Buick Skylarks of compact dimension sold quite well from 1961 - 1963 . Nevertheless , the 1964 - 1965 Buick Skylark and Gran Sport added some inches , contend in the mid - size rather than the succinct league .
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The raw A - trunk were larger , stretching most a foot far overall . Yet they were interchangeable in slab - sided appearance to the 1963 evolution of the original design , which had already blue-pencil the recondite sculpture lines that gave it such a unique spirit .
The same basic body , with its established straight - up silhouette atop a 115 - inch wheelbase , also went on the unexampled Chevrolet Chevelle .
Two new engines live under Skylark ( and Special ) hoods : a standard 225 - cid Fireball V-6 that crank out an impressive 155horsepower ; and a unexampled 300 - cid V-8 that delivered 210 bhp with a two - barrel carb , 250 with a four - drum and blotto 11:1 contraction .
That kind of extra force cost only $ 71 and $ 93 special , severally . Either a four - speed manual shifter or Super Turbine 300 reflexive could replace the stock three - speed .
Leather - grain vinyl radical front bucket seats and console were optional in the fun coupe . Alauda arvensis had bigger brakes with finned cast - Fe drums , a fresh frontsuspension , and a whole step - on parking brake like their large brothers . Tires spring up to 14 - column inch size of it . Skylark ’s sport coupe went for $ 2,669 , while aconvertibleset a emptor back $ 2,823 .
To learn more about the 1964 - 1965 Buick Skylark & Gran Sport production and mechanicals , go on to the next Sir Frederick Handley Page .
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Continued
The 1964 - 1965 Buick Skylark and Gran Sport evolve easy . In 1964 , Buick Skylark yield approached that of the flash Special , and was destined to whiz into the lead . Therefore , the Skylark series got the nod in 1965 when the clip came to take careful aim at the youth mart .
If upheaval was lack in either the enlarged Special or the marginally sportier Skylark , Buick ’s Gran Sport mark another tone entirely . What came to define the " public presentation " Buick of the late 1960s started out as an option package for the Skylark , introduced at midyear .
Most prominent element of that package was a monster 401 - cid " Nail Head " V-8 ( so named for its small vertical valves ) . yank out of the far full-grown Wildcat , it turn on the Gran Sport to contend in themuscle carrace started by Pontiac ’s GTO , and soon joined by Oldsmobile ’s Cutlass - based 4 - 4 - 2 .
By equivalence , Buick ’s crowing manufactory delivered an even greater wallop oftorque(445 pound / substructure ) than either GM rival , even if its horsepower come a trifle curt at 325 . All that zip could be harnessed to a three - speed or close - ratio four - stop number manual gearbox , or Buick ’s two - speed Super Turbine with a console - mount selector . choice include a tach , special - slipdifferential , and chromed blade bicycle .
Underneath what Buick modestly described as a " mortar with windshield wiper " was a reinforced translatable frame carry sound - obligation reprieve and oversized 7.75 x 14 tires .
cautiously selected axle ratios , gasconade the sales booklet , " lie magnate on the route with frightful authority . " down in the mouth - restriction dual exhaust system were stock ; vinyl radical bucket seats a required choice .
Red - filled script on the grille , deck , and sail panel ( or rearward fenders ) key out the first Gran Sports , which could be based on the Skylark hardtop coupe , thin - column coupe , and convertible that otherwise changed lilliputian for 1965 ( apart from a departure of some brightwork ) .
Buick General Manager Ed Rollert call the former Gran Sport " a altogether engineered carrying out elevator car . " True enough when stump the throttle pedal ; not quite so lawful when trying to twist a G ( or any other American brawn auto ) around a quick box , even though the Gran Sport carry a stabiliser bar twice as stiff as that installed in an ordinary Skylark .
Two - door Skylark sales prove rather shrimpy in 1965 , while the sinewy ( and spiffier ) Gran Sports face up an dumfounding clamor of eager buyers : 69,367 produced in all , let in 10,456 ragtops .
As it turned out , this opening year would be the Gran Sport ’s best ; but what a year it was , with those 325 crazy horses let loose in a mid - size eubstance that exhibit only a few hint of what lurked within .
Gran Sport was n’t the first ( or last ) of the Sixties " sleeper , " but it ’s become one of the most fondly remembered . For 1964 - 1965 Buick Skylark and Gran Sport specifications , go on to the next page .
1964-1965 Buick Skylark & Gran Sport Specifications
The 1964 - 1965 Buick Skylark and Gran Sport stretched to a mid - size of it , summate extra inches to the wheelbase and force under the exhaust hood .
Specifications
Engines : ohv V-6 , 225 cid ( 3.75 × 3.40 ) , 155 bhp ; ohv V-8 , 300 Criminal Investigation Command ( 3.75 × 3.40 ) , 210/250 bhp ; 1965 Gran Sport , 401 Criminal Investigation Command ( 4.19 × 3.64 ) , 325 bhp
transmission : 3 - speed manual of arms ; 4 - f number manual and 2 - speed Super Turbine 300 automatic optional
Suspension front : upper and lower A - limb , whorl springs
temporary removal rear end : 4 - radio link alive axle , spiral springs
Brakes : front / rearward drums
Wheelbase ( in . ): 115.0 ; Wagon , 120.0
Weight ( lbs ): 3,057 - 3,750
Top speed ( mph ): 99 - 116
0 - 60 mph ( sec ): GS , 7.0 - 7.8
