After a rather slow start in 1959, the LeSabre enjoyed a long and fruitful career in the Buick lineup, remaining in production through 2005.
Not too long ago we shared the story of Buick’s horrible 1958 season, in which sales fell 40 percent in a single year. (See our feature here.) General Motors’ oldest division responded with sweeping changes for 1959, including all-new exterior styling, a new chassis, and even fresh model names. Special, Century, Super, and Roadmaster were pushed aside, replaced by LeSabre, Invicta, Electra, and Electra 225. The LeSabre was now Buick’s entry-level model with prices starting at $2,740, nearly $500 less than the Invicta, one step up the product ladder. The name, of course, was borrowed from the famous 1951 GM show car.
For ’59, Buick abandoned GM’s X-chassis format and adopted a semi-perimeter frame with a heavy K-member in the forward section. But Buick’s signature torque-tube rear suspension was continued, which used especially soft rear springs to cushion the ride. Two Dynaflow-based automatic transmissions were offered, Twin-Turbine and Triple-Turbine, the latter with a grade-retard feature. While a three-speed manual was the base transmission in the LeSabre, they were rare. At Buick, the take rate for automatic transmissions was better than 99 percent.
With the new 401 cubic-inch Nailhead V8 reserved for the Invicta and Electras in ’59, the LeSabre was powered by the 364 CID version introduced in 1957. Here, with a 10.5:1 compression ratio and a two-barrel carburetor, the 364 was rated at 250 hp at 4.400 rpm. There was also a special economy version of the 364 with a 8.5:1 compression ratio and 210 hp, available only with the three-speed manual gearbox. It’s estimated that fewer than 1,500 of these fuel economy specials were built.
Unfortunately, the complete makeover for ’59 failed to reverse the division’s fortunes. Though volume grew from 240,000 to 284,000 cars, Buick slipped from fifth to seventh place overall as the industry rallied from the 1958 recession. But meanwhile, the LeSabre proved to be the most popular among car buyers, accounting for 73 percent of the volume. Biggest seller was the low-priced ($2,804) four-door sedan at more than 51,000 cars. The LeSabre name proved to be an evergreen for the Buick division, remaining in the lineup through eight product generations before it was discontinued in 2005.
Another great story. I’m always fascinated by the fact that there were such a wide range of prices for full (and fuller) size cars like Buick. One suggestion, I like it when you offer a comparison of cars you could have bought in the same price range as your featured car, could you do more of that? I know you only have so much room but to me that’s an Interesting perspective. Thanks.
The midprice brands were all still struggling – 1959 was the model year it became clear to Ford that Edsel was a lost cause, DeSoto was on borrowed time at Mopar, and Buick faced stiff intra-GM competition from that year’s Wide-Track, split grille Pontiacs, the first of many styling home runs that division would have over the decade to follow. Without that style there just wasn’t enough cause for most buyers to choose a midprice brand over a Ford, Chevy or Plymouth.
Special was swept aside? Does that simply mean, not promoted?