I posted a while ago that I was putting together a retro rod. It's a '56 Special 2door hardtop with a manual transmission. I don't think I've ever seen another one like this (2 dr HDTP). I've seen many 2 and 4 door sedans but never a hardtop with "3 on the tree." Any way I finally got it started today and I'm really excited. It's got '55 century pistons (Ebay $25). '57 heads (milled .050"), .015 head gaskets,'62 rockers (1:6.1), '61 distributor,'63 camshaft (Journals ground), my own fabbed dual exhaust, '56 four barrel manifold with a Carter AFB (TransDapt adapter). I put it through the gears while it was on jack stands so the trans, clutch and rear brakes work. No weird noises from trans or rear end. I completely rebuilt the brake system from Master back. I was surprised that the water pump and radiator didn't leak, just lucky I guess. Soon I'll put it on the road and see what it does with it's 3.90 rear.
That was my intention. If I want to go fast I'll drive my souped up '79 Trans Am. (But that's another web site)
The Special 2 drs HT coupe had the highest production total of all the Buicks models for that year. 113,861 were built, the 3 speed manual was the standard transmission.
Well I had a '55 special and my dad had a '57, he bought new, both had Dynaflow. I didn't say they didn't make any '56's 2 dr hdtops with stick. I said I never saw one, and I have lived in Fl,CO,NM,TX ,IN and IL. I believe in 1956 Buick was third in sales among U.S. auto makers.
