Monday, August 11, 2014

Automotif XLIII...

1957 Buick Special

Original paint and interior

I love the through-the-bumper exhaust.

9 comments:

og said...

The streamlined bullets out the back act as venturis to draw in air to the exhaust which provides extra thrust, dontcha know.

I loved the era of the bumper-exhaust and valance-exhaust. I thought the 67 Mustang fastback with the dual exhaust through the lower valance pan was the sexiest rear end Ford ever put on a car. And unfortunately, that was the cause of a lot of cars rusting out like maniacs because people didn't fix the exhaust leaks.

Eric said...

I love the T handles for the climate control! I'll bet it has the high beam switch on the floor as well.

Anonymous said...

Cool. The three rear windows and that pair of creases that continue down the trunk lid from the roof must have been an expensive pain-in-the-neck to manufacture.

Al_in_Ottawa

Paul said...

I know of a guy who restores these by the truck load. They have the biggest back seat. Quite the yacht.

Joel said...

Yeah, but replacing the exhaust pipes was a pain to get right.

Will said...

To say nothing of the through-the-bumper gas filler cap flap!

I don't think I ever noticed that, before. I recall trying to buy a '58 ambolance version, when it was about 11-12 years old. Got beat out by an aspiring rock group. That thing was so neat. Huge generator, dual fan belts, and the back end was just full of storage cupboards, including in the floor. Hmm, might have been an Olds. Damn memory...

SAWBONES said...

Genuine "Cruiserline Ventiports" too, an old Buick trademark.

NotClauswitz said...

Saw an old 'Vette that era-that color in Tahoe at the boat show. More mahogany than a strip-club.

CGHill said...

Close as I ever got to one of those was a '56 Century owned by the guy three doors down, back when I was seven. I liked it, but unlike the fellow across the street, who had a '57 Bel Air with a 283 and was anxious to show it off to us neighborhood brats, he never gave us a ride.