1957 Buick Other

TWO DOOR Coupe

364 V8

Automatic

5D4020381

Clear

This auction is for a 1957 Buick Super which is mostly restored. I love the car but must sell it, and want it to go to a good home. Please read full description and ask any questions you may have before bidding. I have imposed a very reasonable reserve that should be a great deal for a buyer. Thanks for looking!HistoryThis car has been in my family since the 1970's, when it was purchased by my dad. I grew up with this car, so what I describe is from either my memories or him telling me. When he bought the car it was in good driver condition, with 3x,xxx miles (don't have documentation to prove, but believe it to be true). He did a minor restoration on it finishing it in 1980 and continued to show the car for many years through the early 90's, after which it began to sit for many years until I got it out in 2006.MechanicalAfter removing from storage, the car was attempted to be started without fully rotating the engine by hand. This unfortunately resulted in a couple broken valves and pistons. Therefore, the numbers-matching engine was fully rebuilt in 2006 including cylinder heads with hardened valve seats. Of course, the carburetor and all other questionable components on the engine were rebuilt or replaced at this time as well; I have receipts for this. The engine was repainted when rebuilt, but I had not gotten to detailing the rest of the engine compartment. There is no parasitic draw on the electrical system and the car can sit for weeks on end with the battery connected and still crank right over. In addition, since then the car has had new tires installed, brakes/wheel cylinders at all wheels, new dual exhaust with rear resonators (exiting as intended through NOS exhaust baffles in rear bumper ends), and heater core cleaned and leak tested. Exhaust sounds like it may have small leak at flange and sometimes taps something up front when first started, so adjustment may be needed. Brakes stop great, but there is a pull to left if you take your hands off the wheel, so an adjustment may be needed here as well. However, car still drives and stops great. Since the car has been out of storage, I have probably only driven it less than 200 miles since much of the time it has spent with the body being repaired. However, I drove it about 50 miles (about half at highway speeds) to it's current resting place at my house in October with no incident and have driven it a couple times around my neighborhood since then.BodyThe car was stripped a few years ago and has just undergone a complete quality base/clear repaint in its original colors (Garnet Red Metallic over Dover White). When it was first repainted in 1980, the car had rocker panels and quarter panel patches installed before painting. The car was always stored indoors since then, but the years on the concrete caused some of the original undercoating to peel and rust to start. So, on the recent repaint I replaced the rear floor pans since they were thin (see last picture after installation) and inner rocker panels. The entire body was stripped to bare metal and acid washed and all repairs are welded fitted metal. Frame, trunk and tire well, and front floor pans are original and completely solid. Most of the chrome pieces were refinished or new (trunk letters (Finishing Touch in Chicago - not cheap), hood letters, mirrors, headlight bezels, antenna bezel, rear bumper and ends, fuel door, side gills, rear bumper extensions), with nearly all of the remaining being very nice. Wiper base bezels should be rechromed and maybe the inner taillight bezels; hood bar, and parts of the front bumper could be refinished if you want to make a top show car but looks great as is for local shows or cruising, in my opinion. Hubcaps are extremely nice and are fitted with NOS center caps. Driver side vent window is cracked but a nice replacement comes with car. Has power antenna but will not move up and down under its own power although the motor runs.InteriorSeats were reupholstered in 1980 with NOS 1957 Buick fabric and are still like new, and door panels were done at that time as well. Seat cloth pattern is original to Century instead of Super model (all that could be found at time and repros were not being made yet) but is correct year and color, sewn to the proper pattern and looks terriffic. My dad told me the interior was pretty nice as original and he wasn't going to replace it, but after painting the car he thought it looked a bit tired so he redid it. I just replaced the carpet and kick panels with new and it looks great. Headliner appears to be original and is very nice. Dash pad is pretty nice but has some touched-up nicks on the leading edge passenger side. Steering wheel has cracks and shift lever is loose but functions OK.Speedometer works properly as does ammeter, temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, and fuel gauge (it moves up and down but cannot confirm that it reads "empty" and "full" at correct points as I haven't driven the car enough). Horn works great. Radio plays great and new dash speaker has been installed. Interior lights work, and blower works. Clock does not run. TERMS $500 deposit required within 48 hours of auction's end by succesful high bidder, and remaining balance due within 1 week via wire transfer. The car must be picked up within 2 weeks of auction's end or bidder will forfeit his or her deposit, unless other terms are agreed upon. Description is accurate to my knowledge; please ask any additional questions before bidding. This is a teriffic old car but it is an old car and therefore is sold as-is.On Jan-06-13 at 08:10:03 PST, seller added the following information: Additonal pictures can be seen at: http://s254.beta.photobucket.com/user/lancemb/library/?#/user/lancemb/library/57%20Super?&_suid=135748724048406906509366844065 Additional details:There is new hood insulation installed.There is new weatherstripping on the trunk and around the doors.There is NO bondo or filler besides smoothing dings and seams - the car is 100% metal.The paint has a high quality finish and is mirror smooth with no ripples in the body panels.The rear window seal was replaced when the car was painted, but the windshield was left intact as it looked good. , but the weatherstipping between the side windows should probably be replaced. There may be a couple of rubber pieces otherwise that may need to be replaced.There is a small leak at the transmission seal to the torque tube which does not prevent the car from being driven. All of the lights worked on the drive home a couple months ago - at least the headlights, tail lights, and signals but didn't check the brake lights although I know they were checked and a new switch installed when the engine was rebuilt and I believe the body shop check before I left with the car. There was one instance where I had to move the shift lever to get the signal to work - I suppose with the looseness that I mentioned in the shift lever sometimes affects the neutral safety switch and corresponding light switch in the steering column.The "flippers" that cover the tops of the side windows with the doors are closed don't always flip all the way down, so not sure if they need serviced or if an adjustment is needed to the doors.Not sure about the front end as I haven't touched it, but felt fine driving the car. Also, last time car was being driven before rebuild was when my dad was driving it, and he owned a repair shop with a large stock of old suspension parts etc. and he always kept all of his cars in top condition that we driving so I have no reason to believe it should have any front end issues.In general, the car is beatiful even close up. It has just been resurrected after many years in storage, so there may be many small things that will need to be done to get everything in full working order, but nothing major. In my estimation, a few months of tinkering on the weekends is all that would be needed to get the small things taken care of, but the car can be driven now and looks great the way it is.On Jan-06-13 at 13:31:29 PST, seller added the following information: Started the car up today and let if get up to operating temperature. I tested brake lights today and only one side worked, and back up lights came on, so it probably needs a neutral safety switch and one bulb replaced. The tail lights, head lights, and turn signals worked though.