West Coast Classics are proud to present a very rare and striking example of this 1954 Buick 70 Roadmaster 2 door 6 passenger Riviera Hardtop with its original and legendary and highly desirable 322CID/200HP 4BBL V8 engine in it's very attractive original 'Titian Red' (color code 17) paint with a striking and original custom trim (code 82) at extra cost 'Black Swiss Dot Cloth & Red Cordaveen' interior with double depth Foamtex cushions, power steering, power brakes, full wheel discs, power front seat with chrome bands around seat & backrest, power windows, LH outside rearview mirror, full nylon carpeting, rear seat armrests, 'Sweepspear' stainless bodyside trim, front and rear bumper guards, 4 Ventiports on front fenders and with original electric Buick clock and 'Sonomatic' AM radio!
The most expensive and most prestigious automobile in Buick's 1954 line was the Roadmaster. Buick held nothing back on this showboat, equipping it with the 322 cubic inch V8, Dynaflow, power steering (newly designed this year for less effort), power brakes, power windows and even power vertical adjustment of the front seat. The Roadmaster announced itself to the outside world with rear fender emblems but most importantly and visibly the Roadmaster had four ventiports on its front fenders. The Special, new Century and Super all had to make do with only three ventiports.
The Roadmaster was the top-of-the-line for 1954, except of course for the specialty Skylark convertible, which was now a separate series. All Buick's utilized a complete restyle including wrap-around windshields for the first time. The hoods were now nearly level with the fenders and headlights, giving the cars a much cleaner and more modern stance, yet the family resemblance was still there in the big grille, massive bumpers and fender ports. Unlike 1953, which saw the Roadmaster utilizing two wheelbases, the new 1954 cars utilized a single long 127-inch span, with body styles including Riviera four-door sedan, convertible coupe and Riviera hardtop coupe. Buicks 322 cid V-8 engine was retained, since it was only one year old, but power increased from 188 to an even 200 hp for 1954.
The 1954 Roadmaster truly was only one step below the Cadillac. Standard equipment included Dynaflow automatic transmission, full wheel covers, power brakes, power steering, and hydraulic-electric power windows (except on the sedan). Various interior upholsteries were available, including leather, broadcloth and nylon combinations.
The Buick Roadmaster & the Super were some of Harley Earl's personal favorite designs. Buick's ad campaign pointed out that the Roadmaster was 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 and this was a true high-performance car with the Roadmaster power.
The 1954 Buick Roadmaster was built on the larger Buick platform and was powered by the division's largest engine, the Roadmaster 322 c.i.d. It is noteworthy that the smaller platform of the same generation Buick Century, combined even lighter weight with the same high horsepower 322 c.i.d. engine, and 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 and indeed several NASCAR victories! The California Highway Patrol later 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.
This particular now very rare and desirable 'top-of-the-line' Roadmaster example is in exceptional condition throughout with a very straight body and with the floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas solid and the car has no signs of any accidents. The car has a very striking repaint in it's factory correct 'Titian Red' color and the car boasts its all original factory specification correct interior which is in a virtual time warp and which is still very handsome and the car has all new chrome.
The original 322cid/200HP Nailhead V8 engine was been rebuilt and runs strong and sounds absolutely magnificent and this particular car drives really well - a truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day car a run for it's money! The car has been comprehensively restored only as required over the years and reportedly with only NOS parts, with the car having been professioanlly repainted once in it's original factory color! The car also boasts NOS Foxcraft removeable fender skirts and a Continental kit spare tire holder and the car sits on 4 American Calssic Wide Whitewall radial tires!
This is a rare opportunity to own a great daily driving example of a very striking 1954 Buick Roadmaster 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!
