Buick Skylark

Buick Skylark
1972 Buick Skylark
Overview
Manufacturer	Buick (General Motors)
Model years	1953–1954 1961–1972 1975–1998
Chronology
Successor	Buick Verano

Buick Roadmaster Skylark 1953–1954
1953 Buick Roadmaster Skylark
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door convertible
Layout	FR layout
Related	Buick Roadmaster Buick Super
Powertrain
Engine	322 cu in (5.3 L) Nailhead V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	121.5 in (3,086 mm)

Buick Special Skylark 1961–1963
1961 Buick Special Skylark
Overview
Assembly	South Gate Assembly South Gate, California, United States Wilmington, Delaware, United States Atlanta, Georgia, United States Kansas City, Kansas, United States Framingham, Massachusetts, United States Flint, Michigan, United States Linden, New Jersey, United States
Body and chassis
Class	Compact
Body style	2-door convertible 2-door hardtop, 2-door coupe 4-door Station wagon
Layout	FR layout
Related	Pontiac Tempest Oldsmobile F-85
Powertrain
Engine	198 cu in (3.2 L) V6 215 cu in (3.5 L) V8
Transmission	2-speed automatic 3-speed manual 4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	112 in (2,845 mm)
Length	193 in (4,900 mm)
Width	70.2 in (1,783 mm)

Buick Skylark 1964–1967
1964 Buick Skylark convertible
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door convertible 2-door hardtop 4-door hardtop 2-door coupe 4-door sedan
Layout	FR layout
Related	Chevrolet Chevelle Chevrolet Monte Carlo Pontiac Le Mans Pontiac GTO Pontiac Grand Prix Oldsmobile Cutlass Oldsmobile 442
Powertrain
Engine	225 in³ (3.7 L) V6 250 in³ (4.1 L) Chevrolet I6 300 in³ (4.9 L) V8 340 in³ (5.6 L) V8 350 in³ (5.7 L) V8 401 in³ (6.6 L) V8 455 in³ (7.5 L) V8 (1970–72)

Buick Skylark 1968-1972

Overview
Production	1968–1972
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 2-door coupe 2-door convertible 2-door hardtop 4-door hardtop
Layout	FR layout
Platform	A-body
Related	Buick Sport Wagon Buick Gran Sport Chevrolet Chevelle Chevrolet El Camino
Powertrain
Engine	250 cu in (4.1 L) Chevrolet I6 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 455 cu in (7.46 L) V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	112 in (2,845 mm) 2-door coupe, hardtop and convertible 116 in (2,946 mm) 4-door sedan and station wagon
Length	201.9 in (5,128 mm) 2-door coupe, hardtop and convertible 205.9 in (5,230 mm) 4-door sedan 212.6 in (5,400 mm) station wagon
Width	76.2 in (1,935 mm) 2-door coupe, hardtop and convertible 76.8 in (1,951 mm) 4-door sedan and station wagon
Curb weight	3,515 lb (1,594 kg)

1975–1979

Overview
Also called	Buick Apollo
Assembly	Van Nuys, California Tarrytown, NY Willow Run, MI Oshawa, Ontario Tehran, Iran (1976–87)
Body and chassis
Class	Compact
Body style	2-door coupe 2-door hatchback 4-door sedan
Layout	FR layout
Platform	X-body
Related	Chevrolet Nova Pontiac Ventura Pontiac Phoenix Oldsmobile Omega
Powertrain
Engine	231 in³ (3.8 L) V6 260 in³ (4.3 L) V8 301 in³ (5.0 L) V8 305 in³ (5.0 L) V8 350 in³ (5.7 L) V8 350 in³ (5.7 L) V8

1980–1985
1985 Skylark
Body and chassis
Class	Compact
Body style	2-door coupe 4-door sedan
Layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Platform	X-body
Related	Chevrolet Citation Pontiac Phoenix Oldsmobile Omega
Powertrain
Engine	2.5 L LR8 I4 (gasoline) 2.8 L LE2 V6 (gasoline) 2.8 L LH7 V6 (gasoline)
Transmission	3-speed Turbo-Hydramatic 125 automatic 4-speed manual

1986–1991

Overview
Also called	Buick Somerset
Model years	1986-1991
Assembly	United States: Lansing, Michigan (Lansing Car Assembly)
Body and chassis
Class	Compact
Body style	2-door coupe (1988-1991) 4-door sedan (1986-1991)
Layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Platform	N-body
Related	Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Pontiac Grand Am
Powertrain
Engine	2.3 L LD2 I4 (gasoline) 2.5 L L68 I4 (gasoline) 3.0 L LN7 V6 (gasoline) 3.3 L LG7 V6 (gasoline)
Transmission	3-speed THM125 automatic 5-speed Isuzu manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	103.4 in (2,626 mm)
Length	180.0 in (4,572 mm)
Width	66.6 in (1,692 mm) (1986–88) 66.7 in (1,694 mm) (1989–1991)
Height	52.2 in (1,326 mm)

1992–1998

Overview
Model years	1992-1998
Assembly	United States: Lansing, Michigan (Lansing Car Assembly)
Body and chassis
Class	Compact
Body style	2-door coupe 4-door sedan
Layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Platform	N-body
Related	Oldsmobile Achieva Oldsmobile Cutlass Pontiac Grand Am Chevrolet Beretta Chevrolet Corsica Chevrolet Malibu
Powertrain
Engine	2.3 L L40 I4 (gasoline) 2.3 L LD2 I4 (gasoline) 2.4 L LD9 I4 (gasoline) 3.1 L L82 V6 (gasoline) 3.3 L LG7 V6 (gasoline)
Transmission	3-speed 3T40 automatic 4-speed 4T60-E automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	103.4 in (2,626 mm)
Length	189.1 in (4,803 mm) (1992–95) 188.4 in (4,785 mm) (1996–97 coupe) 188.5 in (4,788 mm) (1996–98 sedan)
Width	67.5 in (1,714 mm) (1992–93) 68.7 in (1,745 mm) (1994–95) 68.2 in (1,732 mm) (1996–98)
Height	53.2 in (1,351 mm) (1992–93) 53.3 in (1,354 mm) (1994–95) 53.5 in (1,359 mm) (1996–98)

The Buick Skylark is a passenger car produced by Buick. The model was made in six production runs, during 46 years, over which the car's design varied dramatically due to changing technology and tastes and new standards implemented over the years.

Created to mark Buick's 50th anniversary, the Roadmaster Skylark joined the Oldsmobile 98 Fiesta and Cadillac Series 62 Eldorado as top-of-the-line, limited-production specialty convertibles introduced in 1953 by General Motors to promote its design leadership. Of the three, the Skylark's run of 1,690 units proved the most successful, and an amazing sales feat considering the car's 1953 list price of slightly in excess of US$5,000 was over 50% more than the well-equipped US$3,200 Roadmaster convertible on which it was based. Nevertheless, many languished in dealer showrooms and were eventually sold at discount. It appeared around the same time as the Jaguar XK140, and shows styling influences from the imported car.

Production ran for two years. Based on the model 76R two-door Roadmaster convertible, the 1953 Skylark (designated model 76X) had identical dimensions (except height), almost identical appearance, shared its drive train, and had all its standard equipment, plus its few remaining options, including power windows, power brakes, full carpeting, and a "Selectronic" AM radio. Only A/C was not offered, unnecessary in either convertible.

Importantly, the new Skylark featured Buick's new 322 in³ (5.3 L) Nailhead V8 in place of the automaker's longstanding straight 8, and a 12 volt electrical system, both division firsts. It debuted full-cutout wheel openings, a styling cue that spread to the main 1954 Buick line. Accenting its lowered, notched beltline was a new "Sweepspear" running almost the entire length of the vehicle, a styling cue that was to appear in various forms on many Buick models over the years.

The 1953 Skylark was handmade in many respects. Only stampings for the hood, trunk lid and a portion of the convertible tub were shared with the Roadmaster and Super convertibles. All Skylark tubs were finished with various amounts of lead filler. The inner doors were made by cutting the 2-door Roadmaster's in two then welding the pieces back together at an angle to produce the rakish door dip. An overall more streamlined look was reinforced by cutting the windshield almost 3 inches (7.6 cm) shorter and lowering the side windows and convertible top frame proportionately. Seat frames and steering column were then dropped to provide proper headroom and driving position. Front leg room was 44.7 inches (114 cm). Authentic wire wheels were produced by Kelsey-Hayes, chromed everywhere except the plated and painted "Skylark" center emblem.

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Wikipedia