1955 Buick Century

Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

Gasoline

Up for auction is my 1955 Buick Century 2 door hardtop. This auction is for the complete car as described below. For a solid bodied car, professionally rebuilt engine, and a nice new custom interior, this is a good deal for the money. f you are looking for a beautiful car to finish, this is an excellent consideration. Please, only serious bidders and inquiries. I would also invite you to come and look at the car in person, located in Shelbyville, Illinois (central Illinois). OVERALL CONDITION: I have about $12,000.00 invested in this car. Possibly one of the most solid cars you will ever find from the 1950's. I bought it in 2006 from a gentleman in southern Arizona, so the sheet metal is in great shape. Though the car was a driver, I had it shipped to me and I started a total rebuild on it. I had the motor rebuilt in 2009, and the interior is finished. The main things left to do to it would be put new gaskets in the trani (smart to do while engine is out), freshen the brakes, replace the windshield/rubber, paint and reassemble. The car is complete with the exception of the radio, exterior door handles, ash trays, mesh grille, "BUICK" letters on hood, trunk ornament and air cleaner. BODY: The car is beautifully straight and solid. As noted, this car came from the salt-free desert so it had virtually no rust issues. Other than minor dings, the only body issue I had was to replace a rocker panel. The fine dust had blown into one corner area behind it and it had gotten wet and started to rust so I just replaced the whole thing. Only very small repairs. The car was an absolutely gorgeous canvas to start with! The body has been taken down to bare metal, acid etched primed, and blocked twice with urethane primer. I've noted a few small dings up on the cowl that need to be smoothed over, but otherwise, the body is ready for paint. Hood, doors, and front fenders have not been primed yet. Taking no shortcuts, there were a few small places in the fenders where I just touched up the metal but they are in great shape. Doors are solid, as is the hood. Inner fenders are beautiful, and the floor and the trunk are just as solid as they were in 1955. GLASS: The windshield has a slight crack in it but it is not anything major. Rear and side glass are in good condition. Some of the side glass has some bubbling, but nothing out of the norm. Having lived in the dry desert, the rubber is cracked and old. It should be replaced. CHROME: I would list the chrome in overall "good" or "driver" condition. It is defininately not in concourse condition, but not terrible either. The bumpers have some dings and scratches, but are solid and have a fair shine to them. One dolly parton bumper bullet is dinged up, but I have a replacement for it included with the car (pictured). The original moustache bar is cracked (so typical on these cars!), but I also have a solid replacement for it which also will be included with the car. Window chrome is in good condtion. The pot metal mesh grille was broken and I no longer have that. Tailight bezels and headlight bezels look really good. STAINLESS: The stainless on this car is very nice and is all included. I believe one of the curved side trim pieces on the rear wheel well has some dings that need to be worked out, but everything will polish up beautifully. INTERIOR: The car has a new full custom interior by Mac's Custom Interiors in Decatur, IL. Mac specializes in rod and kustoms and many of his cars have been featured in magazines. The Buick's interior was modeled after a '56 Buick bubbletop show car from the early 1960's. It is purple pearl and white pearl naugahyde with red accents and looks amazing. The "Century" emblem has been embroidered in the seat backs and it also has the original "Stray Cat" embroidered into the rear seat back. Just in case you want to change or add something on the interior, I will also include a roll of the purple vinyl that was left over. Headliner is new and is installed. Carpet is new and needs only to be glued down. It is trimmed in pearl white, just like it was in the 50's. Door and side panels have flames stiched into them. All the interior moldings are there, including the arm rests. Dash is complete except for ash trays and radio. The stainless on the dash that is engine tune spun is just in fair condition. All gauges work perfectly. Garnish moulding is all there. ENGINE: The original 322 has been TOTALLY rebuilt and I have about $4K in the engine alone. The engine was rebuilt by CD's Engine up in Grand Rapids, MI (Hudsonville). This is a shop that specializes in rebuilding classic and performance motors. Even though it didn't need it, the engine has been bored 40 over and everything has been redone. 4bl carb is rebuilt; as are the fuel pump, vacuum advance, water pump, generator, and starter. Both the generator and starter were rebuilt by hand by a specialty shop in Michigan and will last years beyond expectation. New wires, plugs, etc and ready to go. Basically a new engine with more horsepower than it had in '55. TRANI: Includes the original dynaflow transmission. It ran and shifted smooth and beautifully and I do not feel you need to do anything to it except put some new gaskets on it. The dry AZ heat does take it's toll and it did leak some when I drove it. This is where I stopped work on the car and why I haven't put the engine back in it yet. TIRES: Has thin striped whitewall radial Firestones on it. 15". They look like new but I have no idea how old they are. Steel wheels are in great shape. THE REST OF THE STORY: What am I forgetting?? Radiator is perfect and has been flushed; gas tank was boiled and cleaned with all new sender and fuel lines installed; has a new $210.00 New Port Engineering wiper motor installed for the windshield wipers; new stereo speakers, has the optional underseat heater on it... Oh, and yes, the car has a clear title! Relatively speaking, it is not going to take a whole lot to get the car on the road. This most likely will be the last time the car is listed. For somebody that is serious about building a '55 Century, this is a great buy and at a stage where it could be restored to original condition or continued as a mild custom. The price is very reasonable for what I have in it and what you are getting. I want to sell it, but at the same time I am not giving it away. PLEASE, do not waste my time or your time by bidding on the car unless you will complete the auction. Please ask any questions before bidding, and only serious bidders please. Anyone with less than 20 feedbacks must contact me before bidding. The car will have to be trailered of course, and I welcome you to come look at the car if you would like. Payment is due 7 days from auction end unless other arrangements are made with me beforehand. "