Buick's Skylark got fresh sheetmetal for 1966, and there was more available power for the Gran Sport. But competition was tougher than ever, and sales of the 1966 Buick Skylark Gran Sport, an upscale muscle car, skidded dramatically from the model's first season in 1965.
 ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Sloping sail panels coming off the rear of the roof were part of the 1966 Buick Skylark's redesign, but the new look couldn't rescue sagging sales. See more muscle car pictures. |
The base 401-cid "Wildcat 445" four-barrel again had 325 bhp, but a hotter 340-bhp version was made available during the model year. Dual exhausts and heavy-duty suspension were included as standard equipment with either engine. Metallic brake linings and a rear stabilizer bar were among the options.
 ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. The 401-cubic-inch engine in the Gran Sport, called the Wildcat 445, could make up to 340 horsepower. |
 ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. The interior styling of the 1966 Buick Gran Sport was a bit stodgy. |
It wasn't the fastest big-cube intermediate, but reviewers again lauded the Gran Sport's balanced nature. At $2,956 for the pillared coupe, and $3,019 for the Sport Coupe, and $3,167 for the convertible, however, base prices were higher than those of 4-4-2s and GTOs. Buick built 106,217 Skylarks for '66; just 13,816 of them were Gran Sports.
Wheelbase, inches: 115.0 Weight, lbs: 3,150 Number built: 12,816 Base price: $2,960 Top Available Engine Type: ohv V-8 Displacement, cid: 401 Fuel system: 1 x 4bbl. Compression ratio: 10.25:1 Horsepower @ rpm: 340 @ 4600 Torque @ rpm: 445 @ 2800 Representative Performance 0-60 mph, sec: 7.6 1/4 mile, sec. @ mph: 15.47 @ 90.5 |
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