Image of 1967 Buick Special, Note: These illustrations use artistic license and may differ from actual historical models.

Engine Specifications
Engine:	Buick 300 V8, Buick 340 V8
Displacement:	300-340 cu in (4.9-5.6 L)
Horsepower:	210-260 hp
Torque:	310-365 lb-ft
Compression Ratio:	9.0:1 for 300 V8, 10.25:1 for 340 V8
Ignition System:	Conventional distributor and coil system
Cooling System:	Liquid-cooled
Performance Specifications
0-60 Time:	10-12 seconds
1/4 Mile Time:	17-19 seconds
Top Speed:	115-120 mph
Transmission and Drive
Drive Type:	Rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type:	2-speed automatic, 3-speed manual
Fuel and Efficiency
Fuel System Type:	Carburetor
MPG:	10-12 mpg
Dimensions and Brakes
Brakes:	Drum brakes, front and rear
Wheelbase:	115 inches
Weight:	3,200-3,400 lbs

1967 Buick Special: Buick’s Everyday A-Body

The 1967 Buick Special made comfort and V8-style Buick character accessible in a practical, mid-size package. Built by the Buick Motor Division of General Motors, it sat near the entry point of Buick’s lineup, below the better-trimmed Skylark, while sharing the GM A-body platform with cars such as the Chevrolet Chevelle, Pontiac Tempest, and Oldsmobile F-85.

That shared platform gave the Special familiar, serviceable underpinnings, but Buick supplied its own styling, engines, and upscale touches. The model was part of a fast-growing mid-size market in which buyers wanted a car that was easier to park and more affordable than a full-size sedan, without giving up the comfort or presence of a traditional American automobile.

One especially interesting detail is the Special’s available 225-cubic-inch “Fireball” V6. Its uneven firing rhythm, known as an odd-fire arrangement, gave the engine a distinctive burble that set it apart from the smoother V8s common in American showrooms. The V6 was an economical choice, not a novelty, and helped make Buick’s compact engine family a lasting part of the company’s history.

1967 Buick Special Styling and Interior

The Special wore the long-hood, short-deck proportions that defined many mid-size American cars of the period. Its 1967 body had gently sculpted sides, a broad front end, and a neatly integrated grille with Buick’s familiar tri-shield emblem. The look was more restrained than some of the era’s heavily ornamented cars, but bright trim, wheel covers, and optional exterior details could give it a dressier appearance.

Inside, the Special favored durable, straightforward materials over the richer appointments available in higher Buick models. Depending on body style and trim, buyers could choose bench seating, upgraded upholstery, carpeting, and extra brightwork. The cabin was designed for everyday use, with a wide front seat and a clear, uncomplicated instrument panel. It felt more substantial than a bare-bones economy car, even when equipped as a basic model.

Available convenience features included items such as power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, and an AM radio, depending on the particular car and order sheet. These were options rather than standard equipment across the range. The 1967 model year also brought important safety developments: U.S. cars were required to have a dual-circuit braking system, and the Special used an energy-absorbing steering column.

Buick offered a range of factory paint colors, from conservative whites, blacks, and metallic silvers to brighter blues, greens, and reds. The exact names and availability varied with trim and production details. Period-correct blue and turquoise shades are especially eye-catching today, while white and darker metallic colors suit the Special’s understated lines.

Body styles included two-door and four-door models as well as station-wagon versions, with availability depending on trim. A convertible was offered in the Special range, generally with more upscale Special Deluxe appointments. The convertible is the most visually distinctive and collectible configuration, while the two-door hardtop-style coupe has the classic sporty profile many buyers associate with 1960s Buick design.

Why the Special Mattered

The 1967 Special was not a radical engineering experiment, and that was part of its appeal. It brought Buick’s emphasis on quiet comfort and solid construction to the competitive A-body class. Buyers could choose a modest V6, a capable small-block V8, or a more richly equipped version, all in a body that was easier to manage than a full-size Buick.

Its significance also lies in the platform beneath it. GM’s A-body cars helped establish the mid-size format as a mainstream American choice: roomy enough for family use, yet adaptable to coupes, convertibles, sedans, wagons, and performance models. The Special occupied the practical end of that broad family. Its relationship to more powerful Buick A-body models, including the Skylark and Gran Sport, showed how a shared platform could serve very different buyers.

The Special’s formula was durable rather than groundbreaking: conventional rear-wheel drive, a separate body and frame, coil-spring suspension, and straightforward mechanical components. That approach made the car familiar to mechanics and owners, and it helped keep the model useful long after newer designs arrived.

Engines, Speed, and Road Manners

The 1967 Buick Special’s main engine choices included a 225-cubic-inch V6 rated at about 155 horsepower and a 300-cubic-inch V8 offered in different configurations. The V8’s output depended on carburetion and specification, with commonly cited figures around 210 horsepower for a two-barrel version and 250 horsepower for a four-barrel version. Actual equipment varied, so a car’s original build information is the best guide to its exact specification.

Transmission choices included a three-speed manual, a four-speed manual on certain configurations, and Buick’s Super Turbine 300 two-speed automatic. The automatic suited relaxed cruising, while a manual gearbox gave the driver more control over the engine’s modest displacement and available torque.

Performance varied considerably with engine, transmission, axle ratio, body style, and vehicle condition. As a general period-car estimate, a V6 Special might reach 0 to 60 mph in roughly 11 to 13 seconds. A healthy V8 car could manage the run in about 9 to 11 seconds. Top speed was typically in the neighborhood of 100 to 115 mph, though those figures should be treated as approximate rather than guaranteed test results for every model.

On the road, the Special feels more like a comfortable cruiser than a modern sports sedan. Its suspension absorbs ordinary road imperfections well, and the long-travel ride is at home on town streets and highways. On a winding road, the body leans more than a contemporary performance car, and the steering communicates less detail than modern rack-and-pinion systems. Good shocks, sound bushings, correct tires, and properly adjusted steering make a major difference to how composed one feels.

The V6 has a distinctive, uneven beat, while the V8 produces a deeper, smoother rumble. In either form, the driving experience is pleasantly mechanical: a broad bench seat, a substantial steering wheel, and a view across a long hood. The Special encourages a relaxed pace rather than aggressive cornering, especially when fitted with period bias-ply tires and a soft suspension setup.

Living With a 1967 Special

Today, owners use the Buick Special as a weekend cruiser, a show car, a family-history project, or a period-correct daily driver. A solid, well-maintained example can handle regular local use, but modern traffic places demands on a 1960s car that it was not designed to meet. Braking distances, lighting, handling, and crash protection differ substantially from those of a current vehicle.

Mechanical repairs are generally approachable for an experienced home mechanic. The engine bay is not crowded by modern emissions equipment or computer controls, and many routine service tasks use familiar tools. Replacement parts for common wear items are available through classic-car suppliers, though trim pieces, body panels, and model-specific interior details can take more searching.

Before buying, inspect the frame, floor pans, trunk, lower body panels, and suspension mounting areas for rust or previous repairs. Also check the condition of the brake system, steering components, wiring, and cooling system. A smooth-running engine is encouraging, but structural condition and the quality of past restoration work usually matter more than a shiny paint job.

Special Facts and Common Criticisms

The odd-fire Buick 225 V6 is one of the model’s most memorable mechanical features. Its sound is unusual by modern standards, but it is normal for the engine design, not evidence that the car is misfiring. Buick later sold the V6 design and tooling to Kaiser Jeep, where a version became known as the Dauntless 225. That connection gives the Special’s optional V6 a second life in Jeep history.

The Special is sometimes confused with the Buick Gran Sport, but the 1967 GS was a performance model in the Skylark line, not simply a high-performance Special. The distinction matters when checking identification numbers, ordering parts, or assessing a car advertised as a rare performance variant.

There is no widely recognized speed or endurance record attached to the 1967 Special. Its appeal is more grounded: it represents the broad middle of the American market, where comfort, useful space, and straightforward engineering mattered more than headline-grabbing performance. Common criticisms today include modest braking by modern standards, soft handling, and the challenge of finding certain trim-specific parts.

1967 Buick Special Collector Values

The Special is less expensive than a comparable Gran Sport or many high-profile muscle cars, which makes it an appealing entry into Buick collecting. As a broad U.S. market estimate, project cars may sell for around $5,000 to $10,000, while usable drivers often fall near $10,000 to $20,000. Well-restored examples can reach approximately $20,000 to $30,000, with especially appealing convertibles or unusually well-documented cars potentially selling for $25,000 to $45,000 or more. Condition, originality, body style, engine, and location all affect price.

Exact production totals can be difficult to summarize because Buick reported figures across different body styles and trim combinations. A reasonable estimate is that roughly 60,000 to 90,000 cars carrying the Special name were built for 1967, though that range should be treated as an informed approximation, not a factory-confirmed total. Convertibles are much harder to find than ordinary sedans, coupes, and wagons.

Values for sound, original examples have generally been firmer than those for rough projects, and quality convertibles have the strongest potential to appreciate. The Special is not a guaranteed investment, however. Its market remains more affordable than the muscle-car segment, and restoration costs can exceed the finished car’s resale value. Buyers should choose the best-condition car they can afford rather than assuming every restoration will pay for itself.

A Buick Worth Rediscovering

The 1967 Buick Special combines practical A-body engineering with the comfort, styling, and mechanical character that made Buick a distinctive American brand. Its available V6 and V8 engines, range of body styles, and uncomplicated construction give it broad appeal, whether the goal is a weekend cruiser, a restoration project, or an approachable classic for local shows.

It may not have the fame of a muscle-car legend, but the Special tells an important story about the cars Americans actually drove. That balance of everyday usefulness and old-school Buick character is exactly what makes the 1967 Special worth remembering.