Just bought a Buick "The Chrome King"

[Dave Harris]

Just delivered to my house is a 1958 Buick Special 2 door Riviera I bought. This is known as the 1950s car with the most chrome ever. I've had my eye out for a 58. This car has pretty much always been in Texas. This is driver quality. Frame is solid and body has no rust bubbles I can see. There are paint chips and some scratches in areas. Chrome is very good. Floor pans great. No rust underneath. No mechanical issues (although radio and clock do not work). REALLY needs a service job though. The oil has a little white stuff (condensation) in it. The powersteering fluid looks discolored. The radiator fluid appears brown and gooky. I am going to have the mechanic really check the ball joints and tie rod ends brakes etc just to be safe and do a full service on it.

This car starts with a "throttle pedal" method. When I turn the key to on, the fuel pump starts working (that was added later). Then I turn key to off and pump pedal a few times. Then key goes back to on and I hold the gas pedal as it cranks to start. Previous owner has a cut off switch so coolant won't reach the heater core. It's so hot in Texas that he never used it.

You can tell this car is truly a southern car. Glass is in excellent condition with no cracks or scratches. Has a rebuilt original 364 nailhead motor with about 10000 miles and runs, shifts and drives great. Some orange peel is near a few trim pieces. Body panels are straight. Some of the window stripping should be replaced. Windows clean in good shape. The a/c is aftermarket and works. Also has power seats and steering. Pretty much left original, except an aftermarket radio and battery tray with modern battery there, windows were tinted, among some other things. Seats and carpet were replaced at some point. The knock-off wire wheels are not original, but the original steel wheels with hubcaps come with the car. The Special was the cheapest in the line for that year. Most expensive was the Limited.

As for parts, they are pretty available for the Special or Centurys. The Limited and Roadmaster larger size Buicks are harder to find parts. You have to pick from various sources for this Buick. Rock Auto, CARS and some others.

Dave

[Rick Payton]

Very cool!!!! Do you have the original wheel covers? Love the black and chrome!:D

[Sean Rollins]

Nice find! I love the look of it, and it sounds like it will be a lot of fun to drive. Congrats.

[Pat Marshall]

There was a couple just south of Columbus, OH who had matching 58's. Lavender on the bottom w/Cream top. They used to park them side-by-side in their driveway. They were spectacular.

[Hal W May]

Dave: Was the dual exhaust factory or aftermarket-looks sharp. It looks like-better than a 10 foot car.

[Dave Harris]

Dual exhaust was optional I think. No this is a 10 footer car. Runs and drives fine so far. I do have the original wheel covers. Here's a picture. Thanks for the comments.

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[Sean Rollins]

Had to happen sooner or later, you lost me. What do you mean by a ten foot car?

[newmexicomatt]

10 Foot Car=Looks great from 10 feet away! Anything closer it exposes some minor flaws.....

[Dave Harris]

Just had a full tune up with all the fluids replaced. Underside very clean with no rust anywhere. Southern cars are really the way to go. Anyway car is running great for now. Going to get the proper battery sometime from Antique auto battery for the right fit in the tray. Again thanks for the comments.

[Bob smith]

Way to go Dave! It's a great looking car. I am and have been a 50's Buick lover for years. I have a 57 Caballero which I bought 18 yrs. ago. It was a So Cal no rust car as well. I have always liked 58's a lot and there hard to find with no rust. The Buick club is very active and has a great monthly publication, The Buick Bugle, so you might consider joining. Have fun!

[linmk2]

Love those 58 Buick's. The Limited of that year has to be one of the most over the top cars of the 50's. Save perhaps for the 59 Cadillac. Have you looked at the grille yet? The Dynastar grille has those little chrome squares that are mounted separately, not unlike the fins on the wheels covers of the Mark II.

[Dave Harris]

Just got the correct style battery for this car at Antique Auto battery. I had to find a hold down bracket elsewhere. Bolts and other hardware were at local auto parts store. Anyway it fits perfectly and I think it looks much better. Here's some shots with it inside the Buick.

[awags]

I grew up in the 80's so I've always been "Bandit Trans Am", 69 Camaro, etc, kind of guy. But WOW! That Buick is sweet! Buying my Mark II and This sight have really opened my eyes. Late 50's cars are awesome.
Driving from Milwaukee to Fon du Lac on Sunday we decided to stop into the Wisconsin Auto Museum in Hartford. First car I saw was a Perfect looking Tucker$$$ A lot of Kisslers (they were made in Hartford), My two cars- '57 Mark II and a Delorean. And several '50's. We were there 1 1/2 hrs and got kicked out, they were closing, my girlfriend(29 and not a car person) even enjoyed the variety of cars. Many interesting things, well worth the stop. ALOT of cars, and a locomotive steam engine.

[Shelly Harris]

Very cool Dave. What's the cost on that?

[Dave Harris]

$265.

http://www.antiqueautobattery.com/index.html

[Roger Zimmermann]

That type of battery was used also on '53 to '56 Cadillacs. On the Buick, the location of the battery is rather convenient, contrary to Cadillacs where the battery is located low behind the RH wheelhouse.

[Dave Harris]

The Buick is at the shop and I'm having them add some safety upgrades. First is a power disc brake conversion from Kanter auto products. It's supposed to be a correct fit for the 58-60 Buicks. You know how that is though. We'll see how it goes and I'll post an update when completed. Here's a few shots of some of the components. I can tell after some measuring that the power booster/master cylinder assembly in the first shot may be a little tight. Anyone here ever used a disc conversion from Kanter?
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Also I'm getting these seat belts installed. They are 74 inches long and come from a place called retro-belt USA. Some people think adding belts to an old car is just a false sense of security. The bench seat can break off with the belts still intact and cause further injury to the waist. Anyway I bought these.
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http://www.retrobeltusa.com/products/details/id/1

Dave

[Sean Rollins]

I know that lap belts have a miriad or reasons why they are bad in an accident, but at the end of the day, I think it is far better to take those chances than be ejected from the vehicle. I lost a friend in high school that way, and years ago, I rolled a hotrod numerous times which would have done the same to me. Since then, I believe any belt is better than none. The brake kit parts look well made. hope they fit without too much hassle.

[depmike38]

I guess if one was really paranoid about seats breaking you could check the welds in the seat frame first and then add a bit more reinforcement under the floor mounts. I have to agree that while ideally a 3-point is more desirable a lap belt might at least keep you in the car which is better than being tossed out. One more thing to consider are your rear seat passengers and the effect they have on the front seat if unbelted. About 26 years ago the police agency I worked for lost a K-9 officer because of his dog. He was travelling down a four-lane boulevard when an 18-wheeler that was blinded by rain and an uncut row of hedge turned in front of him abruptly and he squared off the cabs dual wheels with the patrol car. The state investigator estimated he was going about 50mph on impact. The dog flew forward and struck the seatback on the drivers side and broke the seat loose at the floor crushing the driver into the wheel/dash. It was an early to mid-eighties Crown Vic and if I remember correctly one of the floor anchors used the same bolt for seat and belt. When it let go there was nothing to hold him in place even with the shoulder belt. Nowadays I can only think of a few cars that use the same mounting points for both seat and belt.

[Dave Harris]

Yes I'm having the rear ones put in too. I have young children and would like it if they could ride too once in a while, if my wife would let me.

[Dave Harris]

Just got the 58 Buick today and the front power disc brakes are done and seat belts are installed. The Kanter brake kit could not be used as is (even though they tell you it all just bolts on) and needed some modifications including a different new dual master. A special firewall mounting plate had to be made. Spacers needed modification. A number of other things. Anyway here's some pictures.

[Matt Cashion]

Very neat looking conversion! The plug on the switch on the side of the master cylinder appears to have the wires cut, or is it my old eye sight?

[Dave Harris]

Hi Matt. Not cut, the wires are just wrapped with black tape there.

[Doc]

Nice and neat looking installation, but, of course the obvious question, how does it stop?

[Dave Harris]

Thanks for the responses. I did have to have the rotors machined since this install. I have the car back now and the braking is great. What a difference!

[Dave Harris]

During the brake job, we switched to the original steel wheels and hubcaps. I decided to get new tires as well. They are original style 2 1/2 inch whitewall bias ply. BF Goodrich is the brand from Coker tire. I can still switch to the knock-off wire wheels with this brake upgrade. Anyway here's a few shots with original look.
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[Doc]

I think it looks tremendous with the new whitewalls and hubcaps. Much more period authentic and somehow makes the car look lighter. Great upgrade!