SOLD on Jun 15, 2026

Elite Dealer

1961 Buick Special

Michigan

$18,995

Vehicle Details

Make

Buick

Model

Special

Year

1961

Mileage

8,000 miles

Transmission

Automatic

Drivetrain

RWD

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

350 V8 Street/Strip This 1961 Buick

Condition

Fair

Description

1961 Buick Special 2-Door Gasser – Built 350 V8 – Street/Strip This 1961 Buick Special is a true old-school gasser-style build with strong performance and a solid drivetrain. Built to run hard and turn heads, it’s drivable as-is and offers plenty of character with room for finishing touches. Drivetrain & Performance: Built Chevy 350 V8 (approx. 8,000 miles since rebuild) TH350 automatic transmission (approx. 8,000 miles since rebuild) 1995 Camaro Z28 rear axle New 59-inch driveshaft Floor shifter Runs very strong and easily spins the tires Chassis, Suspension & Steering: New gasser-style straight axle with front disc brakes Disc brakes all around Manual rack-and-pinion steering (new) Air shocks front and rear Interior & Controls: New chrome tilt steering column Bucket seats installed Original bench seat included Condition Notes: Will need floor pan patch work Can be driven as-is Solid, aggressive stance with classic gasser attitude A fun, hard-running Buick gasser with a fresh drivetrain and the right look.

Great for cruising, shows, or strip fun—an honest build with serious personality.

Buick Special Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Sarah Whitfield

Pre-War Classics

1961–1969

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

The Buick Special introduced America to the modern lightweight V8 — an all-aluminum engine so advanced that Land Rover bought the design and is still using it today. Behind its modest compact-car exterior lay engineering that would define performance for half a century.

This guide covers

✓ 7-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 4 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Special Buyer's Guide

Buick Special Market Overview

Based on 34 Buick Special listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$27,280

Avg. Asking Price

1936–1965

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Average Range

This car: $18,995

Low: $3,500 High: $149,900

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 47% ◄

Manual 32%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 6%

Good 6%

Fair 12% ◄

Poor 3%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 34 listings →

Buick Special Buyer's Guide

Sarah Whitfield here. The Buick Special is one of those cars that rewards the buyer who looks beneath the surface. On the surface, it's a compact-to-intermediate Buick from the early 1960s — pleasant, well-made, and largely forgotten by the mainstream. Beneath the surface, it introduced one of the most historically significant engines in American automotive history: the all-aluminum 215ci V8 that Buick developed for the 1961 model year.

The story of the aluminum 215 is extraordinary. Buick created it, couldn't quite make it work profitably, sold the design to British Leyland, which licensed it to Rover, which put it in the Range Rover in 1970 — where it continues in evolved form today. Meanwhile, Oldsmobile also used a version in the Jetfire with a turbocharger — making the 1962–1963 Olds Jetfire the first American turbocharged production car. The engine is genuinely remarkable, and the Buick Special that houses it deserves far more attention than it receives.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Coolant Chemistry (Aluminum 215) — Verify correct aluminum-compatible coolant is in use — incorrect coolant causes rapid corrosion in aluminum blocks.

✓

Head Gasket Condition — Check exhaust for white smoke and oil for white emulsification — aluminum head gasket failures are the primary risk.

✓

Lower Sill Rust — Inspect lower sill seams carefully — compact cars concentrated water at these points and rust is common.

✓

Gran Sport Trim Tag — Verify Gran Sport option code on trim tag before paying performance premium.

✓

Transmission Operation — Test Dynaflow or Super Turbine automatic through all ranges — rebuild costs run $1,500–$2,500.

✓

Aluminum 215 Parts Availability — Verify critical parts (water pump, carburetor, specific gaskets) are available before committing to an aluminum-engine car.

✓

Engine Casting Numbers — On aluminum V8 cars, verify casting numbers match the 215ci specification — cast-iron swaps are common.

Common Issues

Aluminum 215 V8 head gasket failures from incorrect coolant use or overheating. Aluminum block corrosion from incompatible coolant chemistry. Lower sill rust on compact body cars from water intrusion. Difficult-to-source aluminum 215 replacement parts compared to cast-iron engines. Dynaflow/Super Turbine automatic transmission wear on high-mileage cars. Gran Sport nailhead V8 valve train adjustment intervals.

What to Look For

On aluminum 215 V8 cars (1961–1963), verify the coolant is the correct specification — incompatible coolants accelerate corrosion in the aluminum block and heads. Check for evidence of head gasket leaks (white exhaust smoke, coolant in oil). Inspect the lower sill seams for rust — compact cars of this era were prone to sill corrosion. On Gran Sport models, verify the correct engine option via the trim tag. Check the transmission operation on Dynaflow or Super Turbine automatic cars.

Price Guide

1961–1963 aluminum V8 Special: $8,000–$18,000 for drivers. Show-quality aluminum V8 cars: $22,000–$35,000. 1964–1967 cast-iron V8 Special: $7,000–$16,000. 1965–1967 Gran Sport Special (documented): $18,000–$35,000. Cars with correct aluminum 215 and documented maintenance history command 20–30% premium over unknown-history examples.

Did You Know?

The Buick 215 aluminum V8 was purchased by Rover in 1965. The Rover V8 derived from this engine has been continuously produced since 1967 in various Land Rover and Range Rover vehicles — making the original 1961 Buick Special's engine one of the longest-produced V8 architectures in automotive history, spanning over 60 years. Oldsmobile's version of the same engine was used in the 1962–1963 Jetfire with a turbocharger, creating the first American turbocharged production car.

Elite Dealer

$18,995