Buick Skylark Is the Upscale, Affordable Chevelle Alternative

Buick is a premium offering in the General Motors brand hierarchy. Its models are priced between the premier Cadillac line and mainstream Chevrolets. But in the collector car world, comparable Chevrolet models typically sell for more than their Buick counterparts. That makes cars like this 1967 Buick Skylark recently sold on eBay not just a stylish and desirable classic but an affordable alternative to a comparable Chevy Chevelle.

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Complete and Unrestored

This Skylark was an especially good deal for a buyer with mechanical aptitude. Its $12,500 Buy-It-Now price was low even by Buick standards and impressive considering the car’s largely original and unrestored condition. It had appealing colors, desirable options, and just over 71,000 miles on the odometer.

The listing mentioned that the car “needs some work” but didn’t provide specifics. According to the seller, all this Skylark needed was a new transmission seal and some serious detailing. The transmission fix requires wrenching skills, but a quick perusal of eBay found several such seals available for less than $20.

Beyond that, this Skylark two-door hardtop was ready to go. It has a nearly flawless interior, no rust evident in photos, and all the hard-to-find body and trim pieces are in place.

Any experienced collector will tell you mechanical work is relatively easy on cars like this when parts are readily available. Sourcing things like sheet metal and interior door panels is where it gets tricky, as few new old stock (NOS) parts exist. Reproduction pieces are not as readily available for Buicks as they are with higher-volume brands.

Museum Piece

The Skylark recently spent time in a Tennessee museum. Its originality is impressive. The original push-button AM radio remains in the dash. Neither the door panels nor rear parcel shelf were cut for aftermarket speakers. The seats, carpets, and headliner are all in excellent condition but need detailing. A wood steering wheel replaced the plastic original.

Other desirable options included power steering and brakes, a vinyl roof in excellent condition, factory air conditioning, and a set of upscale-looking fender skirts. The listing mentioned an amateur paint job, but the Buick passes the 20-foot test with flying colors. A set of Buick five-spoke rally wheels with new Hankook radial tires completed the look.

Dual Exhaust

The original 300 cubic-inch, 200-horsepower Buick V-8 engine was said to run well. It was matched with the correct two-speed automatic transmission. A new dual exhaust system improves performance and makes a more muscular sound.

This reasonably priced and almost completely original Skylark offered a great starting point for whatever the next owner chooses to do. Whether that means installing a new transmission seal and driving it as-is or doing a complete frame-off restoration, this one was priced to maximize your options.