Car: Buick Skylark Gran Sport Hardtop
Year: 1965
What makes it special: The 1965 Skylark Gran Sport was the intermediate Buick Skylark with the Gran Sport option added. Although a 300 cu in V8 was already offered in the Skylark, the Gran Sport had the largest engine permitted by GM, a 400 cu in Buick V8.
What made it famous: The Skylark Gran Sport engine was actually 401 cu in, but called a “400” by Buick because that was the maximum engine size limit set by General Motors for the intermediate body cars. This engine produced 325 hp and 445 lb·ft and was known as the “Nailhead” engine. Buick sold more than 15,000 Skylarks with the Gran Sport option that first year, and almost as many the next.
Why I would want one: It’s probably the best looking Buick of the 1960’s. Love the fact that it came with the famed Nailhead V8.
Fun fact: The name Gran Sport replaced the GS moniker with the 1973 Gran Sport, and was again revived in the late eighties on the FWD Skylark model with various performance options added.