1953 Buick Skylark

*1953 Buick Roadmaster Skylark Convertible*Designed to celebrate Buick's 50th anniversary, the Roadmaster Skylark was featured in GM's famed Motorama show display. In fact, is was first introduced at the posh Waldorf Astoria Hotel in NYC before going on a Motorama tour that visited six major U.S. cities. With its bodywork custom built by Fisher, this Skylark's list price was 50% more than the already nicely equipped Roadmaster Convertible on which it is based. This unique body style was only produced in 1953 before being redesigned in 1954, and during that year, just 1,690 units were produced. On offer is a comprehensively restored example with less than 300 miles since completion, finished in stunning Mandarin Red with a striking white vinyl soft top. The body-on restoration began with a rust-free, 60k mile car, preserving an extremely collectible and important piece of automotive history.The '53 Skylark was largely handmade - in fact, the inner doors were made by cutting the Roadmaster doors in two and then welding them back together at an angle to style the rakish door dip. A streamlined look was created by starting with a 3-inch chopped windshield, which then lowered the side windows and convertible top proportionately. The seat frames and steering column were then dropped, providing a proper driving position and headroom. Kelsey-Hayes provided fully chromed wire wheels, showcasing a stylish red, white, and blue center cap with a Skylark emblem.The rich color highlights GM's custom design intent and sets it apart. With a big chrome grille up front along with bright-finish bumpers front and rear, the Skylark received a special inset hood ornament, along with a chrome accent line on the side that dips down to the rear wheel arch. In a unique twist, the inner wheel arches are finished in white, which highlights the chrome 40-spoke wheels with knock-off centers, wrapped in wide white wall tires. This car was restored to show-car condition and has been displayed at numerous concours events.On the inside, you can see why this car was so revered in its day and competed with the best that Cadillac and Packard had to offer. With expansive bench seats front and rear, the two-tone red and white from the exterior is carried through inside with white contrast stitching and red piping. A color matched dash, steering column, and 2-spoke banjo steering wheel are accented by pseudo checker-finished trim panels made to appear as engine-turned stainless steel. As an ultra-luxury vehicle of the period, the Skylark was fitted with power windows, power steering, power brakes and a Selectronic AM radio. A heater and defrost system are also fitted along with ash trays for all four seats.Under the hood sits Buick's new for the era 322c.i. Fireball V8, taking the place of the brand's aging inline-8. Rated from the factory at 170 horsepower and 292lb-ft of torque, the engine breathes through a 4bbl carburetor. Power is then sent to the rear wheels through a 2-spe