posted by Matt Wilda
CC Cohort Day: 1954 Buick Special
– Posted on April 7, 2023
posted by Matt Wilda
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Wow, this looks to be in perfect condition.
It was on a ’54 Buick that I first noticed the wrap-around windshield (also available on other upper tier GM makes).
Love the basset hound face, the curb feeler (only one?), and the timid start of what would someday be a fin of sorts (if you do not count the P38-like tail lights on earlier Cadillacs).
Someone loves this car.
The wrap around windshield was a styling sensation so popular that everyone had one in 1955. Recall the the wipers of the time had difficulty clearing the dogleg portions.
The “senior” body Supers and Roadmasters had a different windshield, with a totally rectangular vent front door vent windows instead of the slightly tapered one seen here.
1954 saw the return of the Century, a junior bodied Buick with the senior V-8 and a bit nicer trim.
The ’54 Buick (and Olds) looked about 8 years newer than a ’54 Pontiac or Chevrolet which had to wait another year for the refreshed A body.
hear! hear!
Beautiful car – a bit carried away with the whitewalls though. Thank you for not putting fuzzy dice on the rear view mirror.
Great color.
Nice! Brings back memories of a ‘53 Special I owned in the early 70s. I imagine the ‘54 was much quicker with the new V8 than my ‘53 was with Buicks small straight 8. Of course, quick is a very subjective term when talking about early Buicks Dynaflows.
Low end Buick, but, as many have said – Spectacular!
Bring Back the White Walls ! …….. of *any* white-line width!
Yes, Coker & others produce WW’s …. but not all sizes ….
These are my favorite early Fifties Buick. I love the arched die cast grille that was used by customizers on different models. I also like the simple four conical taillamps surrounded by body colored sheet metal. Love the wide white walls. This example is just a plain vanilla family sedan, but it looks to be in great shape.This style looks best on two door hardtops, there is one for sale on my local CL.
It’s interesting that the all new ’54 Buick used a version of the 1951 Buick LeSabre “dream” (concept now) car fins and tail lights and the XP-300 grille and headlights (but with the bars a more traditional Buick outie style (while Kaiser did a closer concave copy with whole oval shape for less droopyness) and then restyled the same body with completely different front are rear ends the next year to give it a whole different sort of personality.
The 1954’s look kind of staid and stodgy while the ’55-56 models look much more exciting and dynamic.
Sure wish there was an Edit function here. I seem to remember there being one.
“front and rear ends” obviously
I know everyone here knows what the Kaisers looked like, but here’s a reminder anyway. One of the best and also pretty cheap facelifts ever, even if to no avail.
These were nice looking cars. The best of the early ’50s Buicks, they had a British understatement, and exuded class. That GM “pants down” rear end was a great stying trope, particularly on two-tone cars.
Fond memories of The Bronx. A candy store owner one day was telling his patrons (I was eleven years old, but the others were adults), “If I make some good money, I’m buying a big Buick Special.” Different times and what a sweet memory of a nice gent. His dream car.
A lovely car indeed .
-Nate