1979 BUICK LESABRE

ALL-AMERICAN CRUISER

The Buick LeSabre is something of an American icon. Apart from having one of the automotive world’s great names – LeSabre means ‘the sword’ in French, which is a very cool choice of name, and Buick is just a great sounding word anyway – the LeSabre was America’s best-selling full-size car for much of its long existence, an era that stretches from the rock ‘n’ roll days of the late 1950s through to the electronic hip-hop years of the mid-2000s.

It was one of the longest-lasting models in continuous production and one of the longest-lasting nameplates in automotive history. And that history saw it change quite a bit over the years. Born in the era when American cars were massive, chrome-wielding, fin-bedecked behemoths, over its long lifetime the LeSabre was slowly scaled down, becoming rather more sedate and calm with each passing model.

However, in the 1970’s there was still something a bit ‘disco’ about the LeSabre – big and extroverted was still beautiful in America’s automotive world – and that was the decade that saw owner John Dooley’s 1979 four-door sedan roll off the production line.

Interestingly, Buick didn’t actually make a four-door convertible version of the LeSabre – though judging from these pictures you might think otherwise. The story behind this particular model’s conversion is one that owes much to North Queensland’s fine meteorological outlook.

“What happened was we had it parked down the back of the yard and some grub threw a rock and broke the back window,” says John. “The repairer said ‘Oh, that’ll take me a couple of months to get a window,’ so I said not to worry about that and let’s see if we can chop the top off it! So we got the engineers out and they did up a plan for the panel beaters and painters and they progressed from there.

“It was a case of just ‘Let’s do this.’ You can drive it for nine months of the year up here because of the weather. It’s only when it’s really hot or when it’s raining that you can’t drive it!”

Owner of the Wheelz and Wheelz used car dealership in Townsville, the website wesellurcar4u.com, and a former member of the MTAQ’s Used Car Committee, John has an affinity with American cars thanks to regular visits to the US. He admits, though, that he is not a complete car nut.

“I go to America a couple of times a year – holidays and business conferences and so on – so I am fond of their cars,” he says. “I bought a near new Camaro SS a couple of years ago that was probably one of their nicest cars I’ve ever had but there’s no real urgency for me to race out and buy the latest model car. That’s not my thing.”

Car nut or not though, the Buick caught John’s eye when it appeared at a car yard in Townsville.

“The car just sort of turned up,” he says. “I found it at a Holden dealer who had traded it and didn’t want it, so we bought it off them. It had come in from Japan, had just one owner and low kilometres, and was just a lovely old car.”

Though the LeSabre was in excellent condition when John bought it, and remains mostly original, there were some projects he had to execute – outside of the major roof job, of course.

“It was spotless when we got it but the weather does have an effect,” he says. “It had cloth trim in it and that didn’t fare too well so we re-trimmed it. Sparkies put a whole new dash in it too – a customised dash – and we have put 20-inch wheels on it.

“It is a great six-seater,” he adds. “We have a Limo but when we have functions up here, such as the V8s or around Melbourne Cup time, we use the Buick to ferry people around too.”

It’s little wonder the Buick is popular for treks around town. Big and comfortable, it’s also an eye-catching rarity thanks in part to its roof-free appearance, and is a popular choice for unique transportation for people from kids going to formals to the odd international dance band.

“We picked up the band The Potbelleez from the airport in it and carted them around,” says John. “All they wanted to do was cruise down The Strand and drive around before we dropped them off. People ring up and say they would prefer to use the Buick – it does carry six people including the driver and it does have a massive boot.

“The formals were a big hit this year too. They ring and ask specifically for the Buick and it’s great to do things for people like that.”

Being an unusual car, the Buick gets plenty of looks from the public – which is perfect for its dual role as about-town cruiser and rolling advertisement for John’s business.

“We get plenty of looks driving it about, of course,” says John with a chuckle. “I have a couple of sets ofair-horns on it too and we play about with those. The car is a bit of fun.”