Automodello 1954 Buick

Automodello 1954 Buick Skylark

The original Skylark (1953) was based on a Roadmaster convertible and featured various custom touches, including fully radiused wheel openings and a sinfully lowered beltline. Gleaming Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels complemented the “chopped” body and were set off by red inner fender liners. As the industry was competing to see who could build the largest automobile the Skylark was no exception. As the years ticked by so did the size of the Skylark.

In 1954 Buick increased the horsepower, stiffened the frame cross members, and added tubular front shocks to the ’54 Skylark. Additionally, they increased the wheelbase, made the tracking of the front and rear wheels identical, and cut the curb weight by some 70 lbs. These changes meant the ’54 Skylark was more responsive, tracked nicely thru corners, and had a tighter, smoother ride. With the ’54 the driver can see all four corners of the car, and in 1954 Buick added the “panoramic” wrap around windshield giving the driver a larger viewing area.

In 1954 Buick added a second hydraulic piston to the front seat with a joystick control switch, so the front seat moves up and down as well as forward and back to provide more room for the driver, which was a great improvement over the '53. This improvement allowed easier access along with more driving comfort for a stout individual too; their stomach could now clear the steering wheel. Also the ’53 did have a trip odometer, a nice feature that was eliminated in ’54. And a small concern on the ’54 Skylark is the passenger side mirror. With the mirrors mounted at the front of the doors, and with the panoramic windshield, it is difficult to fully utilize the passenger side mirror.

The ’54 dashboard has three sections with a rounded bottom, which was two-toned too. There were four color combinations, green/green, blue/blue, yellow/black, and red/black with the lighter color occupying the middle section of the dashboard. Dashboard colors were usually dependent on the color combination of the two toned seats (not all seats were two tone), with the darker seat panel determining the darker mid dashboard color. This provided an owner with multiple dashboard/seat color combinations. Add to that the ’54 steering wheel has a black and gold Buick “Coat of Arms” as the center emblem. All said and done the '54 Buick interior was a step above most of the competition, and the window sticker was proof of that; these weren't cheap.

My take away on the Automodello presentation, of the '54 Buick, is a nicely done replica. The paint on all three models was flawless. Detail, was outstanding, and the color was spot on for the year. All three models sat nicely, on their included base, which makes for a more appealing display. However, the model is removable from its base, if you prefer it that way? Chrome was nicely applied, complementing the lines on the model. The Kelsey-Hayes, wire wheels, are the icing on the cake, making this '54 Buick a pleasure to own and display.

All three models are available from Automodello, as listed below, and include "Free Shipping" within the US. One question I am always asked "Which one would you buy?" Honestly, I couldn't choose one. As I opened one box I was blown away by what I thought to be one of the best models I ever seen. However, the next box left me feeling the same as the first; I was left scratching my head as to which one I liked most. Onto the third box only led to more confusion as to which one was the "Cork popper". I must conclude there was no clear winner; you can't go wrong with whichever one you choose.

Automodello produced this model in various edition variations which they label as follows.:

1954 Buick Skylark
Color: Lido Green
Scale: 1:24
Edition: Standard
Part #: 24B022
Price: $249.95 * limited to a build of 199

1954 Buick Skylark
Color: Matador Red
Edition: Encomium Edition
Part #: 24C021
Price: $299.95 * limited to a build of 54

1954 Buick Skylark
Color: Arctic White
Scale: 1:24
Edition: Encomium Edition
Part #: 24B020
Price: $299.95 * limited to a build of 54