The Skylark was already selling well in 1965, so General Motors decided to kick it up a notch with the introduction of the Gran Sport option.
Unveiled in mid-1965, the Gran Sport could be had as a hardtop, coupe, or convertible, coming with a 401 V8 engine rated at 325 horsepower. If you asked The General, the car was fitted with a 400ci mill, but the four-barrel unit was actually a 401.
The difference came from GM’s (often frustrating) limit of 400ci engines installed on mid-size vehicles.
The Gran Sport also came with dual exhaust, a heavy-duty radiator, and the dedicated badges that spot on the 1965 model in these photos (just check out the grille).
eBay seller collectunicorns doesn’t share specifics on the car’s tenure in storage, but you can call from the pics that it’s been sitting for a while.
What’s worse is that this Buick Skylark Gran Sport has also served as a donor for another project, so some essential parts are already missing. For example, the engine and the transmission are long gone, and this is a major shortcoming if you want to retain its all-original setup. Finding the correct engine is still possible, but as the saying goes, these cars have been original only once.
The body comes with the typical rust, including in the rear quarters, but the bad news hides in the cabin, where most of the interior is already gone. You’ll have to start from scratch in the cabin, and the only thing you’ll get is the dash – still complete but requiring a complete overhaul. The owner says they also have the backseat somewhere around, but its condition is unknown.
The seller explains that this Gran Sport is a rare project, considering that Buick manufactured only 2,300 units. I couldn’t find the official figures to support this claim, but the Gran Sport is typically a desirable model in the restoration business. However, saving this example will require extensive work, and I’m not sure many people would get on board to give it a try.
The car landed on eBay with a $3,200 price tag, and the owner knows that finding someone to give it a second chance won’t be easy. They also enabled the Make Offer button, so if you’re a brave soul who believes this Gran Sport’s place is on the road, contact the seller to discuss all the details.
The auction site claims 8 people are currently watching the listing, but it’s unknown if anyone is involved in purchase talks. The car is parked in Palmyra, Missouri, and you’ll obviously need transportation to take it home, considering its overall shape and the lack of an engine and a transmission.