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Sacrilege, foul, off base! Who’d a-thunk it, that the classic ’53 Buick Skylark diecast would ever be subjected to the vulgarities of customization? Why those young scallywags at DM should be spanked for doing this to such a venerable image. Just imagine, it isn’t bad enough that they put the front end in the weeds, added killer dual-sided 5-spoke chromies in low profile tires but then they hot-rodded that to-die-for Buick 264 inch nailhead mill! Oh the depravity! Way to go DM!
This is the latest in DM’s growing fleet of customs based off their existing line of models and it blows me away with just how much can be accomplished to make the Skylark look so today and modern and totally different than the original image. First off I have to say that the Buick’s black paint wins the ‘most glossy paint job on a diecast model’ award hands down. Not by much, but it beats DM's 1932 Cadillac V-16 Sedan by a mere whisker in the shiny category. Were this 1:18th in scale, you could shave in its mirror finish. It is simply the most reflective, deep and shiny paint I have ever seen on a model car, period. And the pink pearl is the perfect accent color for this radical custom. This review would be shortened by telling you what has not changed from the original image but you would miss all the intricate goodies that DM built into the slammed beauty. I mentioned the dual-sided wheels, but you need to see through them and on to the drilled rotors that turn within the brake calipers. And don’t miss the awesome tire tread pattern. Gone, are the clunky bumpers and the high, squared-off trunk and high profile hood. In their place are sleek custom chromed bumpers and a shaved and rounded trunk lid and tapered hood. The hood is lowered in the front and flows rapidly away from the windshield base giving the side silhouette a much lower appearance. Talk about stance, this techno-rod will bottom out on a credit card. Yet the steering is positive and easy. The interior, in pink pearl and white, is brilliant. Bucket seats replace the front bench. The seatbacks pivot forward and they straddle a new console with opening rear compartment. Additional gauges adorn the dash. The doors still open on hidden hinges and the “Skylark” insignia is still visible on the sill plates but they are now chromed. The chrome vent window surrounds have been removed and since the hood and trunk lid were shaved, so too, were the door handles. Remote openers are all the rage today, so DM even thought to remove the door lock buttons.
The spare in the trunk is now covered and the taillights have been switched out to Chevies. They sit atop rear exiting exhaust ports. Adding to the cool look is a single rear-slanting antenna mounted on the rear passenger’s side. Now made of metal, it replaces the front mounted plastic version. The grillwork features a photoetch mesh insert. The biggest change occurs in the engine bay. Oh, by the way, the nailhead engine block is pink pearlescent. A modern battery is in place with proper cables attached, the fuel pump now carries fuel to the dual quads via clear fuel tubes and the engine gets spark with finely crafted yellow wiring. The valve covers are now chromed. The model comes with a removable boot, in black, and an ‘up-top’ covered in black fabric with a chrome-trimmed rear window. Both fit superbly well.
An absolute feast for the custom lover’s eyes, this may be the best custom yet from our friends in New England. On the drool index meter this one rates 5 out of 5!
(06/05/2004)
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