1958 Buick Special Riviera

This manufacturer produced the 1958 Buick Special Riviera, usually the name of their lowest-priced model. The name 'Special' has already started out as a full-size car in 1936.

1958 Buick Special Riviera
1958 Buick Special Riviera

History

Buick introduced these cars in the middle of the 1955 model year. The four-door 1958 Buick Special Riviera was the first four-door pillarless hardtops ever produced. By then, the Buick Special was one of America's best selling automotive series. The engine, starting with 1957, was the 250hp 364 V8 ('Nail Head'). This car is equipped with it, too. The 1957 wheelbase remained 122in. Magazine 'Popular Mechanics' featured this car in its June 1957 issue. It rated the Special with a 0-60 mph time of 11.6 seconds and a fuel economy of 17.4 mpg-US at 50 mph. 1958 Buick heavily remodelled the line of cars: Using more chrome, but kept them technically very similar to 1957 models. '58 models have four headlights. These cars look longer and wider, but Bucik had constructed them on an unchanged chassis.

1958 Buick Riviera Special
1958 Buick Riviera Special

1958 Buick Special Original Dashboard
1958 Buick Special Original Dashboard

At the Auction
Note: Auction has ended!

This 1958 Buick was sitting in a barn in Indiana. Afterwards the owner drove it for a couple oy years. Then he parked it again for a longer period of time. Paint and surface have suffered, but the body integrity has not. Car has 70k miles - the owner believe it is original. Comes with a title, matching the numbers. Car has the 364 'Nail Head' engine. Unfortunately the engine doesn't run at the moment.

Two door coupes are good looking, valuable cars. This one has automatic transmission, power steering and even HEATED seats. Car is complete, it just misses one piece of trim at the bottom left quarter. Dashboard is in good shape, seats look good, too. Windshield in good shape, as other glass is. Body is in good shape. The left headlight bazel is cracked, though. The car has one dented fender, which should be an easy fix. A few minor damages are in the front floor, one rust spot near the spare tire mount in the trunk.

A similar Buick (the 4dr version) from 1955 we find here on classicarszone.