The name Buick Special was used by the American firm Buick for the first time in 1936 to indicate the small size (general format) of Buick also called " series 40". In 1959, the Special model is replaced by the model LeSabre which was always a car of standard size.

In 1961, Buick adds to its range a compact car with monocoque carossery which it names Special. This car is much smaller than LeSabre and the Special one of before 1959. A more luxurious version of this model is called Skylark. These cars are equipped with small V8 215 cubic inches in aluminum of Buick which was sold later with Rover and was used in several English cars. In 1962, the Special one receives a V6 engine 198 cubic inches out of cast iron out of standard equipment whose architecture is very similar to aluminum V8. V8 is always available in option.

In 1964, the Special one becomes a little less small and maintnant is regarded as an intermediary. Like Buick of general format, the models 1964 to 1969 had an independent frame. The engines are also larger, V6 passes to 225 cubic inches and V8 (of which the block is mantenant out of cast iron) passes to 300 cubic inches.

In 1965, the heads of V8 300 are they also out of cast iron.

In 1966, V8 is also available in version 340 inches cubic.

In 1968 and 1969, all the Special one receive DeLuxe name but actually, the DeLuxe model replaces the model is based of 1967, whereas the model Special DeLuxe of 1967 is replaced by basic Skylark in 1968. Skylark Custom 1968 replaces Skylark 1967.

In 1970, the name Special DeLuxe disappears because it is replaced by the Skylark basic and Skylark 1969 is replaced by Skylark 350.

In 1975, a stripped version of the intermediate model Century V6 is called Special.

The name Special was again on the basic model of Century in the years 1990.