Vehicle Description
Very nice frame-on restoration. Great-running straight-8, beautiful
paint, interior, and chrome. Fully sorted, runs and drives
properly, unusual body style. An attractive and powerful Buick for
the price of a comparable Chevy! We don't know who performed the
restoration, but it was a high-quality frame-on job of a complete,
straight car that was probably finished 10-15 years ago. The car
was obviously disassembled for the job, as the color was changed
from Teal Blue to Matador Red, both with a contrasting Majestic
White top. There's no trace of the original blue anywhere on the
car, so they were quite thorough and the quality of the work speaks
volumes given its condition today. There may be a few very, very
minor signs of use, but nothing is unwinding-no cracks, no
misaligned panels, no fading, and the car looks fantastic from any
angle today. Any '50s car is going to have a lot of chrome to
restore, so someone made the investment here-it looks fantastic
with all the pieces shining up brilliantly and showing very few
signs of age save for some minor pitting on the vent window
surrounds. The only noteworthy damage is a small crease in the
stainless trim ahead of the right rear wheel opening, but it's
barely even visible. The car also features excellent glass with the
traditional GM Sof-Ray tint, reproduction emblems and lenses, and
accessory side mirrors. Like the bodywork, the interior is a color
change so virtually everything inside the car is new. Handsome
checked cloth and red vinyl give it a very '50s look that's still
all-day comfortable and it'll take an expert to find anything that
isn't done to Buick's specs. The big steering wheel features the
same horn ring and button as other Buicks, celebrating that 50th
anniversary, and all the gauges are fully operational. The clock
and radio are offline, which isn't unusual, but otherwise
everything works, including lights, signals, and horn, making this
a great hobby car that can be enjoyed right away. For
functionality, the carpets are protected by heavy-duty rubber mats
that look like original equipment, and with that big back seat you
shouldn't think twice about bringing some friends along for the
ride. The massive trunk is outfitted with what appear to be the
original cardboard bulkheads and black carpet and includes a
full-sized spare and jack assembly. 1953 was the final year of a
straight-8 in a Buick, with this one displacing 263 cubic inches
and making 130 horsepower when linked to a DynaFlow transmission.
The 263 was much more than simply a bored out 248, and offered
significant upgrades such as hydraulic valve lifters, insert
bearings, improved oiling, and dozens of other little improvements
that make the 263 arguably the best of the straight-8s. In this
Special, it's smooth and torquey, starting easily with the
pushbutton on the dash and pulling the sleek hardtop around with
relative ease. Detailed in correct Buick Turquoise engine enamel
with a black oil bath air cleaner, the engine bay looks crisp and
bright. You'll note reproduction decals were added to give it an
authentic look and the big oil filter up front was a
dealer-installed accessory. Unlike many of its peers, this one has
no exhaust leaks, no burning oil, and thanks to ownership with a
Buick mechanic of some note, it is beautifully tuned so it runs
right. If you want a reliable cruiser, this is a fantastic choice.
The DynaFlow transmission was a popular option in 1953, with a vast
majority of Buicks receiving the no-shift automatic. It accelerates
without any shifts and cruises easily at 60 MPH today. As I
mentioned, this was not a frame-off restoration, but the underside
of the car shows nothing scary or in need of attention, just some
normal surface scale on some of the heavy iron parts and nothing to
hide. It looks like the shocks were rebuilt at some point in the
not-too-distant past, there's a new gas tank out back, and all
DynaFlow cars received 3.60 gears so it's a relaxed cruiser under
almost any conditions. Factory steel wheels and hubcaps look
appropriate and carry 7.60-15 wide whitewall tires. Offering a lot
of car for the money, this Special is powerful, smooth, quiet, and
easy to handle. Sure, you could buy a comparable Chevy, but why be
like everyone else? The Buick stands out in a big way, and that's
not by accident. Add in a flashy color combination, quality
restoration, and the silky smooth straight-8, and you have a
delightful hobby car that asks for very little in return for all
the fun it provides. Call today! Harwood Motors always recommends
and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in
our inventory prior to purchase.
