• Seller: Todd M intz (Contact)
• Location: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
• Mileage: 112,000 Shown
• Chassis #: 444671H164378
• Title Status: Clean
• Engine: 350 V8
• Transmission: Automatic

As we approach the longest day of the year, when the nights are warm and the days call for a convertible, what will you be driving? If you’re in the market for a collector car that is solidly built and ready to enjoy, why not consider this 1971 Buick Skylark Custom? It’s the right color for turning heads (Fire Red), it features Buick Rally Wheels (some of the most attractive OEM wheels devised by humanity), and it comes with air conditioning. It’s perfect for local car shows and twilight cruises, and it’s being offered as a Barn Finds Exclusive in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. With an asking price of $26,500, you’ll turn more heads than a new convertible would, and you’ll save some money, too.

Buick is one of America’s oldest surviving nameplates, and they’ve long fostered a reputation for solid, luxurious cars that last a long time. While the men and women from Flint certainly didn’t design the ’71 Skylark to be shuttling people around 54 years after it rolled off the assembly line, there’s no reason why you couldn’t continue driving this one until there’s no gas to put in the tank. With 112,000 miles on its 350 two-barrel, you’re unlikely to wear it out anytime soon. As many Barn Finds readers know, General Motors had four different 350s (that weren’t all exactly 350 cubic inches), and it’s easy to spot Buick’s because it’s the only one with a front-mounted distributor (which is angled toward the driver’s side of the car).

With 230 horsepower and a relaxed 2.56:1 axle ratio, the Skylark won’t win many drag races, but it will easily keep up with modern high-speed traffic while delivering decent fuel mileage. An added bonus is that the 350 had an 8.5:1 compression ratio in 1971, in addition to “nickel-plated valves” to handle low-lead fuel, so the Buick should be happy on regular gas. Someone has also swapped in an HEI distributor for less maintenance.

You may have noticed the air conditioning compressor in the engine compartment, so you’ll be able to cool down that handsome black vinyl interior before putting the top down for a ride. The 350 Skylark’s automatic transmission is the long-lived Turbo 350, which really needs no introduction.

The best part about a GM A-Body is that parts availability is excellent, especially for the drivetrain, suspension, and brakes. On the other hand, you don’t see Skylarks out on the road every day, so they’re unusual without being rare; not to mention, just under 4,000 Skylark Custom Convertibles were found by buyers in 1971, making it an uncommon model. The seller of this Buick has included quite a few pictures of this beautiful convertible, so you can take a look and feel free to ask questions in the comments. If you’d like a fun machine for this summer and many more, make an offer!