No. 917 of just 1,690 Buick Skylarks built for 1953

   

No. 917 of just 1,690 Buick Skylarks built for 1953, this stunning convertible was the subject of a frame-on restoration completed in 2020 with special attention given to the original specifications.

1953 Buick Skylark Convertible

It’s finished in PPG basecoat/clear coat Matador Red, and the badges and hood ornaments have been restored.

1953 Buick Skylark Convertible

 

The brightwork has also been redone, including rechroming the original 40-spoke Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels and wrapping them in wide whitewall bias-ply tires, creating an eye-popping scene.

1953 Buick Skylark Convertible

The red and white interior is new and follows the original factory design, complete with the engine-turned aluminum dashboard trim, all protected from the elements by a new, power-operated black convertible top.

1953 Buick Skylark Convertible

 

Equipped with the 322 CI Nailhead V-8 engine and the Dynaflow automatic transmission, the Skylark wowed the press and public alike when it debuted in 1953 as a limited-edition flagship model celebrating both Buick’s 50th Anniversary and GM’s Design Leadership.

1953 Buick Skylark Convertible

It was the first year Buick employed a 12-volt electrical system and a V-8 engine, which replaced the long-running straight-8 that Buick was famous for.

1953 Buick Skylark Convertible

 

Skylarks were sportingly styled, with lower-than-average windshields, and luxuriously appointed with a host of standard amenities. Commanding a sticker price north of $5,000, or about $56,000 in 2023, it was one of the most expensive cars of the day.

1953 Buick Skylark Convertible

1953 Buick Skylark Convertible

 

1953 Buick Skylark Convertible

1953 Buick Skylark Convertible

 

1953 Buick Skylark Convertible