West Coast Classics are proud to present a superb and extraordinary example of this very rare and original 1957 Buick 50 Super V8 Convertible with its original and legendary and highly desirable 364 CID/300 HP 4BBL V8 engine and frame up nuts and bolts restored in a very attractive two-tone color combination of 'Starlight Blue over Dresden Blue' color paint with a matching two-tone 'Blue' full leather interior, new Blue 'Haartz' convertible soft top with soft parade boot, full carpeting, trunk light, 'Sweepspear' stainless bodyside trim with painted insert, front and rear bumper guards, outside LH rear view mirror, 4 Ventiports on front fenders; power top, front seats & windows and with original electric Buick clock and with rare factory options of: Heater & Defroster ($102), Power brakes ($42), Power steering ($107), Easy-Eye tinted glass ($40), Full wheel covers ($20) and 'Sonomatic AM radio ($102)!
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.
In 1957 Buick introduced the enlarged 'Fireball V8' engine with greater bore and stroke, increasing displacement to 364 cubic inches and producing 250-300HP, depending upon the model. This 1957 Buick Super 364/300HP V8 Convertible is one of only 2,056 built for 1957 and is the rarest of all Buick's built in '57! Offered in the Super series were both two- and four-door hardtops and the Model 56C, sporty and attractive convertible. With a base price of $3,981, buyers got a lot for the money starting with the enlarged 364 cubic-inch V-8 rated at 300 HP in the Super which equated to 400 ft/lbs of torque. Also new was the Instant Variable Pitch Dynaflow transmission which offered seamless power during acceleration. There were other amenities that cost extra in lesser cars such as in-line Safety power steering, power windows, two-way power front seat, power-operated convertible top, deluxe steering wheel, self-locking parking brakes other desirable features of the day. For 1957, 2,056 customers stepped up for a Super convertible from Buick.
This particular now very rare and desirable 1957 Buick 'Super' 364/300HP V8 Convertible example has been frame up restored with no expense spared and every nut and bolt replaced and is in very pristine condition throughout with a laser straight original body with all original sheetmetal and with the floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas solid and rust free and with the car showing no signs of any accidents. Starting with an original that spent most of its life in Southern California, it was stripped down to bare metal and then refinished in the attractive factory combination of 'Starlight Blue over Dresden Blue'. Both the front and rear seats were trimmed in harmonizing two-tone blue hand stitched leathers that present a better than new appearance. Carefully remove the soft parade boot cover and with the flick of the switch and the new dark blue Haartz soft top silently lifts and folds into position to provide comfortable protection from the all the elements. The car is very handsome and boasts power windows, power steering, power seats, a power top and power brakes.
Under the hood the legendary Nailhead V-8 looks showroom fresh and is ready to roll. Properly detailed including factory stickers and markings, everything has been restored to show-car quality condition including the totally rebuilt power steering and power brakes featuring the trustworthy Treadle-Vac system. This is truly a full-power car which also includes the top, windows, front seat and even the radio antenna for the Sonomatic push-button radio. The original '364 cid/300HP 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!
For 1957, Buick used plenty of chrome trim and all the brightwork on this car has been given a deep and reflective replating that is sure to win hearts and impress even the most fastidious of judges. Even the luggage compartment has been completely finished and carpeted with the spare tire encased in a protective vinyl covering. It sports a set of new 'Truespoke' chrome wheels featuring Buick emblems in the center of the simulated knock-off spinners wrapped with wide whitewall tires. Ride, comfort, luxury, opulence, and rarity; this 1957 Buick Convertible has it all.
This is a rare opportunity to own a great daily driving example of a superbly restored and very striking 1957 Buick Super V8 Convertible in turn-key ready condition for any classic American car enthusiast to enjoy or collect today!
