Buick reinvented the Special in 1961 as a “senior” compact on a new unibody Y-platform shared with Oldsmobile and Pontiac. It was unique in that a 215 cubic inch aluminum block V8 was the source of power (although a V6 would also come along in 1962). The seller offers a 1962 Special convertible that’s more likely a Skylark carrying a higher level of trim. It’s a non-running project located in Mount Vernon, Washington, and is available here on craigslist for the “cheap wheels” price of just $800. Another nifty tip brought to us by “Curvette.”
The 215 V8 was powerful for its size and put out 155 or 185 horsepower depending on carburetion (2 vs. 4-barrel). A “Dual Path” transmission and power steering were standard fare. The Special won Motor Trend’s Car of the Year award in 1962, and the new 198 CI contributed to that capability, although its block was made of iron rather than “tin foil” as the 215’s was sometimes referred to. Less than 9,000 convertibles like the seller’s car were produced in ’62.
Few, if any, details are provided by the seller regarding this Buick. We don’t know the mileage unless it’s truly the one mile shy of one million that the seller has checked in Marketplace. We gather the drop-top has been living outdoors for a time, and it’s done so without glass in the back of the convertible top. The body may be okay, but the red paint is quite faded.
We get one glimpse of the interior, and the front bench seat looks fine. But what about the rear seat if it’s been exposed to Mother Nature? The engine seems intact, so this machine is more than a roller, as the seller says. The hood has been removed (for a possible rebuild?), but it’s there if you want to put it back on. If you like these 1960s Buicks, how could you go wrong at $800? And what’s the deal on the 1958 Pontiac (Star Chief?) that keeps popping up in the pics?
Cool little car, key word used is roller? Yeah there is an engine but? Just saying from experience.
Cars body looks pretty tight from 3000 miles away. If it was closer I’d grab it.
For eight hundred bucks how could you go wrong? No pictures of it underneath but if it’s as solid as the sheet metal appears you have a viable project, even if you have to rebuild the engine. That seat looks new and the top is in good shape too. That back seat photo looks a little wonky, what are we looking at exactly? If it was closer I’d take a look.
This car has been stored in doors. There’s no way that back seat looks so good with the shot rear window if it was outdoors. I’m glad this is 3000 miles away. Without under carriage pictures, the body looks to be rust-free, and the paint original. I think this is a great project. Just don’t understand the $800 price and wonder if it’s real.
Does anyone know if this is the one with the transmission by the differential? (never understood how it was done when the torque converter would have to be by the flywheel).
No, only the Pontiac version of this platform utilized the “rope drive”/transaxle; the Oldsmobile and Buick versions used a conventional transmission/driveshaft/rear axle powertrain.
Go to the CL photos. Pictures are a progression of work being done on it. Hoses & wires in some pictures but not others. Seems like it would be worth far more than the asking price, but what did they find while doing the work documented by the photos? Worth a look if this is the car you want. I’m interested and I not really into this specific model.
Well, Rover certainly got a great deal on that V6 engine. These GM Y-bodies saw GM roll out a turbocharged engine, an aluminum V8, a 4-cyl and a new V6. The only benefit they saw was from the V6 in the 70s and beyond…after they bought it back from Kaiser.
Where is the HOOD/BONNET?
Rover got the V8. Pontiac got the rear-mounted transmission. I forget who had the flexible “rope” driveshaft.
This looks like a good project for someone with good skills who already has similar Buicks sitting around as a parts supply. Right-sized cars with advanced engineering. Very creative era at GM.
Pontiac Tempest had the rope driveshaft also.
We had a similar 63 Skylark convertible with the horrid Dual Path auto trans and the PNDLR shift pattern. No detent between D and R worth mentioning. 11:1 compression, 200hp V8 spark knocked constantly even with the days premium. I wound up stuffing a 10:5:1 version in a 71 Vega 4-speed amd loved it
Nothing wrong with a DualPath transmission if properly maintained/rebuilt. It just simply is not a performance transmission that so many wish they had behind that V8.
Nowadays there are too many people who say, “Oh, I know I can rebuild that. It’s only a simple 2 speed trans. How hard can it be?”
And afterwards, you find out they didn’t have a clue what they were talking about, let alone about what they were doing.
I’ve had 3 of these cars as daily vehicles over the years, and nary a single problem with a DualPath.
Ahhh! It’s a cutie. Let’s see flying to SeaTac from Houston, then maybe a bus or taxi/Uber to Mount Vernon, inspecting the car, If it passes then finding a shipping company to ship the car to Houston, getting myself back home. Then after the car arrives spending $20,000.00 to $40,000.00 to restore it. I think I’ll look for one more local that someone else poured their heart and money into for under $20,000.00 to buy if I really want a car like this anyway. Oh well, best of luck to seller perhaps you’ll find a local yokel to sell it to.
God Bless America
This is a good parts car if nothing else. If you have all the skills to restore it yourself it would be a cool little V8 convertible.
My first ride! Mine was a coupe, blue top with white body. It was a great car car with a unique look, and the V8 was no slouch. If body rust is not a dealbreaker, this could be a real value find, if you do the wrenching.
I am very temped to take a look.
Russ Dixon –
This is NOT a Skylark. This is a model 4167 Buick Special Deluxe convertible.
This small-body Buick came as: Series 4000 Special, Series 4100 Special Deluxe, and Series 4300 Skylark.
Google a picture of a 62 Skylark and look at the tail lights. You’ll see the one most obvious difference between the models.