West Coast Classics are proud to present a very striking example of this very rare 1956 Buick 50 Super 2 door Riviera Hardtop Coupe with its original and legendary and highly desirable 322 CID/255 HP 4BBL V8 engine in a very attractive two-tone color combination of 'Electric Blue Metallic over Dover White' color paint with a matching custom patterned 'Blue & White interior', full carpeting, 'Sweepspear' stainless bodyside trim, front and rear bumper guards, 4 Ventiports on front fenders and with original electric Buick clock and with rare factory options of: Weather-Warden Venti- Heater ($85), Power brakes ($37), Power steering, and 'Sonomatic AM radio ($97)!
The 1955 Buick Super was one of Harley Earl's personal favorite designs. Buick's ad campaign pointed out that the car was 'Super ... and that means superior in every respect,' 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 Super was a true high-performance car combining Roadmaster power with with about half having three speed manual transmissions and the other half were equipped with Buick's improved and more efficient Variable-Pitch Dynaflow drive. The Super could go 0-60 mph in 9.8 seconds and cover the quarter mile in 17.5 seconds, the sizzling Super with 255HP was not only fast off the line but they were also genuine 100mph cruisers. A 1955 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.
The 1956 Buick Super was built on the larger Buick platform available for the year as was the Roadmaster and was powered by the same 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. 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.
This particular now very rare and desirable 'Super' example is in very fine condition throughout with a very straight body 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 period correct 'Electric Blue Metallic over Dover White' colors with custom pin stripes and the interior has been virtually completely redone in a very striking and matching colors custom interior which is very handsome and the car boasts power steering and power brakes.
The original 'Roadmaster 322 cid/255HP V8 engine 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!
This is a rare opportunity to own a great daily driving example of a very striking mildly customized 1956 Buick Super 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!
