conceptcarz.com

1953 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster

In 1953 Buick introduced the Skylark - a vehicle built to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary and intended to be produced as a limited edition off of the Roadmaster line. Designed by the famous Harley Earl, the car had style and performance. The vehicle appeared to be lower than the standard convertibles, this was due to the body design. Ventiports, also known as portholes, were absent from the vehicle. Under the hood was a 322 cubic-inch 8 cylinder engine capable of producing nearly 190 horsepower. Only available as a convertible, this 4300-pound vehicle had a top speed of just over 100 miles-per-hour and a zero-to-sixty time of around 12 seconds. The interior was elegant, with leather seats and many standard features. During the introductory year, 1690 examples were created making it a highly collectible vehicle even by today's standards.

1953 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster photo
Skylark Convertible
View info and history
The most popular 1953 Roadmaster body style was the sedan which had a base price of just over $4,000 and 50,523 examples were built. The Riviera Hardtop Coupe, which sold for approximately $3,350, found 22,927 willing buyers, and 3,318 examples were convertible coupes. Both the station wagon and the Skylark Convertible were the most expensive body styles and the most exclusive, with 670 of the wagon and 1,690 of the Skylark. Both of these body styles had a base price of around $4,315.

Even fewer examples were produced in 1954, totaling just 836 units. The engine was still the 322 cubic-inch eight-cylinder except it was now producing 200 horsepower. A chrome tailfin could now be found at the rear of the vehicle, a unique design that was new at the time. The DynaFlow automatic transmission, air conditioning, and Kelsey-Hayes 40-spoke rims were just some of the standard equipment. Of the 836 examples produced in 1954, it is believed that less than 50 exist today.

The Skylark was not produced in 1955. This limited production vehicle did not return again until 1961. When it did return, Buick had used its name on their intermediate sport-coupe model. Under the hood was a 215 cubic-inch 8-cylinder with a four-barrel carburetor resulting in 185 horsepower. A year later the compression ratio was increased and as a result, so did the horsepower. The Skylark had also gone design changes for 1962, one of them being a Skylark badge now adorning the front fender.

1953 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster photo
Skylark Convertible
Chassis #: 53 47 89 SX
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
By 1963, the 215 cubic-inch engine had finally been tuned enough to produce 200 horsepower. The Skylark emblems could now be found on the vehicle's pillars. The performance increase continued in 1964 with the addition of a four-barrel carburetor attached to the 300 cubic-inch 8-cylinder engine. The result was 250 horsepower.

In 1965 Buick debuted the Gran Sport package which, in the years that followed, would become its own series. The 300 cubic-inch two-barrel option produced just over 200 horsepower while the four-barrel version produced 250 horsepower.

The muscle car era was beginning to heat up. The cars were becoming smaller and the interior was being gutted to take advantage of weight-saving techniques. The engine cubic-capacities continued to climb and the horsepower-to-weight ratio was astonishing. This was true for the Skylark which saw its engine size and horsepower climb throughout the years.

1953 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster photo
Skylark Convertible
Chassis #: 17055106
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
By 1968 the engine had been enlarged to 350 cubic inches. Depending on the configuration, the horsepower inched towards the 300 mark. The torque was equally as impressive with 375 foot-pounds for the high-performance engine. 1969 was similar and saw little changes in both its mechanics and its aesthetics.

The muscle car era saw its peak in the 1969 and 1970 years. After that, the automobile manufacturers were forced to decrease their engine sizes in order to comply with strict government regulations and safety concerns. Insurance premiums were on the rise and it became economically unfeasible for many to continue to own these high-performance machines. All this leads to the general public craving alternatives such as luxury and fuel-efficient vehicles.

1970 was a great year for the Skylark which saw its horsepower come closer to 300 horsepower. With the four-barrel 350 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine, horsepower was rated at 285. In the two-barrel form, the 350 cubic-inch engine produced an impressive 260 horsepower. For 1971 the horsepower began to decline as Buick began complying with the new government regulations. This trend continued in the years to come. By 1973, the production of the Buick Skylark had ceased. It began again in 1976 sitting atop a 111 wheelbase and offered in seven body styles including sport coupe, coupe, sedan, and hatchback. Standard was a 231 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine with a 3.8 bore and a 3.4 stroke and produced 11 horsepower. A 260 cubic-inch eight-cylinder was optional but still produced 110 horsepower. The 350 cubic-inch eight-cylinder brought the horsepower up to 165.

1953 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster photo
Skylark Convertible
View info and history
Production of the Skylark continued until 1997.


by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2008

Related Reading : Buick Roadmaster History

The Roadmasters name first appeared on Buick automobiles in 1936, known as the Series 80 Roadmaster and as a celebration of the engineering improvements and advancements in design. The Roadmasters were built on the longest wheelbase Buick had to offer, and from 1946 through 1957 they were the most elegant and prestigious automobiles that Buick sold. From 1936 through 1948 the Roadmaster appeared....
Continue Reading >>

1953 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

$1,260-$3,350
1953 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster
$5,000-$12,680
1953 Buick Series 70 Roadmaster Price Range: $3,350 - $5,000

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1953 Buick Models

Series 70 Roadmaster

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
86,131
126.00 in.
8 cyl., 320.20 CID., 150.00hp
8 cyl., 320.20 CID., 152.00hp
$2,616 - $3,732
75,034
126.25 in., 130.25 in.
8 cyl., 320.20 CID., 152.00hp
$2,530 - $3,405
66,058
126.00 in., 130.25 in.
8 cyl., 320.20 CID., 152.00hp
$3,050 - $3,977
46,217
126.25 in.
8 cyl., 320.20 CID., 170.00hp
$3,200 - $3,977
79,237
121.50 in.
8 cyl., 322.00 CID., 164.00hp
8 cyl., 322.00 CID., 188.00hp
$3,350 - $5,000

Related Automotive News

BUICK TURNS 110: MOST SIGNIFICANT BUICK OF EACH DECADE

BUICK TURNS 110: MOST SIGNIFICANT BUICK OF EACH DECADE

DETROIT – Remaining in business for 11 decades requires constant innovation, so choosing one model to represent a decade of significance can be a catalyst for debate. Among the hundreds of models designed and engineered for Buick, the 11 below...
Gooding & Company Presents the Best of American Motoring, from Brass Era Legends to Postwar Sports Cars, at Its Pebble Beach Auctions

Gooding & Company Presents the Best of American Motoring, from Brass Era Legends to Postwar Sports Cars, at Its Pebble Beach Auctions

An incredible 1912 Simplex 50 HP Toy Tonneau, offered for sale from 111 years of single family ownership, will come to market for the first time, alongside motoring icons from the greatest eras of American automotive history. The official auction...
ORDER BOOKS OPEN FOR THE AUDI SQ7 TDI – THE UK'S FASTEST, MOST POWERFUL DIESEL SUV

ORDER BOOKS OPEN FOR THE AUDI SQ7 TDI – THE UK'S FASTEST, MOST POWERFUL DIESEL SUV

Technological trendsetter can now be configured on audi.co.uk and ordered in UK Audi Centres nationwide New 435PS and 900Nm Q7 flagship priced from £70,970 OTR, available to order now with first deliveries starting in August Standard specification...

MULTI-TALENTED MERCEDES-BENZ GLA250 ADDS UPGRADED TECH FOR 2016

December 16, 2015 - ATLANTA With its progressive design, comfortable everyday driving, off-road capability and versatility, the Mercedes-Benz GLA is a decidedly progressive interpretation of the compact SUV. All-new for model year 2015, the GLA...
Glamorous and Rare Mercedes-Benz at Russo and Steele Newport Beach!

Glamorous and Rare Mercedes-Benz at Russo and Steele Newport Beach!

Scottsdale, Arizona (March 26, 2015) – Today, few classic cars are as sophisticated as the W111-generation Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet. Rare and highly refined, these athletic and luxurious five-passenger automobiles continued the enviable...
Magnificent Series of Coachbuilt Classics To Grace RM's Amelia Island Concours D'Elegance Sale

Magnificent Series of Coachbuilt Classics To Grace RM's Amelia Island Concours D'Elegance Sale

RM Auctions returns as the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours dElegance, March 9, 2013 Single-day sale features breathtaking roster of more than 80 investment-quality collector cars Notable highlights include an outstanding s...