Photo: James Teglash/Facebook Marketplace
The last time Buick had an automobile called the Special in showrooms, Neil Armstrong was walking on the moon, and the Woodstock Music Festival had 400,000 attendees. Yup, it was 1969, meaning the Buick Special was discontinued a whopping 55 years ago as of 2024. That's probably long enough to forget a nameplate that GM produced on and off for less than three decades.
First introduced in 1936 as the company's entry-level full-size car, the Century remained in production through 1942 when the US entered World War 2. The nameplate returned in 1948 and got a dramatic redesign the following year. Some ten years later, Buick discontinued the Special to make way for the LeSabre.
The badge returned after only two years, but Buick decided to use it on a compact car. In 1964, the Special was re-assigned to midsize duty until its final discontinuation in 1969.this S
Come 2024, the Special isn't the first classic we think about when talking iconic Buick models, but I think certain iterations of the nameplate deserve more time in the spotlight. The 1958 version is one of those cars.
Sure, we could argue that the early 1950s variants are prettier than this final-year full-size. I'm a big fan of the 1950-1953 Special myself. However, none of these rigs look as flamboyant as the 1958 version. When it comes to front-end chrome, no Buick will rise above a 1958, regardless of the nameplate.
These Buicks received excessive chrome as an answer to Chrysler's "Forward Look" design. And in addition to chrome-laden taillights, finds, and side panels, Buick also introduced the Fashion-Aire Dynastar grille. The element occupied 50% of the car's front fascia and included no fewer than 160 chrome squares, which were shaped "to maximize the amount of reflective light." The grille also found its way on the Century, Super, and Roadmaster, but the Special was the most affordable of the bunch.
The redesign was pretty popular at the time. Buick sold nearly 242,000 automobiles that year, and more than half rolled off the assembly line with "Special" badges. Quite the common classic, right? Well, that may be true, but how many of these rigs survived as highly original and unrestored gems to this day? Not many. And that's precisely why this two-door hardtop is an amazing find.
Listed for sale in Taylor, Michigan, this Special is one of those classics that soldiered on for decades without damage and with a surprisingly low reading on the odometer. Driven for only 58,173 miles (93,620 km), the Buick is described as "all original," a feat that also includes the black paint.
How did it survive in such great condition for more than 60 years? Well, the seller claims it has never seen snow or rain, which pretty much means it was garaged all this time. The ad is rather brief, but the photos show a nice two-tone interior and a V8 engine that appears correct to this car. The latter needs a battery and a starter, but there's no information on whether it runs or not. The unit you see here should be a 364-cubic-inch (6.0-liter) V8 good for 210 or 250 horsepower.
The seller wants $29,000 for this garage-kept beauty, which is a tad below the current market value for vehicles like this. However, the lack of proper info means this Special requires a visit before an offer is made.
The badge returned after only two years, but Buick decided to use it on a compact car. In 1964, the Special was re-assigned to midsize duty until its final discontinuation in 1969.this S
Come 2024, the Special isn't the first classic we think about when talking iconic Buick models, but I think certain iterations of the nameplate deserve more time in the spotlight. The 1958 version is one of those cars.
Sure, we could argue that the early 1950s variants are prettier than this final-year full-size. I'm a big fan of the 1950-1953 Special myself. However, none of these rigs look as flamboyant as the 1958 version. When it comes to front-end chrome, no Buick will rise above a 1958, regardless of the nameplate.
These Buicks received excessive chrome as an answer to Chrysler's "Forward Look" design. And in addition to chrome-laden taillights, finds, and side panels, Buick also introduced the Fashion-Aire Dynastar grille. The element occupied 50% of the car's front fascia and included no fewer than 160 chrome squares, which were shaped "to maximize the amount of reflective light." The grille also found its way on the Century, Super, and Roadmaster, but the Special was the most affordable of the bunch.
The redesign was pretty popular at the time. Buick sold nearly 242,000 automobiles that year, and more than half rolled off the assembly line with "Special" badges. Quite the common classic, right? Well, that may be true, but how many of these rigs survived as highly original and unrestored gems to this day? Not many. And that's precisely why this two-door hardtop is an amazing find.
Listed for sale in Taylor, Michigan, this Special is one of those classics that soldiered on for decades without damage and with a surprisingly low reading on the odometer. Driven for only 58,173 miles (93,620 km), the Buick is described as "all original," a feat that also includes the black paint.
How did it survive in such great condition for more than 60 years? Well, the seller claims it has never seen snow or rain, which pretty much means it was garaged all this time. The ad is rather brief, but the photos show a nice two-tone interior and a V8 engine that appears correct to this car. The latter needs a battery and a starter, but there's no information on whether it runs or not. The unit you see here should be a 364-cubic-inch (6.0-liter) V8 good for 210 or 250 horsepower.
The seller wants $29,000 for this garage-kept beauty, which is a tad below the current market value for vehicles like this. However, the lack of proper info means this Special requires a visit before an offer is made.
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