1964 Buick Sport Wagon - $13,250 - Grass Lake, MI - NOTE: I originally listed this car for a higher price, but since my original posting, I discovered a coolant leak that I traced to an external hairline crack in the engine block at the #1 cylinder. The car runs fine, and there's no coolant in the oil or vice versa, and it doesn't overheat, but obviously the engine needs to be repaired or replaced. The new price is $13,250 OBO, which reflects the condition of the engine. Make me a reasonable offer -- I cannot invest any more time or funds into this vehicle, so the engine project will become the responsibility of the next owner. Try to weld the crack for a cheap and quick fix, replace it with another Buick 300 long block (easy to find in good shape at less than $500), or put in a built 455 big-block Buick. It's up to you. The transmission is A-OK, with just a couple thousand miles after being rebuilt during the restoration. Now, more about the car.
Launched at the 1964 World's Fair, the Buick Skylark Sport Wagon and its cousin, the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser, rode on an extended version of General Motors' new A-body intermediate platform. While it retains the clean, uncluttered lines of the Skylark, the Sport Wagon's skylights and its rakish rear make it a true head-turner.
This is a Texas car that I purchased in 2013. The prior owner purchased it from a salvage yard in Frisco, Texas, for $450 in 1994, and he undertook a lengthy frame-on restoration, with new paint and interior. All body panels, to my knowledge, are original; there is very little body filler. All glass, including the skylights, has been replaced or reinstalled and does not leak. The trim tag decodes to Arctic White exterior and Medium Blue interior, both of which have been retained, with the exception of the white seats. Note the interior door panels, which were custom made to match the originals.
The engine (see note above) is a 1965 version of the factory-correct Buick Wildcat 310, a 300 cubic-inch V-8, this one with a Carter AFB carburetor. It's paired with a Super Turbine 300 transmission (rebuilt; also factory-correct), a two-speed automatic with "switch-pitch" variable torque converter. This is not a fast car, but it does have enough power for the freeway, though it's happiest at 60 mph on two-lane blacktop. Power brakes (drums all around; it stops great), power steering, and air conditioning (not installed, but I have the original parts; compressor is mounted and not seized). It has a remote driver's side mirror, a working power rear window, and a roof-mounted luggage rack. It also has cool, vintage four-way flashers, and three of the four headlights are T-3's. This wagon is outfitted with two seats; it does not have the third-row seat option. The odometer shows 40,XXX miles, but I suspect it's turned over once. Or twice?
I purchased the car, my first classic, intending to use it as a family truckster for evening ice cream excursions and short weekend trips around Michigan. I had the floor pan replaced -- it had rotted from the inside out from leaky windows -- so I could properly install five new seat belts (safety first!), and I invested in a re-cored radiator (moving from two to three rows), new fan clutch, new factory-style single exhaust, new gas tank, new brakes, new left-rear axle shaft, new rear axle bearings (both sides), new dual-reservoir master cylinder, rebuilt stock radio with iPod input, factory-correct steel wheels and wheel covers, new battery, new floor insulation and sound dampening, new auxiliary gauges, new fuel pump, new radiator and heater core hoses, new heater core, new fan box, and more.
Engine problems notwithstanding, the car is a solid driver. Potential buyers should note that the underbody -- undercoated early in the car's life -- has not been detailed. The rearmost frame-to-body mounts and the left-rear inner fender exhibit some corrosion. The prior owner patched portions of the rear cargo area and spare tire well (both notorious rust areas in these wagons) with riveted steel. While not ideal repairs, they are solid, clean, and do not leak. I elected to leave these in place as opposed to welding in custom-fabricated steel plates (not a cost-effective option for this car). Inner and outer rockers are in good shape (I had the inner rockers patched during the floor pan replacement).
This vehicle is not perfect, but it presents well and it's a great example of a hard-to-find piece of history. Around 13,000 Sport Wagons were made in 1964, few remain, and not many are left in close-to-stock condition. It gets tremendous attention wherever it's driven, and it never fails to bring smiles to those who see it in person.
The car has a clean Michigan title with no branding or liens; the Texas title was marked "salvage" because the car was sold by a salvage yard (not because of a flood, insurance claim, etc.); note that this designation was not transferred to the Michigan title. I have all receipts (from the salvage yard to present) and pictures documenting various stages of the restoration -- a binder full of data, along with appropriate chassis manuals -- that will go along with the car. Total invested by me and the prior owner is at least $21,000 (if you are interested, I can share what I purchased the car for and what I have invested).
I never intended to sell the car -- and I invested in the restoration accordingly -- but decided to do so because, as a family man, I don't have the time to enjoy it as much as it should be enjoyed. Nor do I have time to devote to maintaining a 50-year-old car. My initial plans of weekend family trips and evening ice cream excursions were tempered by the reality of family life with small children -- music lessons, after-school events, soccer practice, etc. -- and two parents who work full time. It just doesn't make sense to have this car sit in my garage, only to be used once a month from April to October. It's too bad that I realized all of this after investing so much to further the restoration ... but, as they say, hindsight is 20-20. Of course, finding the engine problem after deciding to sell has made matters much worse.
The prior owner was honest, truthful, and helpful when I purchased the car, and I aim to do the same (hence my long description here). I hope that this piece of history can find a good home. Please contact me with any questions.