While many people hold up “Christine” as the ultimate Stephen King evil car novel, “From a Buick Eight” is no less gruesome or compelling. It centers around a 1950s Buick that appears to be a portal to another dimension. I don’t believe that our feature 1954 Buick Super Riviera is such a portal, but sliding behind the wheel would feel like being transported back to the 1950s. It is an original and unmolested classic that presents well and has 75,000 miles showing on its odometer. The owner is thinning his collection, so he has listed the Riviera for sale here on eBay. It is located in Orange Park, Florida, and with a BIN of $34,950 and the option to make an offer, it deserves a closer look. I have to say a huge thank you to Barn Finder Larry D, whose radar has worked well to spot another cool classic for us.
It only takes one glance at the Ventiports to confirm that we are looking at a classic Buick. The seller believes that most of the Gulf Turquoise paint that graces this Buick’s panels is original, although he feels that the Arctic White areas may have received an earlier refresh. He admits that the paint isn’t perfect although, as he rightly points out, minor imperfections are to be expected after sixty-eight years. It still shines nicely and would be capable of turning heads wherever it does. The panels have no significant problems, while it appears that the Riviera remains rust-free. The trim and glass present well for their age, and the contrasting red wheels wrapped in wide whitewall tires complete this car’s positive first impression.
The Buick’s interior continues the theme of not being perfect but presenting in a better than average state for a car of this vintage. The seats have no significant wear or damage, although there are a couple of seam separations on the driver’s side. These appear repairable, but the seat upholstery leaves me slightly confused. It seems that someone may have replaced the insets on the bases of both seats. The color and pattern of the material look right, but it lacks the pleating found on the seatbacks. I could be wrong on that score and am happy to be corrected if that’s the case. The carpet exhibits some wear, but the remaining upholstery and trim look pretty good. The dash and plated components present well, and the owner says that everything, including the AM radio, works as it should.
Lifting the hood on this Buick reveals the 322ci “Nailhead” V8 backed by a two-speed Dynaflow transmission. The owner quotes a power output of 180hp, although my resources place the figure 2hp higher. However, both he and I agree on a ¼ mile ET of 18.5 seconds. Interestingly, while he lists a top speed of 93mph, my information sees the car breaking the magic ton at 101mph. The owner indicates that the Riviera has 75,000 genuine miles on the clock, and it seems that he may hold verifying evidence. He also says that the car runs and drives perfectly. The steering and suspension feel tight, the brakes pull the car up straight and true, and the transmission works smoothly at all speeds. It seems like all the buyer will need to do is hand over the cash, and they can drive away in one cool classic.
There is so much to like about this 1954 Buick Super Riviera that I’m surprised that only eleven people are watching the listing. It presents well for its age, it seems to be rock solid, and its odometer reading is extraordinarily low. There is still plenty of time left on the listing, so that allows ample opportunity for people to continue monitoring proceedings. Of course, someone may throw caution to the wind and hit the BIN button. If they do, I could hardly blame them. Could you?
If I had the 💰,I could see myself cruising down the road.Windows down and my left arm resting on the door:-)
Yes, Yes.
MISTER SANDMAN…yes?…BRING ME A DREAM…blasting on the radio
Beautiful car.
And “From a Buick Eight” is so much more than just a “Haunted-scary-car-kills-everybody” story that has been done more times than you might think.
Perfect car for a horror movie. What a scary grille!
(and FYI, your lesson for today.)
Is it grill or grille for a car?
As a verb, it means (1) to grill, or (2) to question relentlessly. Grille, which is only a noun, usually refers to a grating used as a screen or barrier on a window or on the front of an automobile.
I always get the 2 spellings confused.
A beautiful color combination…I’m surprised that the interior isn’t also a blue & white combination too…
A cruiser for a summer time ride just to show it off
I am not sure that the upholstery is original. Vacuum wipers. Without a booster. Anyone remember them? Fast downhill. Slow uphill.
Look at the side view, to my mind the most graceful transition behind the rear side window to the rear window ever done. Same on the Olds and smaller Caddy that shared this body design. On the other hand, the white on the lower body would have looked better if it had carried behind the rear wheels as well – I think it did in ’55 and ’56 – but would have needed a chrome strip to divide it from the upper body color. A friend had one, I drove it in 1958, it was like driving a floating mattress with a slushy transmission. No A/C but otherwise it would be a great Sunday driver, or tour car.
The white on the lower body was added post-build. These were not painted below the sweepspear until 55.
Brings back memories. My family had a very similar car (ours was a 4-door, but same colors). Many road trips in that car, Mom and Dad plus five kids.
My mother had one of those, but a Roadmaster.
Seems like such a huge car for my mother who was about 5 feet tall.
Was power steering an option?
PS became an option in 52.
I don’t see any evidence of unfathomably low mileage other than the seller claiming it only had 60,000 miles in 1977. The sheer volume of vehicles that show up on Barn Finds with ridiculously low mileage for their age suggests that odometer claims should be held to some higher standard. Why do the firewall components have rock shield finishes? Why is the under hood appearance infinitely fresher than the trunk? Never restored? Where is the shame in revealing the true mileage alongside the details of any restoration work?
That’s originally how those areas were finished–with a ‘pebble’ grain.
Beautiful, pampered Buick! This thing has been loved since new, I guess that explains the car show trophies in the trunk! Turn-key and ride off into the sunset! Come ooooon lottery! This guy needs a ’54 Riviera!