Looks like a great start and definitely worth saving. I wonder if these guys know that these cars didn't come with base/clear paint jobs, so the "patina" they all like to brag about is just a crappy 20 year old paint job peeling and not the original finish.
Quite interesting thread on this car over at AACA Buick. Seems it ain't what first thought http://forums.aaca.org/topic/302989-1955-century-3-speed-8500-on-cl/
I read that it was a Special turned into a Century in the ad. I give the guy credit for stating as much when most wouldn't know the difference....I personally wouldn't let it bother me too much if I was looking at a 50s Buick that wasn't a Skylark, but I'd just lower it with some wide whites and a 401 or 425, so it wouldn't be stock parked in my garage anyway .
He only knew the difference between a Special and a Century when someone from the BCA board pointed it out to him. At least he changed his ad from saying it was a Century to saying it was a Special turned into a Century. A quick check of the model number on the trim tag would have told him that though, so I am not giving him much credit. :>)
I had to ask about the same thing up in the "Bench" section when I was looking at 50s Buicks this last summer ....had no idea what the difference between a Special, Super, Roadmaster, Century, Riviera, etc. was....all I knew was the Skylarks are beautiful with a price to match. Thanks to the board, I know better now about the differences.
The Century was the " G S " of the 30's , 40 's, & 50's . Small body with the biggest engine Buick made for that year . The Century name came about because the 36 Century would do 100 mph. My favorites are the 41 Century sedanette Model 66s with the dual carb 320 cu in straight 8 and the 55 - 56 Centurys . Bill
The car presents a challenge. It's solid enough to save, and right now it's a driver. Good, there's half the battle. So the new owner can continue the conversion, and he can have a lot of fun and gain satisfaction in knowing he built an acceptable Century clone, and, he'll end up with a car that's fun to drive. That's probably what I would do if it was my car. Now, look at it this way, why did we all get into this hobby? Was it to build a BJ style Garage Queen that scores 98 out of 100 or was it to build and drive a car that we like? I've modified both of my cars with factory options they never had; - and since the build sheets are gone and the records are hard to find, no one will ever know. But I built them for me, no one else. So here's a car that isn't terribly priced that's a driver that will allow a person to do just that; make it a fun personal car.
One of the only problems I see is the stock '55 Special manual 5 bolt top cover trans. is that the gears are made of "Glass" & subject to BREAKING very easily. One of the 1st. things I would do is change it to a 6 bolt top cover trans. Even the little 264 will destroy the stock trans. I know I've owned plenty of them.
