1955 Buick Special Series 40

Buick models received a complete redesign for the 1954 model year, so the 1955 models were simply freshened, receiving trendy features such as chrome 'Dagmars' on the front bumper, the famous Buick 'ventiports' on the new front fenders, a wrap-around windshield, a new oval grille opening with textured grille panel and wearing a large horizontal emblem bar. Closed models were given a 'Florentine' rear window. The public agreed with these changes, earning Buick 5th overall among American automakers during the 1955 model year.

Buick's V8 engine displaced 264 cubic-inches with overhead valves, a cast-iron block, hydraulic valve lifters, five main bearings, a two-barrel carburetor, and delivered 188 horsepower at 4,800 RPM. The 322 cubic-inch V8 version had 9.1:1 compression, a four-barrel carburetor, and delivered 236 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. A three-speed manual transmission was standard on all models except the Roadmaster which used a Dynaflow. The Dynaflow was optional on the other models.

The 1955 Buick model lineup included the entry-level Special Series 40, powered by the 264 CID V8, and offered as a two- and four-door sedan, two- and four-door hardtop coupee, a convertible coupe, and a station wagon. Its 122-inch wheelbase was shared with the Century Series 60, which was powered by the 322 CID V8 engine found in the Roadmaster. The Century was Buick's performance-oriented vehicle with the same body styles as the Special. Prices on the Special ranged from $2,230 to $2,975, while the Century ranged from $2,490 to $3,175.

Both the Buick Super and the Roadmaster rested on a 127-inch wheelbase and both used the 322 CID V8 rated at 236 hp. The Super had a manual transmission and the Roadmaster an automatic. Both had body styles that included a sedan, hardtop coupe, and convertible coupe. Both had four ventiports per fender, side sweepspear, and large C-body interior.

The Special was the company's bread-and-butter model, accounting for nearly 52-percent of Buick's production. The most popular body style was the two-door hardtop coupe with 155,818 examples built, followed by 84,182 of the sedan, 66,409 of the four-door hardtop, and 61,879 of the two-door sedan. 10,009 were convertible coupes and 2,952 were station wagons.

The Buick Special had an instrument panel shared with the century, with twin round gauge pods. The interior was done in Cordaveen upholstery, and standard equipment included tubeless tires, a Step-On parking brake, heavy insulation, front and rear side armrests, and directional signals. The series script was placed on the rear quarters and within the grille emblem. The sweepspear moldings were the same as the previous year's design, but the three-round ventiports on the front fenders were new.

Many of the new design cues on the 1955 Buicks were inspired by the 'dream car designs' used on Harley Earl's famous Motoramas, and they would continue to appear on production Buicks for the remainder of the decade.

The 1955 model year was part of the new generation of styling introduced halfway into the 1949 model year, the first fully postwar design for the series. This general design would continue to be used, with numerous updates along the way, through 1958. When introduced, the engine was the 248 CID which had been in use since 1937. For 1951, the engine was replaced by the larger 'Fireball' straight-eight, and a new two-door hardtop coupe was also new for 1951. The all-new Specials for 1954 were wider and lower than previous years, with new bodies and chassis, and powered by the all-new, more powerful 'Nailhead' V8 engines.

In the middle of the 1955 model year, the four-door Buick Special Riviera (along with the Century Riviera, the Oldsmobile 98 Holiday, and the 88 Holiday) were the first four-door pillarless hardtops ever produced. It would be several years before the 'Riviera' would be sold as a stand-alone model, but its styling was so distinctive that many people considered its own model anyway.

In 1956, the 322 CID V8 engine was shared with the rest of the range, and in 1957 it was replaced by the larger, 364 CID V8 with 250 horsepower. The 1957 models received all-new bodywork, as well as a four-door hardtop station wagon dubbed the Buick Caballero. The wheelbase continued to measure 122-inches; the following year, the car grew longer and wider although the chassis remained unchanged.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021