Hi everyone, I just scored a orginal owner little ole lady 72 Skylark custom. I had approached her about selling before and left my name and number if she ever wanted to sell.I was in the area recently and drove by and it was in the front yard with a for sale sign.She had passed away but her husband remembered me looking at the car and said she had decided to sale it to me a few weeks after looking at it but had lost my number.Well five years later I now have the car;it is in worst shape because the back glass began leaking and the car has some rust that wasn't there before but with some bodywork and paint it will be a great cruiser because it runs and drives great. Features are 2 door hardtop,AC,AT,AM radio,PS,350 2 BBL,halo style vinyl top,custom trim pkg,upper body peak mlgs,and still has the orginal paint.I was able to get the car for $500.00.Lots of people would make it a parts car but it is way to nice to do that in my book. If anyone would like to post some pics for me I can email some to you.
My Skylark was owned by a lady named Mildred Krmpotic (correct spelling) of McGill, NV. Her son bought it new for her in the fall of 63. She was a Czech immigrant and I was told that she was a nice old gal but could cuss like a sailor and didn't mind doing it in a thick Czech accent. She once did it to a police officer that stopped her for speeding on her way to Ely. She had died before I found the car and bought it from her son. I'm not the type to name my vehicles, but Mildred seems like a good name for an old lady's car like a Buick.
Thanks Chris Thanks for the offer Chris;I sent you some pictures. I got the car a few weeks back and have already begun to do some tear down.My 11 year old son is having a fit to get it painted and take to cruise ins and maybe some small local shows. I have been to long without a car to participate with;I have a good collection but they are all projects and I have spent most of my free time working on customer cars to pay bills and buy parts for my other cars.Maybe this summer I can get this car painted and driveable [drives now but needs some brake work] My son stripped the deck lid to bare metal,took him 2 hours, and I fixed a few minor dings,welded up some holes from the selling dealer emblem and got it under primer today.
advise OK now that everyone has seen the pictures I would like your opinions on what to do with the car. One thing I am not going to do is change the drivetrain,it will stay original. My desire is to not spend a lot of money on this car but make it nice. I will do my own bodywork and paint.I have my own hobby shop and do lots of bodywork to make extra money so that part of the resto will not be to expensive for me.I will rechrome the bumpers and that will probably be the biggest expense.But do ya'll think I should leave car totally stock or remove vinly top,custom wheels or factory buick rally,recover seats original or custom ect???????? Please keep in mind that this is a penny pinching redo.Thanks, Rusty
Rusty do it to your taste. Original is nice in my opinion. beef up the 350 a little and it will be a fun little crusier.
You could slowly restore it over the next 4 or 5 years keeping your son involved in each step. Then when he turns 16 give it to him (keep the 350-2). Then you'll have all thoughs father/son bonding moments to look back on and you can blackmail him with threats to take the car away if his grades slip.
My son will truely be involved with the resto of this car;in fact I am not doing alot to it unless he is present/helping. I am not going to give him the car though as I have already given him a numbers matching 70 GS350 in need of more work than this car;but he said he would rather have the GS than this car.Going to show him some of the ropes on this car before we start on his GS350. He is truely interested in cars at 11 years old so I think we have a true Buick fan coming up in my son;I couldn't be happier!!
Make it a parts car? That looks to be in just about the same shape as mine... so I'm glad you share my opinion and plan on getting it back going :grin: Enjoy it, make it yours.
Where are the opinions? OK guys,where are your opinions on how to finish out this car?I figured this would be a fun topic and who knows;your idea may influence how I dress out this car. I am sending Chris a couple more pics to post for me.These pics show why some poeple mess up more than they are trying to fix.On both the winshield and back glass someone had siliconed the glass channels full and covered the outside mouldings in silicone as well.I spent a couple hours just getting moulding off without bending them!!!!!! I guess they thought the front windshield was leaking and it was the heater core that is leaking.
If it were up to me, I'd keep the car 100% original. Keep the hubcaps: you don't see them too often anymore. Keep the "halo" vinyl top: those are also somewhat uncommon. Keep the original color paint: browns are understated but if you have ever seen a restored skylark/GS with rechromed bumpers and a new brown paint job you will see that a musclecar can look good in almost any color, including browns/creams/greens. Keep the stock upholstery: there's nothing as fun as crusing around in a car just the way it was 30 years ago. I'd say even keep the AM (or AM/FM) radio if it has it and get it reconditioned. That's how I would build the car.
