1957 Buick 4 Dr. Century Hard Top - $11,500 (Temecula)

[deac]

I just ran across this..

 

FOR SALE: 1957 Buick 4 Door Century Hard Top: powder coated inner fenders (Black Satin), all bolts have been cadmium plated silver color, new floor with18 gauge steel welded correctly, all chrome redone (triple coated and most replaced), all stainless on side's were removed from the car having the dents removed, the stainless was then polished and reinstalled onto the car, underside of car frame plus all underside painted black, all new brake shoes, power brake booster completely rebuilt by CH Topping in Long Beach, CA., all new side glass 6 pieces, new rubber gasket for front windshield purchased from Rubber The Right Way, painted 2 stage Red with Clear on the top, new interior panels complete red and white leather, new headliner has been installed, wheel covers newly polished have new Buick inserts, steering wheel completely rebuilt and horn assembly newly chromed with horn button, carpet color made for 1957 Buick 4 Dr. with jute padding and color red, transmission is rebuilt not yet installed (1 yr. warranty Dynaflow Transmission), the engine and transmission are not currently in car.

 

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/d/temecula-1957-buick-dr-century-hard-top/7696644054.html

 

I do not own this vehicle and have absolutely no stake in the sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dave Wells]

I'm sure the seller has that much or more into it, but it will take that much or more to complete it.

 

 

 

[John_S_in_Penna]

The seller states, "...new interior panels complete

red and white leather," in his punctuationally-challenged

description.

 

I have the very same model (photo below).  Mine has an

original interior, and I have the Color and Upholstery album. 

Leather was not used on the seats:  They should be vinyl

(with a tiny stippled grain) with cloth inserts.  The

door panels have those same materials.  His door panels,

which one picture shows, are not right.

 

If he's spending all the effort to restore the car, he

should do it authentically.

 

Edited December 12, 2023 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[TAKerry]

Im not a fan of most 4 door cars, but that is one I wouldnt mind having in my garage. Such great lines to it. John, that surely is a beautiful auto. The paint looks so much nicer than the red one, and the red one looks nice!

[Walt G]

A 4 door hardtop is one of my favorite cars/body styles  of the post war era but I just can't appreciate the color red especially on a car that has such sensational styling.

[deac]

I spoke to the seller and found out he's a Buick guy! The guy has around 7 of them and I got feeling they were mostly post war cars. This over priced red one doesn't have a motor in it nor does it have an exhaust system. However he did say he has a freshly rebuilt Dynaflow trans. He said the original motor is being rebuilt but he has other motors for it.  The seats have been re-upholstered but have not been installed.  He also mentioned this is a factory A/C car but I couldn't get him to tell me exactly what state it's in.  The car caught my interest for some reason to the point I'm going to take a run down there and see just what state it's in.  But I have lots of reservations about it: Not so sure about the upholstery, motor issue, no so gone on fact that is not a 2 tone paint job, state of dash accessories and the wiring is unknown. He said the glass has been installed!

 

Though I know a lot about old cars and have some mid-sized projects on them I don't want to take on a pricey long term project.  Moreover I much prefer cars that drive! I will post findings here after my little adventure.

Edited December 12, 2023 by deac (see edit history)

[TAKerry]

If your going to take on someone elses project, this one looks to be a bit further along than most. It may not be a bad starting point. That is if it can be bought right.

[suchan]

Too much red. I can't recall seeing any one-color '57's back in the day, except maybe all white.

Breaking it up with another color on the bottom (or top) would help.

[John_S_in_Penna]

The all-red color scheme is correct.  In one of their

1957 ads, Buick even showed a Century in solid red.

Maybe that's where the original buyer, or the later

restorer, got the idea.  Here's the illustration from that ad:

 

[TAKerry]

I like the red on the car, the two tone looks super classy though.

[NC-car-guy]

I'm Definitely a fan of two-tone on all 54-58 Buicks, but I guess I might be bias....

[deac]

I decided not to go see the car based on the fact that it's a non-running project.  But I do think there's a lot here for the money. I have been reading the comments about the monotone  exterior red paint.  Though it I do like the two tone paints of the 50's in my opinion it would not be the a deal killer to buy it and then in time add the accent color below the belt line and possibly the roof,  You wouldn't be removing many stainless steel or chrome accents on the lower bodywork and there's no metal work to be done.  So it's what I call a simple scuff and shoot; scuff up the paint and shoot it.  Moreover metal work is what costs the big money. I think it 's a great starting point for some one wants a project.

Edited December 15, 2023 by deac (see edit history)

[John_S_in_Penna]

8 hours ago, deac said:

...buy it and then in time add the accent color below the belt line and possibly the roof.    

For 1957 Buick Specials and Centuries, the roof was

always the same color as the upper body.  The lower

body (below the side trim) would be the only contrasting

color on 2-tones.

 

The earliest 1957 catalogue shows the color insert on

the side molding always to be red (actually an orange-red).

The later edition of the same catalogue also shows green

and blue inserts in the side molding.  I don't know if colors

other than red, blue, or green could be had.

 

Edited December 15, 2023 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[7th Son]

On 12/13/2023 at 12:28 PM, John_S_in_Penna said:

The all-red color scheme is correct.  In one of their

1957 ads, Buick even showed a Century in solid red.

Maybe that's where the original buyer, or the later

restorer, got the idea.  Here's the illustration from that ad:

 

Why are they driving with the windows down in the snow?

[John_S_in_Penna]

3 minutes ago, 7th Son said:

Why are they driving with the windows down in the snow?

And the bridge has no guard rail, so you can

see those sweeping, open hardtop lines!

[Crusty Trucker]

Weren't the '57 Buicks somewhat notorious for transmission problems? My father had a friend back then who had his '57 in the shop a number of times for repairs. Later, Dad had a '59 Invicta with, I presume, nearly the same transmission as the '57 and it had to be replaced  by the time the car was 3 years old. Coincidence? I don't know.

 

 

[John_S_in_Penna]

I never heard of transmission problems in the '57 Buicks.

All Dynaflows drip a little bit, I have been told.

 

For 1958, Buick offered the Flight Pitch Dynaflow

as standard in the larger Limited and Roadmaster

series, and as an option on the Supers.  (It wasn't

available on the smaller Special and Century cars.)

So there were two different Dynaflows in 1958.

The Flight Pitch Dynaflow, I understand, was a bit

problematic.  I believe it was around in 1959, too.

[Brooklyn Beer]

On 12/15/2023 at 6:39 PM, John_S_in_Penna said:

And the bridge has no guard rail, so you can

see those sweeping, open hardtop lines!

And they are going so fast they are leaving contrials.