1955 Buick Century Riviera 4 Door Hardtop 

In 1955 The Buick Century became the first  production car to do 100MPH.  Styling was all high end, hence why most every country doctor owned one, because it utilized all high end finishes, but did not offer up the “wealthy mystique” of a Caddy. This was good as the Doc's did not want their patients to think they were overcharging!!

For consignment, a Florida car which started out in Las Vegas, where it was resorted.  And restored it was to a very nice finish and fit.  A rebuilt engine and drivetrain has been performed, and it is looking great in our Hallowed Halls.

Exterior
The front of the car is worth the price of admission!  Big chromed dagmars frame the edges of what is a two tier bumper, the upper on either side flows over the woven chrome grille and wrapping around the front quarters, and the second being the lower bumper which is nice and wide and very shiny also wrapping aprons in the front quarter.  An upper thick chromed arch frames the top of the grille and the lower edge of the hood.  A single visor bezel chromed headlight with a smaller signal light underneath resides on the edge of each quarter in front.  B U I C K badging for the front of the massive hood and a gunsight hood ornament and we have just visited the front of this car!!  Front quarters, large hood, as well as the mid to upper parts of the sides, and trunk are bathed in Dover White,  The lowers and roof are painted in Cherokee Red.  The delineation of a swoop spear which starts at the headliners and runs past the front door, where it takes a shape, drops then rises to match the rear wheel well and heads straight back to the mid rear quarter, with white on top and red on the bottom.  The iconic 4 portholes in Buick style are on the mid section of the front quarters and would be the Buick signature for many years to come.   A chrome encircled wrap around front window and rear wrap around glass frame the edges of the Cherokee Red roof.  On back large chromed chevrons house the tail lights and backup lights which melt into the massive rear bumper and just above is the trunk badge which is not fooling around with chrome either!  Wide whites and some red accented wheels have chromed dog dish styled BUICK badged wheel coverings.  Just a gorgeous piece of BGM design.

Interior
Tri toning I'd say for this interior with a swing of the door where we see black, red and white panels interplaying to form the door panels.  Some chromed knobs and cranks are on and the entire design is showing a forward motion spear.  Inside the styling takes those colors and applies them to a front split bench and a full rear bench.  These benches have white uppers, tuck and roll inserts in black and red vinyl smooth bolsters, all delineated by white piping.  The seats are in beautiful condition, and float on clean red carpeted floors.  A large 3 spoke steering wheel fronts a futuristic dash which uses rolls of round steel to make its statement.  An oval instrument cluster with round and rectangular gauges in front and center for the driver, has a ribbed aluminum center and is within a wrap around central swirl pattern horizontal band stretching across the dash between the rolled red dash top and the rolled white bottom of the dash.  Some temp sliders curve around this lower dash as well as the radio speakers in big ribbed chromed roll with the lower dash.  A retro styled AM/FM radio resides tastefully and unobtrusively within the center of the dash.   A white headliner vies for attention with all this roll and chromed design and has chromed ribbing in the seams and edges.  Classy and very kewl 50's misses design.

Drivetrain
Under the hood is a fully restored power plant within a fully restored engine bay.   A 322ci V8 with green block and green valve coverings has massive addons all over in the form of a carburetor which is a 4bbl version and huge air intake drum with an air cleaner behind it and on top of the 4bbl carb.  Nice new wiring and hoses abound and in back is a Dynaflow 2-speed automatic transmission.   A 3.40 conventional rear axle is on the back.

Undercarriage
Underneath is all solid for the X framing as well as the stamped steel floor pans and inner fenders.   There is a lot of black overspray which attempts to cover the light coating of surface rust, but all is definitely structurally sound.  Independent coil spring suspension, and leaf spring suspension provide the ride and drum braking is all around.   A new single exhaust is in for the exhale.

Drive-Ability
A quick starter, and after a brief warmup it was off to Morgantown central where I wanted to strut my stuff in front of the masses.  Lots of lookers and a potential buyer and this was only MY test drive!  It runs fab, and all mechanicals save for the speedo which will come with a replacement and cable were working spectacularly.

If I were to come back as a different person, it would be a country Doctor if only to be able to have this car.  A Century with Riviera styling and plenty of chrome, and a wonderful color combo right out of the 50's.  A fine example waiting for the picking in this 21st Century.


6B2046902

6-Century
B-1955
2-South Gate, CA Assy Plant
046902-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG

STYLE NO 55 4699-1955 Century Riviera 4 Door Hardtop
BODY NO 8C1625-South Gate Body #
TRIM NO 467-Black Pattern Nylon, Red Cordaveen, Ivory Cordaveen
PAINT BDD-Dover White, Windsor Gray

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.