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1968 Buick Skylark

North Vancouver, British Columbia

$26,990

Vehicle Details

Make

Buick

Model

Skylark

Year

1968

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Condition

Good

Description

This numbers-matching 1968 Buick Skylark Custom delivers genuine muscle car appeal with factory air conditioning—a rare find on classics from this era. An older frame-off restoration preserved the original character while ensuring reliability, and every piece of chrome trim remains intact and gleaming. The undercarriage is rust-free and immaculate, revealing the meticulous work throughout.

Clean lines, commanding presence, and that unmistakable Buick styling make this Skylark an instant head-turner at any gathering. Whether cruising local roads or embarking on weekend adventures, this is a properly restored classic ready to enjoy. Verification of matching numbers and complete documentation included.

Classic Buick Skylark Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Mike Sullivan

Muscle Cars

1953–1972

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

Definitive buyer's guide for classic Buick Skylark 1953-1972. Generation breakdown, GS authentication, A-body frame inspection, current pricing for survivors and concours examples.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Skylark Buyer's Guide

Buick Skylark Market Overview

Based on 22 Buick Skylark listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$36,532

Avg. Asking Price

1953–1972

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site - Average Range

This car: $26,990

Low: $5,100 High: $249,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 73%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 9%

Good 14% ◄

Fair 9%

Poor 5%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 22 listings →

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Classic Buick Skylark Buyer's Guide

The Buick Skylark launched for 1953 as Harley Earl's personal-luxury convertible, a limited-production Anniversary Edition celebrating Buick's 50th anniversary, with only 1,690 cars produced across two model years. Across twenty years of classic-era production (1953-1972), the Skylark evolved into Buick's mid-size A-body offering and the foundation of the Buick Gran Sport (GS) muscle-car program. The 1965-1972 Skylark GS variants, particularly the 1969-1970 GS Stage 1, represent the high-water mark of Buick factory performance. The Stage 1 package added high-compression heads, performance camshaft, and unique intake to produce 360-370 hp from the 455 V8 (significantly under-rated by Buick to manage insurance concerns). This guide covers what every buyer should verify before paying premium money for any GS or Stage 1 variant.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Order PHS Documentation Report ($50-$80) , Pontiac Historic Services covers Buick A-body production records. Mandatory for GS verification.

✓

Verify body style code on cowl tag , Skylark, Skylark Custom, GS, Sport Wagon each have different value trajectories.

✓

For GS claims, verify Gran Sport RPO codes , GS package added performance equipment. Documentation mandatory for premium pricing.

✓

Cross-reference VIN engine code with block casting , Buick V6 (231) and V8 (300, 350, 400, 455) engines have specific casting numbers.

✓

For GS Stage 1 claims, demand specialist authentication , Stage 1 was high-performance package, specific cam, heads, intake. Re-stamped blocks well-documented forgeries.

✓

Inspect A-body perimeter frame , Body mount cushions collapse. Frame rust = $1,500-$3,500 minimum repair.

✓

Magnet test rear quarters and rocker panels , Body filler is non-magnetic.

✓

For 1953-1954 cars, verify limited-production status , Original 1953-1954 Skylarks (only 836 produced) require specialist authentication.

✓

Examine cowl seam at windshield base , Cowl rust drains into cabin and rots floor pans.

✓

Compression test all eight cylinders , Should read 145-185 PSI uniformly. GS Stage 1 cars run higher compression.

Common Issues

Skylark rust patterns vary by generation. The 1953-1954 Anniversary Edition convertibles rust at the lower body panels and rear corners. The 1961-1963 compact Skylarks use unibody construction and rust at floor pans, rocker panels, and front strut towers. The 1964-1972 A-body Skylarks share rust patterns with Chevelle, GTO, Cutlass, body mount points, lower rear quarters, trunk drop-offs, frame rails, floor pans, cowl seam. Mechanically, Buick V8 engines (340, 350, 400, 455) are bulletproof when maintained. The aluminum 215 V8 (1961-1963) is similarly durable but rare. Common issues include broken motor mounts on big-block cars, worn timing chains, leaky valve covers and oil pan gaskets, and tired Quadrajet carburetors. The Stage 1 cars used high-compression heads, these cars require premium fuel and may suffer valve seat recession on modern unleaded fuel. The Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 and 400 transmissions are essentially indestructible. The Muncie M20/M21 four-speeds (in GS performance variants) are robust. Electrical issues are universal classic-car concerns.

What to Look For

PHS Documentation is the gold-standard verification for any GS or Stage 1 Skylark. PHS covers Buick A-body production records ($50-$80 per report). Without PHS documentation, treat all GS claims as Skylark clones with GS trim added. For GS claims, verify the GS RPO codes on the cowl tag. Cross-reference with VIN body code and PHS report. Engine identification is essential. The Buick 340, 350, 400, and 455 V8s have specific casting numbers on the back of the block. The two-letter stamp code on the front of the block identifies the specific engine type. The most desirable codes are GS Stage 1 codes for 1968-1970 cars. For Stage 1 claims, demand specialist authentication. The Stage 1 package included high-compression heads, performance cam, special intake manifold, and unique exhaust. Re-stamped 455 blocks are well-documented forgeries. For 1953-1954 Anniversary Edition claims, demand specialist authentication. Only 1,690 cars produced, every chassis number is documented in the marque registry. Forgeries with cloned trim and badging exist. Frame inspection is the second non-negotiable. The A-body perimeter frame rusts at body mount points and front kick-up. Document the car. Photograph every panel, every cowl tag, every engine stamp, every chassis number, and every identifying tag.

Price Guide

1953-1954 Anniversary Edition Skylark: driver-quality cars run $150,000-$280,000. Documented original-paint Anniversary cars: $200,000-$400,000+. The 1953 launch year is more desirable than 1954. 1961-1963 compact Skylark: driver-quality cars run $14,000-$28,000. Documented original-paint cars: $22,000-$38,000. 1964-1967 A-body Skylark base and Skylark GS340 (mid-trim): driver-quality cars run $18,000-$38,000. Documented original cars: $28,000-$48,000. 1968-1970 Skylark GS400 (with 400 V8): driver-quality cars run $32,000-$58,000. Documented PHS-verified cars: $42,000-$70,000. 1969-1970 GS455 (with 455 V8 base trim): driver-quality cars run $35,000-$60,000. Documented cars: $48,000-$80,000. 1969-1970 GS455 Stage 1: driver-quality cars run $50,000-$95,000. Documented numbers-matching Stage 1 cars: $80,000-$160,000+. The 1970 GS Stage 1 convertible: $90,000-$180,000+. 1971-1972 Skylark GS455 (federal emissions de-tuned): driver-quality cars run $25,000-$45,000. Documented cars: $35,000-$60,000. Convertible Skylarks (1965-1972) command 25-35% premium over equivalent hardtops. Project Skylarks start around $8,000-$18,000. Stripped roller candidates: $3,500-$10,000.

Did You Know?

The 1953-1954 Buick Skylark Anniversary Edition was Harley Earl's halo car celebrating Buick's 50th anniversary. Earl personally designed the limited-production convertible with reduced production volume (only 1,690 cars across two model years), Anniversary trim, and unique wire wheels. The car was priced at $5,000 in 1953 (equivalent to over $55,000 in 2024 dollars), making it among the most expensive American production cars of its era. Documented original Anniversary Skylarks have appeared at major concours events including Pebble Beach and Amelia Island, consistently commanding $200,000-$400,000+. The Buick Skylark Gran Sport Stage 1 (1968-1970) was Buick's answer to the Pontiac GTO and Oldsmobile 442 W-30. The Stage 1 package featured high-compression cylinder heads (10.5:1 versus standard 10.0:1), a hot performance camshaft, special intake manifold, and unique exhaust. Buick rated the Stage 1 at 360 hp net (1969) and 350 hp net (1970), significantly under-rated by Buick. Actual dyno output was approximately 400-410 hp, making the Stage 1 one of the most powerful production muscle cars of the era. The Skylark nameplate has been revived multiple times by General Motors over the decades, most notably for 1975-1979 (compact X-body), 1980-1985 (compact X-body Phoenix sister), and 1986-1998 (compact N-body). The original 1953-1972 classic Skylark eras remain the actively-collected market; the modern revivals are not collector vehicles.

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$26,990