During the first half of the 1950s, Buick had the world on a string, as Frank Sinatra and other crooners so memorably sang. It produced 738,814 units for the model year, enough for third place in the industry. Unfortunately, production capacity may not have been quite up to the task, and as a result, there were some quality issues that sullied Buick’s hard-earned reputation. Whether it was that, Buick’s styling as the ’50s progressed, or something else is hard to say, but Buick had a hard time matching their 1955 heyday as 1960 approached. If the 1955 had teething issues when new, any car that has survived the past 70 years has certainly had them ironed out, and potential buyers should have no qualms about buying this beautiful Century, which was found on craigslist in Port Orchard, Washington, by Barn Finds reader Curvette. The owner’s asking $16,000, so it’s priced right, too.
Many Barn Finds readers probably know that the Century was so named because when it was introduced in 1936, its big 320-cubic-inch straight eight mounted in Buick’s smaller body could power it to an astonishing (for the time) 100 miles per hour. The Century disappeared from the lineup after World War II, but it returned from its hiatus in 1954, when Buick once again put its most powerful engine in the smaller Special-based body. In 1955, that engine was the 322-cubic-inch “Nailhead” V8 with a four-barrel carburetor (Buick called it a “Vertical Valve” engine). With 236 horsepower and an updated Dynaflow automatic, the Century was once again one of the hottest cars you could buy in 1955.
The seller of this one says that the engine has been rebuilt (it certainly looks fresh in the photos), and the Dynaflow is in good shape. The battery, generator, and voltage regulator have also been replaced, and Buick had already been using a 12-volt electrical system for a couple years (in most of their models) by 1955.
The interior and trunk have also been refurbished. The upholstery seems to match the original fabric fairly well based on pictures of others I’ve seen, but the trunk material is not original, according to the advertisement. The car will come with a few extra parts that have not yet been installed, including a trunk seal, an electric fuel pump, and a two-speed windshield wiper motor (which is interesting because ’55 Buicks had a vacuum wiper motor from the factory).
The paint looks nice but doesn’t seem to match any of the 1955 Buick color chips. It’s no matter, few will know that your blue is a few shades off Cadet Blue…or Cascade Blue…or Colonial Blue…or Stafford Blue. They’ll just notice that you have a lovely ’50s Buick. As I write this on Sunday, the Century has been posted for sale for 20 hours, and I have a feeling that it will be a quick sell. They certainly sold well in 1955.
Absolutely beautiful Buick. Even if its not the stock color. They had great taste picking it out. Very nicely restored.
I mistakenly called this a ’56 on the Toyota diesel post, both ’55 and ’56 were phenomenal cars, but not “contenders” for the performance market as mentioned. While a wonderful motor, it, in ’55 had some hefty competition. All the car makers had V8s, and a hemi would eat this for lunch, even a V8 Packard but it wasn’t about that. This was a road car. Always had been from the get go. It was no question in the automotive world, Buick was the #1 road car for the masses. It actually got better and dominated GM sales well into the 70s. While Ms. Novembers ( not that Ms. November), hit was 10 years away, it was clear, people really would rather have a Buick.
You meet the nicest people on a Honda.
Needs tubbed.
asking price doesn’t even cover the cost of what’s been done to this buick. the people that really liked these cars are leaving us and not a big audience anymore for these road giants.
This is a lot of fifties style and presence for not much money. Even though the paint is not a stock color it avoids being garish but still catches the eye. I need a car barn.
They quickly fill up. Then you build bigger barns. There’s a scripture about that.
A 1955 Buick Century was my “first car”. My Dad was a gearhead and so was I. Long before I was able to drive legally he gave me his Century, By gave I mean he told me I could do anything I wanted to it. In keeping with the times, I nosed and decked it (took off the front and rear emblems), removed the wheel covers (we called them hubcaps back then) and painted the wheels black, and patched and primed some rust spots.
Since I couldn’t legally drive, I spent many hours going up and down our driveway (maybe 70 feet at most). Well, sort of. When I thought I could get away with it I would take it out and drive it around the neighborhood, with no one the wiser. At least I thought that was the case. A few years ago at a family gathering I mentioned that and my Mom, who was sitting next to me, said my little secret wasn’t a secret. Apparently, she would get reports from neighbors that they saw Larry driving around the neighborhood. Neither she nor my Dad ever mentioned it to me at the time and my Mom’s pronouncement floored me (no pun intended).
Glad to see seat belts added. Not an option in ’55.
It was the winter of 1964, I was 16 and worked on a chicken farm outside Sumner, Washington. I was paid $1.00 per hour and worked 50 hours a week. I save my money and bought my first car that I bought and paid for by myself. It was a red/white 1955 Buick Super with just 38,000 miles. I bought it at a dealer for $275.00 but after tax and license it was $299.99. I got a penny and a full tank of gas back out the $300.00 I had. I had to register it in my older brothers name as the law required an owner to be at least 21 at the time. What a great car it was, but when I joined the army in June on my 17 birthday I had to leave the car behind. When I returned in May 1967 it was long gone. Whoever buys this car is going to love it.
God Bless America
I lost my ’55 tragically too. Though not as tragically as yours. Mine was lent to an uncle that needed a car. It didn’t survive. I was given a replacement, though. It was either a 1948 Pontiac or Oldsmobile 2 door torpedo back sedan. The two things I remember best about that car was it was baby blue and it had a wiper on the rear window. I never drove it. It was replaced by another uncle car, a ’50 Ford Deluxe that I had when I got my driver’s license.
Yep, it’s gone.
What? No Broderick Crawford/Highway Patrol references? His car was a ‘55 Century 2 door sedan, “Police Special” model 68. These cars could cruise- but they didn’t stop so real good. 😳
That was the impetus for the two piece drums with aluminum fins. They were quite popular on old school rods.
Nice car. I like blue, but this shade doesn’t look right to me. Wish they would have picked a stock shade of blue. Just me. 🤷♂️
I agree with you vis-a-vis the car’s color. Though I like it, I’d nevertheless have chosen one of the manufacturer’s shades of blue.
The Broderick Crawford Century was a 2-door post sedan. My ’55 Century was a 2-door hardtop. Buick called their hardtop cars without a B-pillar Riviera, So, like mine, the car for sale here would be a Century Riviera.
I agree about the color. I would have chosen stock colors. But that’s me and the car isn’t mine. This car is beautiful period.