Text by Patrick Bell.
Buick is the oldest American auto brand that is still active. Today we have many examples from two of our favorite decades, so let’s take a look at what they offered before a couple of gas crises changed the automotive world.
We begin with a sun loving lady and a 1960 LeSabre convertible. The LeSabre was in its second year as the entry level of four series. It was the most popular series as 60% of new Buicks that year were LeSabres. The black car attempting to hide behind the fence looks like a 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne or Bel Air 4 door sedan.
And another lady with a 1960 LeSabre, this time a 4 door sedan, which was the most popular Buick of the year. This was the second year of the restyle of 1959, and the sharp edges were softened with a more conservative look overall. This one had two tone paint and a Tennessee license plate used from 1962-1965, and issued in Davidson County, the home of Nashville. To the left was a 1947 or 1948 Chevrolet Stylemaster Town Sedan that looked good for a car that was at least 14 years old.
The Special was Buick’s entry in the compact field for model year 1961, and later in the year the Skylark Sport Coupe was introduced as the sporty model. It was available with a bucket seat interior, and a 4 speed transmission to go with the standard Fireball Aluminum 215 cubic inch V8. The featured car could have been either a 1961 or 1962 model, and the second Buick in the image was the 1960 Electra 4 door hardtop in the garage.
The 1962 full size models had the “exclusive Advanced Thrust design” per the sales brochure. They were even more conservative, which was the trend of the day. This one was an Invicta 4 door hardtop from California, the mid level series, and the most popular Invicta. At the curb was a 1958-1963 Volkswagen Type 1, a common second car. And across the street was a 1956 Ford Customline Fordor Sedan.
A reskin was in store for the 1963 Special, which was the last year of the original generation. Shown above at a motel was a 1963 Special convertible, the least popular of the two available convertibles that year. The other was the sporty Skylark version. The Special could be ordered with either V6 or V8 power. To the right was a 1964 Ford Country Squire wagon.
We are now in Tombstone, Arizona, viewing the Bird Cage Theater. The building survives as a tourist attraction, but the road shown is closed to traffic. Parked out front was 1964 LeSabre 4 door sedan, once again the least expensive full sizer, and most popular single model of the year. In front of it was a 1962 Dodge Lancer 770. Both of them had a few years under their belts, while in the lower right corner was a newer and cleaner Volkswagen Type 1.
General Motors finally came up with a competitor for the Ford Thunderbird in the personal luxury market with the Riviera which was introduced for the 1963 model year. The featured car could have been either a 1963 or 1964 model, and was first in a line of mostly other large GM cars including; a black 1963 Cadillac Coupe, beige 1965 or 1966 Ford Mustang, two 1965 Cadillacs, 1960 Cadillac, and a maroon 1964 Chevrolet Bel Air or Impala.
And a 1965 version of the LeSabre 4 door sedan was shown here, along with a youngster and his toy snowman. The style was all new, and it was the best selling full size Buick, but the intermediate Skylark Sport Coupe took over as the most popular Buick for the year, and understandably so. The one above had two tone paint and a 1966 Michigan license plate issued in Wayne County, the home of Detroit.
There is nothing like a little roadside maintenance. This man was looking under a 1966 Electra 225 4 door sedan on a dirt road with a canoe on top, and it apparently had some problems. He rigged an effective drive on ramp for access to the underside.
The Electra was the senior series for many years, and delivered an automotive experience that was close to a Cadillac.
In 1967 Buick added a Custom subseries to the three full size lines, with an upgraded interior as the main difference. The one shown above was a 1968 LeSabre Custom 4 door sedan with a bumper mounted trailer hitch. On this model the Custom trim boosted the price by $94.
This one was a 1967 LeSabre 4 door hardtop with a photographer working out of the trunk. It had a white top that was likely vinyl, and it went with what appeared to be a white interior. The 4 door hardtops were popular models, but were outsold by the 4 door sedans.
Buick’s entry in the muscle car race was the Skylark GS that was available beginning in 1966. The one above was a 1968 GS 400 convertible with a white bucket seat interior and New Jersey license plates. As you might guess, the 400 was the engine size and for this year it carried 340 horsepower. Only 2454 convertibles were built that year. There was also a GS 350 model for those who did not want or need as much power.
It was a windy day on the coast, which likely was/is very normal. These folks were doing some sight seeing with a 1972 Skylark Custom 4 door hardtop from California. It was apparently purchased at Mike Salta’s in Long Beach. This was the only 4 door hardtop available in the intermediate line, and it did not sell all that well as the coupes were more popular.
By the mid 1970’s the personal luxury car was based on the intermediate size cars, and every manufacturer had several versions, which meant they were no longer exclusive. Buick’s version was the Century Regal that came on board in 1973. The car above was a 1975 Century Regal Landau with what may have been a Hawaii license plate. The Regal was the best selling single model from 1974-1984.
We close today with a 1972 Centurion 4 door hardtop with a camper trailer in tow. The Centurion was the middle series in the full size line, and the least popular. Power came from a 455 cubic inch V8 that was available in two states of tune, so it was a good, comfortable tow vehicle.
Thanks for joining us and to all good day!
Thanks for all these today. I rarely saw the ’59-’60 as a youth, but sure liked the design. Interesting about Buick being the eldest US nameplate—I’d never have guessed.
Photo #5 might be one of the Howard Johnson motels, with the orange roof—another enterprise that, back then, I was certain would be around forever:
Great years for Buick!
While Buick Auto-Vim was founded in 1899 to make engines, as a car maker Ford might have beat them with their 1903 Model A (1700 were made), as the Buick Model B was launched in 1904, with 37 made. So pretty close but Ford might be considered the oldest auto make now that Oldsmobile is gone 🙁
Image #1. That is, I’m sure, Somewhere south of Provincetown, Cape Cod. Perfect car for summer on the Cape, at least back then. Not a lot of room to park now, never mind driving. Very crowded in the summer. As bad as driving in Boston.
Agree on a New England coastal location in the first pic. The cutouts on the shutters, the open windows and door to let in the afternoon sea breeze, the weathered cedar shake walls, and crushed clam/oyster shells on the driveway exist like this only near the coast. Since there are screens on the smaller cottage possibly this is near a bay where the winds are a little lower and where the flies can persist even in the breezes.
Yes, that picture screams old Cape Cod.
“If you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air…”
One more Buick of that era we could add to the list is the 1973 Century sedan driven by Telly Savalas in Kojak. 😉
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_89720-Buick-Century-1973.html
Oh these make me long to see my family photos again. When my mom passed (dad was already gone) my oldest sister got all the photo albums. I know that there is a picture of me sitting with my dad in our 1962 Invicta Convertible. It was such a sharp car. Dad drove many Buick’s. Thanks for the cool pictures
My Dad had a 1964 Electra 225 in deep Navy blue and huge full whitewall tires, along with silver grey interior seating.
The car rode like a dream, powerful engine and had great handling. Most comfortable car I ever rode in, and it’s long straight profile was sheer class.
I miss old Cape Cod .
Also my buddy Leslie’s dad who was a die hard Buick Man in the 1960’s .
-Nate
Same guy in happier times
I just bought this 2014 Buick Verano 7 months ago. I have not seen another Verano yet. I absolutely love it! ❤️
My uncle Tommy was a Buick man. He had a 56 Century 2 door hardtop, a 60 Invicta 4 door hardtop, a 68 Wildcat 2 door hardtop, a 72 Skylark 2 door hardtop and an 83 Electra 225 sedan. He also had a Ford and a couple of Oldsmobiles but he always came back to Buick. He passed away in 1987 and the hearse was a Buick. Very appropriate.
The highlife of my childhood was parents buying 1960 Buick Invicta convertible. And picking it up at Tiffany Buick in Vallejo Calif. While they were in finishing the paper work . Me and 2 of my cousins were inspecting the options on the car. We had never been in a car with so many interesting option . It had a wonderbar radio that you press this bar and it find station you had preselected. We also a place on the floor you could press and it would change the stations. It had a power antana.. power windows, power seats. Power convertible top. Another funny when you were looking at it you were actually looking at a mirror.You could the angle. It had a alarm you could adjust to go off when you hit that speed. I was 12 years old when we got that car. It was used in all the local parades. My keep that car until about 1972 We truly loved that car.
No Wildcat?