The early fifties were a time of wonder and excitement in America. The war was won; the GIs had returned home, were starting families and building businesses. Seemingly insatiable demand for all products – but especially automobiles created one of the country’s greatest periods of economic expansion. At the heart of it all was GM’s traveling Motorama, a no-holds-barred display of dazzling technology and stunning styling. A series of stunning styling exercises captivated the public – but most were not for sale.

Three very special cars were made available for purchase by a lucky few who could afford the startling price tags – and who had the influence needed to secure one. They were the Oldsmobile Fiesta, the Buick Skylark and the Cadillac Eldorado, and they are coveted so highly by collectors today that to own a full set has been called the “triple crown” of car collecting.

In 1953, Buick launched the beautiful new Skylark. The car was striking, with styling cues taken from XP-300 LeSabre concept, and a beautiful swooping beltline never before seen on a Buick. Mounted on a Roadmaster chassis, the Skylark offered exceptional performance, yet with the convertible top in place, the car was less than five feet tall. The sporty, yet luxurious Skylark is powered by a 322-cid, 188-hp V-8 engine with an automatic transmission. The distinctive chrome wire wheels and wide whitewall tires look incredible with its brightly-toned blue finish and complementary two-tone red and white interior. The low-profile hydraulically-operated canvas soft-top is white, as is the wheelwell paint detail.

It is reported that this car was restored in a high-end fashion in recent times and continues to demonstrate the type of presentation one expects of this type of fine automobile. Additional features include a radio, hydraulically-operated window lifts, power steering, damascene-type dash and door detail, exceptional bright trim details and model-specific badging for this special car.

All told, just 1,690 Skylarks were produced in 1953, making them among the rarest and most desirable of fifties GM convertibles.

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Auto blog

2014 Buick LaCrosse updated with new styling, tech

Mon, 25 Mar 2013

Buick might have one of the smallest lineups among major automakers, but by the time the 2014 model rolls around, it will definitely have one of the freshest. Debuting at the New York Auto Show this week, the 2014 Buick LaCrosse receives numerous styling changes inside and out, and it benefits from many of the same new features found on closely related models like the Cadillac XTS and the 2014 Chevrolet Impala.
Exterior changes are relatively minor, but they still help give the car a fresh, new look. The new face of the 2014 LaCrosse fits in with recently new or redesigned Buick models with its oversized waterfall grille, LED-trimmed headlights and the signature hood vents being moved to the side of the hood rather than the top. Similar changes have been made to the rear, like the reshaped LED taillights, the full-width chrome trim and a new fascia design; LaCrosse models equipped with the 3.6-liter V6 will still get the integrated exhaust finishers but they're executed in a more stylish manner than the current model. Finishing off the exterior, new wheel designs are also being introduced, which will include bringing 20-inch wheels to the sedan's option list.
Inside, Buick redesigned almost the entire cabin to create a more luxurious and upscale appearance. The instrument panel is essentially carried over, but pretty much everything else has been redesigned and updated with the biggest change being to the driver's area. Dual eight-inch configurable displays make up the center stack and gauge cluster, while the overall number of buttons have been reduced from 17 down to just seven. The 2014 LaCrosse will also be offered with the next-generation IntelliLink, which receives many of the same enhancements as Chevy's latest version of MyLink adding better customization, improved voice commands and more features including Pandora. Additionally, new door panels, seat and center console complete the LaCrosse's interior redesign.

Buick picks top 11 highlights from first 11 decades

Sun, 21 Apr 2013

Buick has taken the time to highlight some of the company's personal points of pride from the past 110 years. Those include everything from the automaker's very first vehicle, the 1904 Model B, to what Buick claims is the world's first concept car: The 1938 Y Job (above). That one also walked away with the worst name for a design study.
All told, the automaker has sold 43 million vehicles through the end of last year, and those include the lusty 1963 Riviera. That model celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2013, and remains one of the brand's most iconic designs.
Of course, Buick is rightfully proud of its quickest model, too. The 1987 GNX managed a 4.6-second bolt to 60 mph in tests by Car and Driver, and it also took the honor of being one of the automaker's rarest creations at just 547 units. You can check out all 10 in the gallery above.

Opel readying Adam model with SUV cues

Fri, 11 Oct 2013

The Opel Adam, the microcar of General Motors' European subsidiary, has seen its sales cool significantly since it first hit the market in the United Kingdom and Europe, but a push is reportedly under way that just might be enough to get the stylish, little car moving again.
Using the Opel Adam Rocks Concept as a template, Opel will ruggedize the Adam, so that it might compete with the growing herd of city cars that sport SUV styling, like the Volkswagen Cross Up and Fiat Panda 4x4, according to a report from Automotive News Europe. Sporting a bumped-up ride height and tougher body work, it's a dedicated soft-roader, but will freshen the Adam's lineup and, hopefully, broaden its customer appeal.
The Adam Rocks, according to IHS Automotive analyst Ian Fletcher, should also make some more coin for GM's struggling European arm. "Automakers are happy to meet demand for SUV and crossovers as the customer pays a premium," Fletcher told ANE. And although the Rocks might have been planned from the start as a production vehicle, the timing, with the Adam's sales slowdown, doesn't seem like a coincidence.

1953 Buick Skylark Convertible on 2040-cars

Buick Skylark for Sale