In 1960, Buick offered four lines of cars – and none of them were compacts. The downsized Special wouldn’t come along until the following year, so all the Buicks were still full-size cars – at least 17 feet long! This early LeSabre had one prior owner and was last on the road in 1968. The Nailhead engine spins, so the drivetrain has potential, and the Buick comes with a ton of parts (maybe enough for another whole car!). Located in Camas, Washington, this oldy goldy is available here on eBay for the Buy It Now price of $3,500 (or you can hit the Make Offer button).
The Buick LeSabre replaced the Special that was in the line-up from 1936-58. That name was put on hold for a year and would return as Buick’s new small (er) car. The first generation ran from 1959-60 when the second-year car swapped slanted headlights for horizontal units and the tailfins were less pronounced. “LeSabre” is French for “the sabre” and would be the name of the car that would the brigade that would also include the Invicta, Electra, and Electra 225. Out of 254,000 Buicks built-in 1960, more than 152,000 carried LeSabre badging and 14,388 for LeSabre 2-door pillared sedans like the seller’s car.
This car has had just one owner other than the seller. Between 1960 and 1968, it accumulated 145,000 miles and was then taken off the road for reasons unknown. It was last registered in ‘68. The seller was going to restore the car, but priorities change, and the seller is no longer interested in the project. It has the Buick 364 cubic inch Nailhead V8 which will spin, so it’s not locked up.
When Buick replaced its overhead-valve straight-8 in 1953, the Nailhead became their first pushrod V-8. It got its name from the small valve covers mounted on top of the heads. Under the valve covers, the vertically mounted valves created an almost hemispherical combustion chamber. This version of the engine would have produced 250 hp out the factory door.
The LeSabre is quite rusty and dented in places we can see and probably in places we can’t (for example, the trunk floor which is covered by a plethora of parts for the car). The seller believes the Buick is complete, but what’s not there may very well be in the back of his pickup which looks to contain just about everything for this car and one more like it. The interior looks equally challenging with the upholstery peeling and the headliner falling but the rest is obscured by more car parts and pieces.
When restored, this is not going to be a car to flip but one to take to shows as $21,500 is “top dollar” according to Hagerty. Fortunately, the price of poker here isn’t steep and maybe there’s enough stuff coming in the deal that you only have to pay for labor to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. If you roll into Cars & Coffee with this machine, it would be most unusual to see another one there.
The “Nailhead” also got its name because the valve heads were quite small, to intrude in the intake tract a little less. These were torquey motors designed to work well with the Dynaflow, so they didn’t need overly large valves.
Sorry, but the photos speak for themselves. This car was supposedly parked since `68? The paint for one thing tells me that’s not true. Also, as shot as the interior is tells me it’s seen alot more road than the seller is suggesting. It even needs replacement sheet metal. Hmmmm, methinks there is more to this story….
These were kind of like the 1960 Chevy to the 59, a little toned down. I do like the 60s better on both.
The Cruising Vessel! Humiliating pirate costume optional.
What I really find amazing about ’59-’60 GM cars is that regardless of trim level, post , 2or 4door body they all came with fantastic roof lines! Even an entry level version like this LeSabre looks good.
Now, is it really that bad? Undoubtedly needs much work but compare it to how much people want for a BelAir/ Biscayne 2door post, and this one is even WAY more unique. For the right handy gearhead this could become one spectacular restomod spaceship!
Being a Body by Fisher you can probably extensively utilize/adapt Chev parts – personally I’d use Chev upholstery and door panels just to keep things cheap and easy, plus they look VERY GOOD in ’60 and would correspond with this Buick’s color. It seems to be wearing Lucerne Green which translates into Cascade Green in Chev terminoligy, IMO a beautiful subtle period color
Why would you put a Chevy interior in a Buick? The amount you would save would be much less than you imagine. Remember, this is NOT an Impala 2 dr ht, a car for which kit interiors are available. The only things which would fit this car from one of those kits are the front seat cover and front door panels. All the rest would still have to be made specially for a 2 dr sedan. Do it right, or don’t do it.
What’s so bad ’bout that? I happen to like the houndstooth cloth pattern of ’60 ‘pala, plus I wouldn’t need to wait 2years (or longer)to have them upholstered in correct Buick livery. IMO this is not the kind of car I’d buy to return to factory spec, but rather make a soft custom or restomod out of. Not all vintage cars need be 100% correct, any mods I think of could be reversed by any next owner if so desired. The most important thing here is that this Buick gets a second lease of life, right?
FYI Ciadella offers front/rear upholstery and panels for the ‘lesser’ ’60 2door post cars done in ’60 ‘pala style
https://www.ciadellainteriors.com/product/1960-bel-air-or-biscayne-seat-cover-in-impala-style/
Got the word “GRANDPA” written all over it. Even with it’s racing history, Buick never shed that “old mans” image. The old man janitor at school drove one, the manager above you at work had one and everyone knew at least one “grandpa” that drove one. Even still, it represented a huge segment of our country, and Buick was the #1 GM car for decades, and still survives to this day, while those “young punk” Pontiacs went away. I read somewhere, Buick’s biggest sales market is in Asia today.
This car? Shredder city, just not nice enough. Cars like this, that will require total restoration, just aren’t worth it today. Shame, they were great cars, just ask gramps, if he’s still around, that is.
I used to think that 5th gen El Caminos were Grandpa cars too as a kid and younger person since I saw older men driving them. Now I have one! And cruise it down memory lane. lol.
I wonder if a 1990 Buick Reatta was considered a Grandpa car?
The 66-67 Riviera certainly didn’t have the ” Grandpa” image! Not with those looks!
I always liked these cars because they looked ANGRY , and I liked the rear fins and taillights as well. It was a car with character written all over it. Loved it when Brad pulls up to Nancy Wilson’s Corvette, and he thinks she is flirting him, but it was the Pirate outfit. Great movie, great car, if you can get it cheap enough and you can do the work yourself, why not ? It would have to be a labor of love, and you wouldn’t see another one on cruise night.
3K, that’s no money. Get it running and driving. Then sit back and wait for an offer. Somebody is willing to pay more than the asking price for some of the trim. 2 door post…odd ball stuff
“Bought from original owner and had plans to restore it, but things changed”
Thats flipper lingo right there…..
Perfect Patina and a great candidate for a derelict style sleeper in my opinion……..
Not many cars had fins on the tops of the front fenders!
Kiss. Keep it simple stupid. Original colors if it’s repainted and new interior installed. Rebuilt nailhead painted interior color with body color accents and contrasting pinstriping. Five or six speed manual trans. Paint all under hood sheet metal body color. Paint whole under car body color with frame painted interior color. Polished five spokes saltflat wheels or interior color wide steelies with beanie caps. Chevy floorplans should work, the rest is simple bodywork. Chrome is expensive, paint is relatively cheap. Very unique Buick two door sedan. You want rust, come to Ohio, all that would be left is the roof and upper body, if you are lucky