1968 Buick Skylark GS
1968 BUICK SKYLARK GS STYLING CHANGES
1968 was a big year for GM. They changed over the bodies of just about every car from must about every division, replacing the old squarish bodies with curvaceous, streamlined new shapes. Some were more successful than others. The new Buick Skylark came off as a little big, heavy-looking. The front grille copped the Riviera’s, and an awkward curved character line arced down the sides of the body, bottoming out just ahead of the rear fenders. But apparently the public-at-large didn’t mind, because 1968 was a record-breaking year for sales.
1968 BUICK SKYLARK GS ENGINE LINEUP
The GS350 took last year’s GS340, bored it out to 350ci, and it made 280hp and a whopping 375 lb-ft of torque. This was a different version of Buick’s 350 V8 than those that were being fitted to standard non-GS Buick Skylarks at the time. The GS400 used Buick’s new 401 V8 (the displacement was deliberately understated as 400ci to get around GMs edict that no GM midsize car could have any engine larger than 400 cubic inches, except the Corvette, of course). The new 400 produced 340hp and was good for a 6-second zero-to-60 run.
1968 BUICK SKYLARK ‘CALIFORNIA GS’
Buick introduced a special model in ’68 called the Skylark California GS. The name implied that it was in fact a special Grand Sport. They certainly looked like Grand Sports with the same wheels and tires, even the same GS emblems. However, they were simply stock Skylark Special Deluxe models with vinyl roof, a smaller V8 and no special performance upgrades.
1968 Buick Skylark GS SPECIFICATIONS
Model/Body Style
Model#/Body Style# Production Price when new Shipping weight Wheelbase Length Width Height Track, front Track, rear Tire size Fuel capacity ENGINE SPECS Engine type Engine familly Displacement Bore & Stroke Compression ratio Fuel system Power @ RPM Torque @ RPM |
GS350 Hardtop
43400 / 37 8,317 $2,926 3,375 lbs 112.0 in / 2845 mm 200.7 in / 5098 mm 75.6 in / 1920 mm 53.5 in / 1359 mm 59.0 in / 1499 mm 59.0 in / 1499 mm 7.75″ X 14″ 20.1 US gal / 76.0 L 90-degree OHV V8 Buick small block 349.3 ci / 5724 cc 3.8″ X 3.85″ 10.25:1 1 X Rochester 4bbl 280 hp @ 4600 rpm 375 lb/ft @ 3200 rpm |
GS400 Hardtop
43600 / 37 10,743 $3,127 3,514 lbs 112.0 in / 2845 mm 200.7 in / 5098 mm 75.6 in / 1920 mm 53.5 in / 1359 mm 59.0 in / 1499 mm 59.0 in / 1499 mm 7.75″ X 14″ 20.1 US gal / 76.0 L 90-degree OHV V8 Buick big block 400.0ci / 6554 cc 4.04″ X 3.9″ 10.25:1 1 X Rochester 4bbl 340 hp @ 5000 rpm 440 hp @ 3200 rpm |
GS400 Convertible
44600 / 67 2,454 $3,271 3,547 lbs 112.0 in / 2845 mm 200.7 in / 5098 mm 75.6 in / 1920 mm 53.5 in / 1359 mm 59.0 in / 1499 mm 59.0 in / 1499 mm 7.75″ X 14″ 20.1 US gal / 76.0 L 90-degree OHV V8 Buick big block 400.0ci / 6554 cc 4.04″ X 3.9″ 10.25:1 1 X Rochester 4bbl 340 hp @ 5000 rpm 440 hp @ 3200 rpm |