The post-war Detroit automotive community produced so many gorgeous, icon designs throughout the 50s (basically 1949 to 1960) that it gets difficult to point out just a few highest of the high points along the way. Many would argue that General Motor... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
I had a 54 Buick skylark back in the 80,s. It's the one car i really wish i had been able to put away, but as we all know when you have small kids, family comes first and cars are second and somebody needed something. I believe the Buick club has it listed a 816 made
I never remember seeing one before but if you are saying only a little over 830 were ever sold I guess thats why. I like it but I bet one would be worth some serious coin today.
The 1954 Buick Skylark is one of my favorites from the 1950s. The 1953 Packard Caribbean, I believe, is as attractive if not more so. Both deserve a special place for setting the styling pace in those years. (o{}o)
What about the 1953 Skylark? 1953 saw the introduction of the Cadillac Eldorado, Buick Skylark, and Oldsmobile Fiesta, all low-production luxury convertibles. Many consider the '53 Skylark better looking than the '54. (I like them both FWIW)
I much prefer the '53 Skylark over the '54. I will concede the '53 is a bit more 'bulbous', whereas the '54 has a 'lighter' look to it. For me, it's the taillight treatment on the '54 that is not at all appealing. Nonetheless, I realize it is a GM icon of sorts and have no quarrel with those who like it better. I remember a '54 Skylark that sat in a driveway in a subdivision near my house in the '57/'58 era. I was always a car savvy kid (13/14 at the time) and it certainly caught my attention. I have long since given up on owning a '53...though produced in about twice the number as '54 models, there values have risen beyond my range.
A friend of my grandmothers had a 54 Skylark and even as a teenager in the early 80s,I loved the lines.She never would sell it to me,but after she died I heard that the car ended up in a museum collection.
GM had it going on back then. All of the Safari wagons, the Eldorado, to many to list. One of my personal favorites still is the 56 Lincoln Mark ll, one was at the Grand Nationals, had to be one of the nicest cars there.
Appreciated them for what they are, then stripped the wires off them and off to the swap meet to collect a nice $3-400.
I might be biased but to me there is not a better looking car than a '54 Buick. And yet you rarely see any done as customs.
I'm definitely a fan of the old Buicks. Saw this at SEMA last year. Its a recreation of a 54 Wildcat II but I don't know how accurate it is.
Buick made some beautifully styled cars back then and they also experimented with some interesting engineering. The Buick XP300 featured a supercharged, aluminum head hemi motor putting out 335 horsepower. Not your old man's Buick!
A local junkyard had a 54 skylark sitting in it that I should have grabbed but it was missing much of the skylark only parts and even back then would have been very expensive to replace,it did get sold and I heard it was used for parts.
beautiful cars, i've always loved them. somebody had one in the Pleasanton Goodguys show a few years ago, first time I seen one in person.
I always thought the 54 was the one. The 53 is bigger and seems less refined when you view em side by side. They both get their due props but I'd take the 54 over the 53 any day.
I never really liked 50's Buicks. My uncle's 49 Roadmaster convertible was beautiful, but just 9 years later, the 58 Buicks were arguably the ugliest cars ever. OTOH I wish I could go back and live in a world with that diving board, and no lifeguards in sight.
I never cared for the specific area of the rear quarters & the tails on the '54. Too rounded off & the tails are too tacked on. Still a lovely car but it's the '53 Skylark all over the '54 in my book.
A friend of mine out east has restored at least 4 of the 54s, two of which I was lucky enough to inspect in person when I went to visit. I saw another one at a "friend of a friends" body shop near Detroit. I never get tired of looking at those cars although I like the 53 better. Never cared much for the front of the 54s. I know that depending on the body color the wheel wells were painted either red or white. Judging from the first picture it looks like there was at least one other color they were painted too.
That diving board shot is cool. It would be nice to go back in time and sit at one of those lounge chairs with a ****tail....
The 54 took big balls to introduce to the buying public. The tusks in the trunk blending into the bumper guards, big chrome taillights, busy but organized. Move off to the side and more balls needed. The scooped out and contrasted wheel openings and how they compliment (or vice verse) the side trim, and of course housing the wire wheels. Once up front things calm down a bit, but the real deal is the right stance. So many restored cars end up sitting way too high but notice the factory promo j bomber supplied us. Slammed, not a bunch but just enough. I'll take mine in a rich dark blue metallic with white wheel wells...and slammed a little.
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