The name may have been menacing, but early versions of the Buick
Skyhawk were in fact quite mild. The first generation of this car was produced from 1975 to 1980. When the Skyhawk was re-released in 1982, things got a lot more interesting. The four-passenger compact hatchback saw many upgrades until it was discontinued in 1989. Similar cars on the market at the time were the Mercury Capri, Toyota Celia, Ford Mustang II, Datsun 200SX, and Volkswagen Scirocco. The Buick Skyhawk was considered a sleeper car, with an unassuming package to hide its turbocharged transformation.
A slow start for the Buick Skyhawk
Available as a two-door coupe or a four-door sedan, the Buick Skyhawk was built to be a fuel-efficient and budget-friendly family car. It shared the same front-wheel drive J-Body platform with its General Motors counterparts, the Chevrolet Cavalier, Pontiac Sunbird, Cadillac Cimarron, and Oldsmobile Firenza.
In order to deliver on its promise of affordability, Buick had to compromise on the quality of its building materials. Owners were reminded of this every time they shut the doors to an echoing tinny sound. According to MotorBiscuit
, wind and road noise was prevalent as body panels didn’t line up perfectly and the interior finish was subpar. The car didn’t move too fast either with its 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. Buyers that opted for the 2.0-liter with an overhead cam got 90 hp instead of the standard 88 hp.
The Buick Skyhawk gets an upgrade
Performance was drastically enhanced in 1984 with the T-Type. Buick turbocharged the engine and increased output to 150 hp. Weighing in below 2,500 lbs and riding on special wheels, the Skyhawk could now travel at new speeds. The blacked-out trim added to its high-performance look.
HotCars
reports that the Buick Skyhawk’s aerodynamic finish and sporty style was apparently inspired by the 1971 Ferrari 365 GTC/4. Its distinctive shape and smooth lines offered a 0.43 drag coefficient, making it an incredibly efficient vehicle.The Buick Skyhawk saw further upgrades, like the suspension, in 1986. Features included hidden headlamp assemblies, a turbo bulge hood, louvered rear window, and smoked tail lights. Wheels were 14-inch aluminum and the tires were wider. The interior saw additional gauges, two-tone sport bucket seats, and a leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel.
The T-Type version was discontinued in 1987, but Buick kept the turbocharged engine in its Sport Hatch model. This Skyhawk’s turbocharger was larger, water-cooled, and made 165 hp. It was also equipped with multi-point fuel injection and a five-speed manual gearbox. The car moved from 0 to 60 mph in seven seconds.
The Buick Skyhawk is cheap fun
MORE: How to Buy Your First Collector Car
After the end of the 1980s and the Skyhawk, Buick kept its turbocharged engines for future models like the Regal. The Skyhawk was an inexpensive car with surprising power, so it’s often overlooked by collectors. It was one of the original hot hatchbacks and worth a drive if you can get your hands on one.
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