Text by Patrick Bell.
Today we have a different vintage photo feature, as we look at the world of mid-century Buick, this time through a series of photographs from regional Buick dealer events in the South. The stars of the show are the new 1962 models, lined up in all their glory, while salesmen, dealers, and other attendees gather around to admire Flint’s latest offerings. They were regional meetings, with both using the same displays, and even some of the same cars. My guess is they were held around the country in the late summer of 1961.
You will see that the first set of images were in a unique venue, but the actual location is unknown. Thanks to the gracious assistance of Eric703, the second location has been identified as the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis, Tennessee.
We begin with several folks checking out a Skylark, the top of the line Special. It first went on sale in May of 1961 as a 1961 model, and sold relatively well for a late entry. In 1962 in became the best selling single body style in the Special series.
Here was a broader view of the unknown facility where this event was held. The previous image Skylark was in the center, and joined by, from the left, a white Invicta, white entry level Special 2 door coupe, two tone Special Deluxe wagon, and the nose of a full size unit. “We’re on the Move” was the catch phrase they used at both events.
This is another view of the same hall, taken from above the Special wagon. The white Invicta 4 door hardtop in the center was shown in the previous image. You can also see, from the left, a LeSabre 4 door hardtop, two tone Invicta wagon, another full size in the corner, and a light colored Skylark on the right. They had plenty of extra lighting in that somewhat dark hall.
Shown here was likely on the other side of the curtain seen in the previous photo, where tables and chairs were set up to watch promotional or training material on the screen. On the left was a Special Deluxe convertible, and to the right appears to be an Electra 225.
An air conditioned Electra 225 Sport Coupe was on display with a sign on top that said “Try the Air in this one”. Apparently they left it running with the air on so interested parties could sit inside and feel the cool air. The man on the floor was positioning a bucket to catch the condensation, and a exhaust hose must have ran between the swinging doors behind the car. This makes me think the unknown location was somewhere in the South.
A few excited looking fellows were gathered around the new exclusive high performance V6 on display. As far as I can tell this was the first 6 cylinder offered by Buick since 1930, so some of those long term Buick salesman may not have been too sure about that little change. Of course, it turned out to be a very successful engine.
And a view of the crowd mingling. The lady in the center (also seen in the first image), was the only one in any of the images. The Special with the hood open was the two tone wagon we have seen a couple of times.
We are now at Ellis Auditorium in Memphis, where a very similar, but larger display was set up. There was an Electra 225 Riviera Sedan for the air conditioner display, complete with the condensation bucket. In the center was an Electra 225 convertible, and gathered around were a few more display cars; 2 Special 4 door sedans, a LeSabre sedan, and an Invicta hardtop.
And a shot with the crowd. It looks like the house lights were dimmed, which seems rather odd.
This Electra 225 Sport Coupe was by the wall on the right side of the previous long views of the auditorium. The Special 2 door coupe to the left may have been the same one as was in the unknown hall.
On the left side was this Special Deluxe wagon, along with a display of the 4 speed transmission (I presume) that was available on the Special and Skylark. This may have been the two tone wagon seen earlier.
And another view of the air conditioned Electra 225. I can’t really tell what they did with the exhaust on this one.
I am not sure what the purpose of this display was, unless it was to show that the aluminum Fireball V8 was light weight enough to use in a small boat. This display was barely visible at the far end of the hall in the long view.
Thanks for joining us and have a great day!
Would love to see some in color! Neat, spread just the same.
I remember when my copy of the August issue of Motor Trend arrived in our mailbox in 1962 – as a kid I was really excited about the new Wildcat coupe with bucket seats, console and floor shift. Wiki indicates Wildcat was an Invicta subseries that year. I don’t see one in these pictures – probably because it came out late in the model year. To think these handsome cars were only four years out from the “Bulgemobile” 58s.
These are great pictures, and I’d love to figure out where that unknown facility was located. These events were probably orchestrated by Buick’s Memphis Zone, but that spanned parts of six or seven states, so that’s a big territory.
The air-conditioning photo is a great one. I’m sure the people who operated that convention hall weren’t thrilled with the condensation pooling on that nice wood floor.
What I find interesting is, if these cars were on display in the fall of 1961 for the upcoming 62 model year, that there is a Special Deluxe convertible in the photos. The Skylark convertible did not come out until mid year during the 1962 model year. I assume the Special Deluxe convertible was introduced at the same time (?). Either these photos are of cars mid way through the model year, or they were giving those in attendance a preview of the Special Deluxe convertible 6 months before it was introduced. No matter what, these are great photos! The V6 was the only V6 in the industry at the time. It was intended as a lower cost choice on the base Special and Special Deluxe, which made the aluminum V8 optional on those cars. All Skylarks got the aluminum V8 automatically in 1962. In 1961, all Specials got the aluminum v8 as the V6 (which was cast iron) wasn’t available that year.
Thanks for your comment. The Special and Special Deluxe convertibles were in the original 1962 brochure, while the Skylark convertible was not. Apparently the Special’s were introduced at the beginning of the model year.
The high performance of that 1962 V-6 was shaking like a dog at idle.
The first car I remember was my dad’s 62 Invicta convertible. It was a really sharp in a dark red over a red interior.
He loved that car. Then in 66 someone stole it from our driveway in Upper Arlington Ohio. It was never found.
Cool pictures
I don’t know if I’d say the Buick V6, in its original form, was a “very successful engine”. It sold. It also ate timing chains. We all know it was rough. And Buick ditched it after 6 model years.
I meant for the long term. It was rough around the edges in it’s first form. But they bought it back in 1974, and continued to refine and improve, and even redesign it over the years, and it was in use into the new century. The V6 seed that was planted in 1962 grew for a long time.
Thanks for your comment.
I love these pictures .
I was too young and lived out of town in 1962 but I do remember these smaller good looking Buicks .
Pops bought my stepmother a Jeepster in 1969, it had the “Dauntless” (Buick) V6 and indeed, in 197? it jumped time near Indio, Ca. and pops had the engine rebuilt by a gas station .
-Nate
President Kennedy arriving in a 62 Buick Electra at Children’s Hospital, Boston, in August, 1963, to stay with his newborn son Patrick, who would survive only 36 hours.
Liked the little ones, like baby buicks… A friend has this le sabre known as the Lou sabre as the former owner , a nys trooper, named it after his namesake.. Now deceased, was a great guy, cool car…
I would love to see that boat in person!
Am I seeing a jet pump behind the engine? Sure does not look like an out-drive unit.
Jet-drive boats must go back farther than I previously thought. I water-skied behind many Olds 455/Berkeley Jet units in the ’70s; I didn’t realize jets were around in the early ’60s.