Because it was the only one on the island, and it was a matching number GS for under $3000- with another car and almost all the parts to finish it....
i wasn't even looking for a car when a freind asked me to help build a garage for him.his neibours(sp) had called codes on him because he had 4-5 old cars in his driveway.well he spent too much on the garage and offered to give me the 64 wildcat as partial payment.I thought why would i want a buick but after seeing the 425 2-4 bbls and the 4-speed shifter i decided sure a free car for my labor why not.But then he changed his mind and kept the car,(but told me if i ever sell it i will call you) 5 1/2 years later he called me and said it was for sale at the same price as our first deal.I was the proud owner of my 1st buick.my second buick was also a wildcat 1970 model i bought it because of 455-4 BBB power. :Brow: scott 1964 wildcat 1970 wildcat
I had gone by the "Lemon Lot" a couple of times on the way home and saw the 63 Wildcat and thought that "yeah it'll be a cold day in .... when I can get something like that" Well much to my surprise my wife called me at work (I'm in the Army at Ft. Lewis) and said she had found a car that she absolutely loved. I told her that I would come and take a look at it. It was the Wildcat! I almost fell out. :eek2: Anyway, the guy that owned it was going to Germany and wanted $2k for it. The Mrs. talked him down to $1500. A day later it was in my garage. I'm still a bit shocked. Now it's become an obsession of mine. This is my first project and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I'm a logistician by trade, so finding parts and stuff is something that comes naturally. Working on the Cat is a whole different world that I've come to thoroughly enjoy. Now for exhaust, paint, and a speedometer, (oh yeah and some condensation problems) she'll be a daily driver. And to think .... my cold day had come....:TU:
Pretty much all of the above. Bought my car in September of '05 for $1,150 and could of drove it home. I've put about $2,500 into the car so far, driven it over 10,000 miles, and still havent touched the motor aside from a water pump, carb rebuild, and valve cover gaskets. I wouldnt trade this car for a 69 Charger, let alone any newer makes for several reasons: 1.) Nice body lines 2.) Stock muscle car, intimidates at a glance, and strangers drool over it. 3.) Very easy to work on, and is reliable. 4.) Nobody has heard of the Skylarks aside from true car enthusiest (sp?) 5.) It pisses off the rest of my Chevy loving family. They cant seem to understand why I prefer the Buick over their Cheverolets. :TU: 6.) It's a completely different atmosphere here. Everybody's nice, and know it's not just another car. Could go on and on, but you allready know all about it.
I own my buick because I'm a dumbass....... :laugh: I fell in love with a 69 convertible from Virginia 7 years ago - and about 8 others have followed me home since............ WHy couldn't I have fallen in love with a vehicle that you can find parts for :spank: I think that everyone buys what they like - I just happen to like buicks, and can't justify trading it for anything else. I like being different and I like the power :3gears:
1.) Nice body lines 2.) Stock muscle car, intimidates at a glance, and strangers drool over it. 3.) Very easy to work on, and is reliable. 4.) Nobody has heard of the Skylarks aside from true car enthusiest (sp?) 5.) It pisses off the rest of my Chevy loving family. They cant seem to understand why I prefer the Buick over their Cheverolets. :TU: 6.) It's a completely different atmosphere here. Everybody's nice, and know it's not just another car. I always tell my poor chevy buddies, it's nice that they make chevies so the poor people can afford a car too. Or that chevies are nice starter cars.
They are the most unique and classy of the 60s-70s mus:3gears: cle car era. Like most people here already stated, usually only one or two at a car show. I bought my 68 GS-350 because I liked its body lines, compared to the other Gm A-bodies. Even though it was way more difficult to find pieces for it during the resto, it was well worth it. I've always loved GM muscle over the other companys but my heart will always be with Buick.
1. Didn't want to be another guy with a Camaro, Nova, Impala, Mustang, Bel Air etc. at the cruise night/car show. 2. They say the first muscle car was the 64 GTO. Phooey -I say - The 64 Riviera had more horse power and torque and was a more classy car. (Thats why I own mine). The gentleman's muscle car - Old's adopted that with the 68 Hurst. 3. I have yet to run into another 64 Riv at a cruise night. I like when people say "Wow a Riviera, what year is it?" "That engine is a monster - What is it?" Everyone knows the Chebby engines, they don't know the nailhead. 4. The 64 Riviera has nothing on it to signify it is a Buick. Makes the car very unique. 5. The car has been known as one of the best designed automobiles of all time - Thanks Bill Mitchell. 6. I love the car - enough said! :beer :3gears:
I was looking for a car the same age as me (1965). Went out to just look at my Skylark Convertible and fell in love. Didn't appreciate the difference between A-Bodies at the time, but sure like it better than a Chevy or Pontiac since it's unique. Sometimes wish I had found a GS instead, but wouldn't clone my baby...that's just a sin.
I like the comments you hear when about town: "Now, that's when they really built cars" or "I had one just like like it" or "Man, she sure is a beauty". Also seeing the old folks faces light up when they walk by it. I read another reply about submarine races ... that was in my first 69 GS. That back seat is looking awfully small these days (or is it that my waistline isn't?).
This is me in my '66 with my grandmother. I have had it since 1987 when my grandfather died and left it to me. I always loved riding in the car when I went to visit them. He special ordered it new from the dealer, so I am the second owner. Still has his name and address on the protecto plate in the owners protection guide. This should explain why I still have it and 3 other Buicks now!
My inspiration photo circa 1981, 9 year old uick Skylark convertible a favorite of everyone. Look familiar??????? http://byfiles.storage.msn.com/x1pk-gfbBzR5QrcztGHmUzFwU_zNwMccgiegZou2gQB5 I sold it for $600 in 1988, a shame. ou:
I wanted to vote for all of them . . . But that all applies to my first Buick, the '78 Sport Coupe. What originally made me buy that car, basically, I was young, had some extra cash, and it was spring time. At the time, I was driving a rusted out '79 4-door Malibu Classic. Don't get me wrong, I loved that car to death, but I was in the mood for something a little more cut out for summer cruising. I really was looking high and low for a two door Malibu. I actually found a perfect one too, it was a black '80 two door with a white interior :shock:, power everything, with a 305/4bbl. The body was perfect on it aside from a deep scratch on the passenger door. The guy was selling it for $300 because the alternator was bad and he didn't know how to change it. ou: I told him I would be there the following evening with cash in hand, I just needed to pick up an alternator and my tools so I could drive it home. Called him the next day to let him know I was on my way, and he told me he had just sold it. I wanted to cry. But back to the classifieds. A couple weeks later, I came across an ad that read "1978 Regal, 350 Chevy engine, Edelbrock intake, $750" I honestly had no idea what a '78 looked like, but went to take a look. I pulled up to the guys house and saw an absolute basket case sitting out front. Back end almost sitting on the ground, rusted rallye wheels, rotted tires, thrashed interior, and filthy as all hell. The car was just downright ugly. But then again, I have a thing for ugly cars, and I knew there weren't many more of these in town. Plus it had the turbo bulge hood, bucket seats, and a console shifter, and all I saw was potential. I spent a good hour talking with the guy, looking it over, and did a quick test drive. I bought it that afternoon. The transmission started slipping halfway home, and by the time I got home, reverse was totally gone. It was Friday night, so there wasn't much that could be done about that until Monday. So I spent the weekend ripping out the whole interior, scrubbing it clean, and painting all the faded pink vinyl black. New headliner, seat covers, floor mats, and two days later, I had a very presentable two tone black and red interior. I was actually quite proud of it. Monday morning I drove the car to the transmission shop across the street from the tire shop I worked at. Well, I actually had to be pushed the last few blocks, but it got there. Had ol' Herb work his magic, and a few days later she was ready to rock. Brought it back to the tire shop, threw it on a lift, and went to work. New brakes all the way around, new air shocks in the back and some good Monroes up front, and a full fluid change. Spent an afternoon polishing the chrome back out of the wheels, threw some new tires on it, and then sent it to the exhaust shop next door to have one of the broken tail pipes fixed. By that weekend, the car looked and drove a million times better. By the time I polished the rest of the chrome and buffed out the paint as best I could, the car just dripped with attitude. For the next two summers that car was my pride and joy. Saturday night cruises (and every other day of the week too), interstate road trips, and date nights with the girls, that car did it all. But eventually rust got the better of it, and when the bumper fell off the back, I knew it was time to park it. I still hung on to it for several years, but I finally faced reality and parted it out. I kept the wheels, interior, turbo hood, and everything that gave the car its character. Now I have a totally rust free '79, and I'm going to ressurect the beast I loved and cherished. I can't wait. Hope that wasn't too long to read . . .
Buicks, when I was young I hated them (nailheads) but I was working in a Buick dealership in 67 and bought a GS 340 new. Didn't kjeep it long but ended up with it again in 83 and kept it until 90. In 95 our Auto Tech class was wanting to build a cheap bracket car. Had a 68 Skylark setting around and bought 3 455s for $50. and the rest is history as they say. Been racing Buicks since 95. I really like being different. Jim N.
I own buicks because from the time i was crawling all I ever heard about was buicks. Like most buick lovers it runs in my family. My grandfather bought a brand new GS Stage2 when I was little, he took me for a ride in it as soon as he got it home, from that day on I knew I would always be a buick guy. Another thing is, I live in a town of about 20,000 people and I own the only two Buick GS's in this entire town and there are only three known to exist in this entire county. My car is always the only buick at our local shows and it gets the most attention as well. Most of my car friends dislike buicks, but none of them will race me!!!!!!!:3gears: :3gears: :3gears: 71 GS Stage 1 71 Skylark Vert 69 GS 400
Why Not? That's the only reason I can think of. We've owned this same car for 29 years, so it's become part of the family. I've been in this hobby since the era of Duesenbergs and V12 Packards. Now it's the muscle cars. The '57 Bel Air convertable's got the big money, then the Ls6 Chevelles, now it's the Hemi Cudas. The money or the popularity of a car dosen't mean anything to me. Buick owners have a certain comraderie that I like. Maybe because we've thought a bit about what we like, and didn't run out and buy the first Chevy or Mustang that we saw. You got to know something to drive an old Buick. You just don't pick up a magazine and order the latest repro part. I like Chevies and Stangs as much as the next guy, but I'm proud to own a Buick.
I inherited the car. Having owned in the past a '68 Roadrunner, '87 GN, and a '91 GMC Typhoon, Grumpy's Deuce was not a car I would have chosen to buy. The cars that I really liked are out of my price range now. After getting this car and living with it for the past year, I have a new apprieciation for the older luxury boats I so admired as a kid in the 'hood. The car is now a part of my family, and my 7 year old tells me when he gets the car he's going to install hydraulics on it. I'm having fun! Ken
