my neighbor bought this one. https://classiccars.com/listings/vi...special-for-sale-in-naperville-illinois-60540 Any thoughts? good deal?
If it's as advertised, I think your neighbor did OK. If I were buying it (1958 isn't my favorite year) I would rather have the factory wheels and wheel covers. The four door sedan is the most practical and ironically the least valuable of all body styles. This is because typically four doors are the biggest sellers. In 1958 the Special 2 dr Hardtop did outsell the four door, but the Special four door was second in sales among all 1958 Buicks regardless of the series (Special, Roadmaster etc). It looks like a really nice car.
I'd say that if he is happy, then it doesn't matter what the "market" bears for value. That said, Special 4 door sedans really don't command that kind of coin. Factory AC in a Special is very rare though.
That car looks to be in good shape. I would say it's a fair deal, if he likes the car. I agree with Marc on the wheels. Factory wheel covers on red wheels would make it snap!
That'd be John, James, but I agree with both you and John. Factory red wheels with caps would make it snap. Also, this car is heavily loaded for a Special; there weren't many with power seats, windows and A/C, so Patrick, your friend did well. So, is that thing headed for Germany? If so, he's going to have to do a few things to make the TUV happy, - the most obvious is to fix that speedometer, which is more or less impossible. My dad had a 58 Super as his first car here in Edmonton; he said it was nothing like the BMW clunker he left on the docks in Hamburg when we emigrated here. I loved that car, and yes, he broke the Speedo too; the pointer actually starts to bounce when you go over 120.
Does Germany require a metric scale? I'm not sure the speedometer fix is impossible, but it will be expensive. Fantomworks has mentioned an outfit that can redo gauges. I'm guessing that a metric face could be made to replace the North American measurement readout. It would mean removing and sending out the speedometer. If it were my car, I'd try to find another good unit and send that one out. This would avoid tying up the car for months.
You can place stickers under the mph numbers, we had them available here in Canada for a while. I'm not sure there was even a km/h scale available out of Buick Switzerland in 1958, but I could be wrong. But that would be minor, they go through those cars with a fine-toothed comb and once they're finished, they're dead-stock and in perfect condition or they don't run. Any modifications (retro-mods, "improvements") have to be approved by them before being considered legal. And then you get a special license plate which essentially limits your speed. That's how I understand it, I'm sure the German guys can pipe in and let us all know what the process is over there.
The last time I was in Germany - a few years ago - I followed a '79-ish white Chevy Malibu that sounded real strong and had been tubbed; it had what I would guess were 10-12" rear tires with minimal tread. I guess that the powers-that-be over there must have approved it.
I am looking forward to seeing her in person. She was transported from Chicago to NY last week and should be seabound soon. Yes, TUV can be quite a pain but it is doable, especially as long as stick to OEM stuff. You need to find someone who is reasonable when aligning 60yr (wow) old, foreign solutions to modern day regulations (if applicable). When looking at a 58 Buick chrome would be my main concern as you can easily spend the asking price in chrome alone. @Marc: if GM Switzerland produced km-scales for 58 Buick (which is well possible) I bet they are hen's teeths to find. I have seen speedos with stickers underneath the mph and also 100% stock mph speeds which were apparently approved. Interesting to read that the 2rd outnumbered 4dr. For 58 models I could live with both body stylings. Will post pics when I get to see her. Patrick
Yes she did. My neighbor is quite experienced and made her very streetable. Every time he rolls down with that distinct v8 brabble I gotta look. The 58 is a different, I’d say coolest sound. His 350 powered 68 skylark is also beautiful. And then there is a 67 mustang street rod near by that still sounds like more show than go…. And a 202x mustang v8 moved in next door. Still V8 but not as laid back as the old ones.
Yes she did. My neighbor is quite experienced and made her very streetable. Every time he rolls down with that distinct v8 brabble I gotta look. The 58 is a different, I’d say coolest sound. His 350 powered 68 skylark is also beautiful. And then there is a 67 mustang street rod near by that still sounds like more show than go…. And a 202x mustang v8 moved in next door. Still V8 but not as laid back as the old ones.
