It’s hard to pinpoint the exact peak of the automotive Malaise era, but the late-seventies usually aren’t considered very memorable times in the car world, at least not in terms of exciting designs, performance, or overall build quality. However, the 1979 Buick LeSabre was still looking pretty good on the outside, even after a considerable chop in size a couple of years earlier. While the sedan had a nice appearance, the coupe was even sleeker, especially when it was equipped with the Palm Beach package. Barn Finds reader T.J. recently found one such example here on Craigslist, and we’d like to thank him for the tip! This unusual Buick is located in Bridgeport, West Virginia, and seems like a fun ride for $7,500.
The Palm Beach edition was a one-year-only offering for the LeSabre, with 4,001 produced, and I’m surprised at how infrequently these seem to turn up in the marketplace. I can’t remember seeing very many of these since Frank Davis Buick in Nashville had a new one sitting in their showroom back in ’79, which I recall admiring as we drove by when I was 14. The Palm Beach got buyers a white exterior with strategically-placed Yellow Beige accents, such as on the sides, bumper strips, and grille bars. It’s not the most over-the-top or eye-catching appearance package I can think of from the seventies, but there’s something about the colors that blend really nicely on this body. This one needs the plastic bumper-to-body gap fillers replaced, but overall, it still looks quite good on the outside.
Inside, a few extras also reminded drivers that this was no ordinary LeSabre they were behind the wheel of. Some perks can be found in the seat threads, which consist of Palm Meach material in both the front and rear. Special simulated wood was also placed on the dash and door panels, along with a Palm Beach logo on the instrument panel. The interior here is also still looking nicely preserved for the most part, with no obvious upholstery tears or cracks that I could quickly spot.
Unfortunately, the package didn’t include a Limited Edition engine under the hood, with this one featuring the Pontiac-sourced 301 V8 in the bay. The seller mentions that this car has been stored inside for a long time, but says that the engine starts and sounds great, and lists the mileage at 89,000. For a late-seventies Buick, I think the design team did pretty well here, and this 1979 LeSabre Palm Beach will surely attract some attention, plus likely provide some enjoyable cruising. What are your thoughts on this one? Is $7,500 a reasonable cost for what you’re seeing here?
Overall this is a very nice clean original example. I actually never saw a Palm Beach edition before. I know the Pontiac 301 may seem a bit small here, but compared to the Olds 260 I had in my ’77 Delta 88 ( same exact size as this Lesabre), I’m sure this Buick would walk away from my Olds from red light. ( Heck a kid on a skateboard would have beat it off the line).
I enjoyed your write up Mike, and liked learning about a Buick I never even knew existed.
Walk away is probably an exaggeration. Crawl away maybe. They were both pretty good little engines. Would perform well with today’s technology. Amazing Detroit survived that era.
Pnuts….. You’re probably right, glacial pace faster is probably a better term. I knew a guy with a very early 80’s Bonneville with a 301 and it was quite noticeable. But both engines are very reliable. And that 260 actually got good gas mileage too for a full size car.
First one I’ve seen as well. When driving this, I would suggest wearing a golf shirt, tan slacks with a white belt, and, of course, white shoes.
Very close – but sansabelt (no belt) slacks would work better, I think.
Newer saw one…nice find that seems to be priced fairly. I’m guessing the sticker price was $8,500 ish given our family’s new, very basic, 1977 Olds Delta 88 sedan was $7,000. The general paint scheme and trims reminds of the Buick Riviera 20th anniversary model.
I replicated these at our dealership in `86 and `87.
I used 4 door Centurys in `86 with Rosewood exteriors & grey interiors, with Palm Beach Edition embroidery with palm trees on grey simulated convertible tops.
Then `87 LeSabres in Tan & White.
Though the tops only worked on the 2 doors.
Around 1999 I saw one of them still rolling around the South Side.
Growing up I remember seeing these at Buick dealership in Westchester county NY and it was beautiful looking. Another time i saw one it had leather interior and that was better than the other interior. I would bring it to a professional detail shop and it would really stand out. I think it a fair price. I would not be surprised up here in lower NY state and getting detail and tune-up all fluids change sell it for $10,900.00. Up here lots of car people would buy this. Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
There was one in the showroom of Bailey & Gibson Buick, Pontiac and GMC in Glasgow, Ky. I was 17 years old and I dropped my uncle off to pickup his new maroon Grand Prix, which was red with white plush landau top and white interior. You could spot that thing from a mile away! The Buick in the showroom was identical to this one. I remember him saying that it looked like an old man car and not sporty enough!
I used to joke that every Buick came standard with a Handicap parking placard. I think this was the first one.
But it really is kind of a cool car. I think it’s definitely worth the asking price.
Right up there with the AMC Matador Barcelona II, Ford Mustang II King Cobra, Lincoln Versailles, Cadillac Eldorado Custom Biarritz Classic, and Ford Thunderbird with the fake luggage straps on the trunk as a contender for “Most Garish Car of the 1970s”
Don’t forget the padded vinyl roof, opera lit windows. and button tufted leather interior of the downsized ’79 Chrysler New Yorker. My dad’s stunning last car. Heads turned, and one neighbor, who had just purchased some new wheels commented to my dad. ‘I felt good about purchasing my new car, until I saw yours parked in your driveway.’
If you look at other ads from seller, there is another one that has 5.7 engine.
A nice one for sure, i have no recollection of ever seing one up here in Quebec. Then again the US and Canada always had some interesting trim packages exclusive to one another. I’ d love to park this one in my driveway.
This will have its haters but it’s a gorgeous and uncommon car.
I bought one of these used in the late 1980s after looking for a nice one for a long time. Quietest, most comfortable car I’ve ever owned. Kept it for 14 years, much of that time as a daily driver. Had the same 301 V8 that this one has. Its only flaw was the starter motor had to be replaced every 3 years, like clockwork. It seems that the exhaust pipe on the 301 was run too close to the starter, causing it to get hot and fail prematurely.
I did some research on these and learned that 4001 of the 1979 Palm Beach edition LeSabres were made.
The 301 Pontiac is no different than the 305 Chevy and 307/260 Olds, lacking. I believe a 350 Buick/Olds or a 403 would have been available. Too bad as this Buick is a lot of luxury car.
ugly color combo and a 301 poncho. no thanks
W/the optional Olds 403 this would be still rarer of a duck….& more desirable as well.
This guy used to bring his to the all GM & Buick Club sponsored car shows at the Mn. state fairgrounds every year. Had quite a few awards and it looked worthy especially since he told me it was driven year around for a few years. Been a long time since I’ve seen it. Maybe he’s passed on.
There was one for sale at, I believe, Morristown Motors in North Carolina ( not sure on the dealer name) with 35,000 miles on it. It had a 350 and had the almost standard need of bumper fillers. They were asking $17,000 so this one looks like a good buy.
Just researched the car I referenced. It’s at Morrison Motor Cars in Concord, N J. $16,900. Apparently still there.
I visited one of these on the local Buick lot every time I went to pick up parts for my ’76 Estate Wagon. It was literally my dream car at the time, and always hoped to own one of them. Never did, of course. Many other dream cars got in the way, but I always thought these were classy, especially the dash. I remember it being the first car I’d seen where the engine compartment was so packed it would be nearly impossible to work on it.
Compared to engine compartments now, this is a piece of cake.
I am really amazed. This one appears to have the original seat trim. That would normally last a maximum of two years if the car was not always garaged.