1966 Buick Skylark

1966 Buick Skylark GS Hardtop  When General Motors authorized engines up to 400ci in its intermediate cars, Buick seized the chance to create its first muscle car, the 1966 Buick Skylark Gran Sport.  In actuality, the division's big block V-8 displaced 401ci.  Undeterred, Buick simply renamed it the 400.  Teamed with a heavy duty radiator and dual exhausts, the 401 carried the same 325hp rating as in Buick's full size models.  For consignment, a 1966 Buick Skylark GS with a 401ci V8 that is likely the original engine.  The VIN stamped number is one digit off from the actual VIN and this was likely a production line error.  It was probably built on a Friday.  The automatic transmission was a $245 option in 1966 and the Gran Sport Package was an extra $236.  This car also has power steering,($86), power brakes, ($43), and two tone paint, ($17).  Exterior Two stage Silver Mist on the body is complemented by Regal Black on the roof which is a great design element to pick up the black wheels, faux fender vents, grille, and faux hood scoops.  The handsome lines and vertical fascia of the mid size offerings from GM are exemplified on this car, looking both muscular and at the time, probably run of the mill.  An epic Gran Sport emblem sits to the right on the black band of the tail and the simple taillights contour beautifully to the body lines and subtle angles of the car.  With the red in the GS emblems and that of the taillights, the red double pinstripe that travels the length of the car at the mid panel level is a nice feature.  Flying buttresses on the C-pillar are another feature that makes this car stand out in design.  The paint and metal are very nice on the car with imperfections noted such as bubbling paint and small areas of painted filler that's not smooth, none glaringly obvious.  Interior Black door panels striped with silver trim pieces and wearing a carpeted bottom and black painted top are stylish and neat.  The low back black vinyl bucket seats up front have a stitched pattern on relatively flat surfaces split by a center console while the back bench is robust and clean and accompanied by the door panel design on the walls along with an armrest and ashtrays.  A simple steering wheel with a cross spoke and horn fronts a horizontally displayed speedometer with other square gauge and knobs on a metallic paneled dashboard in clean condition.  An AM radio is embedded in the center and a vertically finned dash welcomes the passenger and reminds them they're in a Skylark GS.  A circular, raised Buick motif fronts the center console which extends rearward to collect the polished shifter in a simple indicator plate which gives way to a center storage compartment sculpted into the console.   Black loop carpet under Buick rubber mats looks clean and so does the gray stitched headliner up above.  The trunk is also clean and lined with a gray rug.  Drivetrain Clean conditions prevail under the hood where we find the correct and possibly numbers matching 401ci V8, (note this engine carries the correct MR stamping code and a partial VIN of 124230 while the vehicle VIN reads 125230), with a 4-barrel carburetor and rated at 325 horsepower.  An ST300 2-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear 10 bolt with 2.93 gears.  The car is equipped with power drums in the front and rear.  Undercarriage The belly pans appear to have been undercoated and there's not much surface rust underneath.  One side of the dual exhaust looks newer than the other which is colored by surface rust but intact, and there's a stock muffler on that side and a Flowmaster on the newer run and they exit discreetly before reaching the back bumper.  Some oil is noted on the oil pan and some residual fluid on the transmission pan and there's a bit of grime by the wheels but we've seen worse.  There is some flaking rust around a body mount being the worse of the corrosion.  For suspension, the car comes wi