This! This is what a Buick was all about, so many years ago. I don’t know what Buick really makes today or why they’re even still in existence. To my eyes, most of their models, today, look like pigs, or piglets, on stilts (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, I sound like the “get off of my lawn” old guy). The seller tells us that this one is an original, and he has only owned it for one year – I wonder why? And that’s it for details but the pictures will do some talkin’. This beautiful Century is located in Homestead, Florida and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $21,100 with the reserve not yet met.
Buick’s 1957 lineup started with the Special, moved up to the Century, continued on to the Super, and topped out with the non-pareil, Roadmaster. Specials and Centurys bedded down on a 122″ wheelbase while the Super and Roadmaster stretched out to 127.5″. Century’s body styles included a two-door hardtop and convertible, as well as a four-door hardtop and “Caballero” station wagon. These hardtop (pillarless) body styles were known as “Rivieras”. As a side note, the Roadmaster, Super, and Century all got the four-porthole fender treatment while the Special had to make do with three.
This century is still wearing its original Code P Shell Beige finish and it presents surprisingly well for 66-year-old paint. There is some fade and thinness evident on the roof, just above the fabulous three-pane rear window, but all-in-all, it still looks good. The massive chrome-plated bumpers and extensive stainless steel trim are stunning in their bearing. It’s not just their condition, it’s the sheer amount of shiny bits that adorn this Buick. This is what a fifties Buick was all about. Understated? Not hardly!
Buick power comes about thanks to a 300-gross HP, 364 CI “nailhead” V8 engine, making things happen via a Dynaflow automatic transmission. The seller tells us, “runs great” and that’s it. The mileage is recorded as being 56K miles but it’s not claimed as authentic. The engine compartment looks pretty good for a car of this age but without some listing details, there’s no way to know what, if anything, has been done to it or how original it may be.
The seats are wearing clear plastic “thigh-burner” seat covers – a common ’60s add-on. Sure, they protect the upholstery but they’re cheesy looking. Regardless, the entire environment is in fabulous shape with the dash/instrument panel being a typical Buick standout of the era. The passenger side kick panel appears to be missing but that’s the only out-of-place thing noted. The door panels are perfect and the carpet shows as new – I can’t find fault with any of it.
This Buick’s biggest issue may be finding a new owner. There are eight bids that have been tendered but the reserve is unknown and unmet. Fans of luxury cars of this era are, well, like this car, they’re getting up there in years – a ’57 Buick appeals to a much narrower audience than a ’57 Chevy. The storyline is also pretty thin, I’d like to know more about this car’s past and what’s happened during the current owner’s one year of guardianship. The biggest takeaway for me, however, is experiencing what Buick once was, compared to what it now is. Well, we can’t live in the past, but we can still drive the past, right?
Why only owned a year? Hello, anyone else see how our lives have changed lately?( no offense to Jim) It’s what motivates I’d bet 99% of these sellers,,it’s a all about da’ money. I was talking to a person having a yard sale in my small Colorado town ( pop. 5,000,,5,020, 5,045, you get the idea ), she said her home taxes went up FORTY PER CENT(40%). No wonder she was having a yard sale. I’m sure it’s got to be a tough decision, but the car usually has to go.
Absolutely the most fantastic Buick. It always amazed me what an about face it was with the ’58 and beyond. This was the same car I’ve mentioned, in the 70s, little old lady at a grocery store in N. Wis. only a 4 door. Same plastic on the seats, same immaculate motor.
The wide whites are period correct, don’t do anything for me, but sure beats clown wheels, and 22″ tires,,,heaven forbid. It’s a tough one, as thin whites look out of place, and blackwalls, too cheap looking. Quite frankly, seeing how people drive today, I’d actually be afraid to drive this. Heck, you’d create an accident with people just looking at this. Nice(st) car for that short spell when Buicks were cool.
Just the other day, my sister, who lives in the little ole town of Berthoud CO, told me her taxes went up 43%, good ole Colorado, but that’s another story. As far as this Buick, I’m sure you and most others would probably prefer to tar and feather me, but the 58 is my favorite Buick, and I don’t mean the chrome crazy Limited, just the more sedate Century. Ok, slam me now lol. But this 57 is a beauty.
The 1956 roadmaster is my favorite
automobile of all times.
I’m when you on the ’58 my friend
Probably bought it for a song and dance and is cashing in on the inflated old car market. Call me old fashioned. I know prices can’t be what they were in the ’60’s and ’70’s but dang. Still, I like to see the older cars.
1000 in 1970 is 10,000 today as gas back then was .34(cents) a gallon!!! And what is in 2023????
I would take this ’57 Buick over ANY Tri Five Chevrolet any day of the week. I have owned them both, a ’51 Buick Super and a ’57 Chev Bel Air, and found the Chev to be really tacky in comparison to the Buick. I also just loved that 3 piece rear window.
I have driven 57 Buicks (2) both a Roadmaster and a Special, and a 57 Chevy (1) a 210 model. Buick Roadmaster was like driving a tank in comparison and the Special was far superior to the Chevy. It was three steps above the Chevy in every way possible. This Buick is nice, but, it needs a paint refresh. If it is as sound as the owner claims, it should be repainted. I had original cars myself, but if it is looking like it’s got no paint left, it may be original, but it still can look like crap. He is asking too much for a $20K car. That’s all it is really worth.
When I was 15 I worked as a lot boy at a Buick Rambler dealership, early 60’s. We had lots of these and same vintage Oldsmobiles on the lot. Loved these monsters, fun driving them around the lot but a real job detailing, they were huge. Very cool old cars!.
I wonder if the plastic seat covers still have the little gold stars in it, that was a popular accessory then “Stardust seat covers”. Lol
I like thin white walls myself, if I remember correctly in Canada at least the wide whites disappeared in the sixties and the thin whites were derigueur on these older cars, and it gave them a tougher more honest look – the wide whites were spats thirty years too late and people I suspect knew that at the time.
Larger 1959 GMC cars introduced 1.75″ whitewalls with 1″ black against the rim, the beginning of the narrowization trend. Vogue Tyre soldiered on with traditional whitewalls into the 1960s. Fortunately genuine whitewalls are still made for cars like these
Looks to me as if an alternator and newer a/c compressor have replaced the originals. Not the end of the world, and I’d be tempted to do the a/c upgrade as well. And, yes, the clear-plastic seat covers have to go, as anyone who has ever sat on one must agree.
I’d like to see what this sells for, if it sells. Can’t see this one as an “investment” but, given its condition, it could be a fun driver.
IMHO, and I am a strict GM guy, that is one of ugliest cars beside Ford’s Edsel. You seem to think the new cars are both ugly and unusual.
This one should have stayed in the fifties. Forever!
You’re in a real minority.
To each his own. This is my favorite Buick of the ’50s. I would take this over any Tri-Five Chevy any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
I agree, the plastic seat covers have to go.
The rear window is killer…same thing with Oldsmobile rear windows of the vintage. Great car!
If I was going to have a 50’s car, this is the one I would get.
Do I see an Air Conditioner pump under the hood?
Yep, factory a/c in 57 was pretty rare. Think it’s missing the chromed grill for the center vent on top edge of the dashboard, or maybe lesser Specials and Century’s didn’t have the chrome trimmed vents, don’t see it on the outboard vents, either
The A/C looks like an aftermarket upgrade (Vintage Air?). The dash vents look modern, not typical ’50’s GM chrome die-cast pieces.
The wiper motor is also an modern upgrade.
This car does have factory A/C. The vents for the Super & Roadmonster were chromed, while the Special and Century were matched to the interior colors. I had a ’57 Century with A/C and brown interior/dash, and the center vent was brown.
If you look at the photo of the instruments taken thru the steering wheel, look at the round pod to the right of the speedo, you can see it’s the controls for the heater and air conditioner. It’s marked on the upper right “Air Conditioning”.
Beautiful, but I’d be afraid to drive it, due to the likelihood of a drunk or texter ramming into me, and the unavailability of parts. That car would be a labor of love.
My father had a 57 when I was a kid. Lot of chrome. I love the rear window with the 3 glass sections,I think this is a good looking car
Your concern for being rammed by someone who’s texting is a well founded. The frequency at which I encounter drivers who pay more attention to their phones than to traffic conditions alarms me.
I saw this car for sale last year by a different owner and he said that the car ran great and drove nicely but it needed a little tlc in the tuning. I wonder if the current owner isn’t inclined to do that sort of thing. It looks almost exactly the same as it did a year ago.
I have been reluctant to purchase Florida cars after the flooding from hurricanes in the last couple years,but that’s just me
I agree, every time I see a Florida car ad I just pass it by.
Gorgeous! I’d love to have it in my garage.
My father owned one, two tone green. I remember one as being hunter green. Great car and the first I remember, being 4 when he bought it new and traded it in on a LeSabre in 1963. Fond memories of both.
My grandfather had a two-tone green one as well, but his was a four door. He passed at a very young 61 in 1967, and the Buick has never been much out of the county in those 10 years. Grandma never drove, and sold to a man a few blocks away. He had it a long time, well into the 80s as I recall, when another Buick suddenly appeared by his house. The ’57 still looked great, so I don’t know what happened to it.
Beautiful car. 57 was an awesome year, Pontiac, Buick,Olds and even Ford. To me the Chevys were the plain Jane of the bunch.
This car is in beautiful condition, but there are few buyers interested in this kind of ride. I don’t know a single one, in fact. Most have already crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
This ad is weak. I wonder if it’s real. I think there was a previous eBay sale in July of last year. Surely it had a better text description and more photos if it resulted in a transaction.
I’m skeptical of this seller. His feedback history is odd. It shows a lot of purchases, but not a single feedback from a sale. So his first attempt at selling on eBay is an expensive old car that he’s owned less than a year? Possible, but unlikely.
2150 to headquarters.
This looks like a factory air car with an upgraded compressor. If you look closely you can see the added equipment after the heater fan motor and the vents on top of the dash. It’s strange why the seller didn’t mention this. Beautiful car by the way……
Probably and aftermarket A/C unit.
Nope, the vents are correct, the only thing that’s been changed is the updated Sanyo compressor [and probably running R-124a refrigerant]. I’ve owned a ’57 Buick with A/C.
The two most beautiful cars in the late 50’s were and still remain: 1958 Buick Limited and 1958 Cadillac Fleetwood. These cars even had climate control, not just regular AC.
In response to YBLOCKER: I have a 2014 Buick luxury sedan and it is a very comfortable well equiped.I think they call it a Lucurene. big and comfortable and I do not see a Cadillac that is this big today.
The last year for Lucerne was 2009.
Maybe you mean LaCrosse.
Wrong. The last year of the Lucerne was 2011.
My friend’s dad had a Roadmaster. What a car!
omg you think this is ugly ???
my next homeowners insurance ( here in Florida) has gone up 67%. I have no doubt why its on the block (unless its stolen or mixed up in a drug cartels business) Bad as traffic is in these parts I’d drive it now and then on Saturdays/Sundays. It amazes me when people put down cars of any vintage when scrolling by just lets the rest of us enjoy this site for what it is; fun.
Way back when, a neighbor had a 57 Roadmaster Convertible. Black and White with red leather interior. He was a Korean War Marine, and an auto upholster by trade. Every year he would put a new top on his Buick, alternating between black and white. I always though it looked better with the white top. He left the top down one Saturday night, and it rained. filled it up to the top of the doors with water. Needless to say the car was traded off about 3 months later for a 59 Bonneville.
Needs skirts
nope
Ron,
I stand corrected. This is what it must be. I should put on my shoes and go outside and read the labels on it. It is a large four door car and nothing in the way of a corsovr or SUV
But a ’57 Buick is much prettier and much more car than the ’57 Chevy.
My first thought when I saw this car was
1) get a load of all that chrome! Chrome bumper and grill, around the headlights, around all the windows, and those taillights just dripping in chrome.
2) how the ’58 Buick model year is going to outdo all the chrome of 1957.
But these are attractive cars with style and grace. Tells the world I’m making it and in a few years I’ll be driving a Cadillac.
The instruments in front of the driver almost mimic the front bumper and grill.
And as you mentioned that 3 pane rear window is gorgeous.
First ride in a buick after moving to flint. Front seat felt like granmas couch. The hum of the dynaflo and the click,click,click from the turn signal. That was a buick.
I live about a mile from where this beauty rolled off the assembly line and I’ll NEVER forgive GM for stabbing Flint MI in the back. My millwright friend was forced to load the machines onto rail cars and shipped the whole of Buick City to China. Buick City had it’s own police force, fire dept,water system, and railroad. Now it’s a polluted, abandoned miles long wasteland, not fit for anything. I promised to never have a Buick on my driveway, but if this car were to wander to me I’m afraid I’d have to swallow my shame and let it stay. The Dynaflow was the smoothest transmission to be had and put the brute horsepower to the rear wheels effectively and boy would those babies ROLL. My fave were the 56 Super or Roadmaster hardtops, but this one is no slouch and when I took her to Back to the Bricks or Sloan Summer Fair I’d be the center of attention.
A lot of memories there, Howard. In the 80s my office was on the third floor at 902 E. Hamilton. A friend sent me a piece of the marble from when the building was torn down.
This car is a real looker. I would much rather have this than a ‘57 Chevy. Always loved the rear window treatment. I think that most of we car people have fond memories of the period when this car was plying the roads because you knew it was a Buick and not to be mistaken for anything else. I’m one of those folks who just think that today’s cars while being so much more technically advanced are sort of amorphous when compared to this one. I agree also that the potential buyers for this era of vehicles is dwindling. I’m hoping this one is enjoyed by the next owner if it sells. Live large while you can I say.
Howard
I was involved in having to make calculations on what the total costs to Kelsey Hayes would be for each benefit that was negotiated in UAW contracts. In 1974 these benefits grew to over 50% of the base wage.
The efficiency of the assembly line workers continued to decline.
Market shifts also lead to assembly plants becoming obsolete.
Blame needs to be shared by the worker, the consumer and management also.
My second car was a white ’57 Century 4-dr HT, black and white interior. Loved that car and it would haul! n By the time I got it, shocks were badly needed, but not on my dime. I have no idea why I let it go, no rust, no mechanical issues, may have used too much gas, was replaced with a ’57 Belair 4-dr HT with a powerside 6. Much more economical, half the fun. Beautiful car. red/white, red/black interior. Should have kept but let it go for a ’58 Impala convert that got me in all sorts of trouble including dropping to top mid winter, filling the back seat with snow and riding around Alfred NY pelting unsuspecting walkers. We also snow skied behind it that winter. I was a Baaaaaddd boy!
Beautiful car. The driver’s side mirror is broken along with the radio antenna, maybe a power antenna. Both items expensive to replace, if you can. It’s been updated with an alternator, new compressor for air, still a nice car. Was never impressed by the “dynaslow” transmission. Had two ‘55’s, Century and a Special, put two trannys in the Century and one in the Special also replaced on in my ‘53 Special. Loved the cars, hated the transmission.
The side mirror is broken as well as the radio antenna, possibly a power one. Both items expensive to replace if possible. The Dynaslow transmission’s were weak, IMO. I had a ‘53 Special, a ‘55 Century and a’55 Special with dynaslows that I replaced on a regular basis. Got sick of it and gave up on Buicks until I got a’65 Gran Sport with the four speed then ‘78 Regal. Loved the cars, hated the transmissions. Oh, also had a ‘97 Riviera, bad transmission.☹️
AI L.
I’ve had a 1970 Riviera, a 1971 Riviera, and a 1972 Riviera. Even though they weren’t Dynaflow transmissions, they served me well and well as the next owners.
I had a 1961 Invicta and a 1962 Electra 225, both with Dynaflows. Never had a problem with transmissions. Other components, yes, but not the trans.
Maybe Dynaflows just don’t like you, LOL
Just kidding.
They would not stand up to abuse. They were never intended to fall in to the hands of teen/young adult men hotrodders. A couple of rev up and drop it down to low to do a loonnggg 1 wheel burnout and they’d crap out in a hurry. Not saying the other poster did this just speaking from experience.
What impressed me about Flint, Michigan was the loyality of the citizens toward the local supermarket chain, Hamaties. This company extended credit to hundreds of families during the depression and the people remain loyal. Safeway and Krogers have tried to break into Flint and they both closed their stores after a short while.
Paint is getting thin on top, but the same can be said for a lot of us old farts.
What color is that? “Band-Aid”
In 1966 my 1965 Corvair with the 140 engine seized up on I 94 while heading to Ann Arbor from Detroit. I shifted in neutal and coasted to a stop. I then had the car towed to my work place at Cummins. The odometer was at 37000. Warranty expired at 36000. I had the odometer reset to 33000 and then hgad it towed to the Chevrolet dealer in Ann Arbor. A week later I called them up and told them the car simply seized up. They then pulled it in and told me it dropped a valve and would be a couple of weeks. When the car was ready I had to pay for the new oil and the oil filter only. This was 56 years ago so I feel they will not come after me now. I felt justified, no one should have to pay a large repair bill that soon
I had a 1965 Corvair Monza with the 110 hp engine that I drove 96,000+ miles and only lost the original engine belt. Loved that car, had to replace the clutch one time at 68K only got rid of it because my family out grew it.
Bill McCloskey
I have sent a couple of more questions. Bet they are in your spam folder. Feel it is not right to occupy other’s times when it is only beneficial only to me. If I am wrong will gladly stand corrected.
I was 13 and spending the summer with my grandfather in eastern Ohio and went with him down to the small country dealer to trade his 49 Chev. for a 1954 Pontiac Star Chief hardtop. It was that beautiful orange with a cream top. Then in 1957 he goes and trades for a 1957 Buick Special 2 door hard top in a dismal two tone blue. I thought the Pontiac was one of the most beautiful cars of the 50’s It was a straight flat head 8 but who looks under the hood? I was already with the ability to name all the cars on the road back then.
Allow me to bring to everyone’s attention about wheels. When you change from the original wheels to aftermarket you are now loosing all the hundreds of hours of engineering that went into finding the correct distance and size that the wheel should be for your car. Also look at the opening where the lug nut goes. Notice the raised area, This is raised so that the pressure is applied to prevent the lug nut from backing off. Now look at at an aftermarket wheel. You will find it smooth without and of this safety feature.