FRIDAY FEATURE: 72 Skylark Custom- Two Owners in Four Decades

Another fun Friday Feature- This time we're looking at an all original 1972 Buick Skylark Custom recently acquired by one of our customers. Prior to its arrival in Southern California last month, the Skylark had passed through two owners in forty years.

The original owner, a bachelor named Myron, purchased the car brand new April of 1972. He chose a well equipped example, with a 350 V8, Turho Hydramatic, Air Conditioning, Sonomatic radio, speed minder, left and right mirrors, body side molding and even door edge guards. Myron must have been very pleased with the car and kept it sparkling like new until he traded the car in eleven years later in May of 1983.

 A young man working on the wash rack of the Buick dealership took a liking to the trade in and convinced the sales manager to let him buy the car. And there it stayed for the next twenty nine years. During that time Jace grew into adulthood, married Carla, and raised their own family with the Buick happily in the corner of the garage. With their own daughter preparing for college, Jace decided the time was right to find a new owner for the Skylark after forty years in exactly two sets of hands.

As it enters it's forty- first year, the little Skylark is 100% original cosmetically- paint, interior, chrome, rubber- all factory finishes. The car runs like a scared rabbit and handles well. The odometer shows just 59,000 miles. We wish our customer, Brad, well with his new acquisition and thank him for sharing the sweet story with the Reynolds family.  

Monday Memories: Buick Lets the Sun Shine In

The 1970's were a time of rapid change in the automobile industry as well as in society as a whole. Old social norms were giving way, the trend toward ecology was coming on strong, and for the auto industry, we had landed in an era of decreased compression and increased regulation.

Proposed roll-over standards made automakers hesitant to redesign their convertible models at the same time the near universal acceptance of air conditioning caused the demand for convertible models to plummet. Most models of convertible were discontinued in the early 1970's. At the same time, however, people still craved the interaction with sun and stars. The Fifth Dimension sang "Let the Sun Shine In", and Buick looked for a way to do just that.

The 1972 would be the last for the mid-sized Skylark convertible, and Buick introduced a special model at mid-year to help ease the transition. The Sun Coupe was a special option on the Skylark 350 Custom Coupe. It included a forward vinyl roof section, decorative pinstripe, fabric sliding sun roof, and gold "Sun Coupe" identification.  Often seen in youthful colors like Bittersweet, Yellow or Kelly Green, it was a very attractive car. Longtime Reynolds employees recall the Bittersweet and white one with Chrome wheels on our showroom floor.

Unfortunately the Sun Coupe failed to inspire the marketplace and only 3.943 were sold according to Buick records. The folding sunroof was not going to replace the convertible and Buick quickly moved on to the sliding steel sunroof and the "T-Top" removable hatch roof for its sun worshiping buyers. But we still fondly remember the car with the color keyed sliding roof and the gold badges proudly proclaiming itself to be a "Sun Coupe."

Buick is a Beauty, too

"Buick is a Beauty, Too!" was the slogn on the make up mirror of the 1950's Buicks, and the slogan certainly holds true today. Go to a classic car show and look at the beautiful Buicks. Some of our friends were showing at the 2011 Casual Concours in Palm Springs yesterday, so we dropped by to take a look at some of the striking creations from Flint.

This 1954 Buick Super convertible has only two owners from new- and was acquired by the current owner in 1976. It was sold new at Phil Hall Buick in Hollywood and is in original cosmetic condition to this day.

This 1961 Le Sabre convertible was the subject of a complete restoration. It is fnished in Rio Red with the two tone red interior. It was a show pleaser with the top down.

It's hard to beat the styling of the first generation Riviera. This particular example, a 1965 coupe, is fully loaded including the cast aluminum wheels.

This 1970 Electra 225 convertible was in showroom condition inside and out. It featured Buick's legendary 455 V8 engine.

The intermediate Skylark was fully restyled for 1968. This Skylark Custom convertible was a very popular offering that year.

Certainly one of the most memorable designs ever produced by Buick was the boattail Riviera. This 1972 example was recently acquired from the estate of the original owner, and had only 46,000 original miles.

The famous "Deuce and a Quarter"- this 1965 Buick Electra 225 Custom Coupe was a full 225 inches long. This one still features original paint, chrome, and interior.

This is a rare Buick- a 1947 Super Estate Wagon, nicknamed the "Woody" because of the genuine wood station wagon body. It is both highly prized and very valuable today.

Few cars represent Buick better than the exquisite styling of the 1949 Roadmaster convertible. It was the first all new Buick after the war, and the distinctive flowing lines set a standard for years to come. This lovely example is finished in Casino Cream with red leather.