleaner is an intake muffler. When you spend that much for a luxury car, you want it to be quiet.
The muffler(s) were also quieter than a standard car.
Silent and smooth was Buick's aim.
Thank you so much for that clarification =)
The other switch on the floor is most likely the search button for the signal seeking radio. Your foot could hit that button while on the road so you don’t need to take your hands off the wheel. Growing up, our ‘57 Imperial had that feature and I always thought our radio was magic! I didn’t realize my dad would use his foot switch to change stations.
I wasn’t sure about that I thought that feature came later but I could be wrong that could very well be the radio station switch =)
Thanks Jay.
Such a smooth car, inside and out.
What, no cigarette lighter in the back seat? 😮 😂
Yeah how about that
Beautiful Buick with those "Kaysley Haines" wire wheels! You crack me up with your pronunciations Kiddo!
Pronunciation isn’t my strong point lol
BTW, I totally agree with you about the teal/white color combination. Stunning! Even a Pontiac Aztek might be attractive in that combo!
Love that huge chrome grill and the beautiful lines that graces the body.
Another great car and wonderful video, Jay. I believe that "doohickey" on the front of the air cleaner is a sliencer.
Thank you so much for that it was just a weird thing to see on the front of the air cleaner.
The grill itself, a simple enough waterfall type with downturned teeth, with the embrasures of artillery positions for headlight surrounds. The new for 53 goofy face look still carries itself with grace. For me, the Buick Roadmaster and Skylark, are the epitome of a classic American vehicle of the 50s. How did they achieve this without 'focus groups' I wonder? The rear belt/hip line, which drops abruptly abaft the front doors, Then rises to resume its previous heights is an optical illusion, presenting the sleek British sports car, so innocently free of cares and imagined on a scale of 2:1
This car is absolutely stunning in person it’s like you’re looking at a sculpture of work of art same Can’t b said about how lotta cars nowadays
@@What.its.like. Boy, you sure got that right. Cars can no longer be individuated, as the 2 most pressing concerns are CD and weight. This leaves every vehicle settling in the same spot and identical. I once saw a poor condition Roadmaster near to Venice Beach in CA around 30 years ago, and it still resonates with me. A legendary work of art, is what it represents to my aesthetic. I was like a kid with excitement, looking the car over. You might not guess it, but I am a motorcycle guy, of the Japanese and European variety. Yet, engineering is a universal. In this case, Chrysler always sat at the top, perhaps not so well reflected in sales as they should have been?
Have you noticed, Jay, that every GM seat has a lower supporting lip which is obvious when tipped forward? Perhaps as a mechanical stop to reinforce the seat from collapse, in addition to other methods employed. This is not so for Ford or Chrysler, or any other of the majors still existing at that time.
I believe the button on the floor is for the radio. It changes the station same as pressing the wonder bar..
When better cars were needed, Buick stepped up to the plate.
The best.
The only Buick I can think of that had the 8 cylinder in line engine and 6 volt battery in 53 was the Special. It also came standard with a 3 speed manual transmission with Dynaflow transmission option. The battery in the 53 Buick is a very long thin battery. .
I remember that my father had several early 50's Buicks, they all had that long thin battery.
@@warringtonfaust1088 My dad had a 53 Buick Special that he bought used and it had that long slender battery
@@glennso47 I also recall that my father had a Roadsmasher, I think a '52, that had the straight 8 with a 4-barrel carburetor intake.
Wow. What a stunning car!
It looks 100x better in person but this one was incredible another thing that I forgot to mention is the roadmaster in the Skylark had the alligator type hood whereas the special and super opened on both sides and they super and special had straight eight and 6 volt electric
Nice job, Jay. This is a beautiful car. I really like the color combination.
Totally agree this color combination is killer
The Ford Custom line for your next episode is a great piece of nostalgia for me. These were so common in Australia, throughout the 60s and even later. They were commonly referred to as the 'single spinner' and the ''twin spinner, to make the models clear in people's heads.
What did those “spinner” designations mean ?
You're close on the 6v/12v electrical systems.
The 1953 Special was the last inline-8 engine available. These are 6v alactricals.
The V-8 cars[Super, RoadMaster, Skylark] are 12v electricals.
You know your Buicks and you are correct.
Thank you so much for pointing out that clarification I forgot to mention that they still offered the street eight on the special and super as well as 6 V electric system, I was just shocked to see it at all because I thought GM went 12 V in 55
Hey Jay!! For me this is one of the 3 most outrageously beautiful looking cars of the 1950s. (The other 2 are the 1957 Chrysler 300C - my fave. And the 1959 Cad Eldorado.) But the interior of the Skylark is the most beautiful interior EVER CREATED in any car!! A question: does the Skylark have a power seat??
Of the three 1953 GM shaved down special-edition convertibles produced, Buick Skylark, Cadillac Eldorado and Oldmobile Fiesta, Packard's Caribbean out sold them all, combined.
I know right I couldn’t believe how much the Oldsmobile cost it cost more than the Buick it was like don’t quote me on this I think it’s $5700+ for an Oldsmobile they only sold 470 something.. The Cadillac was 7500+ A lot of money just so you can wave your hand in the air saying that you got something special..
@@What.its.like. Those are all a big chunk of money in 53, but at the time people like Barbara Hutton, Liz Taylor & Charlton Heston needed some place to spend their buck$.
From an economics & manufacturing point of view, I guess the Skylark at less than 3% of sales, would have to be priced at an extreme premium, simply to recuperate the build costs?
With the finest treatment of wire wheels and whitewalls I have ever seen. The stance of a modern car is inherent in that detail alone. I want 6 please. For I rest on the 6th day.
Good old reliable Harley (Duke) Earl really outdid himself on this, and well, every car he touched. The special thing about this model, is it set his reputation, as well as setting the styling tone for the industry for the next 20 years. That must deserve a round of applause, surely? Being aware that the dash and instruments were in the hands of the interior designers, I have to say, it does not live up to the same standard as the outside for me. Very ordinary and bland by comparison, I feel. Nothing wrong with it, it is just being asked to do too much against the promises of the outer body panels.
Awesome 53 Buick, inside and out. At nearly 100,000 though? Out of my comfort zone. That said if I was looking for a new car? I'd give this one a huge consideration over a current vehicle priced much the same.
Yeah , even at that price I thought it was priced good I’ve seen them as high as $150,000 at auction and this one was perfect I couldn’t see any flaws and underneath was perfect
I would figure the adjunct to the air filter is a cooler of some sort, to limit thermal rise for maximum power? Whether it achieved that goal or not is another thing. I spose any addition to the atmo inlet is a good thing for filtration any way you look at it. Blind guesses, really, Jay.
I believe the 53 Buick air filter was a oil bath type.
That is one really beautiful automobile. Back in the day when every GM division had their own engines. And surprisingly Buick had the nailhead V8 couple years before Chevy finally got a V8.
That nailhead V8 was a good engine. My 62 Invicta convertible had the 401 nailhead mated to a Dynaflow.
Pontiac Packard Chevy were the last ones to get v8s
The new GM cars are just cookie cutter same old same old stuff that they just stick a different name on and a few different things to make one model different from the other ones.
Free as a Bird the Beatles
Strange magic ELO =)
If I had a choice of any car in the world and I was a billionaire a white 1953 Buick Skylark with a red leather interion would be my choice. However, I would certainly upgrade the running gear to modern specks especially the engine, brakes and tires.
That 322 runs nicely due to 300 pound feet of torque but I would definitely change the transmission baby get a six speed or something different rear end =)
The second floor button, closest to the brake pedal, should be the starter switch, if I remember correctly.
Your thumb nail for the video has me laughing….like is that a car, or a battleship! Damn, that’s a big car. Frankly, I’m floored at the price tag. Wow.
I remember now….the second button IS the starter switch. Buicks (not sue about all GM) had an odd system back then….keyless. The dashboard switch had 3 positions…Locked, On, Off. Unless the switch was in locked position, and the key removed, you could just toggle between On and Off without a key. The floor switch engaged the starter while the dash switch energized the system.
Did you see the Crosley wagon park next to it it was so small in comparison
Still haven't figured out why I'm not getting a video notification from you 🤔
Click on the notification Bell icon and make sure you have All selected. The black Bell
Hiya Jay, on many earlier vehicles, a foot switch was often coupled along with the clutch, as a safety lock out. The nub switch on the floor being a starter /ignition, switch. The chances of it being a foot pump for the windscreen washers is a great bet as well.
I wasn’t sure I reviewed a 55 Buick and the gas pedal was the starter button it would only start if it was in park so I wasn’t sure if the button on the floor was for the windshield washer but then I saw for the wipers that the button was in the center generally that’s where the windshield washer feature button is wasn’t 100% sure
@@What.its.like. I get it Jay, these older vehicles often carry a secret all but lost. I recall one car you tested which had a foot switch, just to the right of the accelerator pedal; and I would venture to guess, that may have been a safety cutout for the ignition circuit?
It was on the gas pedal itself it would only engage the starter when in park it was so cool (and it only started in park).
@@What.its.like. Surely someone knows for sure, contact GM. They've got all the answers.
Because of the push button on the wiper switch which is most likely the windshield washer, I'm guessing starter button is on the floor. Was very common at that time
Beautiful Buick. What was the red wagon on its left? That mall looks a great place.
Crosley wagon
For Seaons Dawn 1964. A friend of mine had a 42 ragtop and 48 sedan.
oops
Strange magic ELO
The pity of it is, if GM were to revive the Skylark in name, (which I wish they would) it would be a Chevy Nova with a full option pack, and look like a Ford, or a car made in Spain?
I think the button on the floor is the starter
Thank you =)
yeah, I've always thought that the 12V system didn't start until like 1958
GM was 55 I believe I should’ve said that it was only on the senior series lack of a better term Buick special in Buick super still offered the straight eight and 6 V electric
That other switch that looks like a dimmer switch might activate the wonderbar radio
Great video btw
Thank you for pointing that out never thought about it being for the radio =)
Glad you dig this video
Beatles #9 dream
Great guess but not that song
Just the chrome on the front of this car was probably as heavy as most of todays cars.
Now i know why i didnt see many of these cars even growing up..WOW expensive!
I couldn’t get past the price either tons of chrome on this car
Absolutely beautiful car!! BUT, whoever did the restoration needs to go back and realign the body panels. The gaps are horrendous!! Still though, it's a magnificent car.
It is for the radio, selction.
Thank you for that I never ever thought it could be for the radio
Didn't Chrysler have that feature in the mid-fifties too?
In reality a concept car that came to life, however I've come across a few examples that have large panels gaps around the front windscreen, particularly noticeable in white.
and no 'ventiports'...hmmm must have been considered too plebian here.
Stephen King's new movie ''From a Buick 8'' being released end of 23.
Totally agree =)
It's the starter switch.
$2500 per wheel or set? The RR hubcaps, cost around that each,, 30 years ago, so big bumps were a real no-no. Reminds me of what it would cost if you built a vehicle totally from spare parts, it would probably cost you $300,000 for a Ford Focus?
It was $2500 a set but that was back in 2000
strange magic ELO
Yep great song =) and band
@@What.its.like. sure was, I miss those guys and their music. Alan Parsons is still around playing that sound
They don’t make music anymore it’s just noise I was born way too late
Are you sure this has an oil bath air cleaner? I thought it was a paper element at this point in time.
I think this was oil bath they still offered that option through the 50s and amc even offered in early 60s
@@What.its.like. I wonder if it says in my auto repair book? sadly though, i thought the 1954 Hudson was in there....but it wasn't.
Yeah man, that's a 6V battery. Someone gave you bunk info about the 12V battery
Got the information of all standard equipment from this site
www.hometownbuick.com/portfolio/1953-buick-skylark-convertible-model-76x/
@@What.its.like. Lew Constabile agrees with you, Jay. It's just the smallest 12V battery I've ever seen. czcams.com/video/7CDLgJgO1DE/video.html&ab_channel=LouCostabile
3:33 not kays lee! kelsey(kel c)😁😁hayes not hayns,no N
I suck at pronunciations... i’m from a part of the world where we know pronounce anything right welcome to Western Pennsylvania =)
Mondo Beyondo
=)
Damn even the engine was teal for ya, bud! I always loved these even though I've never seen one in person. That museum needs to be visited by me.
I never heard of those rear seat straps being used for holding blankets! More for holding on when dad had a few beers on the way back from the country club, LMAO
Lol classic auto mall isnt a museum it’s a car dealership consignment.. anyone can go there check it out next time you’re out that way it’s definitely worth going to look at and it’s going to take all day to look at everything best thing is it doesn’t cost anything to get in and the people there are the nicest bunch of people that you’ll ever come across in this car Hobby
@@What.its.like. Sounds gr8, luv these nook automalls. A decade ago my dad took me to a quaint museum in San Diego and theres one in N.Dallas is pretty good. The ones out west ( Peterson's in LA are def on my list to get to) and Henry Ford museum in Mich was fantastic.
70 years ago, not 50......