Barn Finds reader Michael has a great eye for really unusual cars and has sent this one through to us to feature. Thanks Michael, because as Barn Finds goes, this is a beauty. This 1961 Le Sabre is advertised for sale here on Craigslist. Offered with a clean title and located in Plainfield, Illinois, the owner has set a firm price of $21,900 on this award winning Buick.
Before looking at the specifics of this Buick I think that it is worth looking at a bit of the back story for this car. The car was purchased new in 1961 and the owner accrued 9,100 miles in the car over the ensuing two years before it was parked up in a heated warehouse with a tarp over it. That’s where the car sat and remained unloved, undisturbed and forgotten until 2009. The original owner passed away and his family were surprised to discover the car as they believed that it had been traded decades earlier. The current owner purchased it from the family and brought it back to life. Since it emerged from its extended hibernation in 2009 the car has won numerous awards and has also featured in “Tail Fins and Chrome” magazine.
When it emerged from its long sleep the new owner decided that the paint needed to be freshened up, so a repaint was completed in the original and rare Cordovan Mist Iridescent paint color, which was available on the Le Sabre for one year only. For me the biggest sticking point on this is that the owner decided that the rare color required extra protection so had an additional four layers of clear added. So that shine isn’t exactly how the car would have appeared on the showroom floor. The bumpers have been re-chromed to bring them up to “as new” standard. The result is just stunning. In fact, as much as I love this car I may as well state right now that I believe that if someone buys this car then its life will almost certainly revolve around the show circuit, or it will wind up in a museum. Personally I can’t see this car seeing the open road too much in the future. If I’m right then that will be sad, as a big part of the joy of owning a classic car is being able to appreciate the joy of driving it.
If the exterior was the entree, then it’s time to move on to the main course. Lurking under the hood is the 364ci V8. This is the original engine and the current owner had it and the transmission removed from the car and had the fluids flushed and all gaskets replaced. The engine and transmission were repainted in their original color and reinstalled. The car is said to run and drive like new. The owner has been so meticulous that he has retained any original parts that have been replaced as part of the restoration, including brake components, etc. This is as close to a “Back to the Future” moment as it is likely to get.
Having covered the entree and main course, then I guess that it’s time to move on to dessert. The seat-belts are the only deviation to what is a 100% original and untouched interior (and personally I would have left them out to preserve originality). The owner claims that absolutely nothing has been restored or refurbished, it is exactly how it left the factory. To say that it’s stunning is probably an understatement. I have been staring at the photos for hours trying to find fault, and I’ve decided that it just isn’t going to happen.
The rear seat is just as good as the front. If the whole story checks out then between the original purchase in 1961 and the rediscovery in 2009 this back seat had never been used. The upholstery looks just amazing. If you ever wanted a reason to be oh-so-careful in preserving this car and its originality then try this out for size: The carpet is the original carpet in a color called Starlight. Check how light it is and how potentially easy it would be to mark or stain. Now consider the fact that this color no longer exists. Mark that baby and there goes the originality.
I’ve banged on a lot about this car. To me this car represents a vision into the past that we rarely get. We see plenty of cars that are described as time capsules, but I can honestly say that I am in awe of this car. This is as stunning and sparkling car finished in a rare color. It does raise a few questions though. Questions like, is it a true survivor? That really depends on your definition of the word survivor. There are some who will argue that the moment that fresh coat of paint was laid on this car it lost that tag. I’m not sure if that’s fair, but I understand their point. To me it qualifies because everything that is important about this car is present and exactly as it left the factory (except for the extra coats of clear on the body). Is the asking price reasonable? It’s a lot of money, but I have absolutely no doubt that someone will buy it. Would I buy it? Probably not. I simply couldn’t own a car where the choices are either to sit there and just look at it, or to drive it living in constant fear of every stone chipping the paint, or a dirty shoe staining the carpet. The most important thing that a person must get from a classic car is enjoyment, and neither of those options sound like much fun to me. Do I respect it? Oh absolutely. How can you not respect a car of this vintage that is in the condition that this one is in. I could stare at the photos for hours for the sheer visual joy that they provide. The big question is, would you buy it?
I’d call Weathertech about some custom flooring, and drive this vehicle. It was meant for the road, not the trailer. With somewhat conservative driving habits & basic maintenence, should last you 20 or more years. And when was the last “new” car valued at $22k that had this kind of style?
Yep, destined for the show circuit – I imagine the new owner will remove the seat belts. And I think he’ll get his asking price, Buick fans will love this.
Leave the seat belts alone!! Ojay, maybe install 3 pointers. Other than that, I love this car!! This car was made the year I graduated from high school. They were head-turners then and they still are today. Ya just don’t see any of these around. Fantastic. Drool, drool
I’d like to see what it looked like before repainting.
This is one of the cars that I drove in High school (1976). Bought it for $100 and drive it until the transmission failed.
It has some very cool features. The speedometer was viewed through a mirror that could be adjusted for taller people. It has a speed buzzer that could be set and would buzz if you went over that speed.
And the Dynaflow transmission would go just as fast in reverse as forward. That almost killer me several times and probably caused the demise of the transmission. I was young and adventurous (stupid).
This listing brought back many memories.
Yeah Philbert I agree . I learned to drive in my dad’s 65 Wildcat. Had the speed buzzer t,hat would go off and my dad would just say” slow down!”. When he wasn’t looking I’d just turn the damn needle up a bit.
….plastic chrome door edging, lovely.
If one wants to protect their doors from edge damage. …then don’t swing them into something! No matter how much edging guard you use the doors will still get hit, mind you, the edges will be just like new….
If I had the $$$$, as this is not too far away, dammit.
The door edge molding isn’t plastic. Both of my ’61 Buicks have metal trim on the edge of all the doors
It is a pretty car.
I was hoping to see a 401 under the hood, but I’d drive it and enjoy it in the summer,. As a former owner of a car with the Buick DynaSlo tranny, I learned hate them, but I wanted performance, and that transmission was designed for smoothness not performance.
Bob
I remember these well! GM downsized their big cars in ‘61. Think of the ‘58, ‘59, and ‘60 Buicks. What a difference! The downsize of ‘61 was good. The ‘77 downsizing was a disaster!
I love this old car, too. I’ve never had a Buick, but I’ve driven some older ones. If you compare the asking price, $21,900, it’s about as much as a brand new economy car. If I could afford to buy it, I would certainly drive it on occasion and not stick it on a trailer or in a museum!
beautiful Buick.
I approve of the seat belts because I’d drive it if it were mine.
then would need to make it less shiny. wet sanding with finest available paper?
or is there a better way?
I love the rear end of these, too bad no pix.and the front too…and the ribbon speedo. I had a stretch version of this ’61 in 1973. Had a platform built in the back where I spent many a night sleeping on a switchback in the mountains of Colorado. Good times . Its great to be young!
Nice polaroid. Love that stretch version, Mountainwoodie. Was that purpose built for tourist or skiiers before you bought it to use as a camper?
The chrome door edge trim was much more delicate from the factory. These look like the fatter plastic ones that can be purchased at any auto parts store. I agree about knocking down the paint somehow….it looks too gaudy at present. Love this car, my grandfather skipped these years and went for a 1964 Skylark sedan instead, trading in his 1957 Century with the triple back glass.
I dont know how the stretch came to be, As I remember it had a utilitarian grey interior. When I got it the bed platform was already installed. My guess is that it was a commerical car not a division window limo based on the the “hose it down” grey interior. I was working as a framer on condo projects at ski resorts and living the backwoods lifestyle. LOL Whenever I came to be ‘cabinless’ I parked the Buick on a switchback….it was damn cold when I woke up . I think the car ended up in Rifle, Colorado but by now its probably junked. Hard to miss it with that purple paint job.
Love me some purple! I roller painted my rat rod MG a few summers ago just to preserve the rust. Drove it for a while, then to the scrapper when it became a bit unsafe with rusty bits dropping off.
Imagine being one of the family members who loved the car and thought it was gone forever, only to find it in storage. If that had been me I would have had a heck of a time letting it go. Maybe there aren’t any “car people” in that family.
Still just a 4 door hardly worth what the paint job cost them .
We have actually seen this car at a couple of shows in the last few years. It’s even nicer in person than it is in pictures. It just takes your breath away when you catch a glimpse of it.
I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it this is the nicest year of any Buick ( the 2 dr h.t. beats it by a nose ) but this is steal !
I am with you, Tim S.!! Also, since the miles were put on in the first two years, then tarped in a HEATED warehouse, WHY did it need to be painted???? Even with a few imperfections, it would look much better than this artificial-looking super shiny finish. I also think it is too bad the engine and transmission were removed and painted; surely they would have cleaned up beautifully, and you would have the one and ONLY original finish!!! I feel we are not being told everything. Perhaps the seller tried too hard to make it look glitzy!!
Lovely looking car. I’ve always loved Buicks of the early to mid 60s. My favourites have always been the Buick LeSabre and the Buick Electra 225. Original, un-restored survivors, that have not been heavily (unnecessarily) modified. All stock, as it came from the Buick dealer. My grandparents, on my mother’s side, drove Chevys and Buicks.