The year 1958 was a one-year body style for the full-size General Motors products. After seeing the new 1957 Chrysler products, they felt like they couldn’t wait until 1960 for a new restyling, so 1958 became a one-year-only body style for GM. Some people probably call it a blessing, but still, I like all the 1958 GM cars. The 1958 models, especially Buick and Oldsmobile, are known for their extensive use of chrome and bright trim. This one is no exception. While being the least expensive Buick model, it still used a vast amount of chrome and bright trim. Here is a 1958 Buick Special 4 door Riviera (hardtop) for sale here on eBay in Red Creek, New York.
Sure, cars are inanimate objects, but they can still have personalities. But without knowing the story of a car, we can’t give that car much personality. Unfortunately, the seller tells us very little about this car. It is evident it has been put away in this garage for quite a number of years, but we are not told why or by who, only telling us that it has been ignored. The seller does tell us that the car has received a restoration in the past. For that reason, it appears the body of the car is in good condition. Buick described the new four headlight set up as Dual Vista-Vision Headlights.
It appears the instrument panel has been kept in the original two-tone color scheme. I can’t tell if that is very dirty carpeting or the rubber mat that extends all the way across. That may be something a new owner would want to address. The Buick has a padded upper dash that is in good condition. The gear selector appears to be pitted.
In its restoration, the interior got some new seating fabric, however, this is not an original pattern for the 1958 Buick Special. The ribbing on the back seat does not have a nice straight flow to it, but that may be something that could be overlooked.
No pictures are provided of the engine, however, it is a 364 cubic inch V-8. The seller says the engine will need some work. Due to glare on the picture showing the odometer, the best I can tell is the odometer reads about 75,000, but the seller says the mileage is unknown. Overall, this car appears to be in good condition. There are no body issues, and the interior seems to be in good shape. The engine work would probably be the biggest expense getting it back on the road. Is this a classic you would be interested in with the hopes of little work to be done?
It would not surprise me to here that this was grandpa’s car. And when he passed it was pushed aside do to lack of interest. It makes no sense that someone would go to the effort and expense of a restoration and then just shove it into a build to let the pigeons crap all over it. This car is in need of a rescue, sure wish it was me I think the gm 58 line up are some of the classiest looking car ever made.
“due” to lack of interest. ’58.
If you’re going to correct it, don’t stop there. Hear, not here. …car, and… building, not build. Period after me. GM not gm. Lineup, not line up. Cars, not car.
Let those with no nits pick the first nit.
Ah. The grammar police arrived!
rED rILEY #%&!; you and the horse you rode in on…..!!!
You know rED rILEY if I spent my time picking out mistakes other people make in their writing on this site I could be PICKING NITS EVERY DAY. I’m not interested in your corrections that’s not why I’m here. Guys like you are nothing but a$$ holes, And you really PI$$ me off. Why don’t yo take your NITS and go to another site to use them. Maybe you should start an English writing class on your own site.
It’s been decades since I drove a Buick Special. The ’58 is nearly 212 inches long and the turning circle is larger than that of a Nash Statesman of ’50 through ’56 (and the 600 in ’49) which brings me to my comment. Nothing to do with spelling or grammar.
Your statement on the ’52 Nash Rambler Greenbrier post of 9 Nov. reads in part: “One think I do know about these is that the turning radius was terrible because of the skirted front wheels. Looks cool but the wheels don’t have enough room.”
Both points are incorrect.
The Rambler turning circle is less than that of a Mercedes Benz 300 SL gull wing coupe which has a turning radius of 19 feet for a turning circle of 38 feet versus the Rambler’s turning circle of 37 feet 2 inches.
The Ramblers’ front tread is actually 1/4″ greater than the rear tread and the car was engineered/designed as a unit. The wheels obviously have enough room.
The design was revised for 1955, front tread was increased by nearly an inch and one half while the rear tread gained two inches. Even though the turning circle at 37′ 2″ was very good it was tightened to 36 feet which AMC touted in the ’55 brochure:
http://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/AMC/1955_AMC/1955_Rambler_Brochure/1955%20Rambler-09.html
“it’s 36-foot turning diameter is the shortest of any family sedan in America.”
BTW “The Autocar” which road tested the 300SL also published a test of the Nash Metropolitan with a turning circle of 37 feet – only 2 inches less than the 1952 Rambler.
canadainmarkseh…..I thought maybe Red Riley was just joking around in defense of you. Not sure but that was how I took that.
:)
I couldn’t care what the “spelling Nazis” say, fact is, if what you’re saying doesn’t benefit someone, why say it?
What does bother me ….
is when people speak in all one sentence of verbal diarrhea without talking taking the time to pause start another paragraph use a period or for that fact a comma its like how can anyone focus on whats being said I don’t even bother reading their comments cause quite frankly it’s difficult to focus what the hell is being said but who am I and who really cares the babel usually goes on a lot longer than this but I think you get the point : )
Regardless, I still think this ’58 Buick is a beauty!!
Plenty cool ole 4 door hardtop,but the starting bid of $9500 better also be the finishing bid.(even though you couldn’t replace the chrome for twice that much $)
Interior chrome seems to be victim of excessive humidity or flood.
That is a bit much $, the rear bumper even has a patch to cover the rust holes. ( I presume) The seats being fitted with incorrect cloth would also lead me to believe that it had an inexpensive restoration. One would need to inspect this one in person for sure.
600 pounds of chromed pot metal, steel and stainless. Ah the good ol days….who needs a frame mounted hitch when you have a big ass bumper. Love it!
If you need any chrome work done on that car you had better take out a second mortgage, although most looks pretty good. The speedo looks like it’s stuck at 120.
Speedo stuck at 120… one of those cars that looks like it’s going fast even standing still!
Not a big fan of the front view and the back is so-so but man that profile view rocks!
I agree. From the side it’s great. The front end looks like it weighs 3000 pounds by itself, and the rear bumper looks really bloated out. Not just big but swollen, not a good look to me. But the side view, great!
Sweep the garage, assemble some type of order with the junk, wash the car outside, wash the windows with Windex, and take some damn flattering pictures. How lazy are you or did God himself leave you behind when certain things were passed out. Initial presentation is everything, I hope some gets the deal of a lifetime, this car deserves it.
“First impressions…..are lasting impressions!”
When God was handing our brains, seller thought he said brains and said gimme a slow one. My father’s joke.
It’s funny to think that the Special was the “entry level” Buick and its got as much trim on it as a Cadillac.
These cars don`t bring a high price when restored…This car needs a complete restoration and you`d spend much more restoring it than what it`s worth.
The ’58 Buick Special Riviera series 43 in the 4dr hardtop is listed in the OCPG early this year as a number 3 being $14,630 a number 2 at $22,750 and a number 1 at $32,500. When these car’s are restored they truly are a beautiful machine and one I would be proud to own, drive and show. Of the 31,921 built I am guessing that there may only be a handful that have survived the test of time and elements.
Love the color but appaearances can deceiving. 1 year only means some body parts could be unobtainable. Pics are useless.
The 1958 GM line, with the exception of Chevrolet, were the ugliest cars GM ever made and the Buick was the worst..
I agree. The 58 Chevy is a nice looking car because they didn’t add ten tons of chrome all over it. The Chev is tasteful and not overdone. I don’t mind the Caddy but the others just tried to hard to play catch-up to the Mopar styling.
The Grille, 1/4 panel trim & Taillights are the most impressive parts of a ’58 Buick. 1958 was a great time
for the automobile industry.
Wall Art is about all I see in this car. That front GRILL would be my candidate for the 1st piece to be salvaged from this dead behemoth.
It (1958) absolutely WAS NOT “a great time for the automobile industry”.
From the 1982 lyrics of “Arthur Daley (E’s Alright)” by The Firm:
“Pound to a penny that he don’t get paid – On account of the recession in the used car motor trade”.
Ah yes, the Recession of 1958 also referred to as the Eisenhower Recession was not just for the “used car motor trade”. Millions of Americans without a job and automobile sales crashing. The reason for many one year only cars as the US Auto Industry had to make massive changes to survive.
Chrysler was hit hardest. Sales for the first quarter of 1958 declined 56 per cent. Ford sales dropped 36 per cent and General Motors sales fell 17 per cent. However Ford and General Motors did report first quarter profits. New car sales for 1958 fell 31 per cent over 1957. It was not a “great time” for the auto industry.
For 1958 only Cadillac and Rambler saw sales increase. And Chrysler lost money for the first time since 1932. So, 1958 was the worst year since 1938, the previous recession..
Should also mention that the GM B and C bodies were not new for 1958. They were 1957 bodies cleaned up a bit to be more competitive with the competition, such as one piece rear windows instead of three. PM magazine tested a 1957 Oldsmobile, complete with O-L-D-D-M-O-B-I-L-E across the grille. Said it all.
The result of the stylists seeing the new 1957 Mopars in the fall of 1956 arrived for 1959. Thin roof lines, interesting rear quarter panels along with sculptured side panels and a minimum of chrome all shouted Chrysler.
Ugliest Buick ever (and the following year’s models were a close second). That grille is hideous.
Red Creek NY, a village of 4-500 people and twelve tons of road salt per mile.
Humid in the summer too.
Dusty not rusty?
RUST in this region is a huge issue…
Two door with extra doors!
What’s it worth?
What’s it weigh?????
I don’t understand the “one year only”. Body style. If I’m correct the car sits on the same chassis as earlier GM cars, and from what I can figure the body was different every previous year as well.
LOL … I sold a 1/10 scale tin replica antique toy car made in Japan of this exact beauty on eBay three years ago for three grand … it had a collectible rarity 9 out of 10 (very rare) … yet the real thing can’t get a buy @ 9500??? … sad : (
I’d scoop it in a instance if it was closer …
GM should have waited and made a car that looked good. These are so ugly.
I would guaranty this car restored to the 9’s would have more looks at a car show than most 57s simply from it’s uniqueness …
The styling reminds me of a 57 Chev & a 59 Ford mix …
And Vince I can see having a fav but … Would you walk up to the owner of one of these at a show and tell them their car is ugly : ( not likely … the disparity of Social Needia!
These cars are so over the top with styling how could you not love em.
I live in Australia and would jump at the chance to own one these bad boys
Karma … the collector that bought the tin toy lives in Australia.
From Canada, Cheers Mate!
At 18 in 66 I drove this model through through panhandle Maryland to my runaway wedding. Snow blowers on the roads mostly opened roads leaving the plowing for me. Interior big enough to have lived in. 52 years now and just bought a Buick woodie for nostalgia .
Like…..one of the first cars to push my Stude truck when it stopped…..My old buddy Dave’s car….broke a tooth or two out of it and thank god he wasn’t pissed….it was just an old car in the early 70’s but still neat to get around it. This ain’t all bad and might have been the good car saved for Sundays…..LS7 any one ?
I have always loved the 4 door hardtop body style. Wish they still made them. This looks like a solid start for a restoration, but not valuable enough to take on at this price.
A 58 Buick was one of my 1st cars I saved from the crusher. After I cleaned her up and did a little work on her she rode like a dream. Bruce.
I’m sure those are great memories … Nice Bruce!
Some may not like the look, I think this would make a terrific resto-mod!!!
looking for places where i can put more chrome.
i think they got em all.
In talking about the one year GM body styles of 1958, most people fail to remember that 58 was their 50th Anniversary.
Nothing wrong with a 58 in a world full of cookie cutter cars.
In todays world I refer to them as either a Jelly Bean car (all looking the same, just a color variation) or being mostly plastic they could be called a Tupperware car. lol