Ready To Enjoy: 1956 Buick Century Riviera Hardtop

This great-looking 1956 Buick Century Riviera 2-Door Hardtop reminds me of Bruce Springsteen’s “My Hometown” song. I can just see an eight-year-old Bruce sitting on his old man’s lap and doing his best to steer this gorgeous machine down Main Street of his hometown. This ’56 Buick, like Springsteen’s song reference about the textile mill in his small town, is a thing of the past from a different era in America. But some lucky individual will be able to rekindle some of those “good old days” in this ready-to-drive-and- enjoy classic piece of Detroit iron. It’s currently located in Kirkland, Washington, and is for sale here on craigslist for $24,500. Curvette has once again spotted a cool classic and sent it our way to feature here on Barn Finds. Thank you!

The seller, who is downsizing to make room in his storage facility, shares that he has owned the Buick for 11 years. The Century received a thorough, expensive restoration 28 years ago that included body work, new paint, replated chrome, new side windows, a rebuilt engine and transmission, and a new interior using the original fabric. The car has been driven less than 10,000 miles since the restoration and still looks fresh. Buyers had a choice of 20 paint colors for the ’56 Buick, and this Seminole Red and Dover White two-tone example is stunning. (This was how you two-toned a car back in the 50’s!) The seller describes that paint as “a 5-footer” due to its age and some small pimples in a few places that most people will never notice. There is no rust on the car.

The contrasting red-and-black interior of this Buick is downright gorgeous. Original black patterned fabric was used in the seats and the door panels, carpet, and red headliner look great. And so does that sparkling instrument panel, black padded dash, and big red steering wheel with the round chrome horn ring. Except for the clock and original AM radio, everything works. The seller shares that he added period-correct seat belts a few years ago, along with an aftermarket AM/FM stereo radio hidden in the glove box. This was a top-notch restoration that was performed inside and out 28 years ago, and it certainly shows.

The engine and engine bay are clean and tidy as well. The Buick is powered by a rebuilt 322-cubic-inch “Nailhead” V8 that is paired with a Dynaflow automatic transmission. It also has manual steering and brakes. The seller describes the car as “a great road and touring car that was driven to Buick Nationals several times from 100 miles to 2,000 miles with no problems.” Other listed work performed on the Buick includes installing an inline electric fuel pump on a manual switch to aid with start-ups, a rebuilt carburetor and vacuum wiper motor, replaced wheel cylinders, re-lined brake shoes, repacked wheel bearings, a brake fluid flush, and a new battery. If there’s one person out there who’s looking for a “ready to drive and enjoy” 2-door hardtop from the Fabulous 50’s, this is it. I envy the next lucky caretaker.