Vehicle Description
1953 Buick Super 50 Series Riviera 4 Door Sedan
"Superb style, spacious size and exhilarating travel mark the
medium priced Buick Super for 1953. This dashing beauty is fitted
with the finest fabrics and finish ever to grace a Buick Super.
Truly broad seats and the magnificent Buick ride provide a measure
of comfort far beyond the usual standards. With a brand new 170
horsepower V8 Fireball engine, and with the new trigger fast Twin
Turbine Dynaflow Drive, optional at extra cost, you thrill to a
superlative new travel experience in this handsome, big buy Buick."
Direct from the '53 brochure.
For consignment, a 1953 Buick Super 50 series Riviera 4 door sedan
with a title verified 76,900 miles, a two owner car that's had one
repaint and was stored for 30 years and comes with 20 years of
receipts for work that was done and new parts including a
carburetor, exhaust, and Wilwood brakes.
Exterior
This land yacht is appropriately hued in Seamist Gray which has a
slight aqua tone to it and masterfully highlights the curves and
body bends while contrasting with the stunning trim that includes
the three vent-o-ports on each front fender. A flowing "swoosh",
(more Puma than Nike here), of stainless runs from over the front
wheels then drifts downward on the back door, ever enlarging as it
drops, at which point your eye is drawn to the straight piece at
mid-line from the back door to the back edge. The entire cabin is
framed in polished metal and it's all in fantastic shape. The tail
is an unmistakable array of round tail lights, reverse lights
embedded in a big chrome bumper, a bulbous trunk lid, and on this
car, dual tips underneath. In front, a St. Bernard-like face, with
teardrop shaped headlight bezels, a big toothed grille, and a
matching wrap around bumper. A torpedo hood ornament fits a
contoured hood that stretches for miles in front of the driver. For
shoes we have Vintique black wheels with trim rings and spider
center caps inside of Coker white walls. At 20 feet, this car
presents as near flawless, but our photographer went to work to
point out imperfections which include numerous scratches, some of
which are touched up, bubbling in one spot, and some surface rust
at the seam of the rocker panel.
Interior
Green and gray door panels are handsomely designed with a small
tear noted on the driver cloth insert, while all other doors are in
great shape with the cloth suffering from discoloration in spots.
Both the front and rear bench seats are covered with an Indian
blanket and the back seat exhibits gobs of legroom and a robe loop
for each occupant to hang their shawl, fur coat, or camel hair
overcoat. Up front, we find a robust steering wheel with
exaggerated banjo-like horizontal spokes, leading to a wonderfully
original dashboard with slight patina and gray backed gauges. The
center vent is an artful grille flanked by a series of knobs and
the dash cap holds an AM radio. While up here, we note some trim
missing from the A-pillar. Down below, the vast floor is covered
with a fitted rubber mat and the sidewalls are green vinyl with
some cracking on the driver's side. Both the ceiling and trunk are
barren and uncovered.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is the driver quality 322ci Fireball V8 with a new
2-barrel carburetor and the 2 speed automatic Dynaflow transmission
backing it up and transferring the 170 hp to 3.60 gears in back.
Wilwood power disc brakes live up front, and power drums are in
back. Our consignor states that Pertronix electronic ignition was
added, all gaskets were replaced, the under the seat heater was
rebuilt including hoses.
Undercarriage
A combination of old and new lives underneath with a new gas tank
connected to an electric fuel pump with new lines, and newer
exhaust in the dual system that runs through Magnaflow mufflers
before exiting via polished tips out back. Everything else looks
period with a generous amount of grease coating on front
components, the transmission pan, and the rear diff as well as some
typical benign surface rust. Suspension consists of coil springs up
front and a 3 link with coil springs in the rear. Our consignor
states the shocks have been rebuilt.
Drive-Ability
According to the serial number, this car was assembled at the
Wilmington, Delaware plant, not too far from Classic Auto Mall, and
likely never strayed too far from the region. Lots of work has gone
into sorting this car out mechanically which we test by taking it
for a little spin around our test route. It delivers smooth power
with the 2-speed providing all it can, and a pleasant exhaust note
emits from the pipes out back. She tracks straight and stops very
well, and the cabin will have even the biggest of us feeling very
small, there's a lot of space! All functions on board operate as
they should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these
functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot
guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your
purchase.
At a time when roads were not as wide as they are today, it's
amazing that this big car, and others like it, navigated the
country. With no lane assist or blind spot warning, you really had
to be a skilled driver and that's when driver's ed classes were
imperative! Meanwhile, here we have a fine example with some epic
design features and an opportunity for some cosmetic TLC.
Vent-o-ports, Fireball, and Dynaflow are features and terms that
will forever be classic and here they are, together, in one big
Super! She's 207 inches long, so measure your garage and give us a
call!
56947936
5-Wilmington, DE Assy Plant
6947936-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
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