“Hard a-Starboard!!” I’m always somewhat surprised when I see Yet Another B-Body wallowing driving around the Peoria area – I’ve spotted a good handful of unmolested B-Bodys over the past few years (and a few molested ones, too), and finally caught one on camera a couple days ago.
Late ’70s full-sizers only mildly hold my attention, so I can’t say whether this is a Base or Custom Sedan or even if it’s actually a ’77 vs. a ’78 – maybe someone can answer that in the comments. At any rate, I thought it to be a smart-looking Buick, shod with period-correct thin whitewalls – the tan top is even working for me, too.
Peoria, Illinois, USA
August 24, 2016
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CC Outtake: Buick LeSabre Coupe – The Prettiest B-Body Of Them All
It’s not a 1979, but the tail lights are consistent with either 77 or 78.
By the color which looks like Camel Tan and the 1978 base wheel covers, I’m thinking 1978 is correct. Oldsmobile Delta 88’s were also very popular in this color as well.
I love it!
Agreed! I missed a ’78 Custom Sedan in RI, priced cheap. Next thing I know, some flipper had gotten ahold of it, put (Chevy!) wheels on it and price magically rose to approx. $4k. Still kick myself for missing it.
But really, do I need a 2nd B-body? A small voice inside is saying yes.
+1 – What a great find, Ed. Nice work with the fast reflexes with your camera. This LeSabre could have been transported from, say, 1984. I never thought I’d appreciate a brown, four-door LeSabre like this as much as I do just looking at these pictures.
In the mid 1980’s a college friend of mine inherited one exactly like this one, a “hand me down” from Mom & Dad. It had a strong, low mileage BUICK (NOT Olds or Chebby) 350 engine, “crushed velour” interior, killer aftermarket sound system installed by his audiophile Father, tilt wheel, cruise control, power everything, those beautiful Buick chrome and black “mag” rims, brand new Sears/Michelin tires. I am guessing a 1977 model.
He was indifferent about the car, drove it well, kept it washed and maintained, gotta give him credit for doing so. Didn’t hate it, but didn’t love it. It was just….there.
We often packed that Big Buick with 4, 5, 6, 7 guys & gals on various “It seemed like a good idea at the time” road trips. The A/C always froze us out, always started, never faltered. We all took it’s reliability and comfort for granted.
Two years later, in his last semester, his parents bought him his “dream car”, a new Mazda RX-7. They traded the Buick in so quickly I didn’t get a chance to make an offer on it. (I’m a “Buick Boy” from wayyyyy back, even in college). He wouldn’t tell me what they traded it in for; just said “You don’t wanna know!”
Two months after we both graduated I came across him. I asked him how he loved the RX7
He grinned ruefully at me and whispered: “It’s a fun car, chicks love it! But….Don’t tell anyone… but I wish I had that Buick Back!”.
We raised our glasses and toasted Buicks, back seat comfort, V8 engines, Flint, Michigan and cars we shudda kept that night.
Nice shot of a well preserved car. These cars are nothing exotic but just comfortable drivers. I remember seeing a Buick ad for the Lucerne. It was emerging from a big parking garage and the copy asked “Where too?” You know a big, quiet, comfy car can make for a nice roadtrip. I’ve always favored a long distance runner, be it car or motorcycle. Here’s a link to a commercial featuring Tiger Woods. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiDG7bOC-Ss
Sorry, all I could do is give you location,I don’t know to insert a link yet.
In the late 1970s I traveled a lot and a local airport limo company called Airbrook had a fleet of black Buick 4 door sedans. They were always a comfortable ride (even if I did not want to go wherever my flight was heading) and were a very welcome site when I came back to NJ.
Also, the late great Bell Labs had a fleet of these in dark blue with drivers waiting inside parked outside the Hoes Lane tower in Piscataway NJ for executive use. All of them had goose neck reading lights behind the rear seats. I always thought these dark blue Buicks had a much more understated elegance than the ubiquitous black Cadillac Limos of nearby Manhattan.
Airbrook still exists…Lincoln Town cars…..and Ford Econoline vans for Airport shuttle service to Newark Airport.
I worked for Fidelity Union at their NJ headquarters 1980-84. They too had a fleet of dark blue Buicks: LeSabres for department heads and Electra sedans for Senior VPs. One day I was asked to deliver some important papers to another Fidelity Union location and I got to drive a 1982 Electra sedan. I was just a young loan clerk so when I was offered to “take my Electra” by a Senior VP I was thrilled! I drove it carefully and the entire 20 mile round trip I pretended the Electra was mine. I vowed to someday own one of these Electras. Now that I’m retiring I’m actively looking to buy one some 34 years after that new 1982 Electra drive.
I liked the ’77-’80 downsized ‘big’ GM cars, before they were complicated by computerized carbs in ’81. I thought they were a huge improvement over the gargantuan, clumsy ’76 models they replaced.
Happy Motoring, Mark
I like them both. The downsized models early on delivered a lot of progress, were fairly efficient and still had some unique designs despite the overall boxy vibe. The earlier models retained more brand individuality, and even when the later models were as quick there is nothing like flooring even a neutered big block. I also appreciate the styling for styling’s sake devil-may-care ism of the older models. They were not remotely practical and didn’t give a damn.
These many years later, the differences are less important as both have some simply timless looks. The ’80 refresh on the Cadillac–strictly from a looks perspective–is still one of the best of all time. The ’73 Electra and the ’75 Olds 88 aare some other non-owned favorites of mine.
Had the C Body version. Smooth ride but never felt it was “wallowy” per se…my Box Panther was the most wallowy of the big cars I’ve owned. I found the Buick 350 to be the smoothest of the small blocks I’ve owned…not burble-y like the Olds 307, quieter and more refined than the. Chevy L05 350, and with lots more grunt than the Ford 5.0L/302. It was effortless driving in hilly country and probably would have been even better with OD and TBFI. When my then-gf was living out of state I’d take it 6 hours each way every other weekend. Made for one solid cruiser. No idea what it’s like if it has the V6 though.
The color is a blast from my own past. Used to see a lot of Delta 88s in this color. Also my mom’s ’88 Hyundai and dad’s ’84 Civic were this shade, too.
It’s a 1978 LeSabre Custom, the 1977 model still had the 1974-76 flat wheelcovers, so unless the wheelcovers were replaced it’s not a 1977.
Here’s a 1977 with the correct 1977 wheelcovers.
Nice looking ’77 LeSabre. Is it yours?
No, it’s a picture I saw on Google just to show the 1977 wheelcovers. I’d like to own one of the Sport Coupe versions, a 1978 or 79 with the Turbo V6..
I always liked how the 1977-79 LeSabre looked, their grilles, the amber flashers at the back and the shape of the tapered rear deck that reminds me of a Peugeot 504 (another favorite of mine!). The 1980 restyle still had the amber flasher lenses at the back for one last year but the car had a more formal look that I don’t like as much. The restyled “C” pillars, and the back of the car lost it’s “European” influence. And after 1980, nice options like 4 wheel disc brakes, the console shifter and the Turbo V6 and blackout trim on the sport coupe were also gone from the option list.
What I remember about these cars was something every driver saw on every one of these cars from Chevrolet, Pontiac or Oldsmobile too – the instruments. The Buick instruments were just so much more attractive than the versions on any of the other three brands. Big, silver and round backgrounds were easy to read and elegant (but simple) so I liked the Buicks better than the others for the dash/instruments alone.
A not-dissimilar ’77 Custom, though darker brown (with the tan vinyl top) and the Pontiac 301 was the family car during my formative years. Bought in ’82 after its predecessor, a ’74 LeSabre Luxus, threw a rod.
The ’77 lasted us through the ’80s and beyond and was the car I learned to drive in. Impressed my friends because it could squeal its tires around a corner easily. Not much top-end speed, but all the torque you needed. Probably was the last good car they really ever had.
Oh my goodness, I honestly think you found my parent’s 1978 Buick Le Sabre! I mean, that car is the EXACT same color as their car, with the EXACT same vinyl top color, the same wheel covers, and the same body colored rubstrip on the side. Mom wouldn’t let dad buy the Cadillac he wanted so he must’ve got a great deal on the Le Sabre he bought. It was weirdly equipped: it had power door locks but manual windows, and it had a non power bench seat. It was a great car and my mom regretted trading it in on a 1983 Century sedan with a wheezy Iron Duke 4. (Face palm)
I may show this post to mom later.
Good-looking Buick! Such a late 70’s color combo but it works here, and good reflexes on getting the photo as well. Time capsule condition, at least from 15 feet away.