Many enthusiasts prefer two-door classics, but from a practicality standpoint, ignoring four-door variants can be a mistake. If the original owner ordered those cars with the “right” drivetrain combination, they can offer comparable performance to their lesser-doored siblings. More importantly, any enthusiast who has tried to maneuver a small child into the back seat of cars like Mustangs and Camaros can confirm that those additional doors make life easier. If you face those challenges, this 1968 Buick LeSabre deserves a close look. It presents nicely, but leaves scope for the new owner to tweak a few areas to improve its appearance without breaking the bank. It also features a 350ci V8 under the hood and is a turnkey proposition. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Tony P. for spotting the Buick listed here on Craigslist in Swanzey, New Hampshire. The seller set their price for this classic at $15,900.
Buick released its Third Generation LeSabre range in 1965, and as was the practice at that time, treated its latest offering to minor annual styling updates until our feature car rolled off the line in 1968. Its presentation is extremely tidy, with no major cosmetic shortcomings. The seller states that it was repainted approximately twenty-five years ago in its original color combination of Teal Blue Mist and Arctic White. The overall lack of deterioration is consistent with a high-end refresh, with no patchiness or other issues. I can’t spot anything suggesting that rust might be a problem, while the trim and glass are excellent. The wheel covers are undamaged, and the narrow whitewalls feature plenty of tread.
This LeSabre’s interior is almost as tidy as its exterior, but it also contains what I would consider to be one of its few genuine weaknesses. The carpet is tired and faded. Although it hasn’t worn badly, its deterioration detracts from the overall appearance. Replacement carpet sets retail for under $300, and if the buyer sources and installs one, it would make an enormous difference. The seats are trimmed in Blue, utilizing a combination of vinyl and cloth. There is no significant wear, while the remaining vinyl is equally impressive. The dash looks extremely tidy, and the pad appears to be virtually perfect. The first owner ordered this LeSabre with air conditioning and an AM radio. The seller states that the A/C blows cool and requires a recharge to work at its best. They also state that the fuel gauge is inoperative, making that another task for the buyer to investigate.
The big news for 1968 LeSabre buyers wasn’t the cosmetic changes, but those made by Buick below the surface. It marked the introduction of the 350ci V8, replacing the 340ci powerplant that served the company so effectively. This LeSabre features the 350, teamed with a two-speed “Super Turbine” automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. I believe this motor is the “2V” version, placing a factory-quoted 230hp and 350 ft/lbs of torque beneath the driver’s right foot. The news for potential buyers appears to be extremely positive. The seller’s emphasis on originality suggests that this LeSabre is numbers-matching. It is also a turnkey proposition that runs and drives extremely well. Therefore, if you are planning a family summer vacation, this Buick would provide reliable transportation for that journey.
This 1968 Buick LeSabre is a tidy vehicle, and if not for the repaint, it could have been considered a genuine turnkey survivor. The buyer could lift its appearance relatively easily without breaking the bank. That concept might be tempting for enthusiasts in a situation where a full-blown restoration project isn’t an option. It has plenty of interior space, with room to comfortably seat six. Factor in the V8 under the hood, and this LeSabre is a pretty attractive package for the right person. Could that be you?
Hagerty’s price guide does not list a 65 LeSabre 4-door, indicating that it might not be a hot collector car.
But 4-doors don’t bother me at all when it comes to 60-year-old cars. They are still cool, still fun to drive, still easy to work on, and rarely seen so many years on. Oddly, as I drive my 4-doors around town, people can’t get enough of them. They wave and honk and engage me in conversation at the gas pump; but pull into a classic car show and those old goats won’t even get their diabetic butts out of the chair to take a look!
Rex, in my humble opinion, that’s their loss. I’ve said before on here, and will say it again, that the view over the hood of a 4 door model, is EXACTLY the same as the view as the 2 door model. And for whatever it’s worth, I always get drawn to the 4 doors and more common, everyday days feom their day that we no longer see much of anymore. I’d be very happy and proud to own this Buick. Its in amazing condition.
And when I go to the airplane museums (Wright-Patt comes to mind), I always want to look at the bombers and the airliners as opposed to the fighters.
“LeSabre”, the Sword,and the extent of most of our French, it’s not hard to understand why the Buick LeSabre was THE most popular Buick ever sold. Could have been the name, started in 1959, but for most, it was a fancy Chevy , for folks that had no chance of ever having a Caddy. These were the cars that were unloved, unwashed, and most importantly, unmaintained, and still got us to Sunday school, without an issue. We may have taken our road tests in these, but wouldn’t be caught dead driving one through McDonalds. These are the cars coming on the market today with every passing funeral, and while it doesn’t have the zing of a 396 Chevelle, it’s these cars that people will want in the future. A wonderful find.
Strikes me as the type of car a retired, spinster school teacher would drive to bingo on Tuesday, the hairdresser on Thursday, and church on Sunday.
Beautiful looking car. I’ve always loved the 1967-68 Buick LeSabre and Wildcat.
good looking solid wheel here for sure. not sure why the seller would not put the new water pump and hoses on instead of in the trunk. put a clean set of Buick wheels on it clean up the engine bay and enjoy. would be nice to see proof of the miles. i feel the 16k is high. 10-12k is right area for this.
I agree with that 10-12K, especially since I could afford it at that price, and still replace that faded carpet and fix the fuel gauge. And I utterly LOVE THOSE FOUR DOORS!!! The styling with Buick right then was one of the very best (except for the 1949 and 1939). The only drawback here, for me, is that muscular V8. i much prefer the far more economical small blocks, such as Chevy’s venerably and reliable 283 — smoother than a six, yet kind on the wallet, and adequate power for family car driving. I also would prefer the higher end model and not the LeSabre. ONE MORE IMPORTANT DETAIL: NEVER SMOKED IN!!!
Back in those days smoking was common. It seemed like almost everyone did. You could smoke in the grocery store. The movie theater. A doctor’s office. Even in the hospital. I understand your point of view but a car as old as this Buick that has never been smoked in is almost akin to finding a unicorn.
Old man had a ’69 LaSabre, med brown with a light tan roof, foor doors, 350 four barrel with three speed auto…most comfortable sedan i have ever driven, including BIG Cadillacs, Chevy, Pontiac, Mercury’s, newer Buicks…worth the money.
I sure did like the ciggy-butts for about 15 years. I gave them up almost 30 years ago. It’s hard to imagine how society put up with all that smoke back in the day, it is disgusting. This photo is from my days playing and singing in bars in the late ’70s.
I bought, owned, and drove for 27 years, a 1946 Super Deluxe Tudor Ford sedan. The year was 1967, and I was well into adulthood. I was beyond ready to own a car. The first one I tried that on was a 1953 Mercury Monterey (I always had loved the looks of a 1953 Mercury). But I am shortwaisted and could not see out over the hood. How would I have been able to DRIVE this thing??? The top curve of the steering-wheel bisected my vision. Hmmm… what to do NOW? On a local used car lot was a 1942 Ford, and that seemed unusual enough. So I took a test-drive and bought it for $1,200. I had a lot to learn! Within two days, the fuel-line sprang a leak, spraying gasoline all over the engine block! I suddenly had a voracious FIRE on my hands. I pulled over and jumped out. And as my poor car became consumed in an inferno, I saw how many vital places were bondo-fill-in for structural steel. And of course, the dealer would not honour any warrantee. I was sadder and wiser: the NEXT time, I would bring a MAGNET with me!
But I had loved the car, and so I looked for another one just like it. Hemmings had one with 96,000 documented original miles, one owner, with all service records, owner’s manual, the works, and with a Zenith “Long Distance” radio, a clock, two hot water heaters (one in the floor under the dashboard, and one under the front seat). This one-owner original had every accessory known to 1946 Fords [which essentially were warmed-over 1942 versions with somewhat more horsepower], except for rear fender skirts. It had Columbia Overdrive, spotlight, passenger’s side rear-view mirror, back-up light, beauty-rings, fancy bumper side-extenders, grille-shielding — ALL the “toys” — even polarised sunvisor-extender on the driver’s side — you name it.
I telephoned the owner to ask about the car. He said, “Please EXCUSE me, but I own the car, not you, and I will ask the questions, if you please. It turned out that he had been Mayor of the town where he was, and thereby had access to buy one of the first available (and scarce) postwar cars in late 1945. And he had paid cash for this one. He was 98-years-old, and the only driver this car had ever had. He’d always worn gloves, to prevent wearing the paint off the steering wheel. He went on and on about both his personal exploits and the car, on my toll-call “dime”. When he was finally done, I asked if I might be able to ask him a question about the car. “What possible question could you ask me, after all the information I have given you? Yours is the twenty-sixth call I’ve had on this car, and I will choose who gets to buy my car and let you know.” He’d already asked me my name and why I felt that I should buy his car. I still insisted that I had one question.
“ASK it then”, he said.
“Has anyone ever SMOKED in this car?”
“That is IMPORTANT to you? — WHY?”
“I don’t smoke, I never HAVE smoked, and I would not want a vehicle that anyone has smoked IN”, I explained to him.
“And you are SERIOUS about this?”, he challenged.
“Absolutely.”
“WELL then, COME to Texas, Son: YOU just bought yourself a CAR. I’d like to come to know you, so I would like you to spare me two or three days — I’ll put you up in the Motel which I own, and buy your meals, while you get aquainted with the car.” He was an ardent non-smoker. When I GOT there (by bus), the locals told me that the man I was about to meet was something of a real local “character”. And he was all of that. He called me periodically until he was 103, to see how “his” car was doing. By the way, it was immaculate, inside and out, with never-used lighter and ashtray, and no fading or discolouration or yellowing of it’s strikingly grey interior. This car had blues and greys and silvers, where the 1942 had had tans aand browns — earth-tones — on the same interior.
I had the exact car including the color.I remember that every time I went through a puddle of water at a bet of a higher speed it blew the starter because it was low. got t boned one the way to the cottage one day.wife was pregnant with our youngest but no one was hurt.ended up at the crusher.
This LeSabre has the 350 2bbl. If it was 4, there would be a “400” emblem under the LeSabre emblem on the rear quarters.
I like the flowing lines of the ’67-’68s looking a little more so with skirts. ’69 & ’70 with that boxy grille, not so much. I’ve said this before, but what possessed Buick to do the thumb wheel climate control knobs? A little distracting to change settings. They apparently heard about it since it lasted just a year.
This is a pretty nice example all told. As others have said, replace the carpet, recharge the a/c, clean the motor and the trunk.
My maternal grandparents drove Buicks and Chevys. I remember seeing pics of a 1968 Buick Wildcat. They may have driven other Buicks. The last Buick I remember seeing was a 1971 Buick LeSabre. I was too young at the time to drive a car, but I remember the car. At the time, I didn’t find it very attractive, at least not compared to the 1971 Electra 225. But compared to today’s Buicks, I found them beautiful cars.