Projects 1956 Buick Century Wagon INFO

I'm going to go look it over soon, I have more photos of it...
It's in a sad state...
it would probably be a better project than a driver/project which is what I want.. My truck is a good driver project, I just cannot cruise the boys in it...hence the interest in the wagon...thanks for the hook up on gl***.

 

Nice wagons fellas. I had thought that all the Buick wagons of that vintage were less the "B" pillar.

 

i have a 56 century wagon. i have learned a lot and had a lot of fun with it. i got it when i was 15 and have been working on it as i can afford it ever since. i cant speak much for the specials or supers but if its a century it should have a 322 v8 nailhead, and a dynaflow trans. i have gotten most of my parts from kanter and cars inc. the biggest issues i had was on va***e related things, and of course the price of parts. the century wagon will be a series #69. the parts are all fairly available. the dynaflow is a one speed trans and likes to be driven, does not like to sit from what i have been told. if you have specific questions feel free to pm me and i can look it up in my shop manual. when i got mine it didnt run and needed about everything. i have gotten its needs down to paint and interior now. but its taken years.

 

Interchange on gl*** is 54-56 Buick and Olds B-body cars, the flat gl*** can be cut. There was one of those wagons in a junkyard here I thought about nabbing, it was rough, but figured it might be good to have since these aren't that common.

122-inch wheelbase, production 8,160, weight 4,080 lbs, original list price $3,256. Manual trans standard on Special, Century, Dynaflow optional. Could manage a 1/4 mile in 17.1 seconds and 0-60 in 9.6 seconds. 322-CI motor with 4bbl carb, 255 HP @ 4400 RPM, 341 ft.lbs torque at 3200 RPM. What other info did you need?

 

Hello I have one. Owned since 1994. If you need a tailgate give me a shout. A bit of rust through on bottom edge other than that fine. FUn to work on....unique cars. Less than 8000 of them made. Bodies are from Ionia MI. Have fun with it.

 

My step-son has a 56 Century wagon he's thinking of selling. It's currently in Virginia Beach Va.

 

Not many Pubick wagons around but i found a few...

 

Close, but not quite.
From bottom to top in the "Social Pecking Order" for GM:
Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Cadillac.

The Caddy was the top dog, and got the big powerful engine, complete with multi-carbs in the late '50s. Comfort, excess and speed.
Buicks were known for their comfortable ride, torquey engine, and by the time you could afford a Buick, you weren't shifting your own gears, so manual transmissions are very rare.
The upper lines in the Buick shared roof, gl***, etc. with the Cads.

The torque-tube driveshaft in the Buicks was there to make the cars ride better, solidly linking the driveline front-to-back. Rear coil springs and a front sway bar made it float down the road. The torque-tube also helped avoid the nose "diving" when brakes were hit. The rears had knee-action shocks thru '55, then went to tube shocks in '56.

The '54 Century had the Roadmaster's 322, and when fitted with the (rare) 3spd manual, it had the brands biggest engine in the lightest body and was referred to as "The Banker's hot rod."

Bankers, upper-mid level management, etc. drove Buicks. Executives, doctors and rich people drove Caddys.

The brakes DID ****, until '58 when they got aluminum drums.

-Brad

 

And interestingly, they're not "Body by Fisher" like the rest of the line. I think the little crest on the sill plates says "Ionia Stamping" or "Ionia Coach Building" or something, but not the more familiar "Body by Fisher" with the carriage.

-Brad

 

Unfortunatly the idiots that run this town torn down the building these and many other great cars were built. They said they were going to build a park...they sold the land to Sears and auto zone.

 

Good thread-I looove my 55 hardtop. It's my daily driver. those wagons are awesome.

 

I just bought a 56 Wagon. It's being shipped from Florida to Australia in the next few weeks.