Buick Skylark in Context
The Skylark badge has appeared on very different cars, from a limited-production convertible in the 1950s to a mid-size intermediate in the 1960s and early 1970s. The fourth generation marks a clear break: Buick placed the name on the rear-drive X-body compact, replacing the Apollo. In the Buick lineup of the period it was the smallest model, priced below the Century and Regal. A Buick Skylark overview covering all Buick Skylark generations has to treat this as the moment the nameplate became the brand's entry point rather than its sporty intermediate.
Understanding 4 generation
This generation was built as a coupe and as a sedan, with the coupe's fastback-influenced roofline setting it apart from the more upright sedan. Because the platform was shared, the Skylark was closely related to the Chevrolet Nova, Pontiac Ventura and Oldsmobile Omega, though Buick gave it distinct grille, trim and interior treatments. Buyers in the late 1970s were increasingly focused on fuel economy, and the compact Skylark was Buick's response. It bridged the gap between the old rear-drive layout and the front-drive Skylark that would follow in 1980.