GM’s ’68 A-body redo was notable on several fronts. The two-door/four-door differences in the wheelbase weren’t standard fare as the previous generation (’64-’67) made do with one, regardless of the body configuration. There was still a surprising amount of individuality among the four marques, however, unusual for a time when brand differences were starting to be muted and thankless badge engineering was on the horizon – Buicks were still Buicks! Where the Chevrolet Chevelle, Pontiac Tempest/LeMans, Oldsmobile Cutlass, and Buick Special/Skylark all used extended C-pillars on their ’66-’67 two-door hardtops, that Fisher Body characteristic went out the window for ’68. The LeMans and Cutlass possessed similarities in exterior design but Chevrolet took a unique turn with its Chevelle by employing a reverse C-pillar. Buick, however, marched to the beat of a different drummer entirely and came up with a Skylark design that looked like a tale of two cars – a front end that didn’t really match its rear end but used a swooping side belt line to tie it all together. It seemed to create a love-it-or-hate-it situation. And for your review today, we have a beautiful ’69 Skylark, and it’s a rare convertible body style! Mitchell G. gets the thanks for this fine discovery; it’s located in Hopedale, Massachusetts and is available, here on craigslist for $19,999.
So this Buick Skylark is a Custom model which rubbed shoulders with the Special DeLuxe and the performance-oriented Gran Sport. The total Buick A-body intermediate body count was about 145K copies in ’69 but only 6,500 (4.4%) were convertibles – no telling how many still exist.
This listing isn’t exactly forthcoming, it states, in its entirety, “1969 Buick Skylark convertible, 350 4 barrel, custom stereo, new rear shocks and sway bar, automatic, nice drive, Jeff“. And that’s all she (he) wrote. OK, the pictures will do the talkin’. First up, this car looks great, the paint, trim, chrome, folding top, Buick road wheels, all of it is just perfect. The odometer reads 48K miles and I suppose that’s believable but considering what’s here, and its fabulous condition, it almost seems too good to be true.
Power is provided by a 280 gross HP, 350 CI V8 engine connected to a Turbo-Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission. I wish I could tell you how fabulously this drop-top motivates but I don’t know so I can’t say. If this car moves as good as it looks, and that includes the engine’s appearance, it will be an impressive performer.
Keeping white upholstery clean is no mean feat but someone has been up to the challenge with this car – it looks like new! There’s no sign of ground in dirt, yellowing, splits, weather-related damage, etc. My guess is that it has been redone but only an inquiry will ferret that out. The goodness continues with the door panels, carpet, floor mats, and carpet. The only non-original component appears to be a column-mounted tachometer.
So, what do you think? A little too nice for the price? Back to my earlier styling comment, I’m not usually a fan of the ’68 and ’69 Skylark – I like them OK but prefer the ’70-’72. However, in this case, I’m willing to make an exception. I really like this Skylark, how about you?
Needs whitewalls.
I believe the white smoke coming out of the rear wheel wells would probably suffice…
Definitely needs raised white letters . Nice clean driver. Nice colors . The 350 4bbl motors run strong. All in all Nice car for the money provided undercarriage is clean also.
The back passenger side corner looks slightly damaged. But it is a great looking Skylark. I don’t see this particular year in this good of shape very often. It seems most people pay attention to the 1970 style.
The color between interior door panel & back seat side panel are funky & the blue door pull is not what I would care for.
My dad had a brown convertible, I remember some really cool cars from my childhood. Dad owned Arco stations in MA, was “Arco Al, your cars pal”. Previously being an engineer at GM then opening shops he was a car enthusiast, Cadillacs, Chevy Blazers, the Skylark, all GM. Wish he kept em and passed em down but people didn’t think that way back then…
I remember one of these from my childhood years, around the age of 11 I think. I had missed the bus one morning, and one of my Mom’s clients (she had a daycare gig) offered to take me to school in his primered gray hardtop Skylark. I distinctly remember it being a 4-speed, because the clutch had a very audible squeeeeak -clunk every time he let it out. It also had a nice throaty rumble, and I remember thinking how out of place Mr Ruark looked driving it in his business suit, he just didn’t look like a car guy, but as we all know, looks can be deceiving…this one is magnificent, I’d be happy to own it! I think it would look great pulling out of a cloud of tire smoke hee hee hee… yes, I’m a card carrying burning rubber addict, and not too many cars I’ve seen on this platform would be exempt from at least the periodic smoke show. At least nowadays I’m old enough to know how to pull it off without breaking anything…
The only thing I can see is the white Interior… other than that, it’s a really nice car.. there’s a dude in my area that has one EXACTLY like this one(color, options and all) and he doesn’t quite know what he’s got.. he drives it in the winter SMDH…
Needs bucket seats, auto on the floor with console.
That bucks been BEAT!,
NOTE THE DRIVERS DOOR, THE REAR BUMPER IS CAVED IN THE MID SECTION. 3 GRAND TOPS!
I owned a 1969 Buick 2 door hard top coupe. Yellow with a brown vinyl top, beige vinyl interior. It had the 350 V-8 2 barrel, bucket seats, console with auto in it. It drove beautifully and while not as peppy as a 4 barrel it had nice get up and go. Bought it used in 1971 and traded it in in 1976 on a 1974 Vega GT, (what was I thinking). I traded because of gas prices, I was driving 100 miles 5 days a week back and forth to work. I loved that car and miss it.