If the ’64-’67 Skylark doesn’t get your blood pumping, read on, because this one may change your mind. It’s not every day we see a detailed, well-written listing for a turn-key vehicle offered by the owner of 25 years who knows it inside and out. That’s exactly what you’re looking at with this 1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sport. Not only was the original Skylark Gran Sport Buick’s hottest offering below the Rivera Gran Sport, this one boasts a built Wildcat 445 motor and a long list of updated components. The one-of-a-kind Buick in San Anselmo, California could be yours for $16,500. The listing on Craigslist includes simple but often-overlooked elements like well-composed photos and details on the car’s history. Thanks to reader Matt R for spotting this California classic.
Most people read “445” and assume the engine displaces 445 cubic inches. In the time of this GS, Buick named their engines by the impressive and buttery torque values, and this 401 cubic inch “nail head” made a foundation-shifting 445 lb-ft of torque, perfect for getting a full-sized luxury boat moving, and even more effective in this mid-sized Skylark. The 335 HP is no joke either. People forget how well GM did with the 400-ish cid V8s before the powers that be allowed the 454 and 455 mills into this class of car for model year 1970. My experience with the nail head comes from reviving a first-year specimen from the dead in my Dad’s 1953 Buick Roadmaster Riviera purchased “as-is.” About 15 seconds after bursting to life it settled to a vibration-free 600 RPM idle. Even harnessed to a 5000 lb Roadmaster with a two-speed automatic, the little 322 felt smooth and more than adequate for modern traffic. This 401 should be better than new after a rebuild some 60,000 miles ago using magazine tips for additional power.
The Gran Sport came with the reinforced convertible frame and heavy duty suspension from the factory. This one’s been completely updated with Hotchkiss parts, Wilwood front disk brakes and master cylinder, and more. The shiny center console and bucket seat interior won’t be mistaken for your ho-hum bench seat grocery-getter. Not only does this Buick’s owner know how to sell a car with a good listing, he apparently knows his way around a garage too. Hard-core enthusiasts may pine for a clutch pedal and close-ratio four-speed, but the three-speed switch-pitch automatic turning 3.55 gears in the Eaton positraction rear end will definitely prompt this GS to stand at attention when you drop the hammer.
The full-width tail light panel adds a look of luxury to this classy Buick, and the reserved styling and appliance white paint won’t have every tuner-car on the freeway jazzed to take you down with the 3 HP they gained by adding a conical air filter and removing their exhaust system to get that sound of a poorly-tuned chain saw. If you decide to engage, however, even modern muscle cars may get more than they bargained for, especially in a straight line. I normally prefer the ’70-’72 Skylarks, but I love this car’s blend of a hot stock-looking Wildcat 445 and interior with the brake and suspension upgrades. You could do much worse with your $16,500 than this upgraded driver. Purists could put the numbers-matching ride back to stock in a weekend or two, but please don’t. Would you daily-drive this high-powered GS?
Beautiful car. I like the mods. If I’m going to drive a car like that then upgrading the suspensions and, most critically, the brakes are a necessity. I like old cars but am seldom tempted to spend the money they fetch nowadays. This one is an exception.
Looks like some questionable body work was done due to rust popping out on drivers door, etc. (see photos of car under construction). Otherwise, looks like a lot of muscle car for the money!
The owner did the back half of the car not including the doors
I like it,and would leave the upgrades!,but would eventually get the body all dialed in and do a re-paint,but would actually just enjoy, and cruise as is this spring and summer, and save up for the refresh,ive always liked old buicks,and this is quite the classy,sassy,one to have.
that “nail head” engine should be painted blue
A coworker had two of these with 340 cubic inch Buick engines. Constantly explaining to people, that no they weren’t Mopar powered!
I owned a ’66 AMC Ambassador with the 327 V8. I had the worst time convincing the Bow Tie crowd that the engine wasn’t sourced from Chevrolet. Even informing them that AMC’s 327 was available five years before Chevrolet’s didn’t seem to soak in. If they got a look under the hood it sometimes helped, but I never bet on it.
OK; I personally prefer the ’66 but gotta admit the ’65 Skylark is a very nice design too. IMHO these two are the sweetest looking A-bodies of their respective years and any ’65-’67 GS with its upgrades over a regular Skylark will make it an underrated performer compared to their corporate siblings.
If this specimen checks out as the legit GS it appears to be it would make a fairly good buy for a forgotten musclecar legend.
http://65gs.com/
Nice looking car. Good lines.
Nice driver, with almost all the good upgrades.
Definitely more sporty in appearance than the ’68-69 Skylarks, and every bit as agressive as the same year GTO and 442, at least in my eyes.
I fell for the “445” air cleaner sticker years ago on my ’63 Wildcat, bought at age 16 for 400 bucks. Gee wiz, I got the four forty five!
No kid, you got the 401, not even the 425. Awe darnit!
The owner claims occasional drag duty but offers no time slips,, any guess?
That switch pitch feature was a best kept secret. I built a TH400 for my 69 big block Camaro with that feature incorporated. That car was incredible out of the hole.
This would make an interesting Low Rider.
I would think this car would have no problem running low 14s in the quarter, my 14 charger r/t awd runs 14.4 at 97.29 and weighs 4450 without me,and I’m big!,I’m at 370 hp,and 395 torque, but traction isn’t a problem for me either,modern cars definitely have the advantage with traction, brakes, handling, creature comforts, but there’s still nothing like the ride smell ,and feel of a classic and chrome!
Good looking car, the nailheads didn’t breath so the revs were a waste, but could make torque. Add the tranny trick and would pull hard on the bottom end.
Someone will be happy I am sure.
my wife’s Grandfather left her a 65 skylark special it had the 355 wildcat which I believe that they called it the baby nail head only had 42000 actual miles it was pretty nice had to put a new brake system it had been sitting in his garage for 20 yrs had 2 speed automatic transmission had it gone thru.wife sold it for 500$ she was mad because I was spending more time restoring it than with her
Great looking car. Certainly much more attractive than the ’68-’69 Skylarks.
As stated by another,the wildcat with # on air cleaner lid was the torque rating, here’s the list I know of 300 v8= wildcat 310,340 v8(yes buick had a 340 for 3 years= wildcat 375,401=wildcat 445,425=wildcat 465,430=wildcat 475 and I believe that is it dont remember earlier nailheads having it,or the 350,400,or 455 v8,but yet the 300,340,and 430 were non-nailhead engines, also the Wildcats last year was 1970,with the debut of the torque monster 455 which would of been wildcat 510,but don’t think they made a decal for it,I’m very knowledgeable, but if a Buick wizard wants to chime in, I welcome it.
Correct about the torque rating on the air cleaner lid, on the 300 small block for Buick in 1965 the 300 w/ 2bbl setup was actually decaled 310 and rated at 200hp, now with the factory 4bbl set up the torque rating was decaled 355 and rated 250hp.
These small blocks were not “nailhead” engines as some believe they are.
Here is a lengthy video walk-around of this car in case you missed it from the ad: https://www.wevideo.com/view/2116209222
I had one of these back in the day. Really Red on Really Red. It was a very nice car…more a cruiser and highway tripper than a real hot rod racer. It was decent performance-wise as I recall. I didn’t track it. It’s big enough to carry 4 adults and has a decent trunk. The tranny wasn’t great as I recall but it wasn’t a drag racer for me anyway. Sadly I smashed the rear quarter panel and traded it in soon after. A nice car… good looking back then and still sorta an unusual enough classic now. I’d look at it if I was thinking of a fun car.