West Coast Classics are proud to present an original rust free 'barn find' and great daily driving survivor of this very rare and original southern California 1955 Buick 60 Century 2 door Riviera Hardtop Coupe with its original and legendary and highly desirable 322 CID/236 HP Roadmaster engine with only 101K original miles in its original striking two-tone factory color combination of 'Temple Gray over Cascade Blue' (Code EEH) color paint with original Blue on Blue Cloth and Cordaveen trim interior (Code 464) with metallic quilted door panel inserts, full carpeting, 'Sweepspear' stainless bodyside trim, front and rear bumper guards, 4 Ventiports on front fenders and with original Buick clock and with rare factory options of: Weather-Warden Venti- Heater ($595), Power brakes ($48), Power steering ($108), Power front seat adjustment ($42) and 'Sonomatic radio ($97)!
The 1955 Buick Century was one of Harley Earl's personal favorite designs. Buick's ad campaign pointed out that the car was 'At the Forefront of Fashion - Thrill of the year,' and was it ever. The return of Buick's pre-war 'factory hot rod' with a sweeping side body line, strong face, and jet-age tail embodied everything that made the Mid-50's GMs the pinnacle of American car design. A huge symbolic change was the use of four portholes on Century's and Super's as well as on Roadmaster's to identify the cars with the larger engines rather than longer wheelbases.
The Century was a true high-performance car combining Roadmaster power with the lighter weight Special body. About half had three speed manual transmissions and the other half were equipped with Buick's improved and more efficient Variable-Pitch Dynaflow drive. The Century could go 0-60 mph in 9.8 seconds and cover the quarter mile in 17.5 seconds and with using the lightweight Special body, the sizzling Century with 236HP was not only fast off the line but they were also genuine 100mph cruisers. A Century hit 110 mph the Flying Mile competition at Daytona SpeedWeeks and in 1955 Buick took the only two wins in NASCAR Grand National stock car racing that it would see for many years.
Like muscle cars of the mid-to-late 1960s, the 1955 Buick Century was built on the smallest Buick platform available for the year but was powered by the division's largest engine, the Roadmaster 322 c.i.d. This combination of light weight and high horsepower was appreciated by law enforcement agencies, many of whom used them for patrolling freeways and turnpikes across the nation where they were well suited for high speed pursuits. One year later the California Highway Patrol placed a huge fleet order for Century 2-door sedans. This body style was not available to the general public and was a special order only. The Century 2-door sedan combined the Special 2-door sedan body shell with Century power-train and trim. In the popular TV series 'Highway Patrol', Broderick Crawford was shown driving a 2-door Century sedan during the first season.
Buick's new performance car, the Century, was based on the lighter Special body and the more powerful Roadmaster engine. These models had four ventiports on each front fender. Standard equipment included tubeless tires, directional signals, front and rear side armrests, stop-on parking brakes, heavy insulation, trip odometer and electric clock.
This particular example was sold new at 'Sangera Buick' of Bakersfield, California and comes with its original owners guide. The floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas are solid and the car has no signs of any accidents. The car has an older but still very decent re-paint in it's original and very striking 'Cascade Blue and Temple Gray' colors and the interior is virtually completely original with the original factory options and specifications kept intact including the 'Sonomatic' radio, Buick clock and spare wheel and jack in the originally kept trunk compartment.
The original 'Roadmaster 322 cid/236HP V8 engine with 101K miles runs strong and sounds absolutely magnificent and this particular car drives really well - must be driven to be appreciated - does not miss a beat and purrs like a kitten - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day car a run for it's money!
The car was recently serviced at our classic car 'AAA rated' mechanics, 'Morejoy Automotive' in Santa Monica, California where the car received a rebuilt brake booster and master cylinder, a rebuilt carburetor, a new Buick gas tank with fuel sending unit, brake hoses, wheel cylinders, pints and condensors and an ignition coil.
This is a rare opportunity to own a great daily driving example of a very rare and original 1955 Buick Century 2 door Riviera Hardtop in very fine daily driving and looking condition throughout and a turn-key ready example for any classic American car enthusiast to enjoy or collect today! SOLD
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