Projects 1956 Buick Century Wagon INFO

I was wondering if anyone had any info on 56 Buick century wagons. I have been thinking about picking one up.

The car is complete, but is in need of some rust repair; in the floors, drip rails, and possibly the roof.
I have not seen the car in person yet, I am going this weekend to take a look at it. Just wondering if any one had pics, part suppliers, or general info about these cars.
I have been wanting a long roof, for some time now, after I saw the buick in Rod and Kustom a while back.

 

I do not have a long roof but I do have a two door post 56!

If you have the all the trim, you are in business. I love the wagons.... any kind. I imagine the gl*** is tough...I purchased mine thinking it had the frame of a chevy...so wrong...all unique to the year. The brake system is unique to the year also. PM me if you want my take...they are fun, but parts are a stretch...wheatbelt has saved my *** many a time. Check them out...good people.

PM me I might be able to help you out with my trials of life....

Wagons are great...utilitarian and fun for everyone!

 

Thanks Kraz! Anyone else have any pics, or info???

 

I drove a 56 Buick wagon for years. When I picked it up for $800 it had 36,000 original miles on it. When I sold it it had 74,000 on it! Good car that ran great and was very reliable. Hope it works out for you.

 

Somebody has to have some more info! Am I the only one who has an interest in a Buick Wagon????

 

belongs to a hamber.

 

more

 

Heres some later pictures of my 56 Special Wagon. Still has the 322" with an adapted 700r4 OD and Ford rear end. Also Power Disc Brakes. Last pic is of my proudly displayed HAMB decal.

 

I'm thinkin about tradin my 51 truck, driver for a 56 buick wagon in Denver...I have two boys and it would be fun to cruise them both to the car shows...any suggestions??

 

Ive got one!

its a 56 Special!

 

apparently they were made here..
http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/i/ionia/ionia.htm

 

not a wagon. but still a 56 buick. great car.

 

They are cool as hell.

Hoped that helped ya.

 

bret,
the wagons looking good. still looking forward to seeing it in person!

 

I am droolin to get my hands on this thing...and seein them all done up...well it gets me even more excited...as always you guys are an inspiration...
big question, as i go over this car, are there any major red flags with these that would tell me to leave it alone? besides the obvious...I know they had power steering and I ***ume that it has a nail head...

 

Parts can be a challage, Next to impossible to get a replacement ring and pinon if need.

 

worst case just throw a different rear end in there if it has been nuked right?

 

1st you have to find a rear end. Also the whole enclosed drive line is fun to to remove! The really only bad part about these old buicks is the ****** and the rear ends, as i'm sure others on here will tell you.

 

so it's a torque tube like on my truck?

 

I might be wrong but the buicks where that way until 1960??? which is odd when the other GMs of the same years where open drive lines.

 

That is odd since I always thought of Buicks as advanced cars in the 50's..
I remember my dad tellin me that when his father bought a buick, it was a huge step up.

 

that white one on craigslist looks a bit crusty. a serious resto project. here's a '55 i owned a couple of years ago.

 

I ***ume you are talking about the one on the colorado springs craigslist?
I know it has some surface rust, but the floors are good and the trim is there..
I have a late 60's small block with vortec heads and a 700 r 4 ready to go...
If it has some mechanical issues..

 

Here is the car in question, I know it can be driven and was driven from Greeley to Denver not too long ago..

http://cosprings.craigslist.org/cto/1252125183.html

 

Qoute:
That is odd since I always thought of Buicks as advanced cars in the 50's..
I remember my dad tellin me that when his father bought a buick, it was a huge step up.

This is what I have been told aswell by my Dad and others guys who grew up with these cars. I don't get it at all..............
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I swear I read an article on restoring heated seats in 50's buicks

 

Now that I think about it, his old man had a 56 chevy he HATED, said it was too light and traded it in on a 57 Buick which he LOVED...funny now I'd give my left nut for either of those cars...

 

GM used Olds and Cadillac for innovation. Automatics, air conditioning etc.
Buick followed their lead. My 55 Buicks were still pretty much 1930s-1940s technology under the sheet metal. Lever shocks, closed drive line, horrible brakes etc. Neat cars though.

 

so, how hard is it to find a new windshield for one of these?
Price? The one I am looking at has a crack in the front windshield...
and the drivers side door card is missing...
Is this a walk away situation?

 

Here's a link for the gl***.. you can get repop floor boards on e bay also.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380131643831&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT