Vehicle Description
1953 Buick Skylark Convertible
Ned F. Nickles liked his European sports cars. What the head of
Buick's design studio didn't like was driving those cars for long
distances. Nickels also owned a brand-new open-top 1951 Buick
Roadmaster convertible, built by his employer. It was everything
the sporty Europeans weren't: solidly built, substantial, and
weathertight with a top that opened and closed at the touch of a
button. It was curvaceous, too, but not in the slinky, low-slung
style of a true sports car-a style that Nickles admired. Nickles
began sketching out some modifications he could make to his
Roadmaster come Skylark's body that would incorporate styling cues
from across the Atlantic. The mods had to lend his convertible a
sports car form, but be realistic enough to be executed by local
metal shapers. And as they say the rest is history.
For consignment, a beautifully restored 1953 Buick Skylark
convertible. Just the chrome on this car is worth the price of
admission, and the paint job is truly to die for, it's that nice.
Large and in charge, big and beautiful, this white big kahuna
Skylark will definitely be top dog when you pull into a show, which
it will stop. Meticulous attention had been paid to every detail
right down to the pristine engine which you could eat off of this
Thanksgiving. Also all your guests could sit around the engine as
it's definitely a big gun. Rub a dub dub, pass the grub, yeah
God...Amen!
Exterior
Nickles had a true stroke, (TIC), of genius when he penned this
design, which now had radiused wheel wells, and a pronounced dip
carved into the cars belt line. These are accented by the graceful
sweep spears in chrome on either side. The front is dripping in
chrome with a large toothy grille and wide surround fringe
trimming. Outside this shiny boundary are a single headlight in a
teardrop headlight bezel along with a small signal light below. The
bumper is wide and shiny and has shaved off dagmars which have
formed rounds similar to a jet engine. Speaking of jets, a rocket
hood ornament resides on top of the bulbus hood which cozies up to
the front quarters and are also nicely shaped as they move back to
the doors. Just aft of said doors is a bump up which leads us to
the tops of the rear quarters that frame the rear wheel wells. The
edges of the fenders have dual rocket nose style tail lights, and
just below resides another massive perfectly chromed rear bumper
with more jet engine rounds in its center. Sleek trunk lines are
inside these quarters, and that theme stays true for the perfectly
preserved and like new white canvas convertible top. All the steel
is rust free, straight, (well curved actually but no dents or
dings), and bathed in a primo paint job using Majestic White, an
apt name for this beautifully styled vehicle. Just for some giggles
more chrome for the knockoff styled wire wheels which are wrapped
in wide wide whites. "Heaven, I'm in heaven, and my heart beats so
that I can hardly speak..."
Interior
Let's drop the top so we can really inspect the luxurious finery of
this interior styling and creative use of color and materials to
make this car bleed "rich". Starting with the door panels we see
vertical tuck and roll seafoam green leather panels for the uppers
and lowers, only interrupted by a curvaceous chrome trimming with a
faded square, (white to gray pattern), insert of leather. Here is
where the door actuator and power window toggles are located as
well as the wing window crank. Below is an aerodynamically molded
armrest and central panel in creamy white smooth leather and molded
vinyl. Slipping inside everything about this car puts a smile on my
face with a front split back bench featuring white bolsters and
more white thread stitched tuck and roll seafoam colored leather
inserts and wide piping. The rear bench follows up in lock step
with the front seat pattern and these big chairs all float in a sea
of dark green thick looped pile carpeting which is like new. The
dash uses "Dynoc" design cues with round gauges with more of the
faded square painted steel emulating the door inserts, and black
full metal jacket dash top. Within this in the center is the radio
with an ash receptacle on either side in chrome. Below is a series
of wide chromed vertical ribs for the speaker covering and a lineup
of 3 knobs on either side for air vents, climate controls and
lighting. A round clock resides next to the glovebox on the
passenger's side and a large spacious glove box for the Mrs. in
front of the passenger's side. A power antenna and power top switch
are there for the convenience because after all who wants to get
out and pull up the "aerial" as this would be so pedestrian!
Drivetrain
A true sight to behold as its better than factory in its fit and
finish. A big 322ci Fireball V8 is bathed in more shiny perfect
seafoam green paint with correct stickers in the valve coverings.
On top is a 4-barrel carburetor and on back a Dynaflow 2 speed
automatic transmission. The rear pumpkin weighs in at a 3.22 gear
ratio. Seen is a massive air cleaner and intake setup above the 4
barrels all in menacing black and shiny like a crazy diamond. Award
winning below this hood.
Undercarriage
Speaking of signs to behold, the undercarriage is like new with no
road dirt, rust or patina, just nicely painted black X framing, red
stamped metal floor pans and a shiny exhaust and fuel tank.
Perfectly restored independent front suspension and leaf sprung
rear suspension are on as well as power drums on all 4 corners. A
concours undercarriage. Bring a mirror, as it needs to be seen.
Drive-Ability
We did not want to mess up this car particularly in the
undercarriage so I had to wait two days for a fair weather day, and
it was worth the wait. It runs like a dream with cloud like ride,
smooth shifting, and all conveniences working swimmingly. A
wonderful mechanically sound driver which is easily drivable. I've
decided to make a move to the other half!
In its day it would set you back 5,000 dollars which in 1953 was
the price of the average house. Folks with some serious dough to
pony up could buy these examples, and thank goodness they did,
otherwise we could not enjoy the finery in front of your peepers at
present.
TRIM TAG
1953 MOD 53 76X-1953 Buick Roadmaster Skylark Convertible
STYLE NO 53 4767SX-1953 Buick Roadmaster Skylark Convertible
BODY NO G1610-Flint Body #
TRIM NO 69W-White & Light Green Leather
PAINT NO 58-Terrace Green
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
