Buick was proud of some of its design updates during the fabulous 1950s: “We bring you the 1955 Buick,” a magazine advertisement said. “New thriller in style – power – performance.” Another example said, “You see it in the bold distinction of that gleaming Wide Screen grille. You see it in the rakish sweep of the rear-end contours. You see it in the fore-and-aft newness of fleetlined grace that marks Buick the beauty thrill of 1955.”
Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1955 Buick Century. The car is being offered by a dealer in Woodland Hills, California, and the auction will end Friday.
The exterior is glamorous and glitzy, thanks to a chrome-heavy front end, the swoopy side spears and quad Ventiports on either front fender. The listing says that the car went through a frame-off, “nut and bolt” restoration in the late 1990s, and included with the sale is a binder full of documentation to corroborate that backstory. There is even a copy of the original owner’s purchase paperwork originating in Wasco, California.
The Coker Classic wide-whitewall tires and wire-spoke wheels are the crowning touch on a car that screams 1950s Americana. The all-blue interior boasts newer materials throughout, and amenities include a factory AM radio and a clock. Appears there isn’t much left to do with the car restoration-wise besides get in and drive! It is clear that this Buick was enthusiast-owned, because it is sporting a “Buick Club of America” (BCA) sticker on the windshield as well as BCA license plate frames.
The Century name was born in 1936 on a full-sized car that used the wheelbase of the Special but the engine of the Roadmaster. The 1954-58 models were considered the second generation.
Power comes from a 322ci Fireball V8 that is equipped with a four-barrel downdraft carburetor and was originally rated at 236 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque. The listing says that the engine has been rebuilt. Power-assisted drum brakes handle deceleration duties. (I love how the brake pedal says POWER BRAKE in block letters, just to make its presence clear!)
If a handsome two-tone Buick suits your fancy, here’s your chance to see if the car still lives up to the style, power, and performance that were promised to buyers when it was new 70 years ago. Place a bid today!
The auction for this 1955 Buick Century will end Friday, January 31, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. (MST)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery