10 Of The Best Buick Cars Of All Time

As far as American automakers go, Buick should be one of the most celebrated. Not only was it one of the first brands in the States, it led to the establishment of the automotive giant, General Motors. While its lineup now consists of luxury SUVs only, there is a long list of notable Buick car models in the history books.

This list features some of the best Buick cars ever made, which includes the most underrated sports car and a surprising supercar rival. This list isn't extensive—there are many impressive classic Buick cars not listed below that still deserve huge respect.

1950 Buick Roadmaster

Over this period, the Buick Roadmaster served as the brand's flagship model, bringing with it all the luxury and chrome you could possibly throw at a luxury car at the time. In 1950, the model received a redesigned front grille with prominent vertical bars, a bold styling feature that some loved and some hated. According to MotorCities, these cars contributed to Buick breaking its 1949 sales record by 38 percent. So revered was the Roadmaster nameplate that Buick resurrected it in the early 1990s after a 33-year hiatus with a full-size sedan and wagon. This Roadmaster station wagon was discontinued in 1996, making it the final full-size wagon to be sold in America. However, it was the original Roadmaster that set the blueprint for oversized Buick luxury.

1963 Buick Special Skylark

Following a production break between 1958 and 1960, the Skylark returned in 1961 with a shiny new unibody Y-platform. For 1963, this Buick flaunted a perfect balance of performance and sophistication in a compact package. The Special was available as a convertible, station wagon, or sedan.

If there was an image of cars of the 60s, this was it—clean lines and tasteful chrome accents. The Skylark's influence on future Buick models and overall design was significant, as it helped establish a new market for the brand that would persist for years to come. The Roadmaster is undoubtedly one of the best Buick models ever.

Buick Riviera

Nobody expected this Buick glow-up with the Riviera. Flaunting lines sharper than a Savile Row suit and a silhouette that made Ferrari jealous, the Riviera redefined American luxury. If the car was the icing on a cake, its 6.6-liter V8 was the cherry on top. An optional 7.0L V8 engine with 340 hp later became available.

The Riviera didn't just turn heads; it gave people whiplash. Buick stood proudly, competing with the best in the luxury market. It set the bar so high that others were left scrambling to catch up.

1966 Buick Wildcat GS

With a name like Wildcat, you knew this beast wasn't going to purr – it was going to roar. Packing a V8 that could make muscle cars break out in a cold sweat, the Wildcat GS was the gentleman boxer of the automotive world. Limited to a single production year, and with very few being produced in that time, the Wildcat GS was a rare muscle car that could throw down with the best of them on the strip, then cruise to the opera without breaking a sweat.

1970 Buick GSX Stage 1

The 1960s and 70s were the golden age of muscle cars, with manufacturers going wild before strict regulations about engine size and power came into force. Chevrolet and Ford were fighting for the top spot when Buick crashed the party with a sledgehammer. The GSX Stage 1 flexed its engineering biceps with a power plant that could outgun many of its more famous rivals, like the Ford Mustang Boss 429. It combined raw, tire-shredding power with a level of refinement that left other muscle cars looking like crude gym rats.

1975 Buick Skyhawk

When Buick revealed the subcompact Skyhawk, everyone was surprised at the automaker's change in direction. The oil crisis of the 1970s set the stage perfectly for this nimble newcomer. With its swooping lines and sporty demeanor, the Skyhawk turned heads and challenged perceptions. It proved that Buick could dance with the compact crowd while maintaining its signature touch of class.

Despite being small, the Skyhawk was big on performance, offering a surprisingly spirited driving experience that challenged perceptions of what a small Buick was capable of. Its introduction played a crucial role in diversifying Buick's image during a time when fuel efficiency was becoming increasingly important to American consumers.

1987 Buick GNX

Perhaps the most surprising Buick to date is the turbocharged GNX, a high-performance version of the Regal Grand National. Limited to just 547 units, the GNX was rarer than a politician's promise and twice as potent. Buick might have understated its power on paper, but on the street, the GNX was laying down times that made supercars break out in a cold sweat.

This all-black barge looked like Darth Vader, but it was more like the Death Star, annihilating any supercar that dared challenge it. The GNX is faster than a Ferrari F40 on the quarter mile. Yes, really.

Buick Reatta

When Buick launched the Reatta, it was like they'd unleashed a UFO onto the streets. This short-lived halo car was so out of left field for Buick, it left people scratching their heads in a good way. Handcrafted like a fine Swiss watch, the Reatta was Buick's way of saying, yeah, we can be sporty and tech-y too.

With pop-up headlights that were all the rage, and a touchscreen (yes, a touchscreen in the 80s!), the Reatta was reaching for the stars. It might have been too rich for some blood back then, but today, it's a collector's darling, representing a time when Buick dared to dream different. It's as far removed as possible from today's range of competent but anonymous Buick SUVs.

Buick Park Avenue

When Buick rolled out the Park Avenue with a supercharged V6, it was like they'd decided to spike the punch at a black-tie gala. On the outside, it was all classic Buick elegance – the kind of car that looked right at home in front of a country club. But under the hood? That's where Buick hid the party. With a supercharged engine that could chirp the tires faster than you could say "But it's a Buick!", the Park Avenue provided the best of both worlds with leather-bound comfort that could also lay down some serious rubber when the mood struck. They featured dual climate control, cruise control and keyless entry as standard.

Buick Regal GS

By the time the fifth-generation Buick Regal arrived in the late 2000s, it was a handsome and sporty midsize sedan, and it still looks modern today. Injecting a dose of pure adrenaline into Buick, the Regal GS was a European-inspired sports sedan. At the time, it was the most powerful Regal money could buy. Its wide tires and lowered suspension tightened the chassis for better handling, while gaping air vents on the front grill gave the impression of a huge engine that needed to be cooled, despite only being a 2.0-liter. Nonetheless, this could be the ultimate sleeper car you can buy right now.