palbuick Posted September 5, 2003 Share Posted September 5, 2003 Found a 54 Century 2 dr Ht. with factory 3 speed on column. Anyone have any production figures on these cars. I have seen a lot of special 3 speeds but no centurys.Any help appreciatedJim Schilf / palbuick@aol.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Phillips Posted September 11, 2003 Share Posted September 11, 2003 I've only seen three of the '55 Century 2-door hardtops with the three-speed, and about 15 years ago there was a '54 Century 4-door sedan with a factory stick shift in Massachusetts, which I almost bought but didn't. I don't know the exact number or percentage of production, but it has got to be miniscule! I restored a '58 Special with factory 3-speed a few years ago, and it was fast and responsive car to drive. The stick shift Century must be a rocket!Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles2 Posted September 11, 2003 Share Posted September 11, 2003 When I was in high school, my best friend's father bought a 54 Century with the 3-speed. It was a smooth, extremely powerful car. At the time, my performance standard was the flathead Ford with high-compression heads, a hot cam and dual Stromberg carburetors. Talk about a contrast, the Buick would outperform the hot rods and do it in quiet dignity. I would have given my immortal soul for that car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palbuick Posted September 11, 2003 Author Share Posted September 11, 2003 Thaks Guys for the input.I know that this is a scarce car, It has one other problem, it has FOUR port holes on front fender. Fenders fit as new, I know all Centurys had 3 port holes in 54. I didn't get the serial number or the body/production number. Any help with information on the car will be appreciated. Would like to add this one to my garage.JIm Schilf / palbuick@aol.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireballV8 Posted September 11, 2003 Share Posted September 11, 2003 I just saw a 1958 Special four door sedan with factory 3 speed and factory air conditioning. The car is at a wrecking yard in CA and the seats, engine and some trim are already gone, they want $3,000 for the remains. BUt what a rare combo, has anyone seen such a thing before?Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_MrEarl Posted November 1, 2003 Share Posted November 1, 2003 Hey Jim, what did you ever find out about this car. I've been curious ever since you first brought it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palbuick Posted November 1, 2003 Author Share Posted November 1, 2003 Hi Lamar.Never found any production numbers on this car. Sloan might be next try.Haven't been able to come to terms with owner yet. Wants top dollar for car.While I have your attention would you have an extra dash for a 54 Super or Roaddie with instruments, have aq friend with a big project and wants a 54 dash.Jim Schilf palbuick@aol.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_MrEarl Posted November 3, 2003 Share Posted November 3, 2003 If I can ever figure out what I am going to do re the tranny and rearend swap out I might have one. I believe those bolt in top and bottom don't they. Do you know if the 54 is interchangeable with the 55? Would either one work? Still curious about the 4 ventiports on the 54 Century. I have some factory photos of one without ventiports but never saw one with 4. Try and get the seriel/production numbers if you can.Should be an interesting data plate. Maybe a Ned Nickles proto? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK Buickman Posted November 7, 2003 Share Posted November 7, 2003 Jim,While I do not have specific production numbers on a '54 Century with standard transmission, I can shed some additional light on this. When the new 1955 Buicks were announced to the public, Buick Motor Division sent press releases out to the news media, asking the media to print the releases on Monday, November 15, 1954, 4 days before the new '55's were to be unveiled in Buick showrooms. I have a copy of all '55 press releases from BMD in my collection. One of the news releases says, "Nine out of ten 1954 Buick models were equipped with Dynaflow."Over 45,000 '54 Century 2-dr hardtops were sold in the 1954 model year, so figure that about 90 % of that number MAY have been equipped with Dynaflow (?). However, from what I have seen, most of the 3-speed manual Buicks have been installed in the Special series during the middle 1950's. I would speculate that very few Supers and Centurys had stick shift.I hope this helps.Gary, BCA #1955..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palbuick Posted November 8, 2003 Author Share Posted November 8, 2003 Thanks Gary, and all others for any help.Have not acquired the car yet, still dickering over price.Jim Schilf palbuick@aol.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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