Based on the G-Body, the same as the Oldsmobile Aurora and Buick LeSabre, the car was more substantial feeling all around.

A Buick-exclusive at the time, it was an option on all full-size models, including the Riviera, Estate Wagon, Electra 225, Centurion, and popular LeSabre family sedan.

For 1959, the Electra and Electra 225 both used the General Motors C-body shared with the Oldsmobile 98 and all Cadillac, riding on a longer wheelbase than the B-body LeSabre and Invicta, both of which rode on.

Inside was a new wrap-around cockpit style instrument panel shared with B-body LeSabre and Centurion models that grouped all instruments with easy reach of the driver.

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 at least as standard equipment for the next few years with cubic-inch displacements of 300 ( 1964 – 65 ), 340 ( 1966 – 67 ) and 350 ( 1968 – 76 ).

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.

While Invicta and Electra / 225 models were powered by Buick's new 401-cubic-inch V8, LeSabre continued with the 364-cubic-inch V8 previously used in all Buicks in 1957 and 1958.

LeSabre and all other full-sized Buicks ( joined by the compact Special this year ) were completely restyled for 1961 featuring finless rear ends, more restrained use of chrome, and boxier sheetmetal.

It was a short-lived product, however, as it appears that Marx made no other promotional models for any other motor vehicle company, though it did make an impressive toy of Harley Earl's futuristic LeSabre concept from the early 1950s, and pretty handsome remote control 1953 Chevrolet coupe.

The two-door hardtop shared the semi-fastback roofline with the LeSabre and other GM B-body cars, but had a distinctive and smaller rear window for a somewhat more formal look, along with a standard vinyl roof.

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.

LeSabre and other full-sized Buicks were completely restyled for the 1965 model year, featuring more rounded bodylines and Coke-bottle profiles with semi-fastback rooflines on two-door hardtop coupes.

The 1969 LeSabre and other Buicks also received a new steering column mounted ignition switch ( relocated from the instrument panel ) that also locked the steering wheel when the transmission was in Park.

The 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.

GM renamed the Buick Special the LeSabre for the 1959 model year, taking the name from the 1951 Le Sabre concept car.

* Buick LeSabre, 1959 – 1963

* 1959 – 1985 Buick LeSabre

* 1959 – 1964 Buick LeSabre Estate

From 1959 through 1964 it was still offered on the B-body which had been renamed Invicta and LeSabre.

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.

In 1959 LeSabre became the new moniker for what had previously been known as the Buick Special.

Of the four nameplates introduced in 1959 ( LeSabre, Invicta, Electra, Electra 225 ), the LeSabre nameplate lasted the longest.

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.

First seen on a concept car, the Centurion was nearly identical to the contemporaneous Buick LeSabre, differing in badging and grillework, minimal chrome trim, and an absence of the VentiPorts usually found on full-size Buicks.

Performance versions of the Century ( and its companion Regal line ) and Riviera would return in the late 1970s with the advent of Buick's turbocharged 231 V6 introduced in 1978 on the Century / Regal intermediates and the full-sized LeSabre Sport Coupe and then the newly-introduced front drive Riviera in 1979 for the " S-Type " which later became the T-Type, a moniker that would ultimately replace the GS badge for sporty / performance Buicks in the early 1980s.

With the LeSabre convertible temporarily dropped after 1972 and the intermediate-sized Buick lineup ( renamed from Skylark to Century for 1973 ) losing its droptop permanently after the 1972 model year, the Centurion was Buick's only convertible offering in 1973.

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.

The 1962 Buick LeSabre was only moderately changed from the previous year with bodies taking on a few extra inches to give them a longer look along with new grilles and taillights.

The LeSabre Custom convertible was dropped this year leaving the short-lived Centurion as Buick's only ragtop that year as the intermediate Skylark ( replaced by the Century for 1973 ) lost its ragtop completely after the 1972 model year.

With the Centurion line discontinued after 1973, LeSabre was now Buick's only B-body full-sized car.

The Luxus convertible also returned the ragtop to the LeSabre line after a one-year absence and was Buick's only ragtop.

The LeSabre lineup offered a coupe and two sedans while the LeSabre Custom lineup offered the coupe, two sedans, and the only convertible in the Buick lineup.

The ' 76 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.

The V6 was only offered on the base-level LeSabre and not mentioned in initial 1976 Buick literature issued in September 1975 because the V6 engine was a last-minute addition to the line.

LeSabre Customs equipped with the optional 455 engine got a " 455 " badge underneath the LeSabre nameplates on the front fenders instead of the " Custom " badge normally used.

Also new for the 1971 Electra 225, as well as the B-body LeSabre and Centurion, and E-body Riviera, was a new power ventilation system.

Inside, a new flat instrument panel ( shared with LeSabre, Estate Wagon and Riviera ) with horizontal sweep speedometer ( silver facing with black lettering ) replaced the wrap-around cockpit dash of previous years and door panel trim was revised.

The 1973 Centurion featured a larger front bumper and new vertical grille shared with LeSabre models along with revised taillights.

This would also be the final year for the Centurion series, which was replaced for 1974 by the new LeSabre Luxus, which included the convertible reinstated to that line for another two model years.

Minor facelifting with new grille and horizontal taillights replacing the 1963's vertical units highlighted the 1964 LeSabre.

Available at extra cost with the new LeSabre " 400 " package was the 250-horsepower 300-cubic-inch V8 with four-barrel carburetion and 10. 25 to 1 compression which required premium fuel, compared to the standard two-barrel engine that used regular fuel.

The 1968 LeSabre received a minor facelift including new grilles and taillights along with concealed windshield wipers.

The 1969 LeSabre received new sheetmetal with more squared off styling than the 1965-68 models including a formal roofline on coupes replacing the semi-fastback of previous years.

Added to the lineup was a new LeSabre 455 line which shared interior and exterior trimmings with the LeSabre Custom and was powered by Buick's new 455 cubic-inch V8 with four-barrel carburetor, 10. 25 to 1 compression and 370 horsepower, which also required premium fuel.

A larger federally mandated 5 mph front bumper and new vertical bar grille highlighted the 1973 LeSabre along with revised taillights set in the rear bumper.

The base LeSabre was continued, but a new LeSabre Luxus series replaced both the LeSabre Custom and the Centurion.

The V6 was standard in base and Custom coupés and sedans, the 301 V8 on the new LeSabre Sport Coupé and the 350 V8 on the Estate Wagon.