The 1958 model year was not kind to the U.S. automobile industry. Due to an economic recession, about the only cars to see an increase in sales were the “new” compacts. Buick was especially hard hit, falling from a peak of 700,000 vehicles to just over 240,000 in 1958. The ’58 Buicks were laden with chrome, including the entry-level Special like the seller’s post coupe. Though it looks quite good overall, the seller only gives it credit for being in “fair” condition. Needing some work, this “special” Buick is in Portland, Oregon, and is available here on craigslist for $7,500.
Next to “Custom,” which was used by almost everybody as a nameplate back in the day, the Special had a place in the Buick lineup for several decades. Besides having chrome that was practically applied by a roller, the most noticeable features of the 1958 Buicks were the industry switch to quad headlights. And the rear fins were beginning their reach up to the skies. All Specials came with a 364 cubic inch V8, and Buick produced 11,566 2-door post coupes like this one.
We don’t know the history of this Buick, and the photos show a pretty decent car that the seller describes as a project. The Buick has an automatic transmission, which is stuck in gear (does that mean it won’t move, and you would have to drag it onto a trailer?). How much of the car is original is unknown, but we’re guessing the paint and interior have been redone, at a minimum, and the odometer is said to have turned over.
Hopefully, none of the chrome needs to be redone, as that could be one of the costlier parts of turning this into a show car, if that’s your goal. Perhaps you’re only looking for a weekender for Cars & Coffee, so maybe just fixing the transmission problem is the only thing of immediate concern. The seller says he/she is “ready to move,” so it sounds like the seller needs it to get gone soon. Kudos to “Curvette for the tip.
Interesting…car cannot be driven with a dead transmission, yet the owner uses a club device on the wheel?? Where’s it gonna go?
One can never be too cautious …lol
Understand the problems during the recession but Buick put out a car so ugly it could cause a recession.
As a 12 year old in 1958 I loved the looks of them
Yes Al, beauty is in the eye of the beholder! I don’t mind that model’s looks, but the extra girth began the fat and ugly years.
I’m an old-Buick guy. Love ’em all from, say, 1936 to 1969. Except, that is, for the 1958 models. Those I’ve always thought clumsy, overly chromed behemoths. Yet, to my lights, Buicks were hardly alone that year in their
gratuitous ostentation. Their boxy and gaudy excesses were fully matched by their GM cousins, Oldsmobile and Pontiac. And, lest I forget Ford, the ’58 Edsels and Mercurys also made credible claims for first place in graceless ostentation.
Given it’s age & mileage the interior looks really solid. No rips or tears in the seats, and side panels are in good shape. Too bad the tranny needs so much work just to get the car rolling if not running! I would have to paint it a different shade of blue though.
Those are seat covers, not the original upholstery.
I had this exact car in red 40 years ago. Mine had only about 60k miles on it when I bought it from the original owner. Loved the nailhead motor but I immediately found out why it had so few miles…. It was by far the worst driving car I ever had – wandered and wallowed all over the road. My other car at the time was ’57 Olds 98 that was the best driving car I ever had – couldn’t believe such a huge difference in handling.
1958 was the year that all of GM’s offerings were beautiful, and the Buick was among the best looking of the bunch. This could make anyone a gorgeous daily and weekend tripper. Plenty of room and comfort for the whole family and lots of “thumbs-up” along the way. It must have changed hands ~ the listing has been deleted from Craigslist.
That belt line dip with the pillar growing up from it always looked peculiar to me. Nice car.
These Buicks had to heavy duty to haul around Broderick Crawford.
10-4
10-4
Seems that big boy always played a cop.
As far as the car..
Xcept a few war movies.
If it there a hardtop
The chromed shovels on the rear quarters are handy for driving in the snow.
Seems that big boy always played a cop.
As far as the car..
Xcept a few war movies.
If it there a hardtop
The club is so useless. Steering wheels are made a very soft metal and one little cut with a small pair of bolt cutters or hacksaw and it separates the club slide right off put a piece of tape over the gap and you’re good to go. The only thing that the club is good for is to use it as a club if someone tries to Carjac you!
HA–interesting!
For one thing, it will slow a thief (which you give the appearance of being) down, which increases the chances of being caught. Besides that, how many people carry a bolt cutter around with them? It would take, at minimum, a 12″ bolt cutter to cut through a steering wheel. How do you hide that while walking around looking for your next car to steal?
A small hacksaw would do very nicely.
How do thieves hide slim Jim’s and slide hammers and ignition switches??? Under their coats!
I don’t know, Kid ~ I’m not a stinking thief. Tell us all about it ~ you seem to be well educated on the subject. BTW if you try it on one of my vehicles you will suffer from lead poisoning.
I am certainly not a thief. Either only nothing but Cadillacs and everyone I bought but the best way to protect your car is to think like a
thief. You talk about getting lead poison. If someone tries to steal your car I had a tear gas system set up inside of mine and several bright flash cubes that would set off all four bulbs at one time back in the day.
Obviously, in my opinion, the best way to help keep someone from stealing your car at least from driving it away is to remove a part that it needs to run such as a distributor rotor or a fuel pump relay or master fuse, etc.