Vehicle Description
The color is called Camelot Rose, and it's not only an authentic
1962 Buick color, but according to the cowl tag, it's also THIS
Buick's authentic color, making it quite rare indeed. A nice
combination of restored and original bits, this Skylark delivers
pure 1960s fun that's surprisingly economical to run and you'll
never get tired of the attention the color combination
attracts.
While these rose-colored Skylarks are rather rare, we've featured
several in the past few months, perhaps owing to their warm weather
looks-can you imagine this in the middle of a New England blizzard?
The styling is pure '60s jet-age cool, with Buick portholes and
sharp body lines that make Buick's compact look bigger than it is
and ties it to its bigger brothers in the showroom. The paint work
is quite nicely done, and you can see the quality in the sharply
defined creases and the deep gloss of the finish. The contrasting
code C Arctic White hardtop shows an equally brilliant shine, but
isn't too harsh, giving it just the right look. Gaps are good all
around, and someone spent big on the chrome to get it into its
current condition. Even the brushed stainless panel between the
taillights is in great shape, a piece that is virtually impossible
to restore and unavailable as a reproduction.
The compact Buick is actually fairly spacious inside, and Buick was
careful to build-in traditional comfort in the sporty Skylark. The
interior is probably an acquired taste with its two-tone
upholstery, but what else would you choose with the Camelot Rose
paint? The materials and patterns look quite authentic, with
textured fabric and pink vinyl on the seats and door panels, and
slightly darker carpets to help keep it anchored. Buick gave you a
matching steering wheel, and I can only guess at the challenges
involved in restoring it today as such a rare piece. The instrument
panel and all the gauges have been restored, and the factory AM
radio still works. There's also an auxiliary oil pressure gauge
stashed under the dash where nobody will see it but the driver. The
trunk looks fairly original, with factory-issued mat, a full-sized
spare, and even a wheel protector as it was when new.
Buick's 215 cubic inch all-aluminum V8 was an interesting
experiment that went on to fame overseas powering a myriad of
vehicles for Land Rover. Making a stout 185 horsepower, it's
certainly no slouch in the lightweight Skylark, and thanks to its
modern aluminum construction, it definitely helps tighten up the
handling. The engine bay is tidy, although not detailed for
competition, but shows off a lot of correct details like the
oversized air cleaner with bright red decals, bellows-type power
brake booster, and mini Nailhead valve covers. A 3-speed automatic
handles gear changes, and the chassis is almost entirely rust-free,
particularly the floors which are remarkably well preserved thanks
to easy living down south. And for cruising, this one is a breeze
with power steering & brakes (just serviced), and there's a new
exhaust system that gives the little V8 just the right voice. New
whitewall radials have been fitted at all four corners and cover
brand new 15" alloys.
With unexpected V8 power under hood and that wild color
combination, this Skylark will always attract a crowd. Call
today!
