progoofoff Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 (edited) After the 1955 Motorama tour, it spent the next 17 years in CA as a driver. Then back to MI and driven two more years. The last 37 years it has been in a warehouse. It has been in the same family since the tour.Now, in NC and is being disassembled for complete restoration.One photo shows the original color scheme. The photo was taken for the 1955 Motorama show. . GM required that it be repainted before selling it to an employee.It has all the factory options and appears to be identical to the 63 series that went into production with the exception of the rear quarters being a bit longer. It has a series designation of 68.Bob Edited October 17, 2010 by progoofoff (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 That is a gorgeous color! I'm looking at this on my phone right now, are those crazy portholes anywhere or am I seeing things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progoofoff Posted October 15, 2010 Author Share Posted October 15, 2010 crazy portholes Already removed them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 Whats a "crazy Porthole" look like? Any pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 Sounds like the beginnings of a Motorama museum in NC.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WQ59B Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Great find! Would you mind posting the SO # ?And do you have any info on there being an XP # assigned to the car?Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progoofoff Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 WQ59BPlease explain XP#Cowl Tag:STYLE NO. 4631SHOP ORDER CW 62 5 7 2Eng Dept NO. 55 68DATE 10-6-54VIN #2667341Engine #I007211Any help decoding these number is appreciated.Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WQ59B Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 'XP-' numbers are General Motors 'eXperimental Production' codes given to special projects, pre-production engineering programs, and the concept cars built over the decades. For example, the Motorama concept car; the 1955 LaSalle II Roadster was XP-34 and SO# 2220. To my knowledge, there is no comprehensive XP list, even at GM... tho I have a pretty good list going after some years of research. Some well-known concept cars I have been unable to document the XP# for... others seemingly cannot escape theirs.Also, I believe some SO# cars did NOT get an XP number.... which is why I inquired about your vehicle.Tho some sources define 'SO' as 'special order'... your car's plate spells it out 'Shop Order' tho, causing me to wonder if that's meaningful or not. I've seen references to other cars with a stamped SO plate, tho to date I've never heard tell of any XP stampings. To coincide with 1950s numbers, which were in the 19xx - 2xxx range in mid-decade, I wonder if your SO# --if consistent with the other known SO #s-- is '2572', and the 'CW 6' is a prefix with other meaning. Either it is... or a 'Shop Order' & 'Special Order' are 2 different things.Good luck with your project, Bob! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progoofoff Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 Some progress, finally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Now that's the way to work on these things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Now I see the difference in the rear quarter length. Does it have the same trunk lid as the 66R?. Frame differences at the rear? Don't lose the trim for that quarter...probably one of a kind.Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancemb Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Love that original color! Will it be put back that the "burnt orange"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progoofoff Posted March 3, 2011 Author Share Posted March 3, 2011 (edited) Good eye, Willie. The trunk lid and quarter trim appear to be the same as the 63 series.When completed, it will have the same color and scheme as it did on day one. Edited March 3, 2011 by progoofoff (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progoofoff Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 Progress Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progoofoff Posted March 23, 2011 Author Share Posted March 23, 2011 More progressIt is the true definition of "0" rust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progoofoff Posted April 2, 2011 Author Share Posted April 2, 2011 (edited) And more progress Edited April 12, 2011 by progoofoff (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Bob, email me the numbers off that engine. The pictures I took that day didn't turn out clear enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Heck yeah! Talk about a dude who could make it to Danvers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 No kidding! Mike, we've both been lapped:DVery nice work...:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72Guru Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Hi Bob,I don't get on the Buick forums too often although I regularly contribute to the Centurion forum.I've been meaning to put a post on here because of the amazing cars you own. The Landau is an incredible piece of Buick history that really hasn't received its due recognition and now this incredible '55 Century 4 door hardtop concept car has found its way into your stable.Something has really made me wonder though. I've noted that it is called a Model 68 and yet a Model 68 already existed in the '55 Buick line-up. That was the Century 2 door sedan that was solely built for the California Highway Patrol and Buick production records show that 270 of them were built.It seems odd that they would put the same model number on a concept car. I wonder if they actually pulled one of those 2 door sedans and reworked it into a 4 door hardtop? Considering how different the cars are, that seems highly unlikely but it seems equally unlikely that the two totally different cars share the same model number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progoofoff Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 I wasn`t aware of the series 68 number being used on different vehicles.It is unlikley a 2Dr Sedan body was used. It is more likely a 2Dr HT body was modified for it`s creation since the windshields are the same on the 2 and 4Dr HTs.The 68 number was replaced and 63 was used in the production models.Thanks for pointing this out,Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 The prototype would have definitely been it's own body, but that is a great point about the CHP cars being model 68's. The CHP cars are arguably the most famous (to a mainstream audience) 55's due to the TV show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72Guru Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 You're absolutely right, Mike. Highway Patrol utilized a number of the 55 Century 2 door sedans in the program and good, close-up shots clearly reveal them as Centurys. I have often wondered how these unique cars were actually utilized unless the CHP leased or rented some of these cars to the production company. They sure weren't going to get them from the local Buick dealers! Buicks certainly received a lot of air play in that series and I was astounded to see Chief Dan Matthews (Broderick Crawford) driving a '56 Super 4 door hardtop in one episode. I never remembered that happening.While you probably won't remember me, I talked to you at Batavia in the car wash area as my Aunt and Uncle owned a '55 Model 48 such as yours and it was a real bare bones Special with three on the tree, no power options and even black wall tires and hubcaps. The only extras were: tinted glass, Sonomatic and the very unique tri-tone paint scheme -- bright yellow body, white roof and cocoa brown beneath the sweep spear. Your beautiful car brought back a lot of memories and it was a real pleasure talking with you.And I feel certain that you're right, Bob, that a Century 2 door sedan would not have been used for your concept 4 door hardtop. They must have assigned the Model 68 to it prior to building the Model 68 2 door sedans for the CHP. It just looked very strange to know that two entirely different Model 68s DO exist and apparently nobody at Buick ever realized it.Bob Alberini (BCA 3038) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progoofoff Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 There`s another somewhat strange series number. 42. I heard but without proof it was a Chevrolet body on Special chassis. I think around 1949.Anyone familar with the series 42?Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thriller Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 The 40-A series in 1941 / 42 was a Chev body. I don't see a model 42 in my book though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progoofoff Posted April 23, 2011 Author Share Posted April 23, 2011 Which is correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 I assume it was painted originally, but I masked mine when the Special was painted. I'm going with painted on the convertible unless I hear differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 I don't know about '55, but it is unpainted on my '50s. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 (edited) I know Mike likes it when there is no wrong answer so ...... I have seen them both ways on my and others original paint 54 cars but more unpainted than painted. The last picture shows respray over original. As with lots of other paint issues, I think the plant where the car was produced had something to do with it. Personally, I think unpainted should be the answer. And like Ben, I will qualify my answer with "this is the way they did it in 54" Of course we all know that the 1954 Buick was so BEAUTIFUL and nice that it influenced thousands the next year and created such a flood of new buyers in 55 that the plants could hardly produce the 55's fast enough. In other words, they were going down the assembly line so fast the whole car may have only caught a misting of paint period. Edited April 23, 2011 by MrEarl (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 I have some with no paint, some paint, some primer, all paint but I have found no paint UNDER the tags so: some plants may have masked the tag or maybe the paint just did not stick to the aluminum. I like the look of unpainted and too much paint on that tag will obscure the stampings.Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 Lamar, I could not help but notice all those tags were rivitrd to the cowel. My '50s use phillips screws.. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progoofoff Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share Posted May 11, 2011 Progress on the body has slowed to a stop.The seats are ready to install.I hope to be complete by the Hershey meet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 I've been meaning to ask or if you've told me already, please refresh my memory, does this car have a 54 or 55 Dynaflow. IE 55 with the kick down linkage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progoofoff Posted May 12, 2011 Author Share Posted May 12, 2011 It`s a `55 which is a big improvment over the `54, as you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Cool. So that's probably a very early 55 engine too then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progoofoff Posted July 15, 2011 Author Share Posted July 15, 2011 Some progress Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stealthbob Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 That is about as Red as it gets!Looks soooo wet.Where do you find the time...I would love to learn the way of your goofoffery. Teach me o'l wise one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retirednow Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 My '52 Super convertible has screws as well. Lamar, I could not help but notice all those tags were rivitrd to the cowel. My '50s use phillips screws..Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rob McDonald Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 Oooo, red. It's a primal response, something to do with hunting and fighting and a lady's lipstick. I had a really red car, once. It wasn't actually very good but it's the only one of my ex-cars that I frequently dream about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1957buickjim Posted July 16, 2011 Share Posted July 16, 2011 Rob, I think Dr. Freud would make a mint off of you, dreaming about your ex-cars:D Maybe he would call it the autopel complex... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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