This 1953 Buick Roadmaster is one of 1,690 Skylark convertibles produced for the model year and spent time in New Jersey in the 1970s before remaining with one Missouri owner for over 40 years. It was refurbished in the early 2000s and was purchased by the seller in 2021. Finished in Mandarin red, the car is powered by a 322ci V8 linked with a two-speed automatic transmission and is equipped with a white convertible top, red and white interior upholstery, power steering, 15″ wire wheels, power windows, an AM radio, and a heater. This Roadmaster is now offered with spare parts, literature, a top boot, and a clean Minnesota title in the seller’s name.
Originally Mandarin Red, this example was repainted in the early 2000s and is fitted with a white soft top that stows beneath a red boot. The soft top seams are unraveling above the corners of the rear window, and there is a hole in the left rear. A replacement top is included in the sale. Two dents are noted in the right fender.
The 15″ wire wheels are mounted with wide-whitewall bias-ply tires. The car is equipped with power steering, and braking is provided by power-assisted drums at each corner.
The cabin houses front and rear bench seats upholstered in red and white vinyl, with the front seat having been reupholstered. Interior appointments include power windows, an AM radio, a heater, and a locking glovebox. The hydraulic lines for the power front seat, convertible top, and windows were reportedly replaced in 2023. The radio does not work.
The steering wheel fronts a central 120-mph speedometer flanked by gauges for amperage, coolant temperature, fuel level, and oil pressure. The five-digit odometer shows 600 miles, approximately 50 of which were added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown. The plaid-patterned finish has been scratched off of the instrument cluster, and the floor-mounted starter switch has been bypassed in favor of a switch under the dash.
The 322ci V8 was factory rated at 188 horsepower. The battery was replaced in October 2023.
Power is routed to the rear wheels through a two-speed Dynaflow automatic transmission.
Decoding the body plate reveals the following information:
- Style: 53-4767SX – 1953 Roadmaster Skylark convertible
- Body: G1352 – Production sequence number
- Trim: 66B – Red and white leather
- Paint: 78 – Mandarin Red
Literature and spare parts are included in the sale.