When the Buick Skylark first arrived in 1953, it was noteworthy and groundbreaking. Conceived as part of Buick's 50th Anniversary celebration, the company gave this vehicle extra prestige and status. Not only did a bunch of newer, higher-end standard equipment make its debut here, but also the company furnished the Skylark with its first modern V8 engine. General Motors, Buick's parent company, made sure only a limited number were made, making the Skylark rare and collectible in its first year. These days, the models are still known to be intact, both in that many of the original but limited number survive, and also in that these models are well-maintained or thoroughly restored.

Read on to find out more information regarding the legacy of Buick's first iteration of Skylark models.

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Buick Skylark: Rare And Collectible

This original model of Skylark had a limited number of units produced, making it rare and collectible. With a starting MSRP of $4,596, this Skylark had an original appearance and debuted standard equipment Buick had yet to display in any of their previous models. Its wheels were Kelsey-Hayes 40-spoke chrome and the chassis was based on the premium-series Buick Roadmaster.

Even better was that Buick used their first modern V8 engine to be installed in the 1953 Buick Skylark, putting out 188 HP. Further, the model was hand-finished, so Buick pulled out all the stops. This 1953 Buick Skylark convertible was part of Buick's 50th Anniversary celebration, hence the extra attention to detail and more high-end features. That said, adding to its prestige was its limited-production run, with only 1,640 units being sold in its debut year. Given the rarity of this particular model, its owners have often gone out of their way to preserve or restore them.

Buick Skylark: Six-Figure Resale Value

These Skylarks have a massive retail value, dancing back and forth between the six-figure mark. Some cheaper models still sell for approximately $91,000. One yellow unit with only 20,807 models still sold for $99,900, which is just short of the six-figure mark. Speaking of, other models can sell for $109,995, $139,000, or even $150,000. The latter was even well taken care of, having been in the same owner's possession for 50 years.

Even with lower mileage, such as 13,638, sellers still ask $91,000 if the car is in good condition. Overall, price guides even list the 1953 Buick Skylark as being sold for up to $190,000, assuming low mileage and pristine condition. Auctions even have the models selling higher, with potential customers constantly attempting to outbid each other. A June 2007 sale reportedly had one Skylark sell for a milestone of $495,000.

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Buick Skylark: 50th Anniversary Special

The 1953 Buick Skylark was created to coincide with Buick's 50th Anniversary. The convertible was customized through the factory that manufactured it, coming straight out of Detroit. General Motors, Buick's parent company, deviated from their strategy at the time by doing this; they were mainly showing off unique concept cars with outstanding designs at auto shows. When it first hit the sales floor, the starting MSRP was $5,000, which, for 1953, was a significant financial sum. For comparison, any other Buick convertible only cost $2,500.

The Skylark was, by far, the most expensive vehicle Buick had to offer at the time. That said, given the limited number of units produced, sales of the Skylark paled in comparison to sales of other models, but what the Skylark lacked in sales, it made up for in marketing and publicity. The Skylark's arrival gave Buick substantial media attention, and they made sure to capitalize on the opportunity.

The Convertible Base

The Skylark was initially modeled largely from one of Buick's pre-existing convertibles- the 1953 Buick Roadmaster. Sadly, that model lacked the practicality to be considered a sports car, as its large, bulky size invoked other terminology.

However, as most of the public was unsure of what defined a sports car at the time, Buick referred to the Skylark as a sports car. When the Skylark was designed, precautions were taken to avoid making it a clone of the Roadmaster. Therefore, the belt line had a pronounced dip, the seat backings were leveled down, the body sides were lowered, the windshield frame had trim added, ventiports were removed from the front fenders, and the squared-off wheel openings were radiused.

With a more aesthetically pleasing appearance, the Skylark looked more modern and hit showrooms once it garnered enough attention and approval as a prototype show car. Because of its Roadmaster roots, Buick classified the Skylark with the Roadmaster series, as it was their flagship series at the time. The Skylark was intended to be the series' most luxury and elite vehicle, as evidenced by the luxurious interior and automatic technology. Design elements of the Skylark proved successful enough that they carried on to future Buick models.

Sources: gmheritagecenter.com, hemmings.com, classics.autotrader.com, danjedlicka.com,