66 Buick Skylark - Ruth

[Zoomin]

One of the greatest dangers of going to Good Guys is going into the swap meet area. As I was strolling along, I heard someone call my name. I turned around and that was when I saw this.












It's a 66 Skylark, Buick's version of the Chevelle/Lemans/Cutlass A body group. I've always loved the rear window sail panels on these.
It has a 310 V8, 350TH. Been in the same family since new. The seller's mom bought it, and had it until she passed away in 1998. Her name was Ruth, and I'm naming the car after her.

My intention is to do a restoration on this. At this point, she needs new paint, seat covers, dash pad and steering wheel. And detailing. Everything works, including every instrument panel, interior light, A/C. In really good shape, she runs and drives nice. Peppier than I would have guessed too.

[Frizzle Fry]

She's a beauty. Skylarks a cool!
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[flashed]

That was considered fancy to a chevelle back then ,it looks great to me as it sits .

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

She's a beauty. Skylarks a cool!
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Thanks FF

The last Skylark I owned was a 70 GS Stage I. I can't afford one of those now. Buick isn't known as a prformance marque, but they put some monsters out there.

Originally Posted by flashed

That was considered fancy to a chevelle back then ,it looks great to me as it sits .

The interior is quite a bit fancier than a Chevelle, for sure. Look close at the 3rd and last pics and you'll see big spots where the clear coat has lifted. She does look good from 20 feet away. I'd like to improve that by about 18 feet.

[screaminchevypickup]

Cool car Steve!! Can't wait to see it come together!!
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[Zoomin]

Thanks Kyle. It's going to be a fun project.
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[mcbassin]

I heard you had another one in the stable. Cool purchase! I'm in for this one too.
subscribed.....

[Zoomin]

Good to have you tag long Mike!

I cannot explain why I bought this, other than it seems to be such a good, honest car. This should be an easy restore - if I can stick with the plan, and we all know how that goes.
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[NONHOG]

Very nice!

[Zoomin]

Ruth may be a reptile.



She got rained on all day yesterday, and after a day of sunshine, she looks like this. Never seen anything like it. Good thing I had already factored in a paint job.
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[screaminchevypickup]

I can already see where this build is going.. Ride tech and big billets!!
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[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by screaminchevypickup

I can already see where this build is going.. Ride tech and big billets!!

Ha! Just because I've been on every A body site I can find researching all the handling setups does NOT mean I'm going to do anything other than a simple restoration.

This paint is driving me nuts!

[screaminchevypickup]

I'm sure the paint might be able to be fixed.. Maybe!!
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[flashed]

Detroit Speed can take care of your suspension needs for great handling and they love what they do. We see them at Chevellabration every year .

[Stickman]

Just sold my 69 GS 350, already looking for another. The best forum for the Buicks is V8Buick .com
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[Sillyoldman]

Oh my we have a secret little Buick subculture here. I wont plaster pictures of mine here in your thread but there seems to be an evolving interest in these cars. Congrats on your purchase. I can't wait to see what you do with Ruth.

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by screaminchevypickup

I'm sure the paint might be able to be fixed.. Maybe!!

Seriously. This drives me nuts. Do you know of a place better than Maaco?

Originally Posted by flashed

Detroit Speed can take care of your suspension needs for great handling and they love what they do. We see them at Chevellabration every year .

I'm definitely interested in going with Detroit Speed on my 69 Camaro, but that's high dollar stuff for a car like this. Well worth it though. There's an article in the latest Hot Rod and they used CPP parts on their 66 Buick Special project car and got nice results with it. We'll see...

Originally Posted by Stickman

Just sold my 69 GS 350, already looking for another. The best forum for the Buicks is V8Buick .com

I really enjoy learning about new cars. There are very few sites that are as good as this one. Thanks for the tip!

Originally Posted by Sillyoldman

Oh my we have a secret little Buick subculture here. I wont plaster pictures of mine here in your thread but there seems to be an evolving interest in these cars. Congrats on your purchase. I can't wait to see what you do with Ruth.

Thanks! Looking forward to learning from our subgroup here. Already have!
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[Stickman]

Originally Posted by Stickman

Just sold my 69 GS 350, already looking for another. The best forum for the Buicks is V8Buick .com
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I forgot to tell ya, parts are a little pricey but it is a Buick after all !
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[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by flashed

Detroit Speed can take care of your suspension needs for great handling and they love what they do. We see them at Chevellabration every year .

Hey, visited their website, and they have "speed kits" that are competitively priced.

Originally Posted by screaminchevypickup

I can already see where this build is going.. Ride tech and big billets!!

Hey, I'm just looking.
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[nuke1]

Nice looking car Steve!! I got a soft spot for those. They are not the norm, as for the paint, yikes.

[67c10rustbuket]

Oh man another one?!?!?! What is that a new latex clear coat on the roof? Great looking car cant wait to see what you do with it.

[LEEVON]

Paint was normal, it's the OKC dirty nasty rain! Next comes the hail, followed by a tornado and some dust storms.

Cool car though, there is one floating around CL in a burgundy-ish color for a nice price. I'd snatch it up if I could.

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by 67c10rustbuket

Oh man another one?!?!?! What is that a new latex clear coat on the roof? Great looking car cant wait to see what you do with it.

Yeah, the car just seemed to be in such good shape for the money to pass up. Other than the paint, of course.

I've never seen clear do that before. Wouldn't you know, I spilled some clear on my driveway, and after two summers of 100+ degree heat, rain, and snow. I've even tried to powerwash it, and it won't come up.

The more I think about it, I think I'm going to do a coil-over suspension with a modest drop, some 17" wheels and leave it at that. Well, maybe disk brakes at some point.

Check out these billet wheels from Circle Racing. They also are available with soft lip too.



Year One offers these in cast aluminum for quite a bit less:




I like the idea of going subtle on this one.

Originally Posted by LEEVON

Paint was normal, it's the OKC dirty nasty rain! Next comes the hail, followed by a tornado and some dust storms.

Cool car though, there is one floating around CL in a burgundy-ish color for a nice price. I'd snatch it up if I could.

All that crap comes up from Texas! We sure love our Texas recruits and Kevin Durant though.

I discovered that with my Biscayne and now this, you can get some real good bargains and just as much cool by going off the beaten path and getting the lesser known versions. The Impalas and Chevelles cost a ton more.

[motornut]

I grew up around a 72 lark, friend still has it
A while back i found some 15s like those for him
5 on 5 stock,used,may use them on the jimmy they don't fit his...
there is a nice GS tho around here....I could post

[Zoomin]

Yeah, let's see it. Ideas and suggestions welcome!