Aside from being the cornerstone of William Crapo Durant’s 1908 conglomerate of General Motors, Buick was also the preferred division and “home team” of 1950s GM President Harlow Curtice. Because of all this, Buick seemed to go its own way throughout the first 50+ years of its long history. Dynaflows, portholes, torque tubes, Nailhead V8s, cast iron V6s and more emerged from those fertile minds of Flint. One could argue that Buick’s apogee was the mid 1950s, when they reached number three in the industry in sales and sold some of the flashiest cars on the road, cars such as this Roadmaster Riviera (Buick’s name for their hardtop models).
I think that GM’s C-Body of 1954-56 was one of GM’s many great styling successes. I’m a Buick guy by nature, but my personal favorite of this era is the 1955 Coupe DeVille. The Roadmaster and Super are not far behind, however, and this Oregon-based Buick is touted as a 24,000-mile survivor that has also spent time in Kansas and Alaska. The seller includes a screenshot from a relative regarding the car’s history and I’ll leave you to peruse that at your leisure.
Under the hood of the mighty Roadmaster is the unique 322 cubic-inch Nailhead, one of the greatest-looking V8s mankind has known. For 1956, Buick revised the Nailhead to produce 255 horsepower, which it channeled through a new “Variable Pitch” Dynaflow. As the owner of two Dynaflow cars myself, I can say that it takes some getting accustomed to, but it’s not as bad as you’ve heard: Being that the Dynaflow doesn’t shift gears, it feels more sluggish than it is. It’s hard to describe, but I enjoy it as the quaint anomaly that it is. You’ll like it or you won’t (and a lot of people don’t).
For a low-mileage original that has spent its life in storage, this Roadmaster seems to be devoid of mice damage. The upholstery looks original and matches patterns in the 1956 sales brochure. The thermometer-style speedometer is obviously stuck on 90 or so (how did THAT happen?), but the pictures show a nearly pristine headliner and back seat. Aside from some paint damage, this looks like an extremely well-kept old car.
After 50 years of storage, this Roadmaster is ready for some time on the road. The seller claims that it has new tires and a new fuel tank, and that implies that it’s a running and driving car. Being the most expensive model in Buick’s 1956 lineup, it’s rare to see a Roadmaster these days, and this one is a stylish two-door hardtop. It’s currently for sale on eBay with one $5,000 bid and a $10,000 “buy it now” option. That seems eminently reasonable for a two-door Buick, and it shows what great values they are. It’s just another car on Barn Finds that suits me just fine – how about you?
Nice car. Don’t remember seeing one of these without white wall tires.
It surely needs them!
Is it just the pictures, or is it sitting lower than normal?
Nice “Roadmasher”[sic] There’s no question that GM was the best car in the 50s. By ’56, most of the other divisions focused on power, Buick always took a different route. Class. That one married professor type with no kids, every block had one, to the family that was doing okay, and a mid 50s Buick was in the drive. Seems they got past the goofy grills, but in ’56 was the only car to have the year in the grill, and offered a car everyone in middle class America could enjoy. Wasn’t cheap, but then, they didn’t appeal to Joe Lunchpail. At almost $3510 new, almost twice that of a Ford Mainline,( $2065),, Joes boss probably drove one. It’s a wonderful find, and with the automatic, should appeal to generations for years to come,,,I hope.
For the true Highway Patrol fan!
Perry Mason drove some nice cars! What I like best, besides the old cars… they were both filmed around LA.
The blue and hub caps and tires are making this car look bad!
Looks like one my friend’s dad had. My friend and I would take it out (rarely) and it was a road hog. Extreme comfort.
Fantastic car.
“2150 to headquarters……..”
I’m probably going to be labeled as a contrarian; but I like the blackwall tires and the full wheel covers. Back when this car was new the majority of cars on the road had blackwalls. This was mostly a matter of economics. Either way you can’t really go wrong with this Buick. GLWTS.
Quiet a handsome gal, she is. While you’re fixing the hood please change the color, too. Pop on some white wall radials and find the open road.
What a beauty! Power windows and seats too! The front paint and chrome damage looks like a battery popped and goy jiz all over that affected area. Whar a nice survivor!
At age 16 in the first half of 1964 I bought with money earned working 50 hours a week at $1 per hour a 1955 Buick Super. Man what a car, it was a low mileage trade in at the local Buick/GMC dealership. Red over white in color I was so proud of my Buick. Push the gas pedal to the floor opening the choke and pressing the stater button it would quietly come to life. The heater was under the front passenger seat providing heat to rear passengers as well as front. Unfortunately two intoxicated men in an old Ford crossed the white line on a sharp corner hitting me head on totalling my beloved Buick. The good news it was insured and paid me $150 more than I paid for the car.
I would love to get this 56 but the timing is wrong right now.
God Bless America
For $10K, this looks like a pretty good deal. Engine compartment looks good, interior looks good, just a paint job and enjoy it!
A rather odd paint scheme that might appear more balanced with the addition of whitewalls. GMs stainless headliner bows always looked so cool !
Nice car, but how did Durant wind up with “Crapo “, as a middle name? I had a 1926 Durant Star coupe, ran great.
Ha ha…it was his mom’s maiden name. It’s pronounced with a long “a,” so Cray-po.
That sounds better!