1954 Buick Skylark Convertible

Fresh body-off restoration by Seybold. Original color, Malibu Blue, with new leather interior. Top and windows upgraded with modern electric motors. Highly detailed, beautifully finished, and ready to collect trophies!

There s a certain excitement to debuting a freshly restored car, and this 1954 Buick Skylark offers the new owner the opportunity to start driving or hit the show circuit and start collecting trophies. It s a body-off restoration by Seybold, whose quality work needs no introduction to Buick fans. Buick didn t keep specific records on how many Skylarks were built in each color, but of the 836 Skylarks built in 1954, only a handful were finished in lovely Malibu Blue, which is this car s original color. It s bold but completely appropriate for the 1950s, and it works particularly well with the cut-away fenders and their red inner liners. The contrast is brilliant. Finish quality is excellent throughout, with super straight panels and a deep gloss to the paint, all exemplifying Buick s top-of-the-line convertible for 1954. Of note, the Seybolds spent months scouring the country for all the hard-to-find Skylark trim pieces, including the SKYLARK block letters on the trunk, and believe they found the last complete set in existence. Of course, all the shiny parts were re-chromed and finished to show standards, so the jewelry on this car just sparkles.

The two-tone blue leather interior is also correctly finished using reproduction hides from SMS, and the match is exact with square-pattern inserts on the seats, contrasting piping, and highly detailed door panels that are every bit as dramatic as the bodywork. Plush carpets are bound in matching dark blue vinyl, and the steering wheel, horn ring, and center emblem have all been restored. Everything was standard on the Skylark, so you got power steering and brakes, power windows, a power seat, and a power convertible top. It s worth noting that the windows and top have been converted to electric operation to eliminate the often troublesome hydraulic system it had originally (the original equipment is still in place, however, so judging scores should not be affected). The AM radio and clock are functional but have their fuses removed to prevent battery drain, and all the weather seals are fresh. Aircraft-style controls for the heater are a cool 50s touch, and as a full-sized ragtop, there s plenty of room in back for a few friends. The white power convertible top was folded for the first (and only) time for our photography and is superbly fitted, and the car includes a matching blue vinyl boot that has not yet had its snaps installed (as a show car, the boot probably won t be installed). The trunk is correctly finished, and includes a matching wire wheel and original jack assembly.

Buick s legendary Nailhead V8 displaced 322 cubic inches and made 200 horsepower in 1954, but that doesn t really tell the story--this thing is a torque factory! The Century on which the Skylark was based was still one of America s fastest cars, and the Skylark provides effortless cruising and near-modern performance. The engine was rebuilt to stock specs and detailed for show with correct Buick Turquoise engine enamel, a bit oil bath air cleaner up top, and authentic hardware throughout. It has just test and tune miles on it, so it runs right but remains totally fresh and ready to go. It starts easily, idles nicely, and generally works the way a luxury car powerplant should. The muscular Nailhead is backed by Buick s equally famous DynaFlow transmission, which in 1954 was called the Twin Turbine. Whatever you call it, it s still the smoothest automatic transmission ever made, with no perceptible shifts and an even, effortless flow of power. Torque tube drive assures a well-controlled rear end, which is full of easy-cruising 3.40 gears. The floors are correct red oxide primer, with the rest of the frame showing satin black for a great contrast. Obviously things like the brakes, shocks, exhaust, and fuel system are new, adding to the fresh look. Massive power-assisted drum brakes provide plenty of stopping power and live behind those lovely Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels with correct 7.60-15 BFGoodrich Silvertown wide whites.

This Skylark represents the rare opportunity to acquire a show-quality car poised to enter AACA or BCA competition for less than the cost of restoring it yourself. Highly detailed, very correct, and full of impossible-to-replace rare parts, this lovely Skylark offers tantalizing possibilities. The fact that it was finished by some of the best Buick restorers in the business is only icing on the cake. Call today!

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