Arguably one of the most impressive collector cars of all time, the 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible 50th Anniversary edition, was created by Buick when it was at the height of its productivity. Buick wanted to make a statement about automotive styling and progressive post war production capability. So it came out with the Skylark, a progressive sports car which would capture the imaginations of “space age” America.
Its ground breaking design and progressive technology gave the 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible the stature of celebrity in those early ’50s post-war days. Buick produced the car of the future, which would incorporate advanced design and function, and set the standard for the automotive industry for a decade.
As you look at the dozens of photos of this Matador red Skylark just listed by RK Motors Charlotte, you can easily see its departure from other cars of the era. They tell us this fully sorted cruiser is 1 of only 1,690 Skylarks assembled for the 1953 model year. The body was designed by Harley. RK Motors Charlotte tells us it is the beneficiary of a thorough, frame-off restoration that was completed in the late ‘90s by Fort Wayne, Indiana’s R&S Classic Auto.
The 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible had tremendous appeal to the American car buying public. Even those who couldn’t afford one had to admire its progressive features. Under the hood sits the 322 cu. in. 188 horsepower Fireball V8 engine with an airpower carburetor. Buick’s new Fireball Eight had its largest-bore engine in the past 25 years. “Perhaps the most interesting feature is the combustion chamber,” wrote John Bond in Road & Track. “Valves are arranged vertically and in line. This requires a specially shaped piston crown to achieve the desired compression ratio, set at 8.5 to 1, the highest in the industry. The basic block served Buick until 1970. The transmission on the Skylark is the twin turbine Dynaflow drive which featured two speeds. Other luxury options included power brakes, power steering, easy eye glass and “selectronic” radio. Because it was a convertible Buick decided not to offer air conditioning on this model even though it could have. In both 1953 and 1954 the Skylark was only available in a sporty convertible version.
RK Motors Charlotte notes that the “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.”
This 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible represents a rare opportunity to own a milestone car in Buick’s history, exemplified in Matador red elegance. Everything about this Buick Skylark has a luxurious flare and makes time stand still as it captures perfectly a moment in automotive history.
Click the video window below to view a walk-around detailed view of this car, and hear it run:
Now that’s a real classic. GM had the world by the tail back then. This ’53 Skylark cost more than a Cadillac.