newby looking for info

Hey folks! Here's the story. My first car was a 71 skylark hard top. I allways wished it was a convertible. Got it when I was 15 (I'm now 37). I am now looking for that 71 convertible. Its okay if its not a gs but I would like to have the gs hood. I'm looking for a car I can drive that I dont have to work on constantly, but could fix up over time. Plese give me your thoughts and any advice.

BTW I have a 86 all original Jeep CJ7 that I need to move prior to making a deal on a skylark

 

You will LOVE being back in the seat of a Buick.....and a Convertible ?? YEAH BAYBEE !!! the ONLY way to Cruise, IMHO.

Prices are high right now on GS converts and prolly will not go down, so a Sky is the way to get into the seat on the cheap.

If you're not experienced doing body work, I'd advise getting a car that either has always been rust free, or one thats already had it repaired.

I went through this myself and first, its not cheap ....second, parts are hard to find, and third, you'll prolly save money buying one thats already done than buying a car that need disgnificant body panel replacement.

.....only thing is to make sure the work was performed well.

Stick around here and you'll learn all you'll ever need.

Welcome back :TU:

 

Thanks for the input! I was reading on the site the other day and a few were talking about spending $ on skylark vs a GS. The gist of the discussion was you can spend a lot on a basic lark and still have a lark. If you spend it on a big block GS you will have spent the $ but you will have something worth it rather than being upside down in a cool lark. Your thoughts?

deloachman

 

My thoughts are that in the old car hobby, I am not after an investment, I am after a car.

I've done the clone thing, and I am quite happy with it. I drive the car daily, and I get to enjoy my Buick more often than anyone who has a real GS455 convertible.

Putting money into a car but you would "still have a Slylark" and "you will have something worth it rather than being upside down in a cool lark" makes me wonder if you are worried primarily about the investment values. If the money value of the whole thing is your primary goal, I would be remiss if I didn't suggest that you seriously consider a muscle car that has more value in the eyes of a collector, such as a GTO or Chevelle SS, or a sports car like a '67 Corvette, or even a new Corvette.

My goal personally is to have fun doing something I like. I do it with a 1970 Skylark Custom convertible, which is itself a rare car, less than 3500 made. Rarer than a GS Sport Coupe from 1970, I think.

You can have a Skylark and put money into it and have a lot more than just a Skylark. Of course the numbers will always say it's "just a Skylark". Some of us feel that there is no such thing as "just a Skylark". Would I like to have a real GS455 convertible? Only if I could make it my daily driver.

There is very little snobbery among Buick enthusiasts concerning who has the Skylark and who has the GS, and who has the big block and who has the small block, and who has the hardtop and who has the convertible, unless someone tries to fool somebody with a car that is made to deceive others for monetary gain. When you come right down to it, a Skylark can be as valuable or more valuable than a GS- like a '53 Skylark vs. a '70 GS455

 

I do look at the investment side of things as well as the fun and enjoyment of the car. I am deffinately not interested in having a car I cant use for a daily driver. I just worry about spending a ton and not being able to get it back, or at least most of it. And thats where my question came from. Would it be better to put the money into the Skylark or the GS? My interest in the Skylark is not for "collector" reasons but that my first car was a 71 hard top and I'd love to be in one again for the nostalgia of it and the fun of it. But a convertible this time. So a skylark or a clone would be GREAT for that. I just wanted to know which one you guys thought would be the better investment?

 

You have to look at the dollar value from the " pleasure of ownership & driveability" point of view.
My '71 Skylark is a Skylark is a Skylark. No real profit taking here should I ever decide to sell. Bone stock as I can keep it, but a nice clean bone stock. Have asked for some pretty small/oblivious pieces here, some particular to a '71 350 only.
Love to take the car across town, down to the coffee shop or take the kids to the Dairy Queen on a sunny evening. ( Sunny in Saint John happens very seldom) We're quite used to the liquid sunshine in the form of fog.
Car driven couple evenings a week & usually couple times on the weekend. Key word is driven, not flogged.
My mindset is that with all that time & effort into it, I'm going to enjoy it while I can.
Everyone has a different reason to keep an old car, I'm sure many will agree with me but some also strive for racing or concours show. Each idea is just great for each owner.