Buick debuted in 1899 and has been a big part of the General Motors family for 117 years. Even better, Buick is still part of the General’s family after all those years.
Buick built a reputation as an upscale brand (not quite a Caddy but more than a Chevy) in the GM scheme of things.
However, a very different Buick was built in 1971 and is currently owned by a young car guy who respects its history and is happy to be the car’s latest custodian.
Jim Sutherland
The car in question is a 1971 Buick LeSabre 4-door sedan that somehow managed to survive the past 54 years in excellent condition. Owner Ken Agnello is almost 2 decades younger than his ’71 Buick, a car he purchased late last year and is still in the learning process with his car.
Part of the learning process required Ken to learn how to drive a 3-speed manual transmission perched on the steering column and fondly known as a “three-on-the-tree” by older car guys. Three-on-the-tree transmissions used to be very common in domestic vehicles for many years and were a barebones choice for buyers on a budget. For the record, Ken was a quick study at mastering a three-on-the-tree transmission.
However, a 1971 Buick LeSabre is new enough for car guys (including us here at MyStarCollectorCar) to assume the upscale GM product did not even offer a 3-speed manual transmission for its sedan models during the early years of the Me Decade.
It turns out we were almost correct because less than 25 Buick LeSabre sedans left the GM factory with three-on-the-tree manual transmissions in 1971, including Ken’s. The cars were scarcer than good reasons to buy an air conditioner at the North Pole in January.
Ken’s ’71 LeSabre was originally purchased in Montana and somehow made its way to the northeastern United States over the ensuing years while it gathered owners along the way. One of the former owners was a teenager who “didn’t like it” according to Ken. Presumably because a large old car with a complicated manual transmission was not high on the kid’s cool scale.
Truth is Ken initially bought the car as a daily driver and regarded his Buick as a beater until he posted his purchase on a social media site dedicated to mostly unloved retro rides. His ’71 Buick sparked plenty of debate on the site and helped Ken realize his car was actually a very rare ride and deserved his respect.
As a result, Ken changed direction on the Buick and now wants to preserve its legacy as a rare Buick that was not common-then or now. The Buick will retain its 350 Buick factory engine, although Ken wants to upgrade its current 2-barrel carburetor to a 4-barrel system.
Ken already managed to locate a period-correct intake manifold and plans to replace the Buick’s current add-on wheels with some that he doesn’t hate on the car. The rarity of the car means any of Ken’s alterations will simply be bolt-on improvements that can be changed back to original at any time.
Ken told MyStarCollectorCar he never said,”I gotta have a Buick” before he bought his stylish sedan, but it is very clear he is now a big fan of his ’71 LeSabre and will be the right owner at the right time.
It’s a happy ending to this unusual car guy story.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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