1954 Buick Skylark
Possessing an irrepressible character all its own, this striking 1954 Buick Skylark convertible exemplifies General Motors styling bravado at the peak of its confidence. As a special, limited production convertible, the ’54 Skylark dazzles as both rolling sculpture and tire-shredding muscle car.
Its athletic proportions are heightened by the signature cut-out front wheel wells, painted in dramatic contrast to the Matador Red bodywork and proudly displaying the large Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels within.
Distinctive “sweepspear” bodyside contours inject a sense of motion absent from Buick’s more staid sedans, visually quickening the pace.
This jet age optimism befits the thundering 322 cubic-inch “Fireball” nailhead V8 under the mile-long hood, descendant of the formidable straight-eights that first established Buick’s performance credentials.
In true muscle car fashion, the large-displacement mill brings thunderous torque to motivate the Skylark’s generous mass with authority. Yet respectability never wanes, with the turbine-smooth Dynaflow automatic delivering unruffled acceleration.
A smattering of power assists confirms the Skylark happily balances sinewy potency with expansive luxury trappings. Inside, rich red leather upholstery compliments the dash and carpeting, surrounding occupants in a sybaritic gingerbread hued cockpit.
As a range-topping flagship for Buick’s 50th Anniversary in 1954, exclusivity was assured by a stratospheric price tag well in excess of senior stablemates from Cadillac. Rarity was guaranteed by restricting output to a mere 836 units, ensuring this range made an immediate splash before disappearing.
Six decades later, survivors like this flawlessly restored example enjoy prized status as General Motors’ original factory hot rod, where escapist optimism reigned during the Fabulous Fifties. Presenting beautifully today with fastidious care, it epitomizes the brief but spectacular grandeur only Buick could conjure for a semi-custom halo model at the pinnacle of American style and performance.
Credit: RM Sotheby’s
