Simon Cars - Buick Super 1957

Buick Super 1957 - 58

GM launched a new 127.5-inch C-body for 1957, shared with Buick Supers and Roadmasters and the Cadillac Series 62. The Buicks now measured 215.3-inches nose to tail, and powered by a new 300 bhp 5,957cc (364) V8 engine. Bodies offered were 2-door and 4-door Riviera hardtops, 4-door sedan and convertible. But the 1957 Buicks only sold 405,000, with the tri-pane rear windows on the Special and Century being slow to sell (these were changed for 1958). Ned Nickles took charge of the 1958 makeover, giving the Buicks a much squarer look which was loaded with chrome. Buick Supers were lengthened out to 219.1-inches, but only the Riviera hardtops were sold. Buick only sold 240,000 cars in 1958, but the induistry as a whole was down to 60 per cent of expectations in that year.

aa Buick Super 1957 Riviera 4-door Hardtop badge

Buick Super 1957 Riviera 4-door Hardtop - badge on rear door within 'Swoopspear'. Only the Riviera 4-door hardtop carried a model badge on its flanks.

ac Buick Super 1957 Riviera 4-door Hardtop head

Buick Super 1957 Riviera 4-door Hardtop. The Buick Super and Roadmaster were given new GM C-bodies for 1957 and sat on a 127.5-inch wheelbase. The engine was a 5,957cc V8.

ac Buick Super 1958 head

Buick Super 1958 Riviera hardtop. The Super had the same 364cu.inch engine as the Special but with four-barrel carbs and higher compression to give more power.
Quad headlamps were new across the industry (where permitted) in 1958

Buick Super 1957 Riviera 4-door Hardtop front

Buick Super 1957 Riviera 4-door Hardtop. The Super has 4 'venti ports'. The engine was a 5,957cc V8. Buick sold 41,665 4-door Hardtop Sedans, 26,529 2-door Hardtop Coupes and 2.056 convertibles.

v Buick Super 1957 Riviera 4-door Hardtop vents

Buick Super 1957 Riviera 4-door Hardtop. Buick gave its car blind 'VentiPorts' in 1948 and these continued with changes every year. The Super has 4 'VentiPorts', whereas lesser Buicks only had 3. 'Squashed' VentiPorts were given to the 1957 Buicks, but were deleted from the 1958 cars.

w Buick Super 1957 Riviera 4-door Hardtop wheel

Buick Super 1957 Riviera 4-door Hardtopws the 'Sweepspear' which swoops down from the front wing to the rear wheel arch and then climbs back again. A feature given to recent Buicks.

l Buick Super 1957 Riviera 4-door Hardtop lamps

Buick Super 1957 Riviera 4-door Hardtop - rear lamp in 3 parts, changed for 1958

Buick Super 1958 Riviera hardtop front

Buick Super 1958 Riviera hardtop. The pillarless hardtop had been introduced on the GM B-body in 1955 and the Buick version was called 'Riviera' and could be ordered in 2-door or 4-door. For 1958 the Super was only available as the 2-door or 4-door Riviera hardtop.

Buick Super 1958 Riviera hardtop rear

Buick Super 1958 Riviera hardtop. The controversial trisected rear window given in 1957 gave way to a single wraparound glass for 1958

Buick Super 1958 Riviera Sedan front

Buick Super 1958 Riviera Sedan. New metal for 1958, and only offered as the 2-door Riviera Coupe (Model 56R), or this 4-door Riviera Sedan (built on a 127.5-inch wheelbase C-body, the 1958 Super (Model 53). Overloaded styling very much on a par with the 1958 Edsels.

Buick Super 1958 Riviera Sedan side

Buick Super 1958 Riviera Sedan. Buick offered the Model 56R 2-door Riviera Hardtop, and this Model 53 Riviera Sedan in 1958, both built on a 127.5-inch C-body

Cadillac Series 62 Coupe 1958 front

Cadillac Series 62 Coupe 1958. This is the cheaper Series 62, not the Coupe deVille which has heavier chrome above the rear wheel arch

Edsel Ranger 1958 4-door saloon frontg

Edsel Ranger 1958 4-door saloon. Controversial styling by Roy Brown, but really not much worse than other makes such as Buick during 1958.

Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Hardtop1958 front

Oldsmobile Super 88 Hardtop1958. The Super 88 used the same Dynamic 88 body with the larger engine of the upmarket Oldsmobile 98, which was a 6,080cc V8 with 4 or 6 barrel carburettor. A complete restyle was given to the GM B-body for 1959.

Buick Super Index Buick Cars 1957 American Cars Index Simon Cars

Image created by Simon GP Geoghegan (email: web@simoncars.co.uk)