Yes I did. It was my first 59 in fact. Here is the story with it. Summer of 2007 after graduating high school I was driving out of town and noticed another 'old car' for sale. Never having a 'car' like this peaked my interest. The previous owner was the son of a Buick dealer in the 40s and 50s. It was a 59 Buick 2 door sedan. Not knowing anything much about Buicks I thought it was the coolest looking car ive ever seen. Poverty caps, bone bare car (no options what so ever except am radio). Agreed to pay $2500 for the car. When I was ready to make my last payment the valve cover gaskets ended up leaking alot, so he knocked 300 bucks off the price. SWEET I thought so I paid him the remaining $200 for the $2200 total, and started driving home. Learning to drive a 57 Chevy with a 3 on the tree I already was familiar with driving the 59. The first thing that really got me by surprise was the torque of it! I drove off like I did in my straight 6 57 Chevy and it took off chirped the tires and snapped my neck back. That was my introduction to Buick torque. The dash wasn't padded (all steel dash on the passenger side, no shift indicator or cut out for it in the instrument panel). It wasn't until AFTER I SOLD it I realized how rare it was. It used the non power brake pad as the clutch pad, and the way it moved through the gears was nothing like the Chevy in feel of it. Here are a few pictures https://www.flickr.com/photos/59151113@N03/albums/72157634308703133
ok so it was on the column not floor shift. When I think of stick shift I think of floor shift. Thats cool though, what motor was it do you recall?
All manual shift Buicks in the 50s were on the column. In 1959 the LeSabre (only model you could get the manual in) has the 364 nailhead, while the larger Invicta and Electra models have the larger 401. I have a rebuilt 364 with no car to put it in, so I am looking for a decent 55-58 to put this motor in. That project is on the backburner since the 70 takes priority.
I always preferred black interiors until I got my '68 GS400. It is red with a white interior and I really like the white now.
Mine started out in aqua, but re dyed it in black to suit crocus yellow respray. Black can be tough in summer but that's what 70 air conditioning's for. (Windows down, pedal to the metal.):laugh:
I'll add a practical comment. My concern with light interiors is staining for ladies clothing. Many fashionable women's items, like dark jeans, are brutal as they leave color behind. This is less of an issue with darker colors..
My dad used to pile us in to the Riviera to go for ice cream In the summer when we were kids ... those memories are "burnt" into my brain. Lol ... those black seats get hot! Love black interior, even if it wounded me as a kid ... lol
My white 63 Riv has a midnight blue interior and the red 65 Wildcat has a white interior. I like strong contrast exterior to interior. A lot of the blue, green, tan, brown, or gold cars that have complementing interior colors would look better in white, and silver looks best with black, IMO.
I like the contrast. I think Jade Green exterior with black vinyl oxgrain interior and chrome and dark mahogany woodgrain interior trim would be killer.
