Buick Skylark, Red, for sale in Charlotte, North Carolina, for $18,995.

If you're under 40 years old, forget everything you know about Buicks, everything you saw growing up, and every Buick you've ever seen an old dude driving. In the '60s, Buicks were for people who enjoyed performance, but weren't willing to give up their luxury accommodations to get it. Horsepower was king, and not even Buick was immune to putting big V8s in their mid-sized cars. This 1966 Skylark was exactly the kind of car that you might see driving down your street, perhaps owned by the guy with a Corvette he drove on weekends (or maybe his attractive young wife who always smiled at you). With a handsome maroon paint job and a smooth-running 300 cubic inch V8 under the hood, this Skylark is a right-sized car that will make you smile every time you slide behind the wheel. It's also heavily documented, with things like the original broadcast sheet, warranty booklet and Protect-O-Plate, owner's manual, and even the original sales invoice dated May 7, 1966!

The well-proportioned body is a little more curvaceous than your garden-variety Chevelle and not quite as bulky as a GTO, and the maroon finish compliments the image that Buick was trying to cultivate. Bodywork and paint is show quality, having been done in the not-too-distant past and it's obvious that this was always a clean, well-maintained car that didn't need major surgery during the restoration. More evidence can be found in how nicely the big hood and deck lid fit, and you know there are no replacement panels for these cars, so that's all General Motors steel on there. Buick was done with gratuitous chrome on their cars as well, with just bright, shiny bumpers and a few pieces of trim contrasting with the paint, and it's all nicely finished. A cool ribbed tail panel fits between the taillights, adding some interest and a distinctive look to the back of the car, and the blacked-out grille hints at the performance living behind it.

The interior has been nicely restored in original style black vinyl, and there's stretch-out room for six with the wide bench seats. Crisp new door panels with correct badges like these are probably difficult to find, and I don't know where you go to find someone to refinish that bright strip of trim that stretches across the dashboard-well done! I'm guessing that the steering wheel isn't original, but it is a sporty leather-wrapped piece with a Buick horn button that fits this car's personality perfectly, and the slender shifter lever is straight out of the era of skinny ties and pointy shoes. You'll note that this car has factory A/C, and all the components to hook it up are included, including the compressor which is already mounted in the engine bay. Open the trunk and you'll find a stunningly undamaged luggage compartment that leaves no doubts about how clean this car really is-those aren't replacement panels, those are original!

Under the hood you'll find Buick's Wildcat 310 V8. Like all the automakers of the period, horsepower was the name of the game, but Buick took it one step further and named all their engines for their torque output. The Wildcat 310 was 300 cubic inches topped by a 2-barrel carburetor and made 210 horsepower and, obviously, 310 pounds of torque. 310 is a lot more impressive than 210, don't you agree? Whatever the name, however, the smooth-running V8 moves the relatively lightweight Skylark easily, and you'll enjoy the muted V8 soundtrack. The engine wears a correct coat of Buick Turquoise paint and appears to have been recently rebuilt and refinished. The rest of the engine bay seems like a combination of excellent original components and new equipment, and this is such a clean original car, it's awfully hard to find the line between the two. As I said, the original A6 A/C compressor is still hanging on the engine and the remaining parts needed are included, or you may convert the system to modern, more efficient vintage air, whichever you choose.

It would be a mistake to overlook Buicks if you're looking for a fun '60s car to drive this summer. All the things that people love about Chevelles are right here in this Skylark: V8 power, a spacious interior, and handsome good looks. They're also a lot more unusual, so if you're the sort of guy who doesn't like driving a cookie cutter car, you will probably enjoy this Buick. It's hard to get into a V8-powered car in this condition for less money, so give us a call today!