Since we’ve been offering up such J-bodies as a Cimarron and Firenza these past few days, let’s add another. Here’s a 1987 Buick Skyhawk, recently spotted at a farmers’ market.
These pictures didn’t turn out to be the greatest, but just look at the splendid beak on that ‘Hawk–and those wheels are enough to cause a riot at Pep Boys. Now let’s take a look at its tail feathers…
Five bonus points if you know which tail light is original.
I’d forgotten about the Skyhawk–haven’t seen one in years. I think most became cheep workhorses and were junked when it came time to make a major repair. Funny how I wouldn’t give an old Camaro a second glance as they’re so common around these parts, but I find something as formerly mundane as a Buick Skyhawk interesting.
Left taillight would be appropriate for that model year.
We have a winnah!!!!!!
Fits 4 door sedan style cars only.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/87-88-89-Buick-Skyhawk-left-tail-light-OEM-/220470576841
After being bombarded with one J-car after another, it really becomes clear how misguided and utterly devoid of original thought processes GM became. I simply cannot believe a billion dollar company at that time can sit back, look at the clay models of that front end and say “Yes, that looks about right. Ok, you have the green light. Get her into production, STAT!”
This from the same company that gave you the original Riviera, the Boat tail Riv, the Grand Sport, the Regal Grand National also had this dreck going down the assembly line?
I would not be suprised one bit if that car came off the dealer show room floor with those 2 rear tail lights……!
+1
Maybe it was the same bunch of clowns that gave the green light to the Pontiac Aztek.
Good catch; I haven’t seen this member of the J-family in quite a while. Every other member of the family is represented here, except it.
What difference does it make which one is represented here on CC, when they all pretty much are the same car? Truly GM at their ultimate laziest.
That’s a valid question. I suppose it depends upon your perspective and tastes.
There is also the element of survival after 25 years. In 1987, there were a total of 46,664 Skylark’s made; of those only 17,948 were four-doors. On the flip-side, there were 432,101 Cavaliers of all varieties manufactured that same year.
These were throw-away cars, so seeing one of just under 18,000 of such a machine a quarter century later is a remarkable feat.
Don’t forget the Pontiac J;2000 .
I had a brand new 1984 Buick sky hawk custom two door for three months. I loved how it handled and drove.. Coming from a 1970 impala, the handling and gas mileage were amazing. 27 mpg. Very enjoyable car. Mine had really cool rims and wheels. Since I didn’t have it long term, I didn’t have any experience with longevity.
Coming from a land barge, that’s understandable. Honda was already kicking their ass in 1984. You must not have very high expectations for a car, John.
It was given to me, so I didn’t pick it. Then, it was taken away. But for the 3 months I had it, I really did enjoy driving it alot.
Might be the nicest Buick Skyhawk left.
My 87 Skyhawk has 33,000 miles. Close to showroom condition.
When we were rear ended, the body shop said the tail lights for our Buick Century were the most expensive set to replace. The Skyhawk may be swapable with the dreaded Cadette though.
Would it have killed GM to let at least Buick and Olds have unique rooflines along the C pillar? It would have made these cars seem a lot less like gussied-up Cavaliers.
That has to be the most tacked on looking front end on any of the J cars.
The right side tail lights look like they came off of a Pontiac. The rear view of that car really reminds me of one of those clay model design proposals that would have one design on one side, and a different treatment on the other.
Someone shoud do a CC on the Isuzu version from the cohort
Never knew there was one.
This?:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JJ120_ASKA_irmscher.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isuzu_Aska
It seems the Aska name was a lot of cars. GM J-Body, Subaru Legacy + Honda Accord.
My cousin drove a blue Skyhawk just like this. He also had a blue Cavalier of the same vintage.
I graduated HS in 1990 and 4-5 year old Skyhawks were common as muck in the school parking lot; If I had to guess, they would have been the most common make and model. There were quite a few Cavaliers too and a handful of J2000/Sunbirds, but I can hardly recall any Firenzas.
My brother in law had a brand new 1981 Holden Camira J-car. Even when I was 12 I knew it was crap. I think it was the way the bump strips on the sides of were already falling off, and that I could fit my fingers between the tail-light and rear quarter on the right side, while the the left tailight was flush. Oh, and it was probably the most gutless car ever built here- 1.6 litres just couldn’t pull in this crapmobile.
The headlights shown here are the base model. The top lines had pop-up hidden headlights. That’s why they look tacked on.
GM simply refused to spend $ to differentiate compacts. They figured, “if you want style buy bigger car”. They also thought just giving each division the same J car could ‘corner the compact market’. Logic was “If somene doesnt get a Cavalier, they can always get a ‘nicer’ one at Buick/Olds/Pontiac dealer”.
I work at a university and there is not one but TWO that I see around here on a regular basis, both in good shape. I figure they have to be grandparent hand me downs, soon to be trashed. One of these days I’ll try to grab some pictures.
My father bought one of these when I was about 8 years old. Ours was a rather worn ’85 Two-door that was a faded black. The engine self destructed when my father acccidentally ran synthetic motor oil in it and all of the seals dissolved. It was filled with a myriad of mechanical problems and electrical gremlins.
We also had a 1984 J2000 station wagon that was the same colour as this about a week after the Buick dissolved. It soldiered on for several years and many mechanical issues until it was replaced with a 1989 Cavalier wagon that we had in some capacity or another until earlier this year. We effectively had a J-car for a period of 10 years, and it was the car that I learned to repair and jury rig to almost a professional level.
You had a Sunbird, J2000 was used only for the 1982 debut model of the FWD Jbody Pontiac.