Buick was the third most popular automobile sold in 1955 and it would be the GM division’s best year ever until 1973. Four series of cars were produced, with the Century being one down the list (Roadmaster was the “top dog.” This 1955 Century Two-Door Riviera (aka hardtop) is not a daily driver nor Concours quality (according to the seller), so it must be somewhere in between. There is some rust, perhaps more than the seller believes (let the photos tell the story). Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this old Buick is available here on eBay where the no-reserve auction stands at $7,500.
After a 12-year absence, the Century nameplate returned in 1954 when Buick paired the smaller, lighter Buick Special body with its largest and most powerful engine, the 322 cubic-inch OHV “Fireball” V8 with a Dynaflow automatic transmission. The autos received special attention in 1955 when the California Highway Patrol ordered 270 Century 2-door sedans to chase down bad guys, just like Broderick Crawford would do on the 1950s TV show, Highway Patrol. Out of 738,814 automobiles that Buick built in 1955, 80,388 were the Riviera 2-door hardtop like the seller’s car.
We’re told this 1955 Century is in unrestored condition, but that’s not exactly so as the car wears an older repaint and some work has been done on the upholstery and carpeting. The seller says the body and floor are straight but the holes in the rocker panels are more than just surface rust that will sand right off. And there are two small holes in the truck which we’re told are “very common.” Though the seller has no lift, I’d want a closer inspection of the undercarriage as it might not be as nice as the sheet metal that covers it. There is a small dent, and the chrome is starting to pit.
At 80,000 miles, the car is said to run, drive and stop. Since the seller doesn’t classify it as a daily driver, I would think short hops are best for the time being. It does sport a new set of wide white wall tires (bias ply!) which stand out nicely. No photos of the engine compartment are posted due to limitations with eBay, but the seller confirms an engine is there and can message more pics if requested.
I’d say being able to look at the driveway through the floor is a good indication of what’s underneath.
Buick’s Super series lived between the Roadmaster and Century.
The pecking order for `55 was:
1. Special
2. Super
3. Century
4. Roadmaster
Not according to price:
1. Special – $2291
2. Century – $2548
3. Super – $2876
4. Roadmaster – $3349
Prices are for 4-door sedans, sourced from the Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1946-1975.
The Century was just above the Special!
Surface rust, did he mean the rust that fell on the Driveway? It surely appears to go much more than skin deep and the cosmetics seem to be doing a good job of standing fast. No I don’t accuse him of hiding anything but the paint is I am relatively sure of.
I take it the brand new, re-upholstered are just sitting, uninstalled, on that rusty floor?
The cars on Hwy Patrol snd in Stat service were Century 2 door sedans which were not available to the general public. The only Century 2 doors for general sale were hardtops like this one, 2 door sedans were only made as Specials. And, as others have said, the Century was only one rung above the bottom
Excuse me but this is my buddy’s car. THERE ARE NO HOLES OF ANY KIND IN THE FLOORS!! The floors are VERY solid so don’t spread false rumors about things that aren’t there!!
“2150 to headquarters, be on the lookout for a grey 1958 sedan.” They never named the makes.
Yes,I could never work out why?
“rocket panels” in description should read “rocker panels”!
Corrected. Spell check and a tired brain didn’t catch it!
Just like the rust in the truck
Nice driver just like it is! Affordable,nice looking,needs mags, pipes,a little lowering.drive it every day and smile.
@CCFisher
Right you are. The Special and Century were on the small body whereas the Super and Roadmaster were on the bigger body.
In 1964 while working 50 hours a week plus room and board on a chicken farm I saved up $300.00 and bought a 55 Buick Super 4 door sedan. It was two tone white over red. It was a great car until two drunks in a 53 Ford crossed the white line hitting me head on. It was a country road with an S turn. Both cars were totaled. Of course they were uninsured, with suspended drivers license, so off they go to jail. My brother had the car insured under his name and the company paid off $450.00 for the car. Oh what great memories I have of that car. It wasn’t long until I joined the army on my 17th birthday. I served from June 8, 1964 through May 18, 1967 active then 3 years reserves.
God Bless America
55 Buicks are notorious rotters. I’ve owned 3, 2 special 4 door hard tops, 1 Century 2 door hardtop. To one degree or another they all had a particular granular rust. These were all California cars. A few holes in the floor or trunk? Please. The rain gutters, door sills, window frames, trunk openings just disintegrate. The Century would drop a shower of rust every time I closed the doors.
There is a lot of stainless trim, which is good, but lots of big chromed pot metal castings that corrode and pit enthusiastically. Everyone of mine was bad.
Those big bumpers make look like guardrails but are surprisingly flimsy.
Technically the nailhead was a very interesting motor, a good performer with great exhaust note. If you could live with the idiosyncratic Dyna Flow you were good.
Underneath the driveline and chassis were General Motors circa 1938. They used torque tubes and knee action mechanical shocks. The wheels are attached with bolts instead of studs and nuts. And they had some of the worst brakes in the industry , narrow and with minimal surface contact area. It was no secret. They stunk. Add the tire technology of the time and the road conditions before the the interstate system replaced the undivided 2 lane highways.
It’s a small miracle that anyone survived the 1950s driving cars like this and another miracle that so many 55 Buicks survived to this day.
Caveat emptor.
@Paolo
No wonder she’s a rust bucket. She’s from Pennsylvania!
But they look fantastic!
Some work and it’s a great Saturday night cruiser.
In the late 60’s these Buicks could be bought for $75 or $100 for a second car(most families couldn’t afford 2 nicer cars). I remember the smell and oldness these cars exuded. Hard to believe they can bring the money they do these days, especially when they need lots of work.