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My '58 Buick Roadmaster

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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.