It’s time for a little porthole archeology, courtesy of a ’54 Buick Super Riviera Model 56R. Buick had it all going on that year with many different models so let’s look this Super over and determine where it fits in the pecking order. This big two-door hardtop is located in Canton, Ohio and is available, here on craigslist for $7,000. A thumbs up to Gunter K for this discovery!
OK, let’s cut to the chase, all Buicks in ’54 had three portholes per side…except the top-dog Roadmaster which wore four, and the limited, high-rent Skylark which was porthole-less. So, below those two exalted members of the ’54 Buick line-up was the Super, also known as the “Super Riviera”, the Century, and the bottom rung Special. Essentially it was a numbers game with the wheelbase, Roadmaster and the Super riding on a 127″ frame while the two-door only Skylark, Century, and Special were on a shorter 122″ configuration. Engine output varied a bit too based on series. Buick scored fourth place in the 1954 production race with 444K units.
Little is said about this example other than a mention of it sitting for many years. The chrome is thin and the finish is showing signs of degradation but overall, this Super still presents pretty well – it would seem to be a study in originality. There are only three exterior images but there’s no sign of rot-through or crash damage – flaking paint seems to be the biggest foible.
The attention-getter for me is this Buick’s original A/C equipment, the seller doesn’t even mention it other than to cram in the laconically stated “air car” into the vehicle description while moving on to another topic. The fan and the evaporator unit are in the trunk and they flow cool air up through the rear package tray via a pair of translucent plastic tubes and then into vents situated in the headliner. The underhood A/C compressor is without its belt so I’d say the system is inoperative. As for the rest of the interior, it’s worn and faded but seems to be in reasonable condition.
Under the hood is a 182 gross HP, 322 CI “Nailhead” V8 engine driving a Dynaflow automatic transmission. The engine spins over manually but the seller has not attempted to start it. As the listing states, “ it looks like it’s all there and not messed with” so I’d say that it’s a safe bet that this one’s a flip. Then again, there’s no battery or upper radiator hose so it all may not be there – a thorough inspection is always of paramount importance, methinks. The odometer recording is 85K miles but there’s no mileage authentication provided.
“Cool car” (pun intended) as I have encountered very few Buicks, or any others from this era, that are air conditioned. This Super is super in that it is so original and intact – it probably wouldn’t take much to get this fine old hardtop running and motoring. That A/C system, however, is probably going to be a different kettle of fish, wouldn’t you agree?
Question for the experts… wheel covers came on the ’55s. Were they on the ’54s first?
The wheel covers on this car look like they came from a ’55 Roadmaster. The ’54 wheel covers had no contrasting colors.
Portholes? Those aren’t portholes, those are Ventiports. :)
The first generation T-Birds had portholes.
Ventiports!? That’s a term that I use to refer to the wrong end of my dogs.
JO
This will be beautiful once restored…
Si es uno de mis preferidos de la buik ese es unos de los modelos que me comensaron a llamar la atención desde niño por el gran frente niquelado como ver el brillar de la careta y con rostro serio y de respeto
(It is one of my favorites of the Buick that is one of the models that began to attract my attention when I was a child for the large nickel-plated front as to see the shine of the mask and with a serious face and respect.)
Gone already, my fav Buick grille.
My 1951 Buick Super had much more stainless steel brightwork than it had chrome. Did later models also have more chrome? It was also zinc dipped although that might be because it was a rhd car built for the American Consul in Durban, South Africa. It also had leather upholstery.
The transition from side to rear, with respect to the “greenhouse”, has been awkward on many cars, but not this GM body, where it is just perfect. Shared by Olds and Cadillac for these three years, and it shows well in the photos. Today’s vehicles with their upswept sides, and big C or D pillars, make it very hard to see out to the rear, and the “forward Look” fins of the Chrysler Corp from ’57 to ’59 had the same fault.
I remember visiting my father off & on in Southern Calif. He had a ‘53 Cadillac Fleetwood with factory air. Actually did a pretty good job. There were vents too (3) right where base of windshield met dash. One at each end, one in the middle.
Those are Cruiseline Ventiports. So popular that stick on versions were available. That’s my home town. Cars did rust and Western Auto sold slip on rocker panels. You put them over the originals and usually sheet metal screwed them where ever you liked.
My friend in Canton, Ohio had a 1954 Oldmobile in the early 1960’s. It had been painted by Earl Schieb and had a running sore above the rear wheel, where the Bondo was failing. Uncle Earl had given it a thick coating of pickle green paint.
Knew a guy in college that had one of these. Partly financed his college career with it. He had a knack for getting hit by the little old ladies in town and then having their insurance companies write him a check for the damage. The car was like a tank and never disabled. He’d just cash the check and keep on driving it.