Through most of the 1950s, the Special was Buick’s entry-level full-size automobile. The name was temporarily mothballed in 1959 only to return in 1961 as the GM division’s new “senior” compact (along with the Pontiac Tempest and Oldsmobile F85). The car would continue in this role until 1964 when it was shifted again to a new mid-size platform. This pretty Special drop-top is in Maxwell, Iowa, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $7,000. And it is another great tip brought to us by “Zappenduster”.
The Special was treated to a styling refresh in 1963. The car was powered by a 198 cubic inch “Fireball” V6 with a cast-iron block that was based on the 215 CI V8 with an aluminum block. A manual transmission was, of course, standard, but buyers could opt for a 2-speed Dual Path automatic transmission as in the seller’s vehicle. This white over blue edition has been granted new paint and upholstery, though the top has a couple of spots that need to be sewn up.
This Buick doesn’t look like it has 134,000 miles, but that’s the claimed odometer count. Besides appearing quite nice, we’re told it runs and drives very well. Everything is said to work as it should. The seller’s 1963 Special is sort of rare in that about 8,000 convertibles were produced, along with another 10,000 as Skylarks (a fancier Special).
After the Special was moved upstream in the Buick lineup in 1964, the GM division wouldn’t have another compact of its own until 1973 (the Nova-based Omega). Until then, they relied on German imports from Opel to help fill the void.
To heck with the car, I’m in love with the garage.
Best barn find yet!
That one could hold a bunch of tractors and hay bales lol.
Car is sweet too.
GLWS
1973 brought the Buick Apollo and the OLDS Omega along with the Pontiac Ventura.
Now that’s my kind of garage too! 👍
Isn’t that the same garage which held an up-on-jackstands light blue ’30s sedan a week or so ago? Yeah, I look with lust at wide-open garages not overflowing with all my “stuff.”
Spiffy looking little convertible. I think Buick was smart in using the cast iron block instead of the Olds 215 aluminum V-8. It would be predicted to hold up better over the years and probably not suffer the casting / porosity coolant issue of the Olds.
Back in the day our family car was a ’63 Special wagon with the 215. We had a lot of problems with aluminum deterioration and a clogged heater core. The cure was to run pure antifreeze year ’round with a cooling system flush every fall.
The 215 aluminum V8 was a Buick designed engine, and then shared with Oldsmobile F85 and Pontiac Tempest, not the other way around. Oldsmobile used slightly different design cylinder heads, which necessitated different head gaskets. Pontiac used the same head gaskets as Buick, so I assume they used the same heads, but I’ve never seen one in a Pontiac.
We had a 62 with the Buick 215 v8. The heads and who knows what else we’re different from Olds. Ran nice with the 2 speed.
It rusted into a heap long before the engine gave problems.
The Omega was an Oldsmobile. Buick’s version was the Apollo.
Here’s an easy way to keep them straight. N-O-V-A = Nova, Omega, Ventura, and Apollo, from Chevrolet, Olds, Pontiac and Buick.
looks solid only needing minor TLC. i am interested in the 50k+ shop.
I like the empty poll barn more than the car!! Remember they are only empty once…..
B body built in buick city (Flint MI)
Nice
“the Nova-based Omega”? No, that’s “the Nova-based Apollo”. Omega belonged to Oldsmobile.
YUTES!
I had a friend in highschool that had one of these. It was red with a white convertible top.
With the 215 V-8 and a 4 spd. It was a great car we really enjoyed it.
The Omega was an Olds, Apollo was the Buick.
The Omega was an Olds, Apollo was the Buick.
My best friend on my street went to nursery school together. Her mom had a 60 Plymouth Wagon. Crazy styling but a wagon fit their life – house in the burbs, 2 kids, basset hound. One day when I went over to visit the Plymouth was gone replaced by a used 63 Buick Special Conv in white. Even at 5 years old I was confused. Her dad bought a new 66 Galaxie fastback then a new 68 Buick LeSabre convertible. The Special just kept going despite they had another baby by then.
The Omega was an Oldsmobile, not a Buick, FYI.
The 73 Omega was an Olds… the Buick version of the X body was the Apollo.
I absolutely love this car it was one of GM’s better version of a downsized bigger brother❤️
Ex-wife had one in red when we were teenagers. Had the small V-8. Really nice car.