The Special was Buick’s journeyman automobile for many years and held a place in the company’s portfolio for six decades. Its heyday may have been in the 1950s and 1960s, including this 1958 edition, a 2-door Riviera (Buick liked using that moniker with its hardtops). This one is presented as a low-mileage original that’s a great car but needs some minor mechanical attention. The asking price is $29,000 in Taylor, Michigan – and the tailfins come at no extra charge!
Every automobile has a story, just some more interesting than others. And the story is often important when getting maximum dollars from a vintage classic. Unfortunately, we don’t know the fable behind this Buick. At 58,000 miles, it could be a one-owner vehicle only driven by a little old lady to church on Sundays. We do know that it’s spent a lot of time in a garage which explains the original black paint holding up as well as it has in the photos provided. The same may be true of the interior, though the photos are rather dark.
The 1958 model year was not kind to most automakers due to an economic recession. But Buick suffered more than others within the General Motors fold and perhaps the styling was not to everyone’s liking. From a peak of 700,000 cars sold in 1955, Buick barely mustered 240,000 in 1958. But they would see a slight recovery to 285,000 in 1959. Of all the 1950s Buicks you could buy, this might be one of the harder ones to find.
This being said this Special Riviera is one of nearly 35,000 built, yet when was the last time you saw one – in any condition? This one needs a starter and a battery, so determining how well it runs would require both. If I were the seller, I’d bite the bullet and get that done before making a serious sales push. If we haven’t teased you enough with photos, check out the rest here on Facebook Marketplace! And we must remember to thank T.J. for the tip!
Of all Buicks, 58 is my absolute favorite! The 58, was the ultimate expression of huge OTT excessive chromed luxury, matched only by 58 Cadillac Sixty Special. While I love Chrysler Corp Forward Look, these 58 have a massive Look that appears menacing! 👍 They are rare, haven’t seen one in years. In the 80s, I tried to buy a black 58 from an 80 something widow who still drove hers, sitting on a catalog, peering between the dash and steering wheel. She and her late husband bought it new. Though I wanted that Black Beauty, I admired her spunk. When she passed, the Buick disappeared. Like to think she may still be driving it in the afterlife. In later years Buick would ask Wouldn’t you rather have a Buick? This one? Of course! Unfortunately as a Vintage 47, it’s not an option 😕. Someone needs to lovingly repair and cherish it as a tribute to an era never to be seen again!
I think the 58 Pontiac’s chrome would match the Buick as well as the Caddy.
This one isn’t too bad-looking. The Century Limited took so much tinsel that Christmas was cancelled in 1958 for lack of decorations. My only complaint about this car is, if the seller wants $29k and expects to get it, like the author says, they should put a starter and battery in it because it wouldn’t be expensive. That is, unless the motor is stuck and the seller isn’t saying.
What exactly is a “Century Limited”????
It’s Buick’s top-trim mid-sized car, available from 1978-2002, but that’s not important right now.
No such thing as a “Century Limited” in 58. The Limited was its own series, not part of the Century series, and built on the longer Roadmaster (127.5″) wheelbase.
Sorry, but $29,000 is absolutely INSANE for a car that needs a starter and battery so that you can’t hear it run.
Again people, why sell/list your classic on FB???
The only reasons I can think of for listing a classic on FB (excluding, say, dedicated collector pages) or CL is laziness, a lack of sense, or someone inherited the car and does not understand how to optimize for sale/what is an appropriate venue for sale. This is the same logic that drives people to price items for hundreds of dollars at a rummage sale — no one brings that much cash to a rummage sale! Know what you’re selling, and know your buyer. This person does not appear to know either.
Given they are asking $30k for a car that needs battery/starter, I am leaning toward #3 (inherited and just looked up values on a random site). Also assuming they do not have mechanical aptitude to install battery and starter to prep the care for sale/justify their asking price.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I bought my current project off a Craigslist ad, but the condition of the paperweight…. excuse me… car, the black hole where vehicle history would be (i.e., Vermont loophole title) and the asking price all were appropriate for that pathway.
Another thing Eddie is sometimes a friend neighbor etc may ha advised the seller on what they perceived the car is worth possibly the person that helped push it out of the garage. Another thing as mentioned is no one knows the condition of the rubber related parts engine brakes seals etc and my bet is they are probably shot an dried out as well. Otherwise at first glance it appears to have great potential but still not at $29k
ROGER RICK, but I have NEVER heard of a Special Riviera, its quite a ride and I think the price is fair even needing some parts, the 51 Pontiac shown is another fine one, with the straight, These cars were affordable for most of like me when we were in our late 20’s . Wish I had a 20 car garage,
The problem isn’t that it’s “needing some parts”. The problem is that there is no way to assess the mechanical condition of the car without starting, running, driving, steering, stopping. I am not accusing the seller, but this is a common ruse used by unscrupulous sellers. If you’re looking for a $30k payday, best to spend a couple hundred bucks to make the car functional, and put prospective buyers at ease. It’s not like this is some optional cosmetic upgrade.
Trust me UTDFROG you can never build them big enough. As Rockefeller onced answered when someone asked him how much money did he want or need he replied “Just one more dollar.” The same applies for garages cars etc.
Before Riviera became a separate line, Buick used the name for two door hardtops. Amazing how cars selling for under $5,000 when new have collectors eager to pay many times more than original price. Like the old song 🎵 If you’ve got the money, 🎶I’ve got the time! 🎵 We can drive your Cadillac 🎶 Leave my old wreck behind! 🎶 😄 😁 🤣 👍
Agree with Dan, gotta make the minimal effort of making it run. Nice old Nailhead, could be a head turner.
Have seen this model 1958 Buick in a 2 dr post sedan as a CHP Patrol Car in episodes of the TV series Highway Patrol!
These were nice driving cars. I had one, almost the same as this one, many years ago. Mine was a medium blue with three on the tree.
This is one beautiful Buick that if I had the cash wouldn’t hesitate buying.
The comments here about the starter and battery? Who hasn’t used jumper cables before? Also who hasn’t had at least 1 vehicle where the starter acted up but if you kept trying eventually the solenoid would move and engage the flywheel. If you look at the pics of the car in different locations, I sure wouldn’t want to push the car to all those spots just for pics, that’s 1 heavy car. It’s a beaut, classic stying, garaged, driveable, plus it has just that soft plush interior that only a kid growing up in that era would remember. Now if just someone would loan me the money to buy it, I’d be the happiest kid on the block. P.S My father only drove Buicks, converted all of them to run on propane since 1951. Cheers
Buick promoted the ’58 models as “B-58” Buicks with sales literature that included a depiction of the then-new Convair B-58 Hustler bomber to support the idea of a supposed aeronautical connection (it did use a lot of aluminum for its trim and had Flight Pitch Dynaflow, after all).
If I remember correctly, the battery for the B58’s was a long, thin battery, and I don’t know if this type of battery is even made for cars like this one. One could easily change the battery holder to a newer one, but that would cost him some money along with the battery and starter. Perhaps the owner doesn’t want the new owner to know that the engine seized, thus making the car start with the new starter and battery still rather impossible…….. It appears to be in good condition otherwise. I still wonder about the engine and tranny. That would take a $29k car down in value to about $5-6K. I don’t think the owner wants that.
Rather than search out the long skinny battery, my Buick has 2 Optima 6 volts run in parallel. Fits the long narrow tray and works great.
Your credit score?
If this were not black, I would be looking very closely at this car.