My road trip find .. 63 Special convertible

Discussion in 'Classic Buicks' started by woody1640, Jul 17, 2016.

  1. woody1640

    woody1640 Well-Known Member

    I bought this on ebay auction. I have been looking for a decent (meaning complete car with seats and all, you'd be surprised how many are missing the seats) 63 Skylark or Special convertible project car with clear transferable title. Of course it turns out the body is not as good as I was told (I had a gut feeling it wasn't and the parts I figured were rusted are). But its not the worst, I will need a complete drivers side quarter panel, from the door all the way back, about 4" or so of the passenger side quarter was rusted and poorly repaired, the bottoms of both front fenders have bondo and the drivers floor pan will need a small patch. Otherwise the rest is pretty clean and solid for the most part.

    Car has sat (inside) for several decades and the motor is froze up, top is all dry rotted and shrunk so much it won't even go up all the way ... lol. I have a 63 skylark hdtp parts car that has full exterior trim in close to show quality condition with interior that is mint too. I plan on using the trim and interior on the convertible, upgrade it from a Special to Skylark.

    I had the 215 motor that came in the parts car (original #'s matching) completely rebuilt by our old time semi retired machinist (almost 80 years old) and gonna put that in the convertible as well.

    All in all it will be a great lil project and fun as heck to cruise around in when done.


    Keith vacation & convertible 033.jpg vacation & convertible 034.jpg vacation & convertible 035.jpg vacation & convertible 036.jpg
     
    Shawny likes this.
  2. bhambulldog

    bhambulldog 1955 76-RoadmasterRiviera

    Very Nice !
    Congratulations
     
  3. elagache

    elagache Platinum Level Contributor

    Best of luck! (Re: My road trip find .. 63 Special convertible)

    Congratulations Keith on the new baby!

    Best of luck on the restoration! Given that parts for these cars are hard to come by I suppose you like the challenge! May it work out wonderfully for you!

    Cheers, Edouard
     
  4. woody1640

    woody1640 Well-Known Member

    Re: Best of luck! (Re: My road trip find .. 63 Special convertible)

    Edouard: Thank you. I have a 63 hdtp that I've been working on for a few years (complete resto/mod) and I decided 2-3 years ago that I wanted to have 2 63 Buick Skylarks/specials, 1 hdtp & 1 convertible, so me being the bargain hunter I am, have stocked up on a few NOS parts (mainly steering & suspension) and a complete hdtp parts car with lots n lots of great quality parts.

    Keith
     
  5. elagache

    elagache Platinum Level Contributor

    Don't you want a COMPLETE collection? (Re: 63 Special convertible)

    Dear Keith and V-8 Buick collectors . . . . :grin:

    [​IMG] . . . Awe shucks Keith, don't you want a complete collection? Everybody knows that you won't have a complete set of 1963 Buick Skylarks/Specials unless you also have a . . . . wagon! [​IMG] . . . [​IMG]

    Cheers, Edouard :beer

    P.S. Biased? Who me? :Brow:
     
  6. chucknixon

    chucknixon Founders Club Member

    Sounds like a fun project and you have a great strategic plan. Good luck:beer
     
  7. woody1640

    woody1640 Well-Known Member

    Awe shucks Keith, don't you want a complete collection? Everybody knows that you won't have a complete set of 1963 Buick Skylarks/Specials unless you also have a . . . . wagon! . . .


    Well I do love the look of the old wagons too and may well end up with one of those too. Right now I have my plate full .. maybe after I get 1 done, who knows .. lol


    Keith
     
  8. Smokey15

    Smokey15 So old that I use AARP bolts.

    Both quarters look good in the pics. But pics can be deceiving. Always liked the early BOP compacts. Neighbor's bro had a powder blue '62 LeMans with a 4 cylinder, 4bbl, 4-speed. I thought it was sharp.
     
  9. mosslack

    mosslack Well-Known Member

    I had one of those also back in the day. The shifter for the 4 spd transaxle was a bit quirky, but still a fun car. Mine was maroon.
     
  10. woody1640

    woody1640 Well-Known Member



    Yeah theres been shady repairs done and a good bit of bondo used, some of it has started cracking.


    Keith
     

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