Buick’s Skylark was all-new in 1968, featuring a trimmer, leaner shape that was still full of Buick luxury. Perhaps most notable was the sweeping side trim, which recalled the great styling of 1940s Buicks and their dramatic fender lines. With a variety of V8 engines, a long list of options, and being just the right size, it was a big hit and today the A-body Skylarks remain very affordable ways to get into a vintage V8 convertible with lots of performance.

This lovely 1968 Skylark Custom convertible is a life-long Florida car and comes from the collection of a wonderful gentleman who spent the last few years tweaking and honing it into one of the finest available anywhere. Details matter, and there are many on these cars, and it holds up under intense scrutiny. Code Y Cameo Cream is this car’s original color and it has been recently repainted using two-stage urethane, so the shine is spectacular. Yellows are difficult to photograph in our studio, but the car is a gorgeous light yellow that’s bright but subtle, exactly as it should be on the upscale Buick. Hailing from a warm climate, rust is a non-issue and the body panels are all original to the car and there are no notable patches or replacement pieces hiding underneath. Fit and finish is quite good, with doors that close with a reassuring solidity and a hood that opens and closes without a lot of effort. Of note, the upscale Custom models offered the sweeping stainless trim that’s the Skylark’s defining look, as well as the twin strips of chrome down the trunk, making the car look far more expensive than it is. Most of the chrome is original, including the bumpers, which show a few scuffs but no major issues. The stainless is excellent, the grille is unmarked, and even the unique faux vents on the front fenders are in great shape. It’s worth noting that the car did not originally come with fender skirts, but correct skirts were located, painted, and installed, and I think you’ll agree that the unbroken line of trim from nose to tail is a fantastic look. However, if the skirts aren’t your thing, the original stainless wheel moldings are included with the car.

The black bucket seat interior is a rather rare option as well, as most Skylarks came with a more luxury-oriented bench. The interior appears to be almost entirely original, including the seats, door panels, and dash pad, and they are all in excellent condition. The only notable wear is on the passenger’s seat where some of the piping has been lightly abraded, but it’s quite minor. Carpets were replaced two years ago and fit well with no bunching or wrinkling and while the door panels are in good order, the chrome has started to fade so brand new door panels and rear side panels are included with the car, just in case you insist on absolute perfection. The bright panel just below the gauges is a little faded and discolored, and that might be the biggest demerit on the entire car, but reproductions are not available so leaving it as-is is probably the best choice. The gauges are original and fully functional and you’ll note that this car includes such niceties as factory A/C, which blows cold thanks to a recent service and R134a upgrade. The factory AM radio is still in the dash, but it has been supplanted by a modern AM/FM/CD stereo head unit hidden in the glove box and powering kick panel speakers that are neatly integrated into the design. And for convenience’s sake, there’s a handheld remote so you don’t have to go fumbling into the glove box to change stations. Overhead, there’s a brand new black power convertible top that fits beautifully with no wrinkles or sagging and there’s a new glass rear window as well. The black boot is new, too, and we were the first ones to ever install it, giving the ragtop a very clean look. Open the trunk and you’ll find correct spatter paint, a matching full-sized spare on a Buick road wheel, and a bag to store the top boot.

Buick’s 350 cubic in V8 didn’t share many components with the other small blocks in GM’s inventory, and that gives the Skylark its own personality out on the road. With just 48,544 original miles, this one is barely broken in and as a result runs beautifully. The engine bay is extremely clean and tidy, with nice detailing like reproduction stickers on the air cleaner, valve covers, and fan shroud, plus bright Dante Red paint on the engine block itself. Routine service and maintenance items are in excellent condition and the car starts almost instantly without a lot of prodding and it isn’t ever cranky, even when it’s cold. It has been recently upgraded with a proper dual exhaust system, replacing the original single pipe, and it sounds suitably muscular without being too aggressive (this is a Buick, after all). The Super Turbine automatic transmission (awesome name!) shifts crisply and we believe the rear gears are 2.73s, so the car is a superlative highway cruiser. As you’d expect from a car that’s lived all its life in a warm climate, the undercarriage is exceptionally clean with no rot, no patches, no issues of any kind. This is also due, in no small part, to an owner who cherished this car and invested a lot of time and effort cleaning, detailing, and protecting every single component under the car. There are also new shocks at all four corners and the gorgeous Buick Road Wheels are wrapped in brand new 215/70/14 Uniroyal whitewall radials with less than 100 miles on them.

This car also includes extensive receipts for parts and service, an owner’s manual, and a large cache of spare parts, including new door panels, new side panels, rubber weather seals, lug nuts, and a bunch of other stuff that will undoubtedly be useful to the new owner.

Price guides don’t tell you the whole story on cars, and once you see this incredible Buick in person, you’ll be impressed. You absolutely won’t find a nicer V8-powered convertible with factory A/C and buckets for less money, and you’ll never regret buying this car once you're behind the wheel. Call today!