Buick introduced the Skylark in 1953 to commemorate the company’s 50th anniversary. Built on the Roadmaster chassis, the limited-production Skylark shared most of the Roadmaster’s dimensions and equipment, including the new Fireball V-8, but featured a lower windshield and beltline, and full-cutout wheel openings, a first for Buick that spread to other models the following year. Despite costing 43 percent more than a Roadmaster Convertible Coupe, it sold briskly when compared to top-of-the-line convertibles from Cadillac and Oldsmobile.

The Skylark returned for 1954 completely restyled, with unique fender cutouts that could be finished in a contrasting color to further highlight the stylish Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels. Other exclusive cues included a unique hood ornament, upholstery with a heat-pressed waffle pattern, and a reshaped rear deck lid, flanked by sculpted fenders bearing chrome-trimmed tailfins. Buick downsized the Skylark to the smaller, lighter Special chassis but kept the larger, more potent Roadmaster engine, which improved performance but dampened the model’s image, given its lofty price. Only 836 were sold in 1954, the Skylark’s final year as a range-topping, limited-production convertible.

This 1954 Buick Skylark presents extremely well in its factory-correct color of Carlsbad Black over Red leather, the latter changed from the original Yellow and White upholstery during a previous restoration to a high standard of fit and finish. It later won Best of Show at the Buick Nationals in 2007. The Skylark has benefited from meticulous maintenance by a single owner since 2015, with a decade of invoices on file documenting periodic servicing and repairs at the Boston Sportscar Car Company through June 2025. Though the restoration is showing minor signs of age and use in certain areas, such as the engine bay, this Skylark remains highly attractive, an excellent showcase of a Harley Earl design from Buick’s golden era.