Did you know that according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, the average American car will clock around 13,470 miles per year? If the owner manages to do this consistently, by the time that car is as old as our feature vehicle, it should have 754,320 miles on the clock. However, this 1965 Buick LeSabre appears to be anything but average. The owner says that it has a genuine and verifiable 18,000 miles showing on its odometer. It has had three owners during its fifty-six years and has always been garaged. The time has come for it to have a fourth owner, so the LeSabre has been listed for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in Hudson, Massachusetts, with the owner setting the sale price at $22,500. Once again, Barn Finder Pat L has demonstrated the uncanny knack for spotting a great classic. Thank you so much for that, Pat.
It seems that this Buick is close to 100% original. The Arctic White paint appears to be in good condition, with no significant flaws or problems. The panels are as straight as an arrow, and the owner states that the vehicle has never had a hit in its life. The soft-top is original, and its condition is as impressive as the rest of the exterior. That brings us around to the question of rust. The owner says that the car has never seen rain or snow and that it has been garage-kept when not in use. However, he doesn’t go so far as to claim that the LeSabre is rust-free. He uses the phrase “very little rust” but doesn’t elaborate on this. The photos that he supplies aren’t fantastic, but there is nothing visible externally. This is one of those classics where an in-person inspection would be justified to determine where any potential rust issues are located. Otherwise, the exterior trim is in good order for a survivor, and there are no visible flaws with the glass.
While the “Wildcat 355” V8 that found its way under the hood of this LeSabre featured relatively modest capacity for a vehicle of this size and era, it still produced respectable horsepower figures. This engine should be producing 250hp and 355 ft/lbs of torque. Bolted to that V8 is a 3-speed automatic transmission, while the original owner also ticked the box beside power steering and power brakes. Considering the Wildcat was dragging a vehicle that tipped the scales beyond 4,000lbs, the 18.2-second ¼-mile ET looked pretty decent. The seller says that the car has been babied and that it has 18,000 miles showing on its odometer. He holds the evidence to verify this claim, making this LeSabre one of the lowest mileage examples in existence today. He doesn’t provide any information on how well the car runs or drives, but he does include the original tires and miscellaneous paperwork in the sale.
When you start to consider any mileage claim on a classic car, especially in cases like this, interior trim can potentially tell part of a car’s story. If all is as claimed with this LeSabre, the state of the interior trim comes as no surprise. There is some slight stretching on the front seat, but that’s one of the few flaws worth noting. The remaining upholstered surfaces look clean, and there is no wear on the carpet. The dash and pad appear free from cracks, and the same is true of the wheel. Overall, the impression is positive, and it seems that there have been no aftermarket additions. Comfort touches extend to power windows, a power front seat, a pushbutton AM radio, and a power antenna. I will admit that I was surprised that the original owner didn’t order this Buick with air conditioning, but perhaps they weren’t a fan of that feature.
For any enthusiast seeking a low-mileage classic convertible, this 1965 Buick LeSabre seems to offer a lot. The supplied photos lead me to believe that an in-person inspection would be a wise first move for anyone considering parking it in their garage. If everything checks out, it could be a great car to own and enjoy. I know that the colder weather is fast approaching. However, that won’t last forever. There’s nothing like being prepared for when things improve, and this Buick could allow its next owner to do that. I can’t think of a downside to that approach. Can you?
Engine looks like it has a bit more miles on it!
Yup. Still a nice car though. For what its worth, I have serious doubts about the vast majority of the low mileage claims on vintage cars.
Nice car for that money. If it was a Chevy the price would be double.
That is the benefit to buying a classic Buick or Oldsmobile. You get a nicer car for less money because they’re less popular than a Chevy, so they command less money.
A great looking car!
Nice looking car there. The Ex-In-Laws had a 65 Wildcat convertible when the Ex and I got married. From what I remember it had a 401 automatic. It was a fun car to drive with the top down. Biggest issue it has was the rust worms on the lower quarter panels. Out of the blue one day found out they’d sold it to a guy who planned to restore it and make a parade car out of it. I admit I liked the car and missed it when it was gone.
My best friend in HS had a 4-door version of this with this engine/trans combo.
The stock 11:1 compression ratio made it difficult to find decent fuel for it in the ’80s. He couldn’t retard the timing much because the vacuum advance canister would hit something. Hard wired a toggle switch and indicator light the switch-pitch torque converter to get more torque multiplication off the line without massive engine pinging. Then would switch it back off for normal cruising.
Very nice looking car. Style ,comfort. Wished it was mine.
Once upon a time if you wanted cooler air in a convertible you put the top down.
Being a Buick fan of 60’s models I really like this car. Price seems fair, body looks good, top appears in good shape. Sure hope a lover of this car gets it and takes care of it.
God bless America
Air conditioning was not commonly ordered on cars in the 60s. People just weren’t used to it yet. It was also a very costly option to add – it added another 10 – 15% to the car’s purchase price and a lot of people didn’t want to pay so much. Also, this car is form Massachusetts. I don’t know if it spent its whole life there, but people who live that far north typically did not order a/c on their cars. This was already an expensive car. It was a Buick, a more expensive brand, the Wildcat was already a more expensive model than the LeSabre, and the convertible would have been the most expensive body style. When you bought a convertible, if you were hot, you put the top down, you didn’t buy a/c in addition to it in most cases.
This is just a personal opinion, but I never cared for the dash layout on these. These huge round gauges, but they are situated so low on the instrument panel. Then there’s this very thin long section on top. So the radio is up high in the center but the speedometer you have to look down onto. I think the 66 dash layout, which is more conventional, looks a heck of a lot better.
However, this is a really nice and desirable car!
As the current owner of a 65 WC convert, I agree about the dashes. I’ve owned a number of 65 & 66 Buicks, and the 66 dash is much more ‘user friendly’. Since the 65 dash was a one-year only affair, perhaps others felt that way too. The 66 dash was carried over into 67.
It’s big, it’s a Buick and its beautiful. 18k or 118k, someone took time and care with one. If I didn’t already have a 64 Olds Dynamic Eighty-Eight convertible (non a/c), I’d be on this quick.
The owner claims the mileage is genuine and verifiable. I don’t think he’d make that claim if he couldn’t back it up. This car is a beauty.
With the tepid drivetrain, power options, and lack of A/C, this strikes me as something ordered by somebody’s Aunt Gladys to keep at the vacation home.
Convertibles from cold climates were rarely ordered with AC back then. Too expensive an option for just a few weeks of hot weather per year. Folks just put the top down.