hello all. ive been looking at this car for over a year now. i have the opportunity to buy it. its a 55 century wagon 322 auto from new mexico. i dont know much about these cars as i am a stepchild. Any feedback Pos or Neg is welcome. what's it worth? johnny 69 gs400 72 gs350 66 suburban
thanks for that. i see you own some 55 do these cars come all with single exhaust. would it be easy to do a dual exhaust on these cars? johnny 69 gs400 72 gs350 66 suburban
All had single exhaust. Duals are doable but not easy: need 56 dual exhaust manifolds; cut holes in frame to match other side if manual brakes (cannot do with power brakes). That's the clean way...all kind of possibilities if you hack it up.
Looks like a nice car. "56 dual exhaust manifolds are rare, but flow really well. Expect to pay mucho dinero for a good set if you can find them. More work then it's worth if the car has Power Brakes.
thanks John. from what i gather it's loads of work for installing dual exhaust. anyone know where to buy a set of window and door seals for a 55 wagon? are the chevy tri 5's the same as the buick wagons? johnny 69 gs400 72 gs350 66 suburban
I have had a few 55's and they rate way up there with my favorite cars of all time. I have a 55 Special that I am slowly getting back on the road now. If the motor mounts, torque mount and transmission mount is original they all need replaced As every one knows that has owned or worked on these old Buicks the torque tube drive line can be a challenge to keep in good repair as the rear trans seal, torque tube seal and ball, pinion seal etc. are prone to leak causing ATF to drain into the rear end and on thru to the rear brakes. The" nailhead" engine is very dependable and so is the Dynaflo if the car is driven like a regular driver. Do not back out and flip it in low or drive without stopping, don't ask me how I know all about that! The interior looks to be decent but to put it back to original would cost you a small fortune. The wagon you are looking at has a lot going for it and looks to be a good driver but it would take some serious money to bring it up to show car status. Dual exhaust would be way more trouble and expense than it would be worth. The door seals should be available from Steel Products or maybe CARS or one of the other aftermarket suppliers but again, expensive. As far as price I have looked at a few 55 Special and Century wagons in the last 2 or 3 years and the prices are all over the place. It all depends on how bad you want the car and what you are willing to spend. I would think $12,000 to $15,000 would not be out of line for a car in the condition this one looks to be but that's just my opinion and you know what they say about opinions.
$5000-$8000 would be a realistic insurance value and a value if you need to get out of it in a timely manner. But always buy the best example for your intended purpose. This would not be the car if you intend to show well in AACA or BCA judging. On the other hand you cannot buy a $1000 car and get it to this one's level for less than $30,000. If you have a passion for the car and intend to drive it for many years, then go for it!
Thanks guys. i have learn a few things already with your comments. i love these wagons but dont know much about them. not interested in car shows or a trailer queen but just something different to drive and make people smile. cheers johnny 69 gs400 72 gs350 66 suburban
I have a pair of tri five Chevy wagon rear doors. They are not the same. There is more divisional identity pretty much pre 1965. However don't know about Olds and Pontiac wagons from this tri five era.
I like that car. The interior is very nice, but, not correct. That's OK if you like it. The horn ring works. They are very difficult to fix when they quit. (I have a horn button under the carpet) That bit of innertube tied on the torque tube is to prevent the parking brake cable from clanging on the torque tube (mine has that) It's also got Roadmaster flipper wheel covers
