The 1961 to 1963 BOP compacts are offbeat collector car choices, especially considering that their parent company is one of the largest in American history. Aside from some parts availability issues, however, they’re practical cars for reasonable prices. They’re not too big but not too small, powerful enough to keep up with traffic, economical enough to use regularly, and handsome enough to draw attention. This 1962 Buick Special on Marketplace in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, needs a new owner who isn’t afraid to assemble an engine, because the aluminum 215 is in pieces. It’s not as bad as you think; all the machining has been done and it’s ready to put together. Depending on your level of experience, that could take anywhere from a weekend to a month, but with an asking price of $3,900 and an ad that’s been up for a while, it looks like it’s worth the effort. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Kiwie49 for the heads up.
Here’s the engine, waiting to go back together again, and there’s a lot of money on this picnic table. The block has been bored and honed for new pistons (which come with the engine), the crankshaft ground, the heads rebuilt, and the rocker shafts and harmonic balancer reconditioned. It comes with a new camshaft and lifters in addition to new piston rings. The oil pan and valve covers are painted Buick Green and are ready to go. Get out your soap and water and find your piston ring compressor and service manual. Call a couple of buddies or family members to help clean (or not), and you can knock this out in no time (although cam break-in is always a breathless 30 minutes these days).
Although it’s not currently mounted in the car, the automatic transmission comes with the Special, although there’s no word on whether or not it’s rebuilt. The Buick “Dual-Path Turbine Drive” is actually a marvel of simplicity (for an automatic transmission), so it’s more than likely fine, even if it needs a seal or three. The exhaust, starter, and generator also come with the car.
The interior is not in bad shape; it’s certainly good enough for an inexpensive top-down cruiser. The upholstery and carpet look as if they may be original, although the red duct tape on the driver’s seat most certainly is not. There are plenty of pictures in the ad, and the convertible top should have plenty of life left. The seller mentions that the “underside of body shows rust, but floors and trunk area appear solid.”
OK, let’s talk numbers. Let’s say you can get this Special home for a little bit of a discount on the asking price. If the machine work was done correctly, you’ll only have to budget for oil, antifreeze, and the little nickel-and-dime stuff that always pops up when you’re reassembling something. Next summer, you could be cruising around in this cool Buick for maybe four grand? That seems like a good deal to me if you have the skills to get it all back together. Let us know in the comments if you’re up to the challenge.
Asking price is $3900.
Pretty cool. This would be a bargain for somebody and compared to some of the wrecks featured here is most definitely worth it. I got the time but not the garage space, tools or skills for this. I’d probably end up with a bucket full of spare nuts and bolts when fully assembled. I like it, even though you have a blue top with a red interior and black exterior? It’ll def turn heads.
Forgot about these. Clean lines, good looking. The 215 is what Rover bought to use as their workhorse V-8.
Oh my, engine work is way above my head and no workshop to do it from. But this car mirrors my first car I owned and it together, I think I would be trying to find my way to Wisconsin in the snow.
My grandmother passed away and I was 15 1/2 and so I scraped together my funds and convinced my mother to let me purchase her 62 Special. This was the fall of 1974, she had owned it all 12 years and the mileage had reached somewhere around 22000 miles. Truly she only drove it to the store and to church. Nowhere else. That engine could overheat if you didn’t watch out and a temperature gauge instead of a light would probably help.
Makes me think I need to try and find another one already together. Hmmm.
I always look for price and location when I look at cars for sale. Transport costs can add quite a few bucks, especially if it’s also a non-runner.
The ad states 369,875 miles! If that’s true, a lot more than the engine and trans will need help.
I was an ASE certified engine builder among other things. I could do this but I’m a bit long in the tooth these days to be taking on any projects. This is a pretty car, it will be the talk of coffee and gab. Some young feller needs to grab this up. Good learning experience while building knowledge.
God Bless America
Can’t believe the car is still available. I don’t subscribe to FB so it blocks me out after a few minutes but what I’ve seen seems to be an assembly project with very few items if any to source.
I had stumbled upon a similar Skylark droptop on an end of the day service call over 30 yrs ago, faded out For Sale sign in the window and took a chance and found the owner in the house it was parked in front of. We agreed on no questions asked/title in hand $400 for the intact not running dented & dinged ‘63. Now that was in the days of $300 limit of ATM withdrawals so it required an in-person bank withdrawal. By the limit I arrived back the next morning, the car was gone and owner not answering his door. A few months later I ran into the guy selling the car and said he sold to someone else for more.
Moral of the story – Have cash at ready when shopping.
I don’t have the back to work on big projects any more, like others said, it’s perfect deal for a beginner – IF the car is available and not already gone.
Sold for $3900.00
Beautiful looking car. IMHO, 1962 is the best year for the Buick Special/Skylark until the 1964 model year.
Sold for $3900. Rob Sad.