Handsome 1956 Buick hardtop offered at an affordable price

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Buick
The body looks straight and the 1970s paint job still seems decent

The Pick of the Day would be an inexpensive entry into the collector car hobby, a 1956 Buick 40 Special Rivera 2-door hardtop, that looks to be in nice driver condition and ready to go.

The car has been serviced and put back on the road after 20 years of careful storage, according to the Stanley, Wisconsin, dealer advertising the Buick on ClassicCars.com, and it is being offered for less than $15,000.

Buick
The hardtop is said to have had just two owners

“We purchased the car from a gentleman who lovingly owned and cared for her for almost 50 years (1969-2018),” the dealer says in the ad. “The car started its life in CA (built at South Gate plant), and then moved with the original owner to AZ before coming to WI in the late ’60s –original registration slips dated to mid-60s confirm this.

“Once in WI, the car was stored during the winter months, so very little rust has set in over the years; overall a very solid car.”

The hardtop has had just two owners, the seller says, and was mechanically rebuilt and repainted in the 1970s, which still holds up today.

Buick
The car is now roadworthy after its 2-decade slumber, the seller says

“Originally Tahiti Coral and White, the car was painted the current Blue and White in 1974 and it still retains a nice shine (we recently had it professionally buffed and polished),” the seller notes. “The original Dynaflow trans was rebuilt in 1975 and shifts nice and smooth – second owner stated only a few hundred miles were probably put on after the rebuild.

“The original generator and voltage regulator were exchanged for 1957 models. The 322 “nailhead” (V8) engine was also rebuilt around the same time as the transmission, and has a tag on the front of the block to reflect this.”

For whatever reason, the Buick was put into storage, but it was done right, making its recommissioning a straightforward process, the dealer says.

Buick
The original, rebuilt 322cid ‘nailhead’ V8

“When we purchased the car, it had been sitting in storage for 20 years, but a well-planned storage – prior to parking the car back in 1998, the second owner dropped and cleaned the fuel tank, among other preventative measures, to ensure a smoother return to the road years later,” according to the ad.

The dealer lists the new and rebuilt items, including “points, condenser, cap, plugs, wires, battery, fuel pump, valve-cover gaskets, intake manifold gasket, valve lifters, shocks, tires, brake hoses, belt, wiper blades and a fresh oil change.

“The carburetor was also rebuilt, and the brakes were serviced. The car runs and drives very well. There is a slight exhaust leak on the right side, and the fuel gauge sticks;  those are the only known issues remaining.”

Buick
The interior looks to be in usable condition

While the hardtop looks good enough to be driven immediately, much cosmetic work would be needed to bring it up to the next level.  Still, these Buicks were some of the best-driving cars of their day, and this good-looking example sounds like a bargain at $14,900.  

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

1 COMMENT

  1. My grandfather bought a 56 new just Like this, color and all. My uncle then owned it, then my cousin drove it through college and into his first job. Great reliable car!

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