To be offered at auction WITHOUT RESERVE ,Saturday, June 5, 2010
Estimate: $60,000-$80,000 US
A “halo car” in the truest sense of the word, the Motorama-inspired Buick Skylark was introduced in 1953 as a production model to mark Buick’s 50th Anniversary by highlighting the latest in style and technology available from General Motors.
With only 1,690 cars built, they were tremendously expensive when new, and owners included such personalities as famed entertainer Bob Hope. Today, surviving examples are quite rare, and ownership of the 1953 Skylark, along with its Oldsmobile Fiesta and Cadillac Eldorado siblings, constitutes a “Grand Slam” for GM collectors and an achievement of great significance.
This particular example shows 71,771 miles and retains the “Customized for Rudy Gruner” engraving on the steering-wheel hub, signifying the name of its original purchaser. This is a very solid, rust-free car with its original leather interior and would make for a wonderful restoration project or a very capable barn-find tourer. It is complete with an AM radio, heater, defroster, clock, power seat, power steering, a power top and power windows. In addition, dual grille-mounted horns and a circa-1950s Stewart-Warner tachometer have been fitted.
The Pate Collection
Contact: RMAuctions
