So I love this car. I've had her for about 15 years now. I plan on keeping her for (ever) a long time. Since she came to me I have re-chromed, straightened, painted and polished and added my heart and soul. She has worn, polished torq thrust and steels which are still available. My only problem is some people tell me I should do this or that. From bagging it to putting more graphic paint and pin stripes. When I bought this car in a rather pure state I never dreamt of altering. I guess I was brought up to respect what was. I remember the previous owner called my dad to ask what kind of person I was before he sold it (he was nervous about selling it to a 20yo kid). Which I respected. He wanted the car to go to a good person, that wouldn't take it for granted. I keep that in mind always. Is anyone with me? I like having the option with wheels to express myself, as far as cutting a pure car up it's not me. I dont consider myself a purist but I really appreciate respect for old steel, and treat all with respect. Which I have been teaching my son now. Thats just me....
Great looking cars right out of the box! And nailhead power, to boot. I would have dual exhaust, a very slight lowering, and drive that car until the livin' end.
Real cool car man! If it was mine, all i would do is lower the back about 4 inches and call it good. Then proceed to drive it A LOT!
She has dual smithy gl*** and some cut coils in front. Thanks guys. Believe it or not, before I joined the Army she was my daily driver, americans on her back then. Every night would cover her up outside.
Why worry about whay someone else's opinion how you car should look. It's your car and like someone said It's a nailhead. My $.02
Why worry about what someone else's opinion how your car should look. It's your car and like someone said It's a nailhead. My $.02
Guess after 13 years in the mil and away from regular car life I feel diff. Used to be a car show, now it seems like a fashion shoot. Went to a show last month and saw a lot of great cars but the people seemed so different. Couldn't wait to leave.
I picked up one of these about 10 yrs ago. One owner running car with 98,000 miles on it, everything worked except the lighter and the windshield washer pump. Had a 401ci in it and would get it on quick and stop on a dime. As said in above post a little lowering and some nice wheels is all they really need. I never should have let that one go. Thats a nice car.
I have a 61 Le Sabre project too, but it´s still in the US. Your car is perfect, the only modification I´d do to it would be crank the windows all the way down to make the bubble top stand out more, hahaha
It doesn't "need" anything. It's gorgeous as it sits. It is YOUR car, so do what floats your own boat. Mike
i heard once that the LeSabre line was the top vote getter NOT chosen to become a Cadillac, dont know if thats true or not... I think they are one of the most underrated and overlooked cars, I love em
maparicio07 These are beautiful cars right from the factory. But if you want to see how cool a mild version of it can be, please check-out my Albums Section to view more of my Manuel Arteche'-built '61 "INVICTA". Your is fine just as it is...cool car. Jonnie King www.legends.thewwbc.net
It's your car, do what you feel is right with it. I own a '62 LeSabre that I'm taking the late 60's mild custom route with. So as a fellow Buick owner/fanatic, I say that if you feel the need to change things in a way that would easily be put back to stock, buy some lowered springs and play with wheel/tire combos. Also, paint is a good way of customizing a car without doing anything irreversable. Just look at all the car's Larry Watson painted from the late 50's to the late 60's (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=573932&highlight=larry+watson). Most of them were stock (even had most or all of their factory trim), lowered and had a killer paint job. The right paint job can make a car look longer, lower, wider and cl***ier than stock. But ultimately, it's your car. You've got to do what feels right to you.
Jonnie king, I am well aware of the Arteche Invicta. I keep looking at my Le Sabre and I like it. Funny how even with the wide whites some guy was red lining his falcon next to me. Cmon really, I blew him away on a quick grade. She is a keeper. That 364 is a great engine.
maparicio07, These are really nice cars from front to back. Yours is a great find, and I'm glad that you're taking care of it. Was talking to some friends at a car cruise here tonight, and one of the strong points of these cars is that they are a "One Year Only" body style. Plus, 1961 was a "soft" year for sales: they didn't sell many of these to begin with...which makes 'em even rarer ! (The Invicta models had the 401 installed. In 1959 when they changed the names on the Buick line, the "Invicta" took the place of the "Century" in the lineup and had the hotter engine. But, no matter if it was the 364 or the 401, they had plenty of low-end torque, and were fantastic highway cruisers !) Best of luck to you with it ! Jonnie
Beautiful car! I was in a similiar situation, I have a 61 Electra that I wanted to customize, but it is very clean and very stock, and I couldn't bring myself to alter it. I was fortunate in that I was able to buy another one, and it was already customized, so I have the best of both worlds. Tough spot to be in, don't listen to others, do what you want.
That's a beautiful car just as it sits. Having had two '63 LeSabres I know how nicely '61-'64 Buicks drive. Probably my favorite highway cars ever. If you want to keep it stock, that's cool. It'd certainly look more authentic with a narrower whitewall, somewhere between 2 1/4" - 2 3/4," where the tire's more black than white. If you get the urge to go a little more custom at some point you couldn't do any better than to look at Rikster's thread on Larry Watson's Photo Collection for inspiration... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=573932 Larry painted scores of ultra-mild daily-driven customs in beautiful candy and pearl two tones that aren't too wild but really made otherwise nearly stock cars into something really special. This car would look great with a set of Buick's wire wheel covers that were available on Riviera's starting in '63 or '64 and were optional on this rest of the Buick line. There're shown on several cars in the Watson thread.
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