The Buick LeSabre was a full-size car made by the Buick division of General Motors from 1959-2005. For many years, the LeSabre was considered the entry level full-size Buick, carrying the lowest base price in the Buick lineup. Prior to 1959, that position had been held by the full-size Buick Special model; in 1959 the LeSabre replaced the Special, a nameplate that was reintroduced in 1961 for Buick's line of compact cars.
History of ModelThe LeSabre nameplate made its first appearance on a Motorama show car in 1951 and on a production car in 1959 as the new moniker for what had previously been known as the Buick Special.
The Buick LeSabre was offered in a full line of body styles except between 1965-1969 when its station wagon variant was dropped from Buick's full-size offerings. In 1977, the LeSabre was downsized along with other GM full-size models, and was available only in pillared coupe, sedan and wagon body styles.
In addition to being Buick's entry level vehicle, the LeSabre was consistently Buick's best selling full-size car. Of the four nameplates introduced in 1959 (LeSabre, Invicta, Electra, Electra 225), the LeSabre nameplate lasted the longest.
FIRST GENERATION
From 1959 to 1961, the LeSabre was powered by a 364 cubic-inch V8, which was smaller than the 401 cubic-inch V8 used in the more expensive Invicta and Electra models. The 364, which was previously used in all Buicks in 1957 and 1958, was rated at 250 horsepower (190 kW) in standard form with an "economy" 235 horsepower (175 kW) version offered as a "no cost" option in 1960-61 and an optional power-pack version with four-barrel carburetor and dual exhausts that was rated at 300 horsepower (220 kW).
For 1962-63, the LeSabre came standard with a two-barrel carbureted version of the 401 V8 rated at 280 horsepower (210 kW), or a no-cost "economy" low-compression version rated at 260 horsepower (190 kW). Starting in 1964, all LeSabre models except the Estate Wagon shared their drivetrains with the mid size Buick models by switching to those models' smaller-displacement V8s.
For most years from 1959 to 1971, a three-speed manual transmission was standard equipment on all LeSabres but rarely ordered. Far more popular was the Turbine Drive automatic transmission (previously known as Dynaflow) along with power steering and power brakes. For 1961 and 1962, the automatic transmission was standard on the LeSabre and all other full-sized Buicks but in 1963 was moved back to the option list on LeSabres.
For 1964, the Dynaflow-based Turbine Drive was replaced by two new automatic transmissions, the two-speed Super Turbine 300 and the three-speed Super Turbine 400. A four-speed manual transmission was offered as a LeSabre option from 1963 to 1965 but only a small number of cars were so equipped.
SECOND GENERATION
Starting in 1965, the LeSabre was available in two trim levels, the base LeSabre and the LeSabre Custom, which featured a more luxurious interior trim. The Estate Wagon model was dropped from the full-sized Buick line for a few years in favor of the stretched intermediate Special-based Buick Sport Wagon which featured a raised rear roof and glass skylight over the back seat similar to the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser.
Offered from 1965 to 1969 was the LeSabre "400" package which included the Super Turbine "400" 3 speed automatic transmission teamed with a four-barrel high-compression version of the LeSabre's smaller V8 engine which displaced 300 cubic inches for 1964-65, 340 cubic inches for 1966-67 and 350 cubic inches from 1968 onward.
During each of those years, the standard two-barrel low compression LeSabre V8 was only available with the Super Turbine 300 two-speed automatic transmission, requiring the Buick buyer preferring the three-speed automatic to order the LeSabre "400" package or the higher-priced Buick Wildcat (which replaced the Invicta in 1963) or Buick Electra models, which were powered by larger-displacement V8 engines.
Buick's practice was similar to that of Chevrolet, which at that time only offered the two-speed Powerglide automatic with most of its engine offerings in full-sized cars, while requiring buyers who preferred the similar three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic (basically the same transmission under a different name) to order one of the larger V8 engines.
Both Pontiac and Oldsmobile offered the Turbo Hydra-Matic on all of their full-sized cars with any engine offering, and three-speed automatics were also the norm on big cars from GM's medium-priced competitors such as Chrysler Newport and Mercury Monterey, which offered the TorqueFlite and Cruise-O-Matic transmissions, respectively.
In 1970, the "LeSabre 400" package was dropped as the 3 speed Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 transmission replaced the two-speed automatic on cars equipped with the 350 cubic-inch V8. The new LeSabre Custom 455 replaced the base Wildcat model from the previous year and it shared its model number with the Wildcat, along with the larger Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 transmission (formerly known as the Super Turbine 400).
FOURTH GENERATION
For 1971, the LeSabre and other full-sized Buicks were completely restyled. The same assortment of 350 and 455 cubic-inch V8s were carried over but featured lowered compression ratios and other modifications in order to enable the use of lower-octane low-lead or unleaded gasoline as a result of a General Motors corporate mandate.
At mid-year, the Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, variable-ratio power steering and power front disc brakes became standard on all LeSabre models and would remain so equipped in base form for the next 35 years until the marquee's final year in 2005.
In 1973, the LeSabre convertible model was dropped leaving the short-lived Centurion as Buick's only ragtop that year.
In 1974, the LeSabre Luxus replaced the Centurion model and it was more luxurious than the previous LeSabre Custom. It was also available with a new "performance package" which included a 455 cubic inch engine, suspension upgrades and other equipment. The Stage1 performance package also became available on the LeSabre in 1974 and that year and the convertible returned to the LeSabre lineup after a one year absence.
In 1975, The LeSabre Luxus designation was dropped and replaced by the LeSabre Custom as the upmarket LeSabre. 1975 also was the first year of the catalytic converter, and standard high energy ignition which was part of GM's Maximum Mileage System at the time. The 1975 LeSabre was the first LeSabre to required to run on unleaded gasoline.
The LeSabre lineup offered a coupe and 2 sedans while the LeSabre Custom lineup offered the coupe, two sedans, and the only convertible in the Buick lineup. 1975 would be the final year for the LeSabre Custom Convertible as just over 5300 examples rolling off the assembly lines.
Two engine choices were available with the standard 5.7 Litre V8 (350 CID)and a four barrel carb. and the only engine option was a 7.5 Litre V8 (455 CID) with a four barrel. Lines on the 1975 were somewhat softer than the 1974 model featuring round headlights side-by-side and a cross hatched patterned grille that flowed across the front of the car and under the headlights. Turn signals were located in the front bumper.
A Buick tri-shield hood ornament was standard on the Custom Series and optional on the base series. The three hole 'ventiports' were moved from the hood to the front fenders. Slightly larger taillamps than the 74' draped the back of car with back up lights positioned in the center broken up by the license plate.
The dashboard was also redesigned from the 74' model as well. Steel belted radial tires were also standard for the first time on the 1975 LeSabre. Convertible production for both the LeSabre Custom and the Centurion convertibles were not very abundant in the years 1971 to 1975.
The rarest production in that time was the 1971 LeSabre Custom with just over 1800 units built, and the most produced was the 1973 Centurion with slightly over 5700 units built. Due to this very low production volume and the end of the full size convertible era, this may make this series of ragtop LeSabre Custom and Centurion Convertibles quite collectable depending on the vehicles' overall condition.
The convertible mechanism used, was called the 'scissor top' that folded inward of itself, instead of straight back. This was featured on all GM full size convertibles from 1971 to 1976.
The 1976 Buick LeSabre was the only American full size car with a standard V6 engine which was Buick's brand new 3.8 litre (231 CID) V6 engine.
In that year, the last for the 1971-vintage bodyshell that was succeeded by the downsized 1977 model, the V6 was only offered on the base-level LeSabre and not mentioned in initial 1976 Buick literature issued in September, 1975 due to the fact the V6 engine was a last-minute addition to the line.
The 350 cubic-inch V8 was the base engine on the LeSabre Custom and the 455 cubic-inch V8 was optional. Both V8s were optional on the base LeSabre. Both the base LeSabre and the LeSabre Custom offered up a two door coupe and a hardtop and pillared four door sedans.
The 1976 LeSabre featured quad square headlights for the first time, a new grille, and turning signals located just below the headlamps.
FIFTH GENERATIONThe 1977 Buick LeSabre and other GM B-body full-sized cars were considerably smaller and lighter than their predecessors to the tune of losing 700-800 pounds of weight and overall length of 10 to 15 inches (380 mm). The full-sized cars were the beginning of a "corporate-wide" downsizing of vehicles in order to improve fuel economy ratings following the 1973-74 energy crisis that would filter down to intermediates in 1978, personal-luxury cars in 1979 and compacts in 1980 with subsequent downsizings of each line of vehicles scheduled in subsequent years.
Though the '77 Buick LeSabre was considerable smaller on the outside, it retained very nearly as much interior roominess and trunk space as its much-larger predecessor. The engine lineup consisted of an assortment of engines including the standard 231 cubic-inch Buick-built V6 and various optional powerplants including a Pontiac-built 301 cubic-inch V8, 350 cubic-inch V8s built by both Buick and Oldsmobile, and an Olds 403 cubic-inch V8. The V6 was standard in base and Custom coupes and sedans, the 301 V8 on the new LeSabre Sport Coupe and the 350 V8 on the Estate Wagon.
From 1978 to 1980, the LeSabre Sport Coupe was powered by a turbocharged 231 cubic-inch V6 with a 4 barrel carburetor, while other LeSabre models came with the same assortment of engines as in 1977. The Sport Coupe (appearing with a blacked-out grille and sail panels) was also offered with a Buick 350 V-8 engine.
The Pontiac 301 and Olds 403 were offered through 1979. For 1980, a new Olds 307 V8 replaced the Pontiac 301 as the first V8 option while a larger 252 cubic-inch Buick V6 was added to the option list. The "gasoline" 350 V8s were last offered in 1980, the same year that and Olds-built 350 Diesel became an option.
In 1979, the LeSabre Custom model was replaced by the LeSabre Limited and optional Strato bucket seats with a center console became available on the turbocharged Sport Coupe model.
Buick's "portholes" which had been featured on all LeSabres since 1960 were gone in 1980. That year was also the last for Buick-built V8s as a result of GM's emerging corporate engine policy dictating types of engines built by various divisions for use throughout the corporate lineup.
According to the plan, Buick would build V6 engines, Pontiac would manufacture four-cylinder powerplants, Chevrolet would build both V6 and V8 engines, and V8s for larger and higher-priced cars would be sourced from Oldsmobile and Cadillac. This meant that from 1981 onward, V8-powered Buicks would feature Olds engines, both gasoline and diesel.
The turbocharged LeSabre Sport Coupe was dropped from the line after 1980 along with the Turbo V6 engine due to slow sales, with the Turbo V6 continued on the Regal and Riviera. Engine offerings on 1981-85 LeSabres included the 231 cubic-inch normally-aspirated Buick V6 (standard on sedans and coupes although massively underpowered for a car weighing in at around 4000 lbs.), 307 cubic-inch Oldsmobile V8 (standard on wagons, optional on sedans and coupes) and the 350 cubic-inch Olds-built Diesel V8 (optional on all models).
The three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission was standard equipment with the V6 and Diesel V8 but beginning in 1981, the Turbo Hydra-Matic 200 4-R four-speed automatic overdrive transmission was paired with the gasoline V8 engine for improved highway fuel economy. All 1985 307's have roller lifters for reduced friction.
SIXTH GENERATIONThe 1986 LeSabre was introduced on the new front wheel drive H platform, after departing from rear wheel drive on the GM B platform. Joining the LeSabre on the H-body included the Oldsmobile Delta 88 and the 1987 Pontiac Bonneville, which returned to full-size after a short-lived run as a mid-size on the G platform. One of the most striking features of the LeSabre version of the H body was the "clamshell" hood that opened up in the same fashion as that of a Corvette.
Most Buick LeSabre models from 1986 until 2005 were powered by Buick's 3.8 liter (231 cubic-inch) V6 engine. It started out with 150 horsepower (110 kW). It added balance shafts and became the famous "3800" V6 for 1988, with 165 horsepower (123 kW). This engine increased to 170 hp (130 kW) in 1991 with the addition of Tuned Port Injection. The Series II boasted 205 horsepower (153 kW) in later years. The 1986 model, however, featured the 3.0 liter (181 cubic-inch) V6 as standard.
Each year yielded slightly different design changes. 1986 is notable for its sealed-beam headlights, 1987 for the addition of more modern headlights with exchangeable bulbs as well as door-mounted seatbelts, 1988 for the change over to the 3800 Vin C motor, 1989 for slight changes in the layout of the engine bay accessories (notably the position of the battery, washer fluid tank, and coolant overflow tank), and 1990 for a change in the design of the front bumper/grille assembly and different tail light design.
In 1986, there was a LeSabre Grand National model built to qualify the coupe bodystyle for NASCAR competition. The LeSabre Grand National (LGN for short) is among the rarest of all Buicks ever made, with production numbers varying between 112 and 117 units. It was only available in black with gray interior
Production of the LGN as the LeSabre's "sport" version was ended by the inception of the LeSabre T-Type, which was offered from 1987-89. The LeSabre T Type (BLT for short) had many unique options that were styled after the Regal Grand National and Regal T Type.
Some of those options included blacked-out trim, gray-on-black seats (1987 only), gray-on-black door panels, gray dash and trim, and BLT specific front and rear spoilers.
In 1990, the T-Type trim package was dropped due to slow sales and Buick's repositioning within the GM hierarchy as a maker of "Premium American Motorcars" rather than sporty/performance models.
Beginning in 1989 and continuing for several years, the Buick LeSabre received accolades from J.D. Power and Associates as one of the highest rated automobiles as far as customer satisfaction was concerned based on factors such as quality and reliability.
SEVENTH GENERATION
In 1992, the LeSabre was redesigned along the same lines as the previous year's Park Avenue. The LeSabre was available only as a four-door sedan from this point forward until the car was discontinued in 2005. The headlights were streamlined with a separated amber turn signal strip wrapping around the lower front fascia. The rear fascia featured a wider trunk mouth and lower lift over height to ease loading baggage while the front was smoothed with simplified chrome molding and absent bumperettes. The LeSabre also featured GM's plastic body technologies, with high-stress plastic replacing traditional steel in the front fenders.
The LeSabre's engine from 1992-1995 was the 3800 V6, which produced 170 hp (127 kW) and 225 ft·lbf (305 N·m) The 3513 lb (1593 kg) car got 18 mpg (13.1 L/100 km) in the city and 28 mpg (8.4 L/100 km) on the highway, which was slightly better than the 1991 car. The car accelerated to 60 mph (97 km/h) in a respectable 8.9 seconds and could cover the quarter mile in 16.9 seconds at 80 mph (129 km/h). Top speed was electronically limited to 108 mph (173 km/h).
The LeSabre was offered in two trim levels. The Custom trim level was the base level. The Limited was the premium trim level featuring alloy wheels, front hood ornament, and fold down access panels in the rear seat to access the trunk. The car had an 18 gallon fuel tank, Anti-lock brakes, and a power radio antenna located in the rear passenger side quarter panel. Instrumentation included gas gauge, speedometer, and gear indicator. Optional instrumentation included a tachometer and temperature, oil pressure, and charging voltage gauges.
In 1996, the LeSabre received the 3800 Series II powerplant, with a gain of 35 hp (26 kW). The engine increased fuel economy ratings over its predecessor, 19 MPG city and 29 MPG highway United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates. In 1999, Flint, Michigan's Buick City assembly plant, which built the LeSabre as well as the Pontiac Bonneville was shut down and LeSabre production moved to Hamtramck.
The style of the LeSabre was redesigned in 1997, moving the turn signal indicators to the front bumper instead of the headlamp assembly. This gave the front end a more polished look for the 97-99 body style. This is the most notable difference between the 96 and 97 versions, other styling was redesigned, the gauge cluster added a Tachometer, and moved around the service lights as well.
The majority of '92-'99 models still use a rather traditionalist Horizontal speedometer. Despite the redesign of the exterior, one automotive magazine article around 1996-97 said the interior was "1970-something" meaning it was rather old-fashioned for a car from the mid-late 1990s. Everything was then redesigned in 1999 for the new 2000 models.
2000-2005The 2000 LeSabre was introduced in 1999 as the Buick LeSabre 2000, using a re-engineered H platform based on the G platform previously used for the Buick Riviera. Following the end of the 2000 model year, the automobile reverted to the Buick LeSabre nameplate.
The LeSabre was manufactured at GM's Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly factory in Hamtramck, Michigan and Lake Orion Assembly, in Lake Orion, Michigan. Among the significant changes made to the LeSabre over the previous generation was a grille that did not open with the hood, and smaller overall dimensions with slightly larger interior room.
2000 LeSabres carried over the previous Custom and Limited trim levels and in 2003 added a new Celebration Edition package in recognition of Buick's Centennial. The Celebration Edition featured all the standard equipment of the Limited with a choice pearlescent White Diamond or Crimson Pearl tricoat paint schemes, a blacked-out grille, 16" chrome wheels, and special badging. Other features optional or standard on the LeSabre included Stabilitrak, OnStar, EyeCue heads-up display, all-weather traction control, automatic load-leveling, side airbags, tire pressure monitoring system, heated seats, dual-zone climate control, and RainSense automatic windshield wipers.
LeSabre carried the title of America's Best-Selling Full-size Car until its demise at the end of the 2005 model year. The car was replaced with the 2006 Buick Lucerne.
The last LeSabre rolled off the Lake Orion, Michigan assembly line on June 18, 2004 (retooling the plant to build the Pontiac G6) and the last Hamtramck, Michigan LeSabre rolled off the assembly line on July 22, 2005.
Power: 205 hp (153 kW
Torque: 230 ft·lbf (312 N·m)
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