A collection of classic cars seen in use on Street View.

The intention is eventually list all pre 1975 cars seen on Street View, not just exotica.
If you find a pre 1975 car on Street View please send the details using the submission form in the column on the right.
Cars must be on the road or in another public place - please, no cars in gardens or private driveways.
Click on the "coordinates" link for each car to see the original Street View - but please note that the image may no longer be on the Streetview Database.

Buick 1955 Special

Buick 1955 Special

Coordinates 25.776875,-80.1314198

Picture dated Nov 2007



The Buick Special name was first used in 1936. It was Buick's lowest-priced full sized car until the introduction of the le Sabre, was discontinued in 1958, then reintroduced in 1961 as a mid sized car.

In 1949 model year, the Buick Specials was almost an all new car, the first postwar design for the series. New was also was a better equipped version called the Special DeLuxe. The engine remained the 248 cu in which had been used since 1937, but for 1951 this was replaced by the larger "Fireball" straight-eight. A two-door hardtop coupe was also new for 1951.

The 1954 Specials had an all-new body and chassis, much wider and lower, and were now equipped with the all-new, more powerful "Nailhead" V8 engines.

Introduced 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. By then, the Buick Special was one of America's best selling automotive series. For 1956 the larger 322 cu in V8 engine was shared with the rest of the range.

1957 brought a bigger, 250 hp (186 kW) 364 V8 to the range, as well as all new bodywork, and a four-door hardtop station wagon called the Buick Caballero. The 1957 wheelbase remained 122 inches. In the June, 1957 issue of Popular Mechanics, the Special was rated with a 0-60 mph time of 11.6 seconds, fuel economy of 17.4 mpg-US at 50 mph, and ground clearance of 6.9 in.

1949-1957 Buick Specials had three VentiPorts while more senior Buicks, with the exception of the Buick Super (which switched from three to four in 1955), had four. Earlier versions had a "Sweepspear" inspired character line alongside the body, while later versions had the "Sweepspear" moulding attached to the side of all models. GM renamed the Buick Special the LeSabre for the 1959 model year, taking the name from the 1951 Le Sabre concept car.

For more information see here.

Other streetview classic cars in this location
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