1954 Buick Roadmaster Convertible (model 76C)A 10-year, body off the frame, restoration back to original, Winner of a Gold Senior Award and selected as the
Best Post World War II Buick Award History
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Before, During and After Restoration Photos
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Fully Restored
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Late in life in Oklahoma before junkyard
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Oklahoma junkyard
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Oklahoma junkyard
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Deteriorated interior
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Damaged dash
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New, temporary home in Massachusetts
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New, temporary home in Massachusetts
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Every Buick needs a garage
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Getting a new home
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Sleeping safely in new home
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Start of disassembly
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Damage from exposure to weather without a roof
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Body removed from frame and on wooden cart built for easy transport
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Body transported for media blasting
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Frame being readied for media blasting and all new components
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Floor from another Buick being readied for transplant
into our Roadmaster
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Body braced during media blasting and body work
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Body work
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New components on frame
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Frame being readied for engine and transmission
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Rebuilt and detailed engine
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Engine and transmission on frame - note the temporary wooden supports for the radiator and battery
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A "rolling frame" -- Note the gas tank and the fancy
seat
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"Body partially painted and being lowered
back down onto the frame"
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Body on frame with brother in "driver's seat"
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Dashboard and power seat mechanism installed
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Doors and side window glass
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Interior - all new learther upholstery
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Carpet installed
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Completed interior - on display
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Completed and posing for photos
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Posing for photos
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Posing for photos
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Posing for photos
The Buick has a 200 horsepower 322 cubic inch V-8 engine with a 4-barrel
carburetor, a Dynaflow automatic transmission, power steering, power
brakes, a power antenna, a 4-way power seat, a power top, power windows
and a Selectronic ("Wonder Bar") radio. It weighs 4,355 pounds. This
Buick was built at the Atlanta, Georgia factory during the 4th week
of January, 1954. The body was built in Flint, Michigan and shipped
to Atlanta for installation on a chassis. It was one of 3,305 Roadmaster
Convertibles built that year. Fewer than 20 are currently known to exist.
Buick referred to this body style as Model 76C. As best as can be determined
from the options on the car, its advertised delivered price was $3,520.56.
Not a lot is known about this specific car's history other than that
it lived much of its first life in Arkansas. When it was located in
mid 1988, it was in Oklahoma. The car was last owned by a adjuster for
Farmer's Insurance. Not running and in rough shape, outside without
a convertible roof, it was placed for sale in the July, 1988 edition
of Hemmings Motor News where we found it. Beginning in 1993 it underwent
a 10-year complete restoration. The body was removed from the frame.
The body and frame were blasted down to bare metal. Virtually every
nut and bolt was replaced as was every wire. All mechanicals were rebuilt.
Many parts were replaced with NOS (new old stock) parts, that is original
factory parts still in their boxes. Another 1954 Buick we own and many
Buicks in junkyards in Texas, Oklahoma, Idaho and Massachusetts gave their lives
so that this Buick might live again. Most of the chrome is NOS that
has been replated. The leather interior is new, matched in color and
stitching pattern exactly to the original. The exterior color, Cavalier
Blue, though done with a modern paint, is a virtually identical match
to the original metallic paint. Details down to the original dealer
option Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels, wide white wall tires with tubes, the
original headlamps found in a junkyard in Idaho, to the color of every
wire, to the brackets that hang the exhaust pipes are correct. At the
Buick National Meet in Batavia, NY in July 2005, this car was judged
for authenticity and workmanship. It was awarded 399 of a possible 400
points, given a Gold Senior Award and chosen as the Best Post World
War II Buick at that year's national show. And it was driven 456 miles
each way to that show. These Buicks were meant to be driven. |
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