The 1961 Buick LeSabre convertible security boost Buick up industry ranking after it had slew to ninth place in 1960 . This drop was worrisome for Buick , which was take flight high in the mid-1950s at third position in the U.S. machine manufacture .
9th station was its worst showing since 1905 . Something had to be done – and quick .
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The first step was take in 1959 , as Edward D. Rollert took over the rein of Buick Division . He shape first of all to improve timber , which had been slack .
second , he set about set up the Cartesian product more in tune with the times . His efforts showed up on the 1961 Buick lineup , which featured its first covenant , the Special .
Although full - sizing wheelbases ( 123 inches on LeSabre ) and model name calling carried over , the driveline ( no more torsion tube ) and bodies were new . So was the styling , which forsake the showy " Delta Wing " fins , canted headlamp , and wild sculpturing that had previously prevailed .
custom , mercifully , had returned to Buick . The result was the well - looking and most sellable line of full - size of it car Buick had field for some metre . Among them was the LeSabre sofa bed , which listed at $ 3,382 , about $ 400 more than a Chevy ragtop .
But , with the Buick came a 364 - cid , 235/250 - horsepower V-8 , along with a snazzy Interior Department and the still - prestigious Buick name . sales event improve for 1961 , which include 11,951 LeSabre lenient upside .
Buick go up a pass to eighth in manufacture ranking . By 1964 it was back in fifth , where it would stay during most of the 1960s and 1970s .
