57 buick dash panel finish

[Bhigdog]

I had my 57 Special (46C) at Macungie today. A guy said he had plain a Jane Special 2 door HT, radio delete. no PS or Brakes. He said his has an engine turned dash insert. Was that an option in 57 on Specials?..............Bob

[Pete Phillips]

Sounds to me like someone stuck a Century dash insert on a Special. I have seen a lot of 1957 Buick Specials, but am not aware of the engine turned dash insert being an option nor being put on any Specials.

[Bhigdog]

That's what I told him, Pete. I didn't see the car but the way he described it sounded like it was turned. He bought the car used so there's no telling what was done to it.

If it was an option it's hard to believe it was bought without a radio, PS or brakes but they sprung for an engine turned insert............Bob

[MrEarl]

I have seen a '54 Super 2 door with a turned dash which wasn't  standard or an option in '54. Only Roadmasters and only some trim levels of them came with turned dash. The owner of it was certain it came on it originally, but he wasn't the original owner so......

[Bhigdog]

I would have liked to have seen the insert in person. I'm thinking back then lots of things came out the assembly plant  that weren't exactly Kosher...............Bob

[oldstyle]

My 57 special has ps, pb, radio, and a chrome dash insert. Built in Canada. 

It's not engine turned so I'm thinking it's probably not right.  My car isn't stock  so I'm not concerned and I like the way it looks. 

[lancemb]

I have seen Specials with plain alumimum dash inserts, never chrome

  The chrome ones on the Roadmaster 75 and convertibles were steel.