Sunday, September 28, 2014

1975 Buick Skyhawk - Good Luck With That


The Buick Skyhawk was a subcompact, four passenger, hatchback that was introduced in September 1974 for the 1975 model year. Buick sold it through 1980.  
 
How much is a car worth that's forty years old and in very good condition? What something costs is only as much as what someone would pay for something. It's debatable how much this car would ultimately retail for but the dealership in Florida where it's for sale is asking $6600 for it. Good luck with that.
 
 
This first-generation Skyhawk was based on the Chevrolet Vega and shares its wheelbase and width.] The Skyhawk was produced with H=body variants Chevrolet Monza, Oldsmobile Starfire, and  Pontiac Sunbird.
 
This would be an interesting driver for a kid who wouldn't have to go too far from home or campus in it. My concern would be getting it to campus in the first place and once there I'd be prepared to make many trips to campus to fix whatever broke. And that will happen a lot. Take it from someone who's been there, there are many cons with going with an old car as a daily driver. Having one that's at the dawn of 40 is really not a good idea. Our 19 year old Camaro our high school senior tools around in is all the hassle I can muster. Can you imagine something that's twice as old and ten times more unique? Unique, at least with regards to old cars, not a good thing.
 
 
This Skyhawk was a rear wheel drive car with a live rear axle. Throughout its production, the H-body Skyhawk would be offered only with the Buick-designed 3.8 liter (231 cid) V-6 using a 2-barrel carburetor that generated 110 bhp.
 
Mechanical parts for this car are a plenty since this Skyhawk is a Chevrolet Vega with the Buick 231 V-6. It's the exterior and interior bits and pieces that concern me. One little tap on the front bumper denting that gentle rubber strip and you're going to be in a hurt of trouble trying to find a replacement. There are no restoration websites out there that you can go to find a rub strip, fender or hatch back glass for a 1975 Buick Skyhawk. Better find a forum of fellow GM H body Skyhawk owners to help you out. Good luck with that too.
 
 
There is no such species of birds known as skyhawks. Best can be said is that the car is named after the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, a single seat carrier-capable attack aircraft that the U.S Navy and Marine Corp used beginning in 1956.
 
There in lies a big issue with that $6600 list price. After you've laid down what is in essence cheap Corvette money, you could get a decent looking, 1975 Corvette "driver" for similar money, you have a car that while simple to repair, is harder to find parts for than a '55 Desoto. I had a 1978 Dodge Magnum years ago and while mechanical parts were easy to find, I knew that if I had any sort of fender bender with it that I would have a devil of a time finding parts for it. Especially if my network of internet friends couldn't get the parts for me either. Then again, I spent a grand on the car initially so I didn't have that much "in it" to start. Starting at $6600 is a different story.
 
 
Buick stopped production of the H-body Skyhawk in 1979. The nameplate was switched to the GM J-body platform beginning in 1982 and remained in production through 1989.
 
It's not uncommon for people to think that Granny's mint old car, especially one with only 39,000 (undocumented) miles on it, is worth a small fortune but you have to be realistic. Maybe there is someone out there who has been longing for a Skyhawk after all these years to help them relive some high school memories or whatever. I know all too well what that's all about given my taste in old cars but you have to keep your shirt on. I'd low ball at $2500 and go no higher than $4000 for it. Happy shopping and good luck.
 

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