1953 Buick Skylark Convertible

If a “normal” restoration takes 2,000 hours, this one will need 2,500. At $70 an hour, the new owner is upside down before he pulls a fender

by Carl Bomstead

The year 1953 is recognized by car buffs as a watershed in which several GM dream cars reached production. The Corvette was introduced by Chevrolet, the Eldorado by Cadillac, and the Skylark convertible by Buick. By this time, Buick had justifiably gained a reputation as a styling pacesetter.

The Skylark was the top-of-the-line Buick and loaded with everything typically only available as options on most other GM products. Skylarks came with chrome-plated 40-spoke Kelsey-Hayes wheels, leather interior, a four-way power seat, and a power radio antenna. The double sweepspear trim on the side suggested the rakish lines of the European sports car, and there was even a slight dip in the side doors as in the “cut-down” doors of the Jaguar XK 120.

One need look no further than the previous lot (46), a decent ’53 Skylark that sold for $93,500, to see the potential this car has. It appears to be sound and, on cursory inspection, seems to be substantially...