1954 Buick Roadmaster Convertible (model 76C)

A 10-year, body off the frame, restoration back to original, performed by Dr. and Mrs. K.L. Laytin

Winner of a Gold Senior Award and selected as the Best Post World War II Buick
at the 2005 Buick National Meet in Batavia, NY, scoring 399 out of a possible 400 points.

Award History
2003 - 2023

 

  1. Best of Show - Yankee Chapter of The Buick Club of America (BCA) Buicks At The Beach – New London, Conn.     June 7, 2003

  2. Best in Class - Tulley Buick Pontiac Show – Merrimack, NH     June 8, 2003

  3. Dealer's Choice Award - Tulley Buick Pontiac Show – Merrimack, NH June 8, 2003

  4. Best in Class - Wachusett Old Car Club, Wachusett Mountain, MA    August 3, 2003

  5. Best of Show - Wachusett Old Car Club, Wachusett Mountain, MA    August 3, 2003

  6. People's Choice Award 1st Place - RI Radio Station B101's Cruise Night at the Plainridge Race Track in Plainville, MA      August 30, 2003

  7. Best of Show 1st Place - RI Radio Station B101's Cruise Night at the Plainridge Race Track in Plainville, MA        August 30, 2003

  8. Best in Class - Attleboro Lion's Club Car Show, Attleboro, MA   September 7, 2003

  9. Best in Show - Attleboro Lion's Club Car Show, Attleboro, MA One of five cars selected Best In Show.   September 7, 2003

  10. Cover of BUICK BUGLE Magazine, February 2004, including article about the car.

  11. People’s Choice 1st Place in Show - Rock and Roll Ramble Heritage Museum and Gardens, Sandwich, MA       June 6, 2004

  12. 2nd Place in Class - Hildene Antique Car Show, Manchester, Vermont   June 14, 2004

  13. President’s Award - Bay State Antique Auto Club, And selection as one of the top 100 cars in New England Endicott Estate, Dedham, MA.    August 11, 2004

  14. Class Winner (1st Place - 1950’s Convertibles) - All Wheels Nationals. Cruisin’ New England Magazine Show Barnstable Co. Fairgrounds, Falmouth, MA.    August 28, 2004

  15. Invited Participant - Cruisin’ New England Magazine’s SuperWheels Showdown for the Top 100 cars in New England in 2004 City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA      October 2, 2004

  16. People’s Choice 1st Place - Rock and Roll Ramble Heritage Museum and Gardens, Sandwich, MA      June 4, 2005

  17. Cover of Hemmings Classic Car Magazine July 2005, Volume 10, including an article on the restoration of this car, with photos taken during the restoration.

  18. Gold Senior Award (for scoring above 390 points in 400 point judging) Buick Club of American National Meet, Batavia, NY      July 9, 2005

  19. Best Post-War Buick 1948-1960 - Jeff Brashares Award for the highest scoring post-war Buick 399 out of 400 points. Buick Club of America National Meet, Batavia, NY       July 9, 2005

  20. First Place - Cruise Night Marksie’s Mighty Dogs and Ice Cream, Kingston, MA       July 22, 2005

  21. Gold Award (BCA judging) - Northeast Regional Meet Jersey Shore Chapter, Buick Club of America, Brick, NJ       July 30, 2005

  22. Top Dog - Best of Cruise Season - 2005 Marksie’s Mighty Dogs and Ice Cream And selection as one of the top 100 cars in New England Kingston, MA      August 27, 2005

  23. First In Class - Yankee Chapter, Buick Club of America Vernon, Connecticut.     August 28, 2005

  24. Third Place - Grand Invitational Concours D’Elegance Heritage Museums and Gardens Sandwich, MA       September 18, 2005

  25. Invited Participant - Cruisin’ New England Magazine’s SuperWheels Showdown For the Top 100 cars in New England in 2005 City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA      October 1, 2005

  26. Cover of Hemmings Motor News Magazine  March, 2006

  27. Winner,  Post-War Open Class -  Newport Concours D’Elegance, Astor-Beechwood Mansion,  Newport Rhode Island.      May 27, 2006

  28. People’s Choice 2nd Place  -  Rock and Roll Ramble, Heritage Museum and Gardens, Sandwich, MA      July 29, 2006

  29. Best of Show  - Bristol County Street Rod Association Auto Show.   UMass Campus,  Dartmouth,  MA     August 13, 2006

  30. First in Class  - Yankee Chapter, Buick Club of America, Vernon, Connecticut. Regional Meet.     August 18-20, 2006

  31. First in Class - Newport Car Show at Portsmouth Abbey, Portsmouth, RI. June 12, 2007

  32. First in Class - Bristol County Street Rod Association Auto Show.   UMass Campus,  Dartmouth,  MA     August 12, 2007

  33. First in Class - Fall River Antique Auto Club,  Somerset, MA    August 19, 2007.

  34. First in Class - Newport Car Show at Portsmouth Abbey, Portsmouth, RI. June 21, 2010

  35. Favorite Buick- Hemmings Motor News'  Cruise-In Spectacular at Stratton Mountain, VT.     July 17, 2010

  36. Best Buick Roadmaster- Hemmings New England Concours D'Elegance, Stratton Mountain, VT.    July 18, 2010

  37. Best In Show- Hemmings New England Concours D'Elegance, Stratton Mountain, VT.    July 18, 2010

  38. Best Classic Car (post 1950) -Motor Head's Cruise In, Plymouth, MA. August 28, 2010

  39. Spectators' Choice Award - Heritage Museums and Gardens Auto Show, Sandwich, MA. July 9, 2011

  40. Spectators' Choice Award 2nd Place - Marion Classic Car Show, Marion, MA.   July 16, 2011

  41. Best of the Best - Autos Of The World Show,
    Goddard State Park, East Greenwich, RI     July 31, 2011

  42. Best 50's Car - South Shore Car Show,
    Plymouth South H.S., Plymouth, MA     Sept. 10, 2011

  43. Senior Preservation Award- Buick Club Of America, Concord, North Carolina,    June 30, 2012

  44. Best of Show - Motor Head's Cruise In, Plymouth, MA.    August 25, 2012

  45. Auto Committee's Choice Award -   Heritage Museums and Gardens Annual Auto Show, Sandwich, MA    July 6, 2013

  46. Featured in the Buick Bugle Magazine, June, 2014

  47. Best of Show - Motor Head's Cruise In, Waterfront Festival, Plymouth, MA   August 23, 2014

  48. Best of Show - Motor Head's Cruise In, Waterfront Festival, Plymouth, MA   August 29, 2015

  49. Participant's Choice Award - Heritage Museums and Gardens Annual Auto Show, Sandwich, MA   June 11, 2016

  50. Best of Show - Motor Head's Cruise In, Waterfront Festival, Plymouth, MA   August 27, 2016

  51. Best Classic Car post 1951 - Motor Head's Cruise In, Waterfront Festival, Plymouth, MA   August 25, 2018

  52. Best of Show - Motor Head's Cruise In, Waterfront Festival, Plymouth, MA   August 24, 2019

  53. Misselwood Award -Misselwood Concours D'Elegance, Invitation only event
    Endicott College, Beverly, MA   July 17, 2022

  54. Third in Class - Audrain Motor Week - Newport Concours d'Elegance. Invitation only event
    The Breakers Mansion, Newport, RI       October 2, 2022

  55. First Place - Minuteman Buick Club. BayState Antique Auto Club
    Endicott Estate, Dedham,  MA   July 9, 2023

     

updated July, 2023

It 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.

 

Before, During and After Restoration Photos - click to enlarge then hit your back button

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. Buick referred to it 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, it was placed for sale in the July, 1988 edition of Hemmings Motor News – where I 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 from Texas to Oklahoma to Idaho 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, the 8.00-15 bias ply 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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