1965 Buick Skylark: Background

When General Motors authorized engines up to 400 cid in its intermediate cars, Buick seized the chance to create its first muscle car, the 1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sport. The division's big-block V-8 actually displaced 401 cubic inches.



A Skylark with the Gran Sport option created Buick's first muscle car.

Undeterred, Buick simply renamed it the "400." Teamed with a heavy-duty radiator and dual-exhausts, the 401 carried the same 325-horsepower rating as in Buick's full-size models. ("Wildcat 445" on the air cleaner referred to the engine's torque rating.)



The Buick Skylark Gran Sport's 401-cid V-8 was advertised as a 400-cid engine. The "Wildcat 445" on the air cleaner referred to the engine's torque output.

To Buick's credit, the operation was more than just an engine transplant. Any 1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sport — hardtop, pillared coupe, or convertible — got the convertible's beefed-up frame for better rigidity, plus specially valved shocks and heavy-duty springs. Buick added a thick anti-roll bar up front, and enhanced the rear suspension with added links to fight axle windup and differential twist. Braking improved with enlarged front-wheel cylinders.

1965 Buick Skylark: "Mandatory Options"

With the standard three-speed manual, the Gran Sport package added $253 to the cost of a regular Buick Skylark. It jumped to $420 with the four-speed manual, and to $457 with Buick's two-speed Super Turbine 300 automatic. The top available axle ratio was 3.73:1. All 1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sports had to be ordered with bucket seats, a $72 "mandatory option." Positraction should have been madatory, too. As with other high-powered intermediates, wheel spin off the line was a problem.

But buyers were happy. This was a solid car with a smooth, responsive engine, good ride quality, and competent handling. Motor Trend remarked that its 12.3 mpg in city driving was "not bad at all." Nearly 70,000 1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sports were sold, and no one seemed to mind that it wasn't an all-out muscle car — that would come soon enough.



All 1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sports used the convertible's beefed-up frame for better rigidity. Specially valved shocks, heavy-duty springs, a thick anti-roll bar up front, and enhanced the rear suspension with added links were also installed to improve handling and launch characteristics.

1965 Buick Skylark: Specifications

  • 1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sport
  • Wheelbase: 115.0 in.
  • Weight: 3720 lb.
  • Production: 69,367
  • Price: $3800
  • Engine: ohv V-8
  • Displacement: 401 cid
  • Fuel system: 1 x 4 bbl.
  • Compression ratio: 10.25:1
  • Horsepower @ rpm: 325 @ 4400
  • Torque @ rpm: 445 @ 2800
  • Representative performance
  • 0-60 mph: 7.8 sec.
  • 1/4 mile: 16.6 sec. @ 86 mph