Can anyone identify the factory name of the lower color on this '50 Riviera? I can't find it in any '50 Buick color charts. It could be a carry over from '49. Thanks.

I can't believe that's a factory color 49 or 50.

Gray

Photo taken from original factory literature. Also appeared in August 1995 issue of Collectible Automobile.

That would be Alaskan Salmon. Limited number available in Alaska only.

Just kidding, I'm with Gar on this one, doesn't look 49 or 50 to me. I know there are several colors shown in 54 literature ie mag ads and dealer postcards etc that were never actually available. Seriously, maybe it was a Canadian color?

As far as I understand, Canadian colours (you spelled it wrong ) were the same as the US, but had different names. The paint codes are the same. Actually, never mind...I just checked AutoColorLibrary and the paint codes they give are considerably different than the ones I have for my '56 Special.

Good luck.

Geez, I caint even spel my oone name!

Alaskan Salmon, that's a good one Lamar!

To further the color issue, I'm pretty sure that the Salmon color cars didn't get started till around '55.

Gary

In my factory sales information for the 1950's they showed the engine painted YELLOW (like a school bus) so you cant always belive the sales literature.

I looked at my colors and fabrics for 1950 and there is no color similar. This is the book that was sent to the dealers to show customers what color they could order for their cars. I believe that before I would believe the sales literature.

I would also be very surprised if someone could prove that this is an original factory color for 1950.

Howard Purvis

The March 2008 issue of Hemming's Classic Car is dedicated to GM's 100 anniversary. There is an article in this issue covering the Motoramas. One of the sidebars has a picture of the interior of the Olds 98 Palm Beach and the interior of the Cadillac Debutante. Text reads:

"At the Mid-Century Motorama, a modified Oldsmobile two-door hardtop named Palm Beach Holiday Ninety Eight, and a modified Cadillac convertible christened Debutante were displayed. The interior of the Olds show car, painted Cabana Sand over Surf Green, was distinguished with green alligator leather and contrasting fine-cane mesh fabric, while the Caddy received Tawny Yellow Buff paint, gold-plated interior hardware and upholstery of leopard skin and nylon satin. Also exhibited was an unusual Riviera painted salmon and upholstered in pink broadtail and fabric."

No photo of the Riviera in included with the article.

This car looks like it might be the salmon car.

Paul

Could you be so kind as to post all the two-tone combinations from your 1950 Buick color chart? I have only seen partial lists online. Thanks.

Per Peter Sessler's "American Automobile Paint code interchange manual" there are no '49 or '50 Buick colors that even sound close. For '49, just listing the base color...Blue, grey, green, Cream, Maroon, Ivory, and '50 similar colors, Black (no black in '49?) grey, green, blue, Maroon, Ivory,

Actually I'm looking for the two-tone combinations (upper and lower) and I need the complete name. There were at least three grays in 1950. Thanks.

This is excellent information. The article's author David W. Temple is the foremost authority on the history of GM's Motorama. I have his outstanding book "GM's Motorama: The Glamorous Show Cars of a Cultural Phenomenon" and there was no mention of the "Salmon" '50 Buick.

I think there is more than a good chance that the '50 Riviera pictured in Collectible Automobile is in fact the "Mid-Century Motorama" show car.

Thanks!

Hello Buick fans. Finding myself mentioned as the "foremost authority" about anything is very nice! Many thanks!! This 1950 Buick was not mentioned in my book simply because at the time it was being written I had not "discovered" the car. Only pure chance led to learning about the salmon colored Riviera. Its discovery began with Charles Barnette's secretary actually. Her relatives passed along several issues of Collectible Automobile to give to Charles. He found the 1950 Olds Ninety-Eight Palm Beach pictured in an article in one of those magazines. I had known of the car, but unfortunately the reference I had which described the show car misidentified it as 1951 model; there was no GM Motorama that year so it was not mentioned in the book. When Charles found it in C/A he asked me about the car. Further research did confirm it to be a 1950 model; comparing it to '50 and '51 Oldsmobiles made that part very simple. To get even more information on the Palm Beach I went to the local library to make a request through interlibrary loan to obtain microfilm of the New York City newspapers from Jan. 1950 (the time of the Mid-Century Motorama). Upon reading the article about the show (which described the Palm Beach in greater detail than the issue of C/A) I also learned about the salmon colored Riviera. The author of that story did not mention any special name given to the car, though likely it had one. Charles named it. We know it simply as "Charlie" as in Charlie Tuna from the old TV commercials. Unfortunately, GM Media Archive could not locate any pictures of "Charlie." Their files, however, don't always have correct information written on them. Plus, I did not have a name like "Palm Beach" to refer to this Riviera which no doubt made their search more difficult. BUT, that effort led to getting photos of the Palm Beach AND another special Buick built for the 1949 GM Transportation Unlimited show - a silver and white Roadmaster Riviera with a silver interior. The phrase "domino effect" means more to me now than ever! By the way, if "Charlie" still exists, most likely it simply became just an old used car over the years and its history is probably unknown to its present owner. This happened with the 50-millionth GM automobile (a '55 Bel Air with gold-plated hardware and special gold paint). To make a long story short, it almost became a race car several years ago. At last report it was being restored. By the way, a lot of these special paint and upholstery type cars were built by GM for show - especially the Motorama. There probably are just a few still waiting to be found in a garage, barn, pasture, or junk yard.

David,

I for one want to thank you for making this a little clearer for all of us. Now that you are signed in, do not be a stranger. Your knowledge will make things around here much more interesting.

Thanks,

Stevo

Now that you have the facts about "Charlie" from David Temple, help us find him! If any of you 1950 owners have a low ID number model (David says 1-10) it could be a Motorama car. If your car is a 2 door Roadmaster Riviera with a low number you could own Charlie repainted and different interior. Check to see if your car ever was paited originally salmon by checking the car all over. Find Charlie! Charles D. Barnette

When did the 1950 model year begin for the Buick Division?

During my discussion with Charles I mentioned my thoughts on the earliest 1950 Buicks being used as show cars. My theory was based on cars like the 1953 Eldorado; the earliest ones (1, 4, 5, and 6) were used as show cars with #1, #5, and #6 for certain appearing at the GM Motorama. The 1953 Cadillac Orleans show car was the first Caddy to get a serial number that year. However, that might not be representative in all cases. Some models appeared later than others. Also, the start of the new model year varied. That is why I asked about the start of the 1950 model year. The 1950 Mid-Century Motorama was held in January. If Buick's model year started in September or October, then perhaps "Charlie" did not have a very low serial number. If, however, it began in December, then the theory of a low serial number would seem sound.

1950 Buick, I have the colour albums mentioned above.

www.buicknet.com

Post if you would like more details about the information that I have.

Michael

Michael, I generally visit your site whenever you post and am always in awe of how well it is done and the info and resources you display there. I've said it before but feel the need to say it again. GREAT JOB and I look forward to watching it grow. I have always been attracted to the 50's and came very close to buying a 50 Roady once. They're classy cars.

Ah! Thank you. I have not done anything with the site for so long. However, I am finishing up my present job and hope to have more time. You have inspired me to make it bigger and faster. Much of it works too slow. I do have many more things to add.

I am presently looking at selling my car and how to go about doing so.

I will keep-up the web site when I sell the car. This will give me an ongoing interst in the 1950 even if I no longer own one.

Again Thank you for your comments.

Michael Perth Australia
Michael