1956 Buick Century

Description

If you're a fan of chrome, then this 1956 Buick Century will certainly hold a special appeal. For many, the appeal of the sportiest Buick can be explained by its big car comfort and power and Chevy-sized package, making for one formidable factory hot-rod.

The "CAC" paint code on the cowl tag is for the tri-tone combination that was popular on '50s Buicks, sandwiching code C Dover White between code A Carlsbad Black top and side coves for a truly dazzling effect. No paint job in 1956 ever looked this good, which we can credit to modern paint technology, and the finish will probably look this good for years to come thanks to durable materials. Underneath, there's solid GM steel, since reproduction body panels for these cars are non-existent, and someone did their homework, because this sucker fits together extremely well. It's not perfect, but it really does look impressive. And talk about chrome! That massive grille is composed of dozens of separate pieces, each of which was stripped, polished, plated, and reinstalled to create the grinning countenance that is the Buick front end. Of course, it also includes the three "venti-ports" signifying a Century, plus the famous Buick sweep-spear whose shape is still seen in the Buicks built today.

The beautiful two-tone interior is nothing short of artwork. GM designers in the '50s were the best in the world, and this car shows you why. The black and red seats are wide and comfortable, of course, with flashy door panels to match and both the carpet and headliner are recent. The simple black steering wheel is a nice contrast that lets the fabric take center stage and the wrap-around dash embraces chrome just as much as the front-end of the car does. The gauges are showing a bit of age but they do give you a complete view of the engine and the original Sonomatic AM radio still lives in the center of the dash with that incredibly ornate speaker grille below it (sorry, the radio isn't working). The trunk is neatly trimmed in matching burgundy carpets and includes a vinyl cover for the full-sized spare tire.

Buick's 322 cubic inch "Nailhead" V8 was standard across the line for the first time in 1956, and with a modest bump in horsepower, the Century remained the fastest car in the Buick lineup. We suspect that the engine bay is entirely original, although it sports a recent tune-up, new fuel pump, fresh fuel lines, and a new brake master cylinder and booster. That's like original Buick Turquoise paint and the stock air cleaner lives atop a correct 4-barrel carburetor. Still running its original generator, the car sticks to the factory specifications throughout and the radiator up front is HUGE, so it runs nice and cool. Buick's Dynaflow transmission was a bit more sophisticated by 1956, so it's still impossibly smooth out on the road where speed creeps up on you without anyone noticing. The suspension is commendably supple, and even with drum brakes all around, braking is confident. The floors are remarkably clean and it has both a new exhaust system and a fresh gas tank hanging out back. Optional full wheel covers are a nice upgrade, and it rides on wide whitewall radials, which look right but handle far better than the original bias-plys.

The Century provides big power and a comfortable size, along with a great deal of style, all at a reasonable price. Like I said, if you like chrome, there aren't many better choices than this big Buick. Call today!