by Ian Scott
On Tuesday 1 October 1957, assembly line production started on
the Buick for the coming year. In the next nine months, 241,908
units were produced in eight different assembly plants. The range
consisted of five models: Special, Super, Century, Roadmaster and
Limited. 1958 was to be a milestone year in General Motors' history,
marking their 50th anniversary. At first glance the five series
appear similar, all having the grill made from 160-inch squares,
quad headlights and the Buick name emblazoned across the hood. To
the rear, model type is displayed on the trunk, and variations are
evident in the light lenses. (Rear bumper corners on the Roadmaster
and Limited have reversing lights situated within). Side views are
also alike, excepting the Limited, which sports fifteen angled chrome
flashes on the rear doors and fenders, as opposed to the grooved
panels edged with stainless steel trim seen on all other models.
The Roadmaster series consisted of 3 types: the 75R, a two door
Riviera production of 2,368; 75C, a convertible production of 1,181;
and the 75, a four door pillarless production of 10,505 of which
139 were made for export.
Factory data supplied by Automotive Research Services (where information
is found by decoding the vehicle serial and vin numbers) has computed
the build date of my vehicle to be Tuesday 17th June 1958, from
the Atlanta plant in Georgia. The last unit to roll off the production
line did so on Friday 27th June 1958. So this car was finished ten
days before the last date, making it possibly the youngest '58 left
around? The car has a 364 cu in V8 with Rochester four-barrel carburettor,
connected to Flightpitch Dynaflow automatic gearbox - a duo producing
300 bhp@4600rpm. Among the options are electric windows front and
rear, power steering and brakes, also, a safety-buzzer speedometer
(where a warning buzzer sounds at an adjusted speed set between
20 and 110 mph.). It has an autronic-eye fitted to the dash, which,
as many of you will be aware, automatically changes from main beam
to dip and back, upon the detection of oncoming headlights. With
an original price of $4,667, the Roadmaster was only $445 cheaper
than a Limited.
The car has been in my possession for four years. In the first year,
apart from usual servicing (oil filter, ht leads, plugs, air filter
etc.), not a lot of work was carried out. The car was used for pleasure
and taken to shows. Over the following year the body was stripped
to bare metal and repainted by my brother Paul. Only a relatively
small amount of welding was required; considering the age of the
car; just normal areas, such as around the hood, doors and trunk.
My mechanic friend Peter carried this out. Chrome trim is a very
substantial part of a '58 Buick, and all has now been re-plated.
Bumper sections and other parts too badly pitted were sourced and
fitted.
The engine and bay were painted, undersealed and treated with Waxoyl.
While the carpets and bench seats were out, the floor-pan was also
painted. Exhaust silencers have been replaced, and tail pipes changed
to look more in keeping with the car. The heater radiator was repaired
after finding it disconnected due to a leaking core. The side windows
were dismantled and glass replaced with the same tint. Weather-stripping
on the doors and roof rails was replaced along with trunk seal and
doorstops.
Electrics were repaired, as the car was re-trimmed. My dash lights
now operate without the optional smoke effect! and the timepiece
now has a quartz movement, maintaining the original clock face and
hands Similarly, the six-way power front seat is once again in full
working order. The Delco battery, having two cells not holding a
charge, was replaced, as was the fuel pump. An option orginally
fitted to this Buick was Air-Poise suspension - notoriously problematic,
this system has long since been disconnected, replaced with coil
springs and shocks. The vacuum operated windshield wipers worked
when they felt like it, so an electric conversion kit has taken
over.
|
