1957 Buick Series 40 Special Convertible Coupe

The 'Small' Buick Promised a Big Thrill
'For 1957, Big Thrill's Buick,' declared the announcement ads, and the Series 40 Special would once again be the biggest selling Buick of them all. Although it maintained a strong resemblance to its immediate predecessor, the 1957 Buick was an all-new design. The 'small' Buicks (Special and Century) shared basic Fisher bodies with Oldsmobile, while the 'big' Buicks (Super and Roadmaster) were based on the Cadillac body.

The Special was offered in a full range of models that included both 2- and 4- door sedans and hardtops, a station wagon, or, Estate Wagon as Buick called it, and a convertible. A 364 cubic-inch Buick-built V8, rated at 250 horsepower, was standard and a 'Red-Line' bar-graph type speedometer added to the fun.

This Special Convertible, in Seminole Red, includes the following options: Variable-Pitch Dynaflow transmission, power steering, power brakes and full wheel covers.

All Buick models earned an ambitious restyling and a bigger engine in 1957. The series 40s were wider and lower with a bright 'sweepsear.' All Model 46C Convertibles were trimmed in two-tone cordaveen and included an outside left hand rearview mirror. The engine is a 364 cubic-inch V8 rated at 250 horsepower. This Special Model 46C Convertible example is considered a six-passenger, 2-door convertible coupe of which only 8,505 were made, and originally cost $2,987. This Buick was recently featured as part of the 'Class of 1957' display at Meadowbrook in 2007.