Frame Up Built LeSabre Nailhead 364 Turbine Drive w/AC

Over the past few years we've certainly seen some nice weekend warriors, but this 1960 Buick LeSabre, with its correct Wildcat V8 and tough Turbine Drive transmission, is definitely one of the best! Fully sorted and ready to hit the road, this awesome B-Body combines the stump pulling torque of its muscle car offspring with the kind of old school Detroit comfort that's classy enough to parade half the neighborhood down Main Street. Today, thanks to a high quality frame-up restoration, the car is not only a reliable and exceptionally roomy place to spend the summer sightseeing, it's also a vintage piece of Americana that will be welcome at virtually any car show in any town. If you're looking for a solid classic that's stylish, powerful and has a lot of history, who says you have to buy a cramped, high maintenance muscle car? This awesome LeSabre will look just as cool rolling down the road, turn just as many heads at the local drive in and, thanks to its thorough rebuild, provide you with miles of carefree cruising!

Few new-age Buick buyers would ever dream of their coveted tri-shield adorning an aggressive design like this. Fewer still would ever dream of accenting that aggressive design with a coat bright red basecoat. But that's exactly what a previous owner of this hardtop did. And today, thanks to good caretaking, the car's fade-free finish is a largely flaw-free celebration of bold American luxury. In typical 60s Detroit fashion, Buick's first generation LeSabre is adorned with long surfaces and sharp creases that are incredibly hard to make straight. Fortunately, the metal on this super cool cruiser has been subjected to a professional restoration that involved good panel alignment and an astute attention to detail. The car's classic flanks are very straight, leading me to believe it was a clean, rust-free canvas when the first sheet of sand paper was laid on its solid and sculpted body. That body's gaps are better than average, featuring doors that operate well, vertical components that are centered in their respective openings, and fresh and pliable weather stripping. And overall, this full-size cruiser is a groovy representation of what REAL automotive design actually looks like.

In its second year of production, the LeSabre graduated from full-fledged tail fins to new-wave 'delta wings'. The result was a substantial looking car which managed to feel more upscale than its GM stablemates while retaining the same broad shouldered, all-American attitude. At the front of this Buick's stunning body, a big chrome bumper props a concave stainless grille behind clear parking lamps, a combination of modern H1 and H4 head lights and a new-for-1960 tri-shield emblem. Above that grille, a wide-set “BUICK” script and smooth stainless hood spears lead the eye to stylized greenhouse glass that's flanked by chrome, “BUICK” branded mirrors and bright stainless frames. Below that glass, straight stainless side spears, which visually connect the car's front fenders with its rear wings, perfectly complement traditional chrome door handles, newly re-introduced ventiports, chrome “LeSabre” scripts and dent-free fender trim. And behind those wings, a tucked decklid centers a second tri-shield emblem and a second “BUICK” script between convex tail lights, a third “LeSabre” script, a second big bumper and DC Sports exhaust tips.

When the 1960 LeSabre originally debuted a 364 cubic inch Nailhead was its only form of motivation. And this Buick's 1190415 branded, “3G” stamped Wildcat V8 is a date-correct way to transform a boulevard breeze into a tarmac tornado. At the top of that compact mill, a familiar Carter carburetor sucks wind through a traditional satin black, single-snorkel air cleaner. At the sides of that carburetor, factory heads hang stamped valve covers over deep breathing cast iron exhaust manifolds. Behind those manifolds, a GM points distributor shoots fire through simple black plug wires. And in front of those plug wires, a beefy aluminum radiator circulates coolant past two electric puller fans. In addition to its killer powerplant, this LeSabre maintains a clean engine bay that's complete with an old school generator, a retrofitted air conditioning system and hardware for era-correct power brakes and modern power steering. Aesthetically, the car's satin black fenders perfectly complement both its bright red body and light blue engine block. And mechanically, this awesome Buick is in great condition; performing just as well now as when it rolled off the showroom floor.

At the bottom of this frame-up beauty queen, a solid undercarriage tells the story of excellent maintenance and careful road time. Naturally the car's hot engine needs a great drivetrain for the sake of reliability, and GM's Turbine Drive 2-speed is sure to provide years of proven shifts. At the ends of that transmission, an original ball joint suspension, which includes coil springs at every corner, a track bar and a true balance stabilizer, combines with factory power steering and Buick's familiar Air-flo aluminum brakes to provide quick stops and great handling. At the corners of the car's floors, power flows to the pavement through chrome Foose wheels that spin 245/40ZR18 Hankook Ventus V12 Evos in front of 275/40ZR20 Aurora RH08s. Speaking of floors, this Buick's straight and solid pans, which are bolted to GM's heavy duty B-Body frame, hang satin black paint over satin black suspension components that are no stranger to the blacktop. Spent gases flow from the engine's aforementioned manifolds to OEM-style plumbing that's complete with a transverse muffler and stainless DC Sports tips. And, based on a quick visual inspection, all of this cruiser's hardware and bushings appear to be in good, road-ready condition.

Climb inside this timeless hardtop and you'll find a cozy leather interior that's both clean and appealing. Covered in solid tan surfaces, the car's rebuilt bench seats are firm, comfortable and provide spacious seating for at least five. In front of those seats, a sculpted dash hangs bright silver trim between correct Mirromagic gauges, a modern Kenwood CD player and controls for the aforementioned Vintage Air conditioning system. At the sides of that dash, custom door panels flash bright “LeSabre” logos below chrome power window switches. At the bottom of those panels, thick wool carpet is protected by color-keyed floor mats. Opposite that carpet, a stain-free headliner frames a fully functional dome lamp. In front of the driver, a painted tilt steering column spins a polished wheel around a billet shift lever and a super cool gear indicator. And behind the passengers, a gigantic trunk features enough room to swallow anything short of a full-size refrigerator.

The sale of this stylish classic includes a vintage dealer brochure, a couple of service manuals and a few maintenance receipts.

If you're a fan of 60s Detroit class, it doesn't get any better than this cool old Buick! Anyone can cruise a Chevy or Ford, but this killer LeSabre is rare exercise in flamboyant, one year only style. If you're in the market for a one-of-a-kind car that'll be a blast on the road and a hit at the show, your search is officially over!