Buick Skylark in Context
Before this generation the Skylark had been a rear-wheel-drive car, most recently a compact derived from the Chevrolet Nova platform. For 1980 General Motors replaced that architecture with the front-wheel-drive X-body shared by the Chevrolet Citation, Pontiac Phoenix and Oldsmobile Omega. Among Buick Skylark generations this was a genuine rethink, driven by the fuel economy pressures of the late 1970s and a desire to match the space efficiency of imported compacts. A transverse engine and compact drivetrain freed up cabin room in a shorter overall package, though the Skylark kept a more traditional, formal appearance than some of its corporate siblings.
Understanding 5 generation
Buick Skylark body styles in this generation are the two-door coupe and the four-door sedan, both using conventional notchback profiles rather than the hatchback shapes offered by other X-body divisions. Trim levels ranged from plain versions to the sportier T-Type, with four-cylinder and V6 engines available. The X-body cars became the subject of recalls and quality complaints, which affected the reputation of the whole platform. Production of this Skylark ended after 1985, when Buick moved the name to the newer N-body platform for the next generation.