You have probably heard the old tagline for what was once a commonly run TV ad that opined, “You’ve come a long way baby!” and that’s what I am thinking now after recently writing an article on a ’66 Buick Riviera and then comparing it to this 1950 version, located in Rockwall, Texas and available here on eBay for a current bid of $5,900, no reserve and four bids tendered so far. Thanks to Ikey H. for the tip!
The Riviera name was introduced in 1949 as a two-door hardtop trim level of the Roadmaster, that being the top zoot-suit Buick of the time. Size mattered and the Roadmaster Riviera rode on a 130.3” wheelbase – that’s a lot of Buick! This Riviera, however, is a down-sized 1950 addition “Super” Riviera based on the Buick Supermodel with a 125.5″ wheelbase. There were about 56,000 Super-based Rivieras produced in 1950 so they were fairly common. One of the most recognizable features of the 1950 model is the “snaggletooth” or “walrus” grille, whichever you prefer. It is out-front and there is no mistaking it – it is one heck of a grille!
This Riviera has been sitting in storage in New Mexico since 1986 and apparently starts and runs. The seller tells us that the car is complete and can be driven. There are no images of the engine included in the listing but research indicates that this Buick came equipped with a 124 HP in-line, eight-cylinder (straight-eight) engine displacing 263 cubic inches. Being a Super, and not a Roadmaster, it has a smaller engine and thus only three portholes (“Ventiports” in Buick vernacular) instead of four placed on either side of the hood. Gear changes are handled by a Buick Dynaflow automatic transmission. The seller also states that this Riviera has been converted to a twelve-volt electrical system but he doesn’t know if the dash gauges were damaged as a result of the conversion. No worries however as he has a complete other set that is included in the sale.
Moving on to the body, that dreaded “P” word is visible on most of the horizontal surfaces but the body appears to be intact and pretty solid. There is a minor dent in the driver’s door and rust in the driver’s side floorboard (floor pan will require replacement) but the rest of the car, rockers, lower fenders, etc. are all solid. This was a stylish car in its day; actually, it still is really. The open, breezy appearance of the pillarless hardtop coupled with the wrap-around three-piece rear windscreen makes for a balanced, sweeping greenhouse panorama that has a touch of sophistication to it – it’s one of the best from this era in my humble estimation.
The interior looks a bit worn but pretty much in keeping with this Riviera’s age. The seat upholstery looks OK but the door cards will need some work in terms of recovering or replacing. It would appear that there is no mat or carpet on parts of the floor but at least you get a look at the floor’s integrity and decide how best to repair the aforementioned rust. This Buick has that typical early ‘50s dash/instrument panel flair. I’m a bit of a sucker for this vintage dash panel; they really, regardless of car make or model, made for beautiful appointments back in the day.
There’s probably more here than meets the eye that will require attention – that’s usually the case with a 70-year-old car that is untouched. That said, this Riviera makes for a solid base from which to start a restoration or maybe… what do you think, a resto-mod, a lead-sled custom perhaps, go for an old school hot-rod? The possibilities are endless.
Too young to see one of these in action but this could be a neat cruiser, regardless what you did to it. When’s the last time anyone saw one of these?
Goofball friend had one given to him in 1966 and invited all of his friends for a ride. We got 12 of us in it (girls on the laps) and about 18 miles out of town it downshifted. Goofball says I’m not walking and kept driving. Got a few more miles and it downshifted again. Finally it wouldn’t move anymore and he said, I’m done” and started walking. We all followed and that’s the last time I saw one.
It’s a Dyna Flo, I don’t think they shift up or down.
So, this is a downsized 1950 EDITION?
Title says 1952. Text says 1950. Sure looks like a 1950 Buick to me.
LarryS
Sorry for the confusion, it’s a 1950.
I think this thing would look amazing with a paint and chrome buffing. Just the right amount of “P” without the “R” through.
Exactly. What a great find.
This thing is cool
Very nice and I believe rare. Seen lots of Buicks in this and surrounding years but cannot recall seeing a 2dr. hardtop. Restoring it to original or update it would be a decision I would have to I’ve some thought.
My favorite grille ever.
Reminds me of the giant heater in the basement of “Home Alone”.
I’ve always heard of them called the ‘Bucktooth’ Buicks.
Can the engine take being bored out and bigger pistons inserted? I would look into upping the HP to increase drive ability on the SoCal freeways before dropping a V8 in it. The cranks on straight 8s could flex to the point of snapping sometimes.
I have never been a fan of these early 50s Buicks, and yes, it’s that grille. That said, I would really like to see this car with a good paint job, maybe slightly different shades of green, and a cleaned up interior. Powertrain? If updated, it should be with a newer Buick engine/transmission. A Buick V6, at the very least would provide decent motivation.
I always thought that these hardtops were the inspiration for the first Lexus SC coupes.
A 1950 Oldsmobile OHV with the Hydromatic transmission will fit perfectly into this chasie.
Whatever is done to it, it would be a shame to put in a different engine. The Buick straight eight has a beautiful sound. As for the rest of it, I would keep it stock or very near to it. The first of the truly new postwar cars of the late ’40’s and early ’50’s have a stylistic exuberance that is unique to the period. Can’t think of many (or any) other cars that have a grille like the ’50 Buick!
Closest I can think of would be the Desoto.
Some people must have been intimidated seeing that face in the rear view mirror.
I could never afford the chrome bill so it would have to be a patina job. Leave the outside and fix mechanicals an d a cheap interior job and you have a huge presence. That straight 8 will pull great…leave it !
It’s lasted this long, don’t mess with it beyond mechanical & cosmetic freshening… Nothing wrong with those straight eights, as long as you don’t try to drive it like a maniac! This could once a gain be a great cruiser.
I could never afford the chrome bill so it would have to be a patina job. Leave the outside and fix mechanicals an a cheap interior job and you have a huge presence. That straight 8 will pull great…leave it !
This is the “Mother”, of all grills.
Someone mentioned about keeping up with freeway traffic, no problem there, this old bus would roll 75 mph without breaking a sweat. The problem is getting it up to speed. The dynaflow aka mashed potato drive will have the mighty str8 8 groaning, straining to get moving before the light changes LOL It doesn’t appear to have power brakes, so stopping this beast in today’s traffic could be a problem. My 52 Olds Super 88 will roll along well but has me constantly looking for an alternate route if that guy with the 4 wheel power disc brakes in front of me hits the binders……..I didn’t see any pics of under the hood? A guy I know did a 12 volt conversion cause he didn’t know there was such a thing as a 6 volt battery. BTW, the counter person at Autozone didn’t know there was such a thing either
75 ? Whooeeee! Perhaps off a cliff before it reaches terminal velocity. Having owned a couple of these, I came quickly to understand the cars were engineered to operate on the highways of the day at 45 to 55 mph. Ironic, given the speedometers were often calibrated to 110 mph in some instances. Wishful thinking. The low differential gearing ratio, drag co-efficient, the undersquare configuration of the inline eight cylinder engine and weight comparatively to horsepower pretty much reigned in higher speeds and rpm’s. 60 to 65mph was the stress point for the automatics, and less for the manual transmission versions of these cars. Their design and brightwork is fun and iconic. For your urban cruiser, this is a great car which will garner a lot of interest while on the road.
Going to make a great Resto Mod
I certainly hope not. I’d buy it myself, if for no other reason than to keep it away from the restomodders. I love the 1950 Buick, and this one is begging for a full restoration.
if he doesn’t know if it’s a 50 or a 52 …..what else doesn’t he know about it
He made the correction and apologized for the error. What else do you not know about the comments before your comment?
The model 56R for 1950, a beauty of a 2dr hardtop for the Buick lineup. There were 56,030 made of this model. I would imagine most of these were well loved and driven hard back in the day. This one would deserve a good total restoration IMO. Nice find!
So what the heck is a ” P ” word ????
“P”atina I think. Agree that this is not a 75mph car. It was born in an era where 55 was pretty much the top speed limit on US highways. At least it was where I grew up (CT). You would NOT want to do 75mph in this on the Merritt/Wilbur Cross/Hutchison River Parkways (no I-95 in CT yet).
LarryS
Correct, it’s patina. There are a lot of strong feelings among our readers about it as in love it or hate it.
The 1936 Buick Century was so named because it could hit 100 mph. My father drove our ’53 hemi Chrysler through Arizona with the speedo pegged, although I wouldn’t swear it was truly 120. My mother once warned him he had just blown past a policeman.
I don’t know if you could call it gear “changes” handled automatically. The early dynaflows always used high gear and low was achieved with the gear selector. That impressive grille had the money saving feature of removable teeth that could be bought individually in case of damage. Dennis the Menace’s folk had a gray fastback that I’m still mad about.
Maybe someone can give the history of the Dynaflow and the Powerglide, which I read somewhere, that Buick and Chevrolet designed together, and, that there is some similarity. Both, when first used, only used the higher of the two gears, for a totally shift free acceleration, but Chevy soon made the low range automatic, since the 6 was much less powerful than Buick’s 8, and was really, really, slow off the line. I drove a ’51 Chevy with Powerglide, and one without, and the automatic was a dog. Eventually Buick, maybe ’56 or so, “switched the pitch”, which made the low gear part of the automatic drive, and improved the acceleration dramatically. Now we have the CTV’s with fake shift points, and 8 speed automatics. Driving my neighbor’s ’53 Buick, you floored it, the engine went fast and the car eventually caught up. The Jersey Turnpike was there in ’56 and we regularly went 70 on it in the Buick with no issues (as we did in a ’50 Plymouth with overdrive, and a ’56 Chevy 6, Powerglide.).
My dad had a 1952 Buick Super straight shift when I was 16. The first two gears were not impressive but once it got into high gear it knew no end-it would cruise on 70 mph with no problem. I would love to have it now!!!
Love this Orca of a beast!
If it’s me buying it…job one of the restomod would be chopping the top off.
Not sorry.
That front grill is killer!! It’s worth 5900 for that in my opinion!!!
The Dynaflow used multiple turbines to
shift its gears whereas the Powerglide
only used two. For my money, the powerglide was the better of the two
gearboxes and contrary to everything we’ve heard or seen through the years,
a powerglide could indeed be used
behind a straight 8 without much difference at all. That difference being
that the Powerglide gearbox works more
efficiantly than the Dynaflow with fewer
moving parts to wear out or break. If the
Powerglide gearbox was as terrible as
people have said, then why was it used
on most every Chevy engine except the
Fuelie 283s in ’59? And if it was a sluggard, then why was it used in place of
the Hydramatic gearbox after a fire destroyed the factory in 1953. The only
thing the Dynaflow had in its favor was
the smoothness of its shifting . The unit
itself was a mechanical nightmare. High
amounts of slippage and excessive fuel
usage were their undoing. I rest my case.
Is it still for sale??
No… Did you look at the date of the ad??