1954-56 GM body sharing.

[Guest imported_bjr]

What other makes of GM cars share the same basic body as the 1954-56 Buick Special? I have been told the Olds 88 is the same, how about Pontiac and Cad? Brian

[Centurion]

The 1954 - 56 Buick Special and Century share their body shells with all 1954 - 1956 Oldsmobiles.

Here was GM's body shell scheme at the time:

Chevrolet / Pontiac -- shared body shell

Oldsmobile / Buick Special & Century -- shared body shell

Buick Super & Roadmaster / Cadillac -- shared body shell

Although the small body Buicks may look entirely different from the Oldsmobiles, you will see that the rooflines and glass are the same.

[Guest imported_bjr]

Isn't the Olds 98 the same as the big bodied Buicks?

[Centurion]

No, not during the 1954 - 1956 timeframe.

The Olds 98 looks bigger, but you will see that much of this larger appearance is attributable to an extended rear deck. The roof, glass, and basic body structure are shared with the Olds 88's and smaller Buicks.

Pontiac employed a similar styling technique to differentiate its Star Chiefs from the Chieftains and Chevrolets.

During the 1960's and 1970's, the Olds 98 would, in fact, share the "C" body with the Buick Electra and Cadillac.

[Guest imported_bjr]

Thanks, this will make my parts searching much easier. Brian