We remember when the “Street Freak” era was hot, tubs weren’t cool, and gassers weren’t the only thing with a straight axle. Of course if you really wanted to be the dude you also had 18 colors of paint and an actual name written on your car somewhere. Well, this Skylark isn’t quite up to rockstar status, but it’s trying to get there. It’s got the obligatory straight axle, so the stance is right, but it’s not sure whether it is a gasser or a street freak. What do you think? Would you drive it?
I would, after removing the Nailhead as quickly as possible. I’d change out the wheels and tires, and get some that would stick out in the back, and then throw some serious graphics down the side. Oh, and I would put a name one it like “Bird of Prey” or “Sky Writer” or something cheesy. It would rule.
Would you drive it? And what would you change? I included a couple other street freaks for inspiration as well.
It can be yours, after all it’s on Ebay right now. Click the link at the bottom of the page for more info and a lot more photos.
Through a 455 in her and id drive it all day. Im gonn have to pass on the graphics though chad
*throw
Removing the Nailhead would be a mistake . . . gee hasn’t anyone in BS’ expansive SoCal compound (Skid Row homeless shelter?) ever heard of TV Tommy Ivo? Lennie Kennedy?
Given the tippy stance, ruining it with a cheapskate LS or a Chevy like a $200 Suburban isn’t remotely warranted. It would have more power than it can safely hook up with the vintage Buick mill. And it would be infinitely more BITCHIN!
Build the Nailhead to period-correctness with a GMC blower, skyscraper injector stack, s or a proper dual-quad set-up (maybe even with the crazy-wild Offy cross-ram induction adaptors (PN 5497)) Or go totally wild with a ’60s-style carb’d turbo set-up Then rock the retro circuit.
As for the rear “meats” . . . nothing bigger than some pie-crust cheater slicks. No need to crap it up like a ’70s car.
2nd the above.
Exactly correct.
Yes!
I double second that
No, no, a thousand times no.
I agree with outsider 110%
FREAKS RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Michael
You can’t agree with Outsider and then say that FREAKS RULE. He is saying that he would want to keep it looking like a nostalgic gasser, which never ever would have existed in the first place.
maybe add the body color to to wheels some how, paint the spokes or some thing, but, hell yes, I would rock that thing
Well, I’d have to put double A-arm front suspension on it first, then some decent front tires. Out back, maybe tub it, put some shorter high rate coil overs. I could leave the body as is though. Definitely no silly graphics.
On the strip, O Yeah!, in a heartbeat .On the street,I’ll pass. I had one solid axle street car, a 53 Plymouth. It rode like a truck and handled like a Ocean Liner. But it sure kicked ass.
I agree with Outsider, build a nailhead for it. Why ruin a good Buick with a Chubbie engine?
Start with a 425, bore it out as far as ya can, stroke it as much as ya can, and go from there. Nailheads can make gobs of power if built right. A blower and maybe some laughing gas would really top it off.
I’ve got a freind who has just put a 425 nailhead in a 61 Special. Thing runs like a bat out of hell, and he doesn’t have a blower or gas.
BTW, this thing would really be the bomb with a Hemi Orange paint job and some subtle striping.
I agree with you Challenger 6 Pac and The Outsider, build the Buick Nailhead as far as paint, I’d leave it and dress it up with some old school gold leaf,maybe put on some Keystone Klassic rims.
How did I know this was from the east coast? I think that there are only a few cars being built as gassers today that look correct, and this isn’t one of them. Almost as awful looking as that gas bubble thing on the cover of Hot Rod. I do like the engine in this one, however.
I agree with you on all but the engine.
link no workie for me?
Buick yes!
AMX no!
El Camino HELL NO!
Sh@t I’d drive the thing just to piss off all the Donks around here.
Anybody notice the lift blocks on the El Camino?
Why does everyone think I would put a Chevy in it? I would build a bitchin 455 for it in a heart beat. Nailheads suck. Out loud.
All the guys that used to run them did it because they were sponsored, or had no other choice. The guy who designed the valvetrain in one smoked crack before crack was invented.
The only people who like Nailheads either have to, have never actually built one, or they have one that makes 200 horsepower in their ’30s rat rod and it’s “all it can handle”.
Haha 455 for the win. I still wouldn’t let you put graphics on it though
I’m smellin’ the crack smoke . . . from Cali.
Ivo loved the Nailhead back in the day. That had nothing to do with getting a check. And they certainly held their own in the early ’60s.
Of course they’re not remotely state-of-the-art. But that’s one of the reasons why they’re interesting now (along with other “wrong” mills, such as 430 MELs, Y-Blocks, 348/409s, etc.) . Certainly for a pure drag car, a 455 would have more upside and would be easier to extract maximum E.T. from. . But for stylin’ and profilin’ — which is essentially what a vintage “high and mighty” axle car is these days — it’s hard to beat the traditional look of a hopped nailhead in its proper home.
The “Strange Bird” 1962 Ford Falcon, built by Chuckles Garage, certainly makes more than 200 h.p. out of its Nailhead.
I agree with the nailhead is more traditional and all that but i have experience with the 455 so it would be easier to maintain for me personally. But whatever floats your boat.
Although I’ve never owned a nailhead I have built two. One had 475 horses, the other 520. The fist went into a 65 Skylark and the second is in my friends 61 Special.
Yeah the suck all right. Suck Chubbies through the carbs and blow them out of the tailpipes.
All it needs is a hood with a forward facing scoop and some lace paint. I would drive it like I stole it.
Only thing I’d drive that high better have a transfer case and another drive axle.
NO, NO and NO!!! I hated that “Street Freak” thing when it was new. They are the “Donks” of the hot roding world. They don’t handle, they don’t go fast, they don’t look cool. They look like giant kid toy cars. Plus your girl needs a step ladder to get into one of them. I do like some of the paint jobs…some of the time.
That Buick is a very nice car, and would look so much better if it was set up like the black Buick you featured just a couple of weeks ago.
Hey hotrod charlie I think you should keep your negitive comments to yourself. that’s my car I will challenge you everyday that car rides like a caddy. Maybe you should stop being a keyboard tuff guy and spent more time in the garage your probably one of those guys on the hamb that has a million post. Just like you and the hamb your johnny come lately’ s and saying east coast don’t have cool stuff your just wrong east coast hot rodding and kustoms now shit all over west coast so you should just go hug a tree and go drive your prius. People have different idea’s and like different things I happen to like gassers streetfreaks hotrods and kustoms I’m a traditional person before it was cool. If you got a problem email me [email protected]
Ps the guy that built the gasbubble is a friend of mine and he has more talent then you will ever have
Mat your car is mega-bitchin!!!! Dude i love it, A Buick Skylark, with a sky high stance, radirs & pie crust, damn if i wasnt poor id buy it.
P.s. East Coasters do it better!!!
Mat,
I certainly did not mean to cause any grief with my post. If you have been on the internet more than two minutes, you would know that people will post their opinion and that is simply what I did. I did at least say I liked the engine.
I am a member of the HAMB actually. I signed up Dec 26, 2003, nearly ten years ago. Only 371 posts, and have not made one since July 2012. All of my posts there are helpful, and encouraging. My id is kustomf100. I am not a johnny come lately by a long shot, having been around racing and hot rods since I was 3 months old, and now 44. I have paid my bills working on hot rods, race cars and motorcycles for over 25 years. Only had one real job, and that only lasted six months.
Never have I owned an import car, unless an HHR made in Mexico by GM counts.
Even if I do not personally care for the style of a car, I do appreciate the work required to get one on the road. I have built stuff that only I understood, and that was ok by me. I have never built anything to make someone else happy.
Good luck on the sale.
Build your own thing mat. Don’t let other folks opinions bother ya. They aint the ones driving it. You are, and that’s all that counts.
Definitely not my cup of tea, but I do enjoy looking at them. I found the link for the street freak mopar Brian posted some months ago. This car seems more like a straight axle gasser, no? I think it’s funny how opinionated people can be, it’s not your money there spending. I prefer cars closer to stock appearance, but I love walking around car shows and looking at everything, well within reason anyway, none of the new mile high car stuff.
hell yes i would drive it , Gassers are F’n cool