Saleofcar.com :Buick

Buick Other (1955)
for sale

Price: US $2,250.00

Description:

I am selling my 1955 Buick Special Riviera 4-Door Hardtop because I recently inherited another classic car, and I cannot feasibly afford to properly restore two classic cars at the same time. I purchased this car in Carrollton, GA in mid-August of this year with the intention of mechanically restoring it, adding a clear-coat, then drive it as is. It was purchased by the previous owner three years prior from from the estate of a man who had owned it for many years. I ran the VIN and the vehicle was built at the Buick factory in Atlanta, GA. It was originally all black and I believe the interior was black and grey. It is a 1955, so I think it is the first Buick model to have the new 264 ci. V8, and that was also the first year for a hardtop!
The Good: All original and unrestored. An alternator was added at some point but other than that it appears mechanically original (and complete!)All new brake parts are included with purchase (brake pads, wheel cylinders, and brake hoses). Also included with the car: new oil filter, thermostat & gasket, spark plugs, spark plug wires, an original turn signal lever, and side mirror - all pictured.Not pictured: five full-size hubcaps, two dog dish hubcaps, and three beauty rings. Oil looks normal (no moisture in the engine). The car has 4 new used tires and rolls good.Fenders are nearly perfect and not rusted or dented, rockers are nearly perfect (see photos). There is only one dent in the whole car that I can find (aside from bumpers) right behind the driver's rear door just below the bottom of the roof line. 5 copies of the key
The Bad: Non-running because it has been sitting. I have no reason to believe it wouldn't start if a minor tune up was done, all fluids were changed, and a battery was added. Driver's window is cracked and off-track. All other glass is present and not cracked. No brakes - no pressure in pedal. Some rust through in the front of the trunk floor (closest to the rear bumper), floor boards (see photos), bottom corners on door skins, and one small hole (smaller than a fingernail), on either side below the rear window - about what I expect for a 60 year old car!
At some point this car was repainted with the roof and bottom portions painted red, and the rest of the car repainted black. The red on the bottom half is peeling off to reveal the original paint underneath. The original paint is much nicer than the repaint! Or at least the original paint was better quality. I guess it was also at that point that someone removed the Buick letters from the hood - I was just going to buy some more but I hadn't gotten around to that. I think it was also around this time that someone painted the dash and upper door panels yellow. It looks like the interior was all grey/black originally. I was anticipating removing the door panels, repairing them, and putting them back on. The driver's door panel has deteriorated beyond repair, I feel. Few parts are missing - one ashtray from the dash, the interior driver's door button and the spare tire. The headlights, brake & reverse lights, gauges; all are there and not cracked or broken. The driver's door will not open from the outside but will open easily from the inside so I think it might just not be connected inside the door. The transmission lever moves through all gears just fine. I haven't seen a 1955 Special before that came without full-size hubcaps, but when I got this car it was set-up with clips on some of the wheels to hold dog dish hubcaps and beauty rings. I have two non-matching hubcaps and three beauty rings. There are only enough clips on one wheel to hold a hubcap, so I also have five 1955 Buick hubcaps and four of them have the red plastic center inserts. All four steel wheels are black with three white pin stripes on them? The seats are useable but need further cleaning. They were recovered previously over what I think is the original material.
I do not really have to sell this car but I would like to so I could put some money towards fixing up the classic car that I recently inherited and because I don't want it to sit! I bought this car because I think it is a really neat car to restore, and simple enough to work on, but my wife and I have a ten month old and I work full-time. I don't have the time or money to work on two cars! I am only setting my reserve at what I paid for the car and it is not much more than the opening bid. Also included with the car is a copy of a 1955 Buick brochure, a reprinted owner's manual, and a 1955 Buick shop manual. I can only provide a bill of sale because Alabama (and Georgia) do not require titles for vehicles that old. I will accept payment via PayPal but I would prefer to be paid cash in full when the car is picked up. The car is in front of my house and I expect it to be picked up within 7-10 days of the auction's close, primarily because it is sitting in front of my house and I do not have the ability to safely get the car down my driveway and behind my house without assuring it will not be damaged. Provided it is paid for in full, I can assist in delivering the car to a local storage facility until it can be picked up by the new owner. I will happily assist with loading. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like any specific pictures. Thanks!
_{update: 2015-10-15}