dons56

Correction... The photo used to hang in Beechcraft plant I. I retired and took it with me. Now it hangs in my shop!

restorer32, don't ever be sorry you asked a question. Personally, I love it when guys get into a pissing contest, NOT. Don't get me wrong but pictures don't impress me too much as proof of anything, i.e. the '64 Riviera with the Wildcat wheels... The basic question you asked was, "When was "Riviera" first officially used by Buick? Did it describe a specific model or was it a general term to designate their top of the line cars? Inquiring minds want to know." SpecialEducation pretty well answered it... The attache photo is from a Buick publication. The caption under the left photo refers to this car as the 2 door Special Riviera. The caption on the other spills onto the facing page where it is also called a Riviera. The last paragraph on this page talks about the 2 door and 4 door Special Rivieras. While the car never wore a badge that said Riviera, I would say this magazine is sufficient evidence that the "entry level Special" was officially available as a Riviera. I mean, model 46R. The R designated it as a Riviera. Enough said...

You are looking at the place where the arrow is pointing...

What heater valve? I bypassed the heater core a few years ago... ;-)

My son, SpecialEducation, spent some time with Mr. Earl today... He took some pictures. Notice the left turn signal on the right side of the photo for a reference. Big gaping hole leading to the fender... If there is nothing that is supposed to go there I guess I can fashion something... Now we know. Just have to pull the dash...

It was new to me as well. I could barely get my hand in there. I don't think I could get a camera in there... I may pull the padded dash off and take a look...

My 1956 Special Riviera gets an enormous amount of heat from the engine into the passenger compartment. At first I thought it was just coming in through holes in the firewall in such places as the accelerator linkage pass through. A couple years ago I replaced the speedo cable and realized that there is a massive area around the fender attach point where air is able to go around the firewall and in the ends of the dash. Can anyone tell me the proper or best way to seal this up? I mean, I could stuff fiberglass insulation in there and then have it blown all over me and the interior. Or I could find less irritating material to stuff in there but it begs the question, how would I keep it there and how was that done originally? Was there actually an insulator there or was it just a cardboard air block? Let me add one thing... I am planning to add "factory AC" to this car in the near future. I don't know if this will have any effect on that but I am concerned that the AC will have trouble overcoming all that heat.

I'd drive it... Please...

I think a "me and my Buick" is a good idea. My son started a Facebook page for my Buick, "1956 Buick Special Riviera" several years ago which has chronicles the process and events for our Buick Special. We have had it for 21 years. Though it looks good in photos it is still more of a "survivor" than a restored car.

Here in Kansas we don't look so much for perfection. Oh, don't ger me wrong, we like a fully restored car like everyone else but we like less than perfect too.

Your car looks good to me... It looks like it is all there, chrome, stainless, portholes, grill, glass, hubcaps... even looks like it just needs some sanding before paint. Then it will look wonderful... Sure, the paint is bad but you have a great car.

Your car is beautiful. It looks like a winner to me. Come to the Wheatland Buick show next year and see if the Kansas guys and gals appreciate your car...

Fantastic. I am sure he is loving the car. Is it a Special? he is just in the wrong place, I can't see the portholes...

She's a beauty... I know you are anxious to get her home and go for a cruise...

I thank all of you who have responded. What a wealth of information. I will get with my son (SpecialEducation) and try to formulate a strategy. I like the electric pump idea. We have an '82 Scottsdale with the same problem. If that solves our problem on one it may well solve it on both. Thank you so much guys.

I have a 1956 Buick Special Riviera with a Dynaflow and Stromberg 2 barrel carburetor. It has always been that when the car sits for several days it takes a lot of pumping to get enough gas to the carb to start the engine. Over time it has progressively gotten worse and I have gotten old and can't take the foot action necessary to start the engine. The tag used to ID the carb for a rebuild kit has been long gone. My last trip to the auto parts store was a sad experience. They only showed a 4 barrel carter. The engine runs good so I can live without a complete rebuild. Something I read recently indicated that the wearing part may be made of leather. If that is true, I should be able to repair the existing pump. Can you help me avoid starting something I can't finish?

My car is a daily driver, it is far from perfect... For that reason i am always honored when I get recognition. That is 3 trophies in 4 year from Automobilia... It is also twice in 4 years to be in the paper...

You said the building looks better... because the banners are gone, not the car... I love the car...

Well I've wanted a three slot pay phone for the longest time. You know, something in the same era as the car. That Bell System sign would look nice at my place. I did pick up a pay phone. Funny thing is, it is as far from what I wanted as you could get. It is so modern it has a card reader on it. The price was right. Perhaps one day...

that is about the size of it.

Larry W. I am embarrassed that I did not remember the name of the fellow Cary Grant was mistaken for. North By Northwest is a favorite of mine. I had to look it up. Not uncommon for some one to plant a name in your mind and you can't get past it to the real name you are looking for. It was George Caplan that Roger O Thornhill was mistaken for. Of course Caplan didn't exist.

For some reason this thing doesn't like me. I still am not sure how I got here. Now that I am I want to say, this is a great shot. The location is wonderful. Lighting is excellent. Subject is fabulous. I must also say though, when I was a kid, these Buick's scared me after dark. That grill looks like part of one mean face to a small child.