1966 Buick Skylark – Classified of the Week
February 15, 2022
We love an American car here at Car & Classic. All that chrome, the burble of a V8 engine, the promise of an open road through the wilds of Arizona with nothing in front of you other than happy miles. Oh yes, it’s the American dream. And because of this dream, we can often be found browsing the adverts on this site, scoping for cars that would best fit this dream scenario. There are the go-to models like the Corvette, the Thunderbird, the Charger and the Coupe de Ville, but they’re not the only ones fit for purpose. Take this gem of a find. A 1966 Buick Skylark coupe. It is, and let’s not beat around the bush here, stunning. And it could be yours for a mere £22,000. That, dear reader, is an astonishing bargain. Even when you include shipping, which is likely to be what, a couple of a grand? That’s a lot of car for under £25,000.
The Skylark name had been around for a while as a trim level. However, the car you’re looking at hear is an example of the first time the Skylark was a model in its own right. It was an all-new model, and it promised the American buyer luxury, power and prestige. Well, so long as you went for a V8 version, and not a V or straight-six. Happily, the stunning ’66 model we have here is indeed fitted with a V8. The 310 Wildcat no less; a lightweight, torquey little unit that provided plenty of punch. In fact, the 310 is in reference to the lb ft of torque offered. A four-on-the-floor transmission was an option, but this car has the automatic. Perfect for cruising along.
This car in particular is a coupe, with the perfectly period ‘flying buttress’ design at the rear. Finished in Turquoise Mist metallic with matching beige interior, the car has been restored in the past and as such, presents very well indeed. The cabin is about as big, spacious and comfortable as you would anticipate, and it’s all in fine fettle by the looks of things. You get power steering and power brakes (servo assisted), too. Going back to the exterior, the chrome gleams as it should and everything looks to be straight and true. The chrome and black Rallye wheels wrapped in whitewall tyres finish the looks off perfectly.
If you want a classic American car, something like this is well worth considering. Buick is often forgotten, which is a criminal shame given how cool the cars were. But this makes them something of a bargain. For a Mustang or Camaro of the same vintage, in the same sort of condition, you would pay an awful lot more. And yet with the Buick you get a bit more luxury, and a bit more prestige, not to mention a whole load of exclusivity. Just look at it. How can you not be drawn in by those stunning lines and all that chrome. And the colour… it gives this big Skylark an unexpected lightness. It’s just chuffin’ lovely.
Okay, so you’ll have to ship it to the UK, but that’s no big issue. In fact, our man Dale has written an article covering just that. There are plenty of companies out there willing to do all the heavy lifting for you, and some will even help you sort out the paperwork and registration when the car lands on UK soil. And when it does, what a day of excitement that will be. Your own stunning Buick Skylark. A slice of V8 Americana all of your own. Sign us up.
