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Original 1956 Buick Model 49 Special Estate Wagon

051616 Barn Finds - 1965 Oldsmobile 442 - 1

Are you a fan of wagons? This 1956 Buick Model 49 Special Estate Wagon is in Perry, Iowa and is listed on eBay with a current bid of less than $1,200.00. There are four days left on the auction. It’s a big car, and a big project, but it’ll be a unique one when you’re done with it.

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This car has never been in the snow.. just kidding. Actually, the seller does say that the floors will need some welding and there’s rust on the body, and probably elsewhere, too. They took this car in on trade and haven’t done too much to it.

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One way to redo this car would be the restomod route, of course. Or, as this vintage ad shows, just bring it back to original spec. The car looks super solid, but the current owner says that it’s been sitting outside and at least the floors will need work.

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The interior will need work, too; but you already knew that. The seller says that it’s a rare car, although with over 13,000 of them made they aren’t as rare as a lot of other models are. The dash looks great but there’ll be a lot of detail work to do on this one.

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You’re correct, this car has AC! And, power steering and brakes. The battery looks new but the water pump is “froze up”, and the “rad and air cleaner are missing”; bummer. This is Buick’s 5.3L 322 V8 and the seller says that it turns over, which is good. I would plan on a fair amount of work with this car, but it would be one heck of a rare sight at any car show, even if you were to just make everything functional and drive it as is. Speaking of that, how would you restore this car?

Comments

  1. Avatar DanaPointJohn

    Very cool car (when completely restored) but there is a ton of expensive work to be done to it. With no Buy It Now price, I wonder what their Reserve is that the $1,750 bid (as of this post) isn’t enough?

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  2. Avatar Rick

    I think when the seller says its rare he means that probably 99.9 % of them have been scrapped and I would bet that there isn’t more than 100-200 of these left, and of those most aren’t on the road

    Like 0
  3. Avatar Van

    Sweet ride
    Clean polish and repair.

    Like 0
  4. Avatar Vince Habel

    Good home for a 425 with dual quads.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Poppy

    Factory AC has got to be a fairly rare option on these. Never have seen a compressor quite like that.

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  6. Avatar stillrunners

    good wagons got crushed allot in wrecking yards – it’s where they put all the small junk laying around in and the wagon ended up weighing up big time…..so old wagons per say are rare…..and then came the hippie vans……

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  7. Avatar Mark S

    IMHO the way to go with this is to start by stripping it down to the bare shell followed by a media blasting. I’d then prime and paint the frame and refit it with a 4.3 vortex mpi engine with a 700r transmission. I’d then put in a fresh rear axle assembly with 3.75 to 1 gears in it ( possi in it of course ). I’d also install inhanced modern brakes and steering. Finally I’d repair and restore the body with single stage paint in original colours included. I’d leave the stock wheels and covers on it with some new skins. You might wonder why I’d only use a v6 engine, and the answer is that it would be a cruiser and the 4.3 vortex delivers decent power with reasonable gas mileage. ( note to all readers these are only my thoughts and opinions there will be no action taken to purchase and work on this auto )

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Danno

    This era of Buick hits a lot of the right notes for me. This wagon would be perfect for resto-modding and towing a vintage Spartanette.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Jason Friend

    restore to stock with all redone mechanicals but leave body as is, new upholstery. Keep 6V!

    Like 0

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