1975-1979
In the middle of the 1973 model year Buick returned to the compact market with the Buick Apollo, using General Motors’ X-body platform and heavily based on the Chevrolet Nova. When the car was extensively restyled for the 1975 model year the 2-door hatchback sedan (coupe) and 2-door sedan (coupe) were rechristened as “Skylark” models, while the 4-door sedan remained as an “Apollo.”
2-door hatchback sedan and 2-door sedan models were available as the base Skylark or as the more upscale Skylark S/R. 4-door sedans were available as the base Apollo or the more upscale Apollo S/R. Additionally, there was a very plain, lower-priced Skylark “S” available only as a 2-door sedan with minimal interior and exterior trim.
The standard engine for the Buick Skylarks was Buick’s own 231 cubic-inch-displacement (3.8 liter) V-6 engine with a 2-barrel carburetor creating 110 horsepower @ 4000 rpm. (Buick purchased the dies for the engine back from American Motors which acquired them when they had purchased the Kaiser Jeep division from Kaiser Industries.) The Apollo used Chevrolet’s 250 cubic-inch (4.1 liter) inline 6-cylinder engine.
Optional engines included the Oldsmobile 260 cubic inch (4.3 liter) V-8 engine with a 2-barrel carburetor producing 110 horsepower at 4000 rpm, and the Buick 350 cubic inch (5.7 liter) V-8 engine with either a 2 or 4-barrel carburetor. In 1976 the 5.7 liter V-8 engines produced 140 horsepower @ 3200 rpm with the 2-barrel carburetor and 155 horsepower @ 3400 rpm with the 4-barrel carburetor.
Beginning with the 1976 model year, the 4-door sedans now used the Skylark and Skylark S/R names instead of the previous Apollo and they also now came with the 3.8 liter V-6 engine as standard.
The 260 cubic-inch (4.3 liter) V-8 engine was discontinued after the 1976 model year. For the 1977 model year it was replaced by a pair of V-8 engines.
Available as an option in 1977 was a 301 cubic-inch (5.0 liter) V-8 with a 2-barrel carburetor which produced 135 horsepower @ 4000 rpm supplied by Pontiac.
Also available was a 305 cubic-inch (5.0 liter V-8 with a 2-barrel carburetor which produced 145 horsepower @ 3800 rpm supplied by Chevrolet.
The Buick-built 5.7 liter V-8 was still available, but only with the 4-barrel carburetor.
Beginning with 1978 model year, Chevrolet’s 5.7 liter (350 cubic-inch) V-8 with a 4-barrel carburetor and producing 170 horsepower @ 3800 rpm was also available.
Beginning with the 1978 model year, the Skylark Custom replaced the Skylark S/R. The 1979 model year saw the discontinuance of the Skylark Custom 2-door hatchback coupe. The base V-6 engine produced 10 more horsepower than 1978’s version. The 1979 model year was short because midway through it, the all-new 1980 models were introduced early.
Engines
• 231 in³ (3.8 L) Buick V6 (1975-79)
• 260 in³ (4.3 L) Oldsmobile V8 (1975-76)
• 301 in³ (5.0 L) Pontiac V8 (1977-79)
• 305 in³ (5.0 L) Chevrolet V8 (1977-79)
• 350 in³ (5.7 L) V8 Buick (1975-79)
• 350 in³ (5.7 L) V8 Chevrolet (1978-79)
Iran
The Buick Skylark was manufactured in Iran from 1975 until 1987, under the brand name of "Buick Iran". The first generation was known as B2 and the second and last generation was known as the B3. This car was equipped with a 5.7 L engine and full option package (power door locks, power steering, automatic transmission, etc). The Cadillac Seville and Chevrolet Nova were manufactured in Iran during the same period. It appears that these models were basically the same as those built in the U.S. from 1975 to 1979.
GM ceased all production of vehicles in Iran in December of 1987.
1980-1985
The 1980 to 1985 Skylark shared GM's new X-body architecture with the Chevrolet Citation, Pontiac Phoenix, and Oldsmobile Omega and would bear some resemblance to the G-body mid-size cars. GM's X-body would become the basis for GM's A-body mid-size cars that would be introduced as 1982 models. The new front-wheel-drive Skylark was introduced in the spring of 1979 as an early 1980 model equipped with MacPherson strut front suspension and front disc brakes, and featured a transversally mounted engine. The new optional 2.8 liter V6 was designed specifically for the X-cars.
The Skylark was available in 2 or 4-door sedan bodystyles, and in base, Sport, or Limited trims. The standard 2.5 liter Iron Duke 4 used a 2-barrel Rochester carburetor and produced 90 hp at 4000 rpm. The optional 2.8 liter V6 also used a 2-barrel Rochester carburetor and produced 115 hp at 4800 rpm. A 4-speed manual overdrive transaxle was standard with a 3-speed automatic transaxle available as an option.
For the 1982 model year, the base 2.5 liter engine received fuel injection. The optional 2.8 liter V6 was joined by a more powerful high-output version that produced 135 hp @ 5400 rpm. For the 1983 model year the Skylark received a mild face-lift in the form of a new grill with the front parking lamps moved from outside, to inside of the headlamps. The base Skylark became Skylark Custom. The Sport model was replaced by the T-Type which was available only as a 2-door sedan and which came with the high output version of the 2.8 liter V6 engine as standard equipment. In 1985, their last year of production, the X-body Skylarks were available only as 4-door sedans in Custom or Limited trim. The 2-door Skylarks were replaced by Buick's new Somerset Regal 2-door sedan built on GM's new N-body.
Engines
• 1980-1985 Tech-4 2.5 L (151 in³) I4 Supplied by Pontiac
• 1980-1985 LE2 2.8 L (173 in³) V6 Supplied by Chevrolet