tigersdad Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 I'm looking at purchasing another car and have been looking at the 1955 and 1956 Buick Century Riviera and Super. Which, in mosts opinion, is the better of the two years? Better of the two cars? Thanks!Jay Kingston Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Phillips Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 I'd say one is as good as the other. The Super is a larger, heavier car which will have a nicer ride, whereas the Century is the smaller Special body with the Roadmaster 4-barrel engine. The 1956 has one problem in that the brake master cylinder is a one-year-only design and therefore replacements and rebuild kits are very difficult to find. Someone else may know of a source that I don't know of, but for me the difficulty of finding master cylinder parts on a '56 makes me think twice before buying one.Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Does Chrome and a lot of it appeal to you? If not, the 56 Super has less intrusive chrome trim than either the 55 Century and Super, or the 56 Century. Pete has a good point about the master cylinder. However I am happy to report that the M/C on at least my 56 has been very reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 (edited) Neither, what you want is a 1954 Roadmaster. Edited September 21, 2011 by MrEarl (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigersdad Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 John, Pete-Thanks a lot for the advice on the '56. That's all I needed to hear when both of you mentioned hard to find parts! This is why I come to the experts at the Buick Club of America. Everyone I know in the club is there to help! Thanks, again!Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigersdad Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 PS:Mr. Earl-Didn't the '54's have some transmission problems?Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Jay, You might be refering to rear axle problems. I don't know what the problem was but I'm sure any 54 you find that is still runing today has had this issue resolved. The rear axle was all new for 56. And many 56's had, or can be fitted with, dual exhaust. Earlier cars may need frame modifications to beef up the exhaust. Still, most any of this tri year combination, and many other years also, are wonderful cars! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleach Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Neither, what you want is a 1954 Roadmaster.I was going to suggest something like that except I was just going to answer the question, "what's better a 55 or 56?" with " A 54" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Watch it Bleach! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 (edited) PS:Mr. Earl-Didn't the '54's have some transmission problems?JayNot that I am aware of. At least no more than typical Dynaflow leaking like every other year. Granted, in the 50's every year of Dynaflow was an improvement over the previous so 55 was a little better than 54 and 56 was a lot better than 55 but hey you got to trade off something. At least with '54 Roadmaster you get the most beautiful, sexiest Buick ever built. Come on in and let me show you what we for sale today, we'll put you in a fitty fo you can hit the Buick Highway in tomorrow http://forums.aaca.org/f117/mrearl-wants-you-54-buick-297774-2.html Edited September 22, 2011 by MrEarl (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 I was going to suggest something like that except I was just going to answer the question, "what's better a 55 or 56?" with " A 54"You got it Bleach, "nuf said" but I'm sure we're about to hear from Robert E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 (edited) Keep your eye on this baby this weekend1954 buick roadmaster - Trovit CarsI am pretty sure this car is the same as this one that I passed up for 10 grand back in 02. Talked to this gentleman out in California for several weeks but he wouldn't budge. He'd had it since new. He had an Edmunds dual quad intake with 2 Carters on it he wanted another grand for. Will be interesting to see what it brings.Sorry for hijacking the thread, now back to the boring discussions of ol 55's and 56's. Edited September 22, 2011 by MrEarl (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigersdad Posted September 23, 2011 Author Share Posted September 23, 2011 (edited) Lamar,I saw a similar car coming up for sale at Barrett-Jackson this coming weekend in Las Vegas. And, yes, I must say, that '54 is a really good looking car! I'm curious to see what the Barrett-Jackson car will sell for?! Your pictures show the true colors. Check out the Las Vegas auction. The roof is a deeper blue. The car also has spoked wheels. A real beauty! Jay Edited September 23, 2011 by tigersdad (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progoofoff Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Here`s the way I look at it.A 1954 Buick is one ugly Vehicle compared to the `55.GM built the `54 prototype and later decided to scrap it, twice.Why?Because it was ugly.Robert E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Neither, what you want is a 1954 Roadmaster.You know of any Fo sale? It needs to be a rag top, in good drivable condition, and, like the baby chicks say, Cheep, Cheep, Cheep! Dandy Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 You know of any Fo sale? It needs to be a rag top, in good drivable condition, and, like the baby chicks say, Cheep, Cheep, Cheep! Dandy Dave!LOL DD. You may as well require a Marilyn Monroe look-a like too since a drivable ragtop, cheap, is surely a major fantasy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Only Buicks Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Here`s the way I look at it.A 1954 Buick is one ugly Vehicle compared to the `55.GM built the `54 prototype and later decided to scrap it, twice.Why?Because it was ugly.Robert EI GUESS I COULDN'T AGREE MORE, for now at least! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleach Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 (edited) C'mon, there's no such thing as an ugly Buick of this era. OTH, the Buicks they make now are effin fugly. Edited September 24, 2011 by Bleach (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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