Simon Cars - Buick Special 1957

Buick Special 1957 - 8

Buick updated its Special model in 1954 with the new GM B-body by Fisher that was shared with the Oldsmobile 88. Buick introduced a new 4.3-litre 'Nailhead' V8 for 1954. Oldsmobile shared its body with Buick, including the glass, but there were many brand differences. Riviera models were 4-door hardtop versions of the Special and Century, and there were Oldsmobile Holiday versions for the 88 and 98 in 1955. The 1954-57 Specials and Century carried 3 ventiports (larger Buicks sometimes had 4). For 1957 the GM B-body cars were given a new body but on the same 122inch wheelbase, and the engine was enlarged from 322 to 364 cu inches (5.96-litres). Two features marked out the 57 Buicks, the open rear wheel arches and the 3-piece rear window, which was copied from the 1954 Pontiac Strato Streak Concept car, but this rear window was replaced with a one-piece wraparound for 1958. a brand new body replaced these cars for 1959.The 1957

aa Buick Special Riviera Hardtop 1958 badgey

Buick Special Riviera Hardtop 1958 - badge on bootlid

ac Buick Special 1957 4-door Sedan head

Buick Special 1957 4-door Sedan.

ac Buick Special 1958 Convertible head

Buick Special 1958 Convertible. Behind acres of chrome sat a 364 cubic inch 250bhp V8 engine, which was tuned to give more than 300bhp in the Super 88.

Buick Special 1957 4-door Sedan front

Buick Special 1957 4-door Sedan. For 1957 the front closely resembled the 1954-56 offerings. Engine size went up to almost 6.0-litres

Buick Special 1957 4-door Sedan rear

Buick Special 1957 4-door Sedan. The 3-piece rear window was controversial in 1957 and may have been one reason for the slump in sales for 1957 Buicks. This 'trisected' window was also given to the British Vauxhall PA Cresta. The original 3-piece rear window first appeared on the 1954 Motorama concept car 'Pontiac Strato Streak' designed by Art Ross under Paul Gillan and Homer LaGassey

Buick Special 1957 4-door Sedan side

Buick Special 1957 4-door Sedan. A new GM B-body for 1957 used the same 122inch wheelbase, but was lower and longer than the 1954-56 models. The 3 'ventiports' on the front wing became 'streamlined'

Buick Special 1958 4-door sedan front

Buick Special 1958 4-door sedan. All 1958 got new fronts with quad headlamps

Buick Special 1958 4-door sedan frontg

Buick Special 1958 4-door sedan. The Series 40 Special was built as a 2-door or 4-door sedan, or a pillarless Riviera 2-door or 4-door Riviera Sedan, as well as a Convertible and two Station Wagons. All were built on a 122-inch wheelbase. A 5,957cc (364) V8 engine powered the Special

Buick Special 1958 4-door sedan rear

Buick Special 1958 4-door sedan. All 1958 got new fronts with quad headlamps

Buick Special 1958 4-door sedan sideg

Buick Special 1958 Convertible front

Buick Special 1958 Convertible. Designer Ned Nickles reworked the GM B-body to give it a square look for the final year of this body before the 1959 new shell. The grille contained 160 chrome squares to catch the light, and new quad lamps sat above. Missing from the front wings in 1958 were the 3 'ventiports'.

Buick Special 1958 Convertible rear

Buick Special 1958 Convertible. The rear flanks on some models gained huge chrome trim panels, and the 58 was one of the most chromed cars, even though the Special was Buick's entry level model

Buick Special 1958 Riviera 2-door hardtop frontb

Buick Special 1958 Riviera 2-door hardtop. A pillarless hardtop; there was also a 4-door hardtop

Buick Special 1958 Riviera 2-door hardtop rearb

Buick Special 1958 Riviera 2-door hardtop. 1958 Buick Specials lost their 3-pane rear windows.

Buick Special Riviera Hardtop 1958 front

Buick Special Riviera Hardtop 1958. Powered by a 364 cu.in V8, the 2-door Riviera sold 34.903 in 1958, there was also a 4-door Riviera Hardtop which sold 31,000. The 'Fashion-Aire Dynastar Grille' contains 160 bevelled chrome squares which reflect the light in all directions.

Buick Special Riviera Hardtop 1958 rear

Buick Special Riviera 2-door hardtop 1958. Called the 'Chrome Queen' on account of the huge amount of chrome lavished on the cars, as GM competed against Chrysler in the bad taste stakes. Things changes in 1959.

l Buick Special 1957 4-door Sedan lamp

Buick Special 1957 4-door Sedan - tail lamp

l Buick Special Riviera Hardtop 1958 lampy

Buick Special Riviera Hardtop 1958. For 1958 the rear lamps were changed from the 3-piece lamps in 1957 to this style with added chrome.

w Buick Special Riviera Hardtop 1958 wheel

Buick Special Riviera Hardtop 1958. Above the Special came the Buick Century and Limited, some models were distinguished by these panels on the rear flanks fitted just behind a siminishing 'Swoopspear' which ended at the rear wheel arch. Ned Nickles was in charge of the 1958 restyle whuich had been drawn 3 years earlier, and the extra chroming was all that could be done at short notice to respond to competitors.

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Image created by Simon GP Geoghegan (email: web@simoncars.co.uk)