1961 Buick Invicta Convertible Coupe

The 1961 Buick Invicta was available as a two- or four-door sedan and a convertible. Power was from a 401 cubic-inch V8 engine that produces 325 horsepower. They had a dual-path Turbine four-speed automatic gearbox with disc brakes at the front and hydraulic drums in the rear.

The long-running Buick names of Special, Century, and Roadmaster were replaced for 1959 with LeSabre, Invicta and Electra. The Invicta, meaning 'unconquerable' in Latin, had the largest and most-powerful Buick V-8 engine in a relatively lightweight full-size body.

For 1961, Buick introduced all new bodies that had a bullet-shaped profile and were advertised as the 'Clean Look of Action.' Wheelbase lengths remained unchanged from 1960, though the Invicta was at once shorter, lower, narrower and lighter than before. They had an all-new X-type frame, a three-link rear suspension and a two-piece driveshaft which replaced the prior torque-tube drive setup.

This convertible is one of 3,953 Invicta Convertibles produced for 1961. It has 75,000 original miles and was recently given a body-on-frame restoration that spanned four years.

In 2010, the car was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $30,000 - $40,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $27,500 including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010