1956 Buick Roadmaster Riviera 4 Door Hardtop

When Harley Earl designed the Y-Job in 1939, he made the first concept car in the world, but it was more than that.  It was a fully functional vehicle that Earl drove until 1951 when he replaced it.   But unsurprisingly, the Roadmaster carried over many of the original design ideas and, moreover, it featured a similar engine under the hood.  With its timeless design, the Buick Roadmaster was not only an imposing presence on the road but also a vehicle that looked like it owned the road.  Its chromed grille and rounded front fenders were flush with the doors and created a streamlined look.  Moreover, the rear fenders were widened and covered more than half of the rear wheels to minimize drag.  Also, the car sported the VentiPorts, which were four round vents on each front fender.  These represented the number of cylinders under the car's hood, eight in Roadmaster's case.  The interior was lavish and luxurious, featuring leather bucket seats at the front and a comfortable bench in the back.  Furthermore, since it was fitted with the standard Dynaflow automatic gearbox with the shifter mounted on the steering column, there was no obstacle between the front seats.  Also, the power-operated roof was an exquisite, luxurious addition to the vehicle, increasing comfort.  Under the hood, the Roadmaster featured the same 5.2-liter inline-eight engine from the Y-Job, although it was slightly improved to offer 150hp.  In addition, the two-speed Dynaflow automatic transmission provided a smooth gear change.  Moreover, it also improved the car's riding quality and comfort.

There are restorations and then there are RESTORATIONS, and this example for consignment falls firmly into the latter category.  With nary a flaw to be found and coming with a encyclopedia sets worth of manuals, receipts, correspondence and notes, you'll be hard pressed to find a nicer example, that includes those of you who have a time machine and can zip right back to your local Buick dealership in 1956.  Speaking of time machines....Sherman, fire up the Wayback Machine as were going to take a trip back to the 50's and breathe in this near perfect example of the top of the line 4 door that the boys at Buick had to offer.  We'll explore its powerful Fireball V8, smooth shifting Dynaflow transmission, 2 tone exterior and lushly appointed cloth interior.  An AACA National Sr winner and with one quick glance it's easy to see why....1956 here we come!   

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 horizontally ribbed 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 outboard and 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 Jet Age plane hood ornament dresses things up and we have just visited the front of this car!!  Front quarters with their gunsight toppers, a large hood, as well as the lowers down from the passenger compartment beltline and trunk are bathed in miles deep Spruce Green Metallic.  The roof finishes off with Foam Green paint providing the perfect contrast.  The swoop spear which starts at the headlights 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 Spruce Green all around.  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 Foam Green roof and more chrome highlights the pillarless side glass.  On the back, large chromed chevrons house the tail lights and backup lights which melt into the massive rear bumper and just above are the trunk badges which are not fooling around with chrome either!  Wide whites and some black accented wheels have polished BUICK badged wheel coverings.  Just a gorgeous piece of Buick Motor Company design.

Interior
The 2-toning stays strong for this interior, and with a swing of the door where we see medium green and foam green interplaying to form the door panels.  Some chromed power window rocker switches 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 smooth light green cordaveen uppers and bolsters and star pattern green cloth lowers,  all delineated by dark green piping.  The seats are in beautiful condition with the front seat being power actuated, and float on clean dark green carpeted floors.  A large 3 spoke steering wheel fronts a futuristic dash which uses rolls of round steel to make its statement.  A rectangular instrument cluster with square and rectangular gauges are in front and center for the driver, and an aluminum bezel with a polished chrome horizontal band lower is stretching across the dash between the rolled padded dark green dash top and the rolled Foam Green steel 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.  The factory Wonderbar AM radio resides tastefully and unobtrusively within the center of the dash and down below are the factory chrome trimmed heater slides as well as an add on controller for the aftermarket AC system.  A light green 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 design.

Drivetrain
Under the hood is a fully restored power plant within a fully restored engine bay.   It comes to us as a Fireball 322ci V8 with a green block and green valve coverings, has massive add-ons all over in the form of a carburetor which is a 4-barrel version and huge air intake drum with an air cleaner behind it and on top of the carb.  Nice new wiring and hoses abound and in back is a Dynaflow 2-speed automatic transmission.   A 3.36 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 paint and undercoating on the flooring and frame and has kept this large skate all structurally sound.   Independent coil spring suspension and leaf spring suspension provide the ride front and rear and power drum braking is all around.   A new dual exhaust is in for the exhale and we note this car is equipped with power steering.

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 ran fab, and of all the mechanicals were working swimmingly.

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 Roadmaster 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.

7C2047532

7-75 Series Roadmaster
C-1956
2-South Gate, CA Assy Plant
047532-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG

STYLE NO 56 73-1956 Roadmaster Riviera 4 Door Hardtop
BODY NO FC2372-South Gate
TRIM NO 712-Light Green Cordaveen Cloth & Green Star Nylon
PAINT NO JWW-Foam Green & Spruce Green Metallic

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 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.