WHAT IS IT?
The Buick LeSabre was a full-sized car offered by Buick beginning in 1956. It was a mid-level trim level below the Electra or later, Park Avenue. This example is from the final year of the marque’s fifth generation, offered between 1977 and 1985. This was also the last year of the body-on-frame rear-wheel-drive platform for the LeSabre, later switching to a unibody FWD platform. The platform for this Buick was shared with the Pontiac Parissiene and Chevrolet Caprice.
It’s hard to contemplate now, but these big formal-style sedans were common family cars throughout the 1970’s and early 1980’s. The platform also saw a large two-door coupe and a station wagon with a third rear-facing seat (sold as the the Electra Estate Wagon by Buick). This example, representing the car’s final year, sports Limited Collectors Edition trim (primarily cosmetic in the form of a new hood ornament and upgraded interior trim). It also has the optional 307 c.i. (approx. 5.0 L) V8 rather than the standard 3.8 L V6.
These were fairly ubiquitous in the 1980s and over 1.3 million LeSabres of this generation were sold.
It’s offered for sale by dealer Anthony Gozzo at Specialty Motor Cars in New Hampshire.
WHY THIS ONE HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
Despite the sheer volume of these sold, few survive today and even fewer in this condition. These were built for use as daily drivers and for their space, comfort, and utility so seeing the story and details of how this car came to be so well preserved is certainly fun.
Showing 58,000 miles from new, it’s claimed to have all original paint and trim with only regular maintenance and some wear items like the radiator, belts, hoses, and tires replaced. There is only minimal exterior wear and even common failure points like the urethane bumper filler panels (which usually disintegrated after a few years of exposure to UV radiation) seem nearly unaffected by time. The photos really show of this car well and the accompanying YouTube video (see link below) provides compelling documentation for this car’s pampered and well-loved history with a single elderly owner in Maine.
This was also the last year of the body-on-frame rear-wheel-drive platform for the LeSabre
I look at this and see the end of an era — not just of the boxy 1980s turned bubble-round by the early 1990s, but also of original owners who faithfully maintained and stored a version of their American icon for decades. Most of those cars are well past their second owners by now and are treated and valued accordingly.
It’s not hard to see the love that was bestowed on this Buick in the midst of the world turning to Japanese and Euro alternatives en masse. I love that it has a Collector’s Edition hood ornament. Fitting considering the care that it obviously had.
The case for this car is compelling.
GM purchasing agent – We’d like to buy your gray velour.
Velour Company – GREAT, how much do you need?
GM – ALL of it
My father had a succession of company cars exactly like this when I was growing up. Plush velvet, column shift automatic, ice cold AC, I remember them like yesterday. And since he got to spec them the way he wanted, they all had a V8, tow hitch, and limited slip rear end so he could pull his bass boat! Many an algae induced burnout occurred around the boat ramps of Huntsville and Birmingham, Alabama! I also remember that if you hooked the seat belt over the interior pull of the door panel, it would stop blaring the warning chime. You know, instead of wearing a seat belt. Ahh…the ’80s. Love the car!