50's mistakes?

55 SURVIVOR · November 1, 2011

I HAVE A 1955 BUICK MODEL 43 SPECIAL 4 DOOR RIVIERA,BUT HAS 4 PORT HOLES,AND A CENTURY BADGE.I KNOW IT IS A LATE 55,AND THE SPECIAL WAS THIER TOP SELLER.I WENT ALL OVER THE CAR,AND KNOW IT WAS NEVER WRECKED,HAS ORIGINAL UNDER COATING ON FENDER BOLTS,AND STILL HAS ORIGINAL PAINT.I ALSO HAVE 2 ORIGINAL HAND WRITTEN BUILD SHEETS THAT ARE CORRECT FOR MY CAR,AND I HAVE ANOTHER FOR A DIFFERENT MODEL FOUND IN CORNER PASSENGER MOULDING.WERE MISTAKES COMMON?

progoofoff · November 1, 2011

It`s very easy to add port holes and swap out the emblems.

Edited November 4, 2011 by progoofoff (see edit history)

November 1, 2011

Also easy to change the body tags too. Don't know why anybody would have but I suppose it's possible you actually have one of the other series. Not sure about the 55's, but on my 52 the Special series was smaller in size than the other series and none of the body parts or trim/bumpers were compatible. Would there be anyway to pick a specific part on your car, measure it, then compare it to specs. for the other models to see what you have?

billbuickgs · November 1, 2011

Is the engine 2 barrel or 4 barrel ? Is it a 264 or 322? Does the dash say Special or Century ? Just wondering .

Bill

1953mack · November 1, 2011

What does the BODY BY FISHER cowl tag say re: Model # and Style #?

Does your "original" paint color(s) match the Paint Code # on the cowl tag?

What's the last digit in your engine number? If it's a "4" it has a SPECIAL engine.....if it's a "6" it has a Century engine.

Al Mack

"500 Miles West of Flint"

55 SURVIVOR · November 1, 2011

THE TAG WAS NOT REMOVED,I ALSO HAVE THE ORIGINAL PENNSYLVANIA MOTOR VEHICLE SALES CONTRACT, WAS PURCHASED FROM KUTNER BUICK OF PHILADELPHIA PA.JULY 30 1955.SERIAL # 4B5048730 MOTOR # 12583414. IT ALL CHECKS OUT AS A 264,IT HAS A 2 BARREL CARB,THE DASH SAY'S "SPECIAL".IT HAS THE PLAIN PAINTED DASH INLAY AND NOT THE MACHINED LOOK,THE CENTURY HAS.THE MOTOR # MATCH THE SALES CONTRACT WHICH I FOUND STAMPED ON DRIVER SIDE OF MOTOR NEAR THE PLUGS.THE CAR IS UNRESTORED ,EVEN THE MOTOR/COMPARTMENT IS UN PAINTED,FACTORY APPLE GREEN,THE CAR IS DOVER WHITE ROOF,OVER CARLSBAD BLACK,AND IS TOTALY BEAUTIFUL,WHITH THE EXCEPTION OF VERY MINOR FADING ON THE HOOD AND A FEW MINOR CHIPSMY NIEHBOR PAINT CARS FOR A LIVING,AND I HAD HIM CHECK TO SEE IF IT WAS EVER PAINTED,PEELED THINGS BACKED,LOOKED IN NOOKS AND CRANNY'S AND SAID DEFINITLY NO REPAINT,"NO LAYERING"OF PAINT.THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN INSIDE AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF,CURRENTLY HAS 57,700 MILES,I PUT 4,000 MILES ON THIS SUMMER 2011.ANYBODY EVER HEARD OF KUTNER BUICK ON CASTOR & FRIENDSHIP AVE.PHILADELPHIA PA.? JULES KUTNER WAS THE OWNER.THE SALES AGREEMENT JUST SAYS BUICK MODEL 43,DOES NOT SAY CENTURY/SPECIAL ETC. PRICE IS LISTED AS $3,588.93 I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS CAR,EVERYTHING WORKS,AND RUNS LIKE A TOP!! I AM GOING TO KEEP IT ORIGINAL,MIGHT DRIVE IT TO HERSHEY NEXT YEAR.P.S ALL CHROME IS ORIGINAL,CARPET SEATS, HEADLINER EVERYTHING BUT TIRES HOSES BELT.DYNAFLOW WITH NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES,WAS TOLD BACK THEN ALOT OF FOLKS DID NOT WANT THAT (TOO NEW).

55 SURVIVOR · November 1, 2011

P.S. MY 55 BUICK WAS BUILT AT GENERAL MOTORS WILMINGTON DEL.HAND WRITTEN BUILD SHEETS ARE AS SUCH "879" AT TOP OF PAGE THEN 4439 43 BAA 446 A-H-I-Q-R-B-D-F-M THE OTHER SHEET HAS "842" AT TOP 4469 41 BRR 440 A-H-I-K-R-B-D-F-M ANYONE KNOW THE OPTION CODE LETTERS,OR WORKED AT WILMINGTON??

1939_Buick · November 3, 2011

The tag was not removed, I also have the original Pennsylvania motor vehicle sales contract, was purchased from Kutner Buick of Philadelphia PA. July 30 1955.serial # 4b5048730 motor # 12583414. it all checks out as a 264,it has a 2 barrel carb, the dash say's "special". It has the plain painted dash inlay and not the machined look, the century has. The motor # match the sales contract which I found stamped on driver side of motor near the plugs. The car is unrestored ,even the motor/compartment is un painted, factory apple green, the car is dover white roof, over carlsbad black, and is totally beautiful, with the exception of very minor fading on the hood and a few minor chipsmy niehbor paint cars for a living, and I had him check to see if it was ever painted, peeled things backed, looked in nooks and cranny's and said definitely no repaint, "no layering" of paint. The car has always been inside and well taken care of, currently has 57,700 miles, I put 4,000 miles on this summer 2011.anybody ever heard of Kutner Buick on Castor & Friendship Ave, Philadelphia PA.? Jules Kutner was the owner. The sales agreement just says Buick model 43, does not say century/special etc. price is listed as $3,588.93 I absolutely love this car, everything works, and runs like a top!! I am going to keep it original, might drive it to Hershey next year. p.s all chrome is original, carpet seats, headliner everything but tires hoses belt. Dynaflow with no power steering or power brakes, was told back then a lot of folks did not want that (too new).

Much easier for folks to read in in lower case

buick5563 · November 3, 2011

Thanks 39.

progoofoff · November 4, 2011

Much easier for folks to read in in lower case

Thanks 39.

It`s easier for me to read in the upper case. I Don`t consider it shouting.

Edited November 4, 2011 by progoofoff (see edit history)

progoofoff · November 4, 2011

Here`s a picture of a Special Station Wagon.

Well, it left the factory as a series 49.

Now, the only way you can tell it isn`t a 69 is the VIN and trim tags.

buick5563 · November 4, 2011

I don't consider it shouting either. I handwrite in all caps, but the sentences run on for me.

55 SURVIVOR · November 4, 2011

THIS IS A picture of my "50's mistake" all original and completely un restored,it is a model 43 but is a 4 holer with a 264 and century badge built at the wilmington plant late 1955.p.s i love her anyway!!

John_Maine · November 5, 2011

Right or "wrong", it's a nice Buick.

buick5563 · November 5, 2011

It is indeed a very nice car.

November 11, 2011

WOW! great looking car...........the pot metal looks nice for original!!

My dad bought the same car (Century) in black & white. His interior was red, white & black.

November 12, 2011

I am from Philadelphia and I do remember Kutner Buick. In the early sixties Kutner got into trouble several times for misrepresenting the models and years of cars that he sold.

1955 was before window stickers were put on cars at the factory, so it would have been fairly easy to move a car up one series and demand a higher price.

You have a beautiful Buick. This makes it more interesting.

55 SURVIVOR · November 13, 2011

YES;i was suspicious of that,i have the original sales contract and it states the make as Buick but model as only 43.which is correct but doesn't state "special" the selling price was over 3,500 which is on the high side for a special.the fellow that bought it new in july 30 1955 name was Thomas Demi,maybe you know him?he died in 1975.lived on penn st.he must have loved the car,always inside,had 48,000 miles on it in 1968,but just over 53,000 in 2010,thats 4,000 miles in 43 years.it has an old oil change sticker still on the drivers door.i assumed after 1968 the owner was ill /elderly,and didn't drive much,then died in 75. thanks for sharing MARK

Caballero2 · November 13, 2011

I ran into a similiar situation a few years back with a model 48 in Arvada, Colorado that looked and met the description of a model 68. The car was white with a black and grey interior. It had the three speed with column shift and nor horn ring. The 68 was built for Calif. Highway Patrol and, I believe for the Missouri Patrol. Had it been a 68 I would have bought it. I would have love to have done it as a Black & White. I probably should have anyway.

Dan

John_Maine · November 13, 2011

Not just the 50's - I remember looking at a Pinto Squire wagon back in the late 70's but it had a Mercury Bobcat steering wheel and nameplate on the dash.

50's mistakes?

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