My favorite car 1/17/02

When Dave Jackson went to the Hershey, Pa., antique car swap meet, he wore a sign on his back:

"Wanted: 1954 Buick Skylark parts"

A fellow walked up and said he had an almost-complete Skylark convertible, said Jackson.

"We worked out a deal, and I bought it."

The 1954 Skylark Convertible is Jackson's "most favorite car."

"It was a very rare car," said Jackson of Van Matre Buick, 511 S. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau. "Only 836 of them were made, and I had parts from two of them."

Jackson restored the Skylark he bought in Yonkers, N.Y.

"The car had power everything," said Jackson.

Jackson, who is president of the Capaha Antique Car Club and has owned a number of antique and classic cars, says the Buick Skylark was his favorite.

Today, only about 100 of the 1954 Skylark convertibles are known to exist.

--Southeast Missourian