Affordable full-sized luxury cruiser. Great-running 300 cubic inch V8, automatic transmission. Mostly original car with one older repaint and replacement top. Very clean undercarriage. A whole lot of Buick for not a lot of cash!
Buicks have been overlooked for decades, living in the shadows of the Impalas and Bonnevilles, but the truth is, Buicks offer a lot of car for the money. Well-engineered and built, they are comfortable, durable, reliable cars that have big car swagger without the expensive price tag. So if youve been looking for a way to get a summertime cruiser that doesnt cost a fortune and is easy to maintain, perhaps this 1965 Buick LeSabre 400 convertible fits the bill. The Astro Blue paint looks great, even though its probably 30 years old at this point, and the bodywork is nice and straight underneath. Theres not a lot of chrome and flash to distract from the clean lines, but the stuff that is there remains in good original condition with no major issues, so it looks well-dressed. The big doors need a little extra muscle to close, but they arent sagging so you know this car is structurally solid. You also get the traditional Buick "Venti-Ports" on the front fenders, with three portholes indicating the mid-range LeSabre model. And the strip of stainless running from the front bumper to the rear and outlining the wheel arches gives it a sporty look that belies its size, because this is definitely a full-sized car. Its not perfect, but nobodys going to notice as you cruise by on a sunny day.
The two-tone blue vinyl interior is largely original and in very good condition overall. Its possible that the carpets have been replaced at some point, mostly because theyre too nice to be 60+ years old, but the rest looks like 1965 GM materials. The steering wheel shows some cracking, which is surely why it has a leather wrap, but thats the biggest demerit inside. You get big, round instrument pods with basic gauges and indicator lights, and the fuel gauge is in the middle just above the shift indicator. This car is equipped with factory A/C, a rather rare option in an convertible, but the system is not operational and we have not investigated. Other neat options include the speed minder, which is an adjustable alarm you can set to prevent yourself from speeding, and a Sonomatic AM radio in the center of the dash and a speaker in the rear seat back. Theres a blue cloth power convertible top overhead that stows itself neatly and fits well, although it, too, is probably as old as the repaint. There is no boot, unfortunately. Theres also a massive trunk that is extremely clean and includes a rubber mat, full-sized spare tire on a matching Buick Road Wheel, and the jack assembly.
Buick was calling all its engines "Wildcat" in the 60s, and the number indicates the torque rating, something for which Buick V8s were justifiably famous. This is a 300 cubic inch V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor, hence the "Wildcat 355" insignia on the air cleaner. It wears correct Buick turquoise paint and shows lots of evidence of recent work, including all-new ignition system components. It starts easily, idles smoothly, and pulls the big LeSabre around without seeming to work very hard. Its all about effortless cruising, and the big Buick definitely delivers. We have no records on rebuilds, but it shows no signs of distress: no smoke, good oil pressure, and smooth performance. By 1965, the DynaFlow transmission was gone, replaced by a pair of automatic transmissions, with this one being the 2-speed Super Turbine 300 automatic. It feeds a massive rear end with what we believe are 3.08 gears inside, making this a comfortable car at modern highway speeds. Note how clean the floors are, which includes the rockers, suggesting this car has never spent much time in inclement weather, and the single exhaust system is hushed as a Buick should be. 15-inch Buick Road Wheels look sporty and carry 235/75/15 whitewall radials with plenty of life left in them.
Obviously this isnt a show car, but we like the way it works. It drives well, looks good going down the road, and isnt a rust bucket, all virtues in an affordable 60-year-old car. Buicks are a bit unusual, too, so you wont see yourself at every car show you attend. So if youre looking for a big cruiser with a little class and a little swagger, perhaps this LeSabre is for you. Call today!
Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
