The Skylark was one of Buick’s most enduring nameplates representing several styles and types of automobiles. Its runs included 1953-54, 1961-72, and 1975-88. This 1977 Skylark Custom 2-door coupe was from its stint as a mid-to-late 1970s compact (a derivative of the Chevy Nova). It looks like a nice car with low miles, but it appears to have been hibernating for three years and the status of the title is in question. From Broomfield, Colorado, this Buick is available here on craigslist for $5,900. A nod of the fedora to Gunter Kramer for another interesting tip!
Skylark is a species of bird, and we assume that Buick chose that name to imply freedom of flight. The company rejoined the compact market with its version of the X-body platform and chose the moniker, Apollo. When that platform was reworked for 1975, they made an unusual move. The 4-door sedans continued to use the Apollo name, while the 2-doors had the Skylark name resurrected (seems like unnecessary confusion to me; just call them all Skylarks as it was more well-known). “VentiPorts”, last used on a car named Skylark in 1968, made their return.
Buick built nearly 50,000 Skylark coupes in 1977 plus another 4,000 as the “Sports/Rallye” edition, but there is no indication the seller’s car is one of those. You could get both V6 and V8 power in the Skylark, but the seller doesn’t mention what engine is in this car nor are any under-the-hood photos provided. I had the 231 CI V6 in a 1983 Olds Cutlass Supreme and it was a bit of a slug, but that was a heavier car than the Skylark.
We’re told this Skylark runs perfectly, yet the seller doesn’t pull it all of the way out of the garage for photos. Yes, there’s snow on the ground, but the driveway looks clear. As a result, we don’t get any full-length view of the white automobile with a Landau vinyl roof (presumably only available with the Custom which the seller says this Skylark is). The seller has owned the car for three years but lost the title and hasn’t made any overtures to get a new one issued. He/she even uses “Salvage title” in the listing so if I were interested in buying the car, I would make sure I understood the status of the title before making a trip out to inspect it.
Assuming the title thing is merely a formality (but when are they ever?), it looks like a clean automobile with just 45,000 miles and few known flaws other than a small rip in one of the seats. If you’ve been looking for a last-gen 1975-79 Nova before the rear-wheel-drive was dropped and can’t find a nice example, perhaps this Skylark could be Plan B.
Man, you really forget how huge those bumpers were. They look like battering rams. For some reason, they don’t look as big on the contemporary Nova, Omega or Ventura. Something about the Skylark’s front end really is accentuates the front bumper in particular.
The plastic filler panel being painted silver instead of body color doesn’t help matters (but could be original and correct).
It’s the peaked grille. It forces the bumper to stand further away from the body.
Do you have more photos and what engine is in the csr
If I had to guess (and apparently I do) I’d be willing to bet it’s a 231-A. Enough engine for this car, unless you turn on the A/C, which it has, judging by the full compliment of dash vents. Nice of the seller to pop the hood for a photo. So long as he’s the last registered owner (yeah, right), it shouldn’t be that much of a chore getting a new title. Either he’s lazy, or there are deeper issues.
According to the Automobile Catalog, it would take it 15.6 seconds to hit 60. A Tesla Model S Plaid would be going probably 220 MPH in that same time frame. So I don’t know how adequate it would be. Of course that’s not the norm. But this would still be almost dangerously slow in today’s traffic.
Of course, the Buick is more frugal on electricity.
Where are you going to drive a car at 220 mph legally on a road shared with pedestrians and other vehicles? Why compare the top end speeds of the vehicles when you already know it’s like comparing apple’s to oranges ? Who really cares.
Because much faster cars are behind you and trying to run through you, that’s my point. Sure, the Plaid is an extreme example, but that’s a real life vehicle that is out on the road. And there are many cars which are not all that much slower these days.
That’s not something a lot of people consider when buying these nostalgic slow ’70s cars from simpler times. But one really should.
@Terrry – True. Be free of Com Ed!! Unfortunately, my opinion doesn’t mean bleep squat. So that means we’re going to see more and more very fast electric vehicles. Cars like this will become difficult to drive out there.
So you’re saying a Tesla driver behind this Skylark at a red light wouldn’t be able to contain himself and would attempt to drive through the Buick in front of him?
I think an accident could happen, yes. Particularly when on an on-ramp. At minimum, they would be impatiently right on your a**. So you would need to watch what the SUV behind you is going to do along with the traffic you’re trying to merge into, which flows faster these days. Not comfortable!
I mean look, I’m not trying to be negative. But I just think watching prices, a lot of people forgot how slow these vehicles really were. It wasn’t as noticeable back then because most cars were slow. But now, I think there would be a very stark difference between you and normal traffic.
Tesla shmesla…I could care less if your Tesla is 1000 miles in front of me going 500 mph.To each there own. Just do me a favor as every Tesla driver I see is glued to their dumb phone stay off it while you’re doing 220 on public roadways.
So, this is an unsafe car because Tesla drivers will crash into it on an onramp. Why don’t the Tesla drivers just pay attention to the world around them? I have a Mustang GT and a twin-turbo V8 BMW X5. Not quite as quick as the fastest Teslas, but plenty quick. I must be an exceptional driver, because somehow, despite quick acceleration, I manage to avoid crashing into the car in front of me.
I would say this is a well optioned model. It may have the optional 301 Pontiac, 305 Chevy or 350 Buick as well.
The headliner is sagging and the car is from out of state with no title. ‘That’s why the price is so low”. This car needs to be gone over with a fine tooth comb.
Tuck the bumpers, fit a Buick 350.
A 455 will fit.
I just know it has that awful three point hate liter V6.
Cars out of New York and the title got lost, I do pass those are headaches I don’t need
Actually, a nice car. Too bad all the baggage.
I am unsure why the seller feels it requires a salvage title if the title was lost. You can request a replacement title for a fee. I wonder as the temp tags are still on the car, the title is probably in the seller’s name and they didn’t get it changed to their names…so in order to avoid salvage branding, they should reach out to the seller to obtain their signature or bill of sale. However if they do have the receipt, all is left is to go to DMV with Bill of sale, and an application for lost title replacement and tax due.
Good luck!
If it were easy it would have already been done. There’s something rotten, and it’s not in Denmark.
Still has dealer drive-out tags from September 2021? Thats a year and a half ago.
This was my first car. Loved it. Had plenty of get up and go for the time. I couldn’t keep up with my friends in their Camaros, etc. But I could outrun my friend’s Datsun B210!
That front bumper looks like it would arrive at least 5 minutes before the rest of the car.
The non centered headrests on some ’70s cars have to be the craziest thing ever.
How the feds missed those is beyond me.
What was GM thinking.
Back in he day: Every single one of these I ever saw on the road dog-tracked, some severely enough that you could see down the driver’s side.
This front end was used on the Mexican Nova Concours which was odd because Buicks were not sold in mexico at that time.