WYR: 1956 Buick, 1956 Oldsmobile, 1956 Hawk. This Buick is a stunning example of a great car, thank you for sharing. Enjoy that time with your daughter! ~ Chuck
Awesome choices 56 was such a great year for cars. I figured to have three scenarios today. We play cards just about every single night. She’s growing up too fast.
@@What.its.like. You are so right, 56 was just "one of those years". I'm glad you two get to spend time together, those are wonderful times and memories.
First of all, I vote for the 56 Chrysler. I chose the Chrysler because at the time Chrysler was known for their superior engineering, and introducing new ideas and features that were industry firsts that would go on to become industry standards. From the late teens to the mid-60s, my family only drove cars from the Chrysler Corporation. My second choice would be the 56 Mercury Monterey and Montclair. The Mercury was a design icon of the 1950s. I do like the 56 Buick Roadmaster. A huge car that was luxurious and comfortable. When I was a little kid in the early 60s, our neighbors that lived across the street had a gray and white 2 door hardtop Buick Roadmaster. (I always thought that was a great name for a car. Our neighbors would drive that Buick to Las Vegas once a month to gamble. They would praise the Buick for its road manners, it's powerful engine that was great for the open road. They loved the comfortable ride and the it's massive car styling. I remember it being the only car that had it's name and year written on the body. I thought that was rare and very cool. In the mid to late 50s, most GM cars had very creative taillights. Designs that would make you wonder how they came up with some of the weird but stylish looks. If you look closely at any of the 1950s Big Three brands, you can see the detailed and elaborate styling. The attention to the tiniest details resulted in brilliant works of art. The two-tone paint, the miles of chrome trim and custom interiors you can see just how Detroit spent the money in the fit and finish. The mechanics of the cars were pretty much all the same through all the Big Three brands. It was the styling, and the interior creature comforts that met what the buyers wanted, and nobody wanted better gas mileage and better efficiency, they just didn't care about those things because they didn't have to. I have always thought it's unfair to criticize American cars for their poor quality and mileage. They didn't build cars like the foreign manufacturers because that's not what the American buys wanted. Looking back, I would say most of us Gearheads are glad we have those beautiful machines to look back on with fond memories. That's even more true now based on the dull and boring cars of today. I feel sorry for the kids of today because they won't have fantastic memories about the cars in their past. I hardly think they will have such passionate feelings for cars that look like used bars of soap.
Thank you so much for sharing all of that information. Awesome choices. I’m right there with you people nowadays have no idea what quality feels like most every time I get in a packard from the 30s I get kind of watery eyed because to me that’s a car that you have once you make it. Everything feels great. Really hoping to get the drive a packard this year. I’ve been told that they are the best as far as balance goes. Everything is very balanced. At one point in time I owned a 67 mustang and my brother owned a 2013 mustang and it was cool because both had the same almost the same dashboard. My brother was way faster but in regards to more fun the drive I think mine was because you definitely had to be you were part of the driving experience , there wasn’t any traction control or anything like that. my brother recently told me that he wants to look for a Mustang. We both don’t have Mustang anymore. I sold mine and got married. He sold his and got. It’s a long story. lol
That car was unbelievable I wish my light didn’t die. The car interior was incredible. Everything about that car looked brand new, windows had a slight tint. The weird thing was this car wasn’t too tone, but I kinda like how all the stainless contrasted the color it was an epic car in person.
WYR; the 56 Buick Roadmaster all the way! What a stunning restoration, when you showed the hood, I wanted to dive into the paint and have a swim! I love it! Thank you Jay!
I saw this car a couple times ago and really dipped. It wanted to review it but couldn’t get in it the last time it was there. It wasn’t there. They must’ve moved it somewhere. I was so happy to see it next to Studebaker. It was no lie the nicest four-door 56 Buick I’ve ever seen And I just thought it was funny that it wasn’t too tone which seems to be pretty rare
Last year I worked at a Classic Car dealership where we had a century four-door hardtop. We didn’t have that car for more than seven days and it was sold. It was so nice I remember Driving it to start it you had to make sure it was in park and then you turn the key on push the gas down and it fired right up. The starter was on the gas pedal.
It is a beautiful, nicely proportioned bulk of an auto! The vintage commercial was great! I the WYR'S, it would be the New Yorker, Roadmaster, and Adventurer. 😎
I remember seeing this car on the road as a kid. I was born at the end of '55 so my earliest recollections of this car were already 5 or 6 yrs old. By middle school they were fading from the road and I can remember lamenting the fading away of the big "Dagmar" bumpers and extravagant chrome from several of the 50's cars. Oh, the memories! 😢
I really enjoy this UA-cam Channel. I plan to take a trip to walk around Classic Auto Mall, it about 90 minutes from where I live. I had numerous Antique Cars over the years, one being a 1955 Buick Century 4dr Hardtop, very similar to the 1956. I think from a Styling Standpoint, the 1955 was a better looking car overall then the '56.
Thank you glad you dig this channel =) i’m surprised you haven’t gotten up to Classic autumn all beings. It’s only 90 minutes from you. I wish it was only 90 minutes from me. I’d go up there once a week it’s 5 1/2 hours for me one way so it makes quite a long day. lol
Gorgeous car! Man, this takes me back. My dad had a 55 Century coupe, my grandpa had this Roadmaster in black and white with a red interior, and in 57 my uncle got a navy blue Roadmaster Riviera, which was absolutely stunning and my personal favorite. We looked like a Buick dealership when we all got together. Uncle just passed at 101, a car guy until the very end. Thanks for this one, Jay. My forebearers would have talked your ears off about this one!
Thanks for the memories. Although not the same , when i was a kid, my dad had this in a 55 two door in two tone white and light blue. One thing you did not mention is the changing, green, yellow, red, speedometer "light bar" that showed the vehicle's speed. I remember being fascinated with that as a small kid.
Thank you so much for sharing your dad’s car with us. We will do a 55 one day. This is the second 56 Buick we have done for the channel the other one was a century four-door hardtop that I got to drive.
The speedometer is called the Redliner. It's a rotating drum behind the facia. It does not change colors---red only. The Twin Turbine Dynaflow was a very reliable unit and very smooth as it did not shift gears with the selector in Drive. A driver could select Low on the quadrant for quick acceleration from a standing start. Pressing the accelerator to the floor in Drive range activates the "switch pitch" feature, changing the angle of the stator blades for rapid acceleration such as in a maneuver to overtake another vehicle.
This is probably the best 56 Roadmaster in the country. The background is interesting. The restore was a gentleman who showed it at Hershey and won awards everytime he showed it. How it ended up at a dealer is a mystery.
It was a stellar Buick maybe the owner wanted something different 50s cars are hot now.. classic car market is like the stock market it’s always fluctuating
That car is in perfect shape! Jay I am surprised you didn’t comment on those two protruding hollow bullets on the front bumper! Looks like a perfect place for fog lights.
I’m trying to find that fine line between seeing enough and something just don’t need explaining a lot of the newer episodes. I show a bunch of lines of cars and I don’t really say anything. I think it’s a good balance, or at least trying to find a good balance.
1956 Buick roadmaster, the most Emerald car on the planet! 💚 I think Aunt Mary's was a little newer, but it was like riding in this otherworldly green machine!! Buicks are tops, Let The Good Times Roll! 🎲😊. Thank you Jay for the chance to experience the best of the best, which for the everyday man was the Buick.
My parent's best friends had a 1956 Buick, while we had a 1956 Plymouth Plaza. I remember being fascinated by the four side ports on the fender when we would walk along their driveway, coming and going from their house.
All the colors of this car were found in the interior of my family's house when I was born, but the house was built in the 50s. Also, I like the grille, I thought it was aftermarket the first time I saw one. What a great value imo; optioned to compete,
Whoever buys this car is going to love it. I didn’t see anything wrong with it. It was perfect and well optioned and in the advertisement piece on classic automalls website, it won senior at AACA =)
She even has AC...everyone in your neighborhood would be envious! Probably wouldn't need to use those robe rails for robes since most of these had an underseat heater for the rear passengers. Real luxury interior! WYR: 1 Chrysler 2 Buick 3 Studebaker.
I have had several Buicks with the variable pitch torque converter dynaflow transmission, they are very good transmissions, especially in the snow. They are not fast, but extremely smooth. I suggest you drive one. I would love to have one again.
Thank you for the video Jay. This was interesting to see a loaded Buick Roadmaster from the 1950's. The other interesting thing is the name of the car: Roadmaster and Riviera as that is two Buick models. I was taking notice of the interior mainly. The really paid attention to details on the interior. They had some interesting styling details on the exterior as well. It was interesting when the Roadmaster came back in 1991 and ran until 1996. You can see how this car influenced the design in the front end styling. They did make some changes between 1955 and 1956. You put some great detail in this video as well. I will take the Oldsmobile 98. Thank you again.
My grandfather bought a new Buick every second year after WW2 until the early 60s. All I remember as a kid was how heavy the doors were to open when parked slightly off level.
Hi Jay!: What a BEAUTIFUL Buick! I like the 1955 AND 1956 models! The only weird thing I saw in your video was that you would have a hard time switching between Drive and Reverse! What with reverse being all the way on the end of the dial, there! You are KILLING me on the WYR's! LOVE me some 1956 Chrysler and DeSoto, and, of course I would want a 1956 Studebaker Golden HAWK!!
My grandfather had a 1956, I was 7, we were in a downpour, and he could not get the wipers on, it was a new car, and he had never used them before. All was well, he pulled off the road. It was green, too. I'd take a 1956 Buick.
@@02chevyguy - Happy (belated) birthday! The only Chevrolet I ever owned was a ‘78 Nova Concours I received when I graduated college. Dependable. After that, I only bought Oldsmobiles until they went out of business. Now, I have a (my third) Lexus RX.
That’s a stunning Roadmaster. The ‘56 is my all-time favorite Buick, with the chrome-slathered 1985 a close second. Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick?
My grandfather bought a new 55 Century (actually considered a muscle car in its day) 4dr hardtop. Its color scheme was exactly like the 55 shown at 2:47! I was only 2 at the time, but I do have memories of going lots of places in that car as grandpa kept that car until his death in 62. That's when my grandma took over and drove it up to about 1967. By then, the car was rusted to almost nothing, my grandma had it painted even cheaper than Earl Scheib in a flat white. YUK. And *then* it was supposed to be my first car in 1969. I sure didn't want that boat, but at least it ran, and ran well. Luckily, I think, I came across a 62 Corvair for $40 that changed the course of my life to this day!. That 56 you featured is gorgeous! I wouldn't mind if THAT was my first car! As an aside, that 55 Buick that Jay Leno drives actually *was* his first car! Another very well done video!
There’s a 63 GP in the pipeline I was on the fence about which one to do tomorrow but I think tomorrow’s episode is going to be 66 charger. I’m actually halfway done with the script.
Wyr Buick Oldsmobile 😍 DeSoto but Studebaker is a tight race 😊.... Outstanding example of Buick 👏👏👏🏆🏆🏆 she's a Winner.. Great Episode 👍 Happy Motoring ✌️🤠
How do you like your 66 Riviera that’s a car that I’ve always loved stylewise very sweet car. If you’re on the Facebook group share a picture of it, I’d be interested to see it.
Gorgeous car. At least as nice as that '56 Lincoln you covered in 2022. Mid-fifties perfection. As far as WYR goes, it's the Buick for the first scenario, both the Olds and the Buick for the second. I'm curious when car companies started using foot-activated parking brakes? This seems to be one of the earliest examples of one.
Great choices. I would also wonder that after doing this for a little while one starts to ask questions like that. When did they start doing this or when did they start doing that? lol
Buick has an aura in all the four corners of the world. A long-lasting fame for top workmanship, refined taste and rich history. All this, thanks to those three giants of motordom's Holy Shrine: Harley Earl, Harlow Curtice and Ned Nickles. It doesn't matter, whether you own a '36, '46, '56 or any other model year of the Buick Roadmaster, you made the best choice in your life (including a loving, faithful wife)!
Something unique about Buick was that they had their year written right on the car. It was something they did up til 1957, But not sure if they started this trend in '54 or '55.
Don't discount the Dynaflow. Although it defines the term slushbox, with a variable pitch stator in it's torque converter, starting off in low gives a push you back in the seat feeling. As the Dynaflows were non-automatic shifting transmissions(giving the effect of a modern CVT), if you wanted maximum launch, you have to put it in low. In my sophomore year of high school, a neighbor lady worked at the school and I would ride with her. She had an either '55 or '56 Buick Century 2Dr. hardtop and also had a 1965 Chevy Malibu SS convertible with a 283 V8 and Powerglide. Both cars were cool to ride in.
It was generally called the “Dynaslush” back in the day, but many of us called it the Dynashit transmission. It was a two-speed planetary unit with no provision for automatic shifting, so normally took off in high (D), instead relying on a super-duper 5-element converter (this changed a couple of times over the years) for its gear-reduction/torque-multiplication. It was smooth, and that’s about all. It was a gas-hogging thing, and generally slow unless you pulled it back into low.
Happy you dig the channel Chris Brown =) Thank you so much Clyde for explaining it way better than I could =) I got to drive a 56 century last year with dynaflow 322 v8 was torquey But you almost need another gear. It was really smooth just slow.
This '56 presentation at the C.A.M. is beautifully done, and with a/c & power windows, but #1 i like the looks of the Chrysler best, #2 is the Buick no brainer nicer look, and #3 i would take the Adventurer hands down even over the sporty looking Golden Hawk. . . :>/
OK, so I got the '66 Riv. in August a end of year sale. So, it had a lot of extra options on it. I also added stuff. A 8 track player under the dash, a 4 way flasher near the parking brake release and a rear window blower to help clear that back window. Anyhow, the selling price was $6,400.00. Engine was 425 cc, 400 hp. I finally sold it to a friend, I couldn't afford the gas even then. 18 MPG. on the road, 9 MPG. in the city. It was riv. gold a special color just for Buick.
1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk - it has the 352ci (290hp) packard v8 and the 3 speed packard twin ultramatic. So they make it one of the fastest cars of the 50s - 0-60 in 8.7 seconds.
Wow, that's an exceptional restoration! There are non-original aspects though. Certainly the A/C compressor is non-original, and I suspect that the electric wipers, various bits hung below the dash, and other bits of the A/C may also be non-original. Beautiful car nonetheless!
The HP was 255, not 225. I had a 1955 Century with the Roadmaster engine, 1956 Roadmaster and 1957 Roadmaster 75. 55=236hp, 56=255hp and the 57 was 300hp.
One small correction. Century was actually a step below the Super. The Century was the Special body with the RoadMaster drivetrain. The Special used the 264cid v8 while the other series used the 322cid RoadMaster v8. The original banker's hotrod.
I prefer the '55's instrument panel and dashboard--the speedometer is more visible, and the heater controls are more substantial and intuitive. Chrysler--Olds--DeSoto (despite the pushbutton transmission selectors).
When I was a kid, I mean like 8, learning about cars, all I knew was what I could access on my bicycle. At 10, I got a 10 speed, so range improved. But still, nothing was really older than the 60's and when I finally got began getting books detailing make/model history (Crestline - had to save for each one; took forever) I remember putting 'corrections' next to some of the captions. In my mind the editors were off their rocker. What the heck was a Century Riviera, or a New Yorker Newport. Surely these were mistakes! LOL - still have the Crestline series though.
I'll take one of each, the 1956 Buick Roadmaster 4Dr Hardtop and the 1956 DeSoto Adventurer 2Dr Hardtop and the 1956 Oldsmobile 98 Holiday 4Dr Hardtop.
WYR: 1- New Yorker 2- Olds 🏆🥇 3- DeSoto That Merc in group-1 was nice if it didn’t have that raggedy Y-block. The Chryslers had good powertrains by ‘56. The TorqueFlite and even the 2-speed PowerFlite were both very durable. I never liked the Dynaflow, and it wasn’t until ‘59 that the Buicks became so good-looking that I would tolerate that transmission. The ‘61 Invicta, along with the ‘65 Riviera, are two of my all-time favorite designs.
56 Buick 56 Hudson 56 Golden hawk That Buick is beautiful. Love the color. My high school friend always said he wanted a 56 Buick. IDK if he ever could one or not. To me the 56 Buick is a better looking car than the 56 Chevy.
Great choices Carl I totally agree. I would rather have this 57 Buick and any 57 Chevy. =) but as far as 57 General Motors goes I think I like the Pontiac the best but don’t hold me to that. I haven’t been in a 57 Cadillac yet or It’s been a long time.
I bet that car looks better than it did brand new. To me the '56 was an improvement over the '55 because Buick got rid of the sad eyes headlight bezels. I always wanted to drive a Dynaflow car. I worked in the advanced engineering department for a Tier I torque converter supplier and was always intrigued by the super complicated design of the Dynaflow torque converter. WYR I like the 1956 Buick Roadmaster in the first two scenarios and the 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk in the third.
Great choices Dynaflow is super smooth just not very fast and has decent pick up between 40 and 60 I got to drive one last year. I didn’t see a problem with the transmission but I’ve gotten it a lot in the comment section that transmissions kinda eh
I love this Roadmaster, but for a two-tons car, The tires seem really quite undersized, the kinf of which you will find on a 2023 Suzuki. To be driven the very easy way. Do you know if the chassis could cope with modern, radial tires ?
I think so radio tires on these cars make them handle so much better in a lot of ways but one thing needs to be said about the biased tires they get rid of anything finicky in the suspension. I think this car would be a great candidate for radial tires. The other thing is if you put radios on it, they have a fatter, lower appearance than the tall bias tire does.
My parents had a 55 with air conditioning. I must say l much prefer the looks of the 56. My dad had considered a Cadillac, but felt it looked too pretentious.
WHEN BETTER AUTOMOBILES ARE BUILT, BUICK WILL BUILD THEM !!!!! THIS WAS BUICKS MOTO. HARLY EARL ,WAS ONE OF THE BEST AUTOMOTIVE CAR DESIGNERS, BACK THEN. Kevin Phoenix ✝️
Gorgeous Buick but not in my WYR's......WYR: New Yorker, Hudson, DeSoto. I like the 55 over the 56 Buick simply for the fact that the 55 still has a trace of "basset hound" headlight treatment from the early 50's Buicks.
The car appears to have power seats, which you did not mention. But are they two way or six way power seats? Also, the fact that it has four 'ports' on each side means it is a senior model. Lesser Buicks only had three.
Great insight and information. Thank you so much for catching that on the power seats. This car was loaded. It had a lot of options as well as the aftermarket air-conditioning system. I don’t know if this car had factory air and it went bad so they put a new compressor on it the only reason I say that is because, when getting in the car there was vents like it always had air-conditioning. That was another thing that I forgot to point out that I wish I would have
It’s a super smooth transmission, but don’t expect it to be fast. The engine is very torquey but out of the hole it’s not fast unless you shift it manually. It has decent passing power between the speeds of 40 to 60 mph A lot of times referred to the slusho matic
Notice that the headlight is an original T3? WYR 1: Buick WYR 2: Either the Buick or the Olds. WYR 3: Stude. That's a very very nice one. Hint? There really is nothing wrong with the Dynaflow transmission except a weak reverse band actuating strut.
@@What.its.like. A little slow off the line unless you used L. How fast is your Truck, Prius? Hmm? Having owned a 60 Buick Invicta Custom, I can say tis a little slow out of the whole but at a rolling 40-45, left many the friend in the dust.
It wasn’t supposed to say enough at the end. I updated my phone and it seems to want to put things in sentences that I didn’t want in there lol not everything’s not about speed. I’m totally OK with that. The century that I drove last year was a four-door hardtop and it was a really cool car very torquey My truck isn’t fast either per se it will go 80 it does all right for what it is the Prius I race somebody in a Mazda speed three the other day. And beat them my favorite thing to do with that car is the past trucks on the highway specially new F150 because they governed at 75 so even if you’re going 80 they can’t catch up and they absolutely hate it.
WYR Buick Hudson Buick Although I would have probably bought a 1956 Pontiac back then. I think the Buicks were just to heavy looking…though I do like the 1958s, mainly because they improved the brakes with the finned aluminum drums.
I'm not much of a fan of those mid 50's Buicks and particularly the top of the line Roadmaster as it it just too big of a car, with a wheel base of 127" and nearly 18 feet long. I like smaller cars, but I do admire the mid to late 40's Buick models. The car right next to that Buick looks interesting. I thought at first that it might be a '40 or '41 Dodge Luxury Liner but when more is revealed of it from the front side it appears to be something else. A 1941 Luxury Liner would be a great car to do a video on someday, with its big wide front grille. 😊
Pink Floyd .... Us and Them 🤞
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Love dat kine 100% Timeless!!.
Pink Flyod …
WYR: 1956 Buick, 1956 Oldsmobile, 1956 Hawk. This Buick is a stunning example of a great car, thank you for sharing. Enjoy that time with your daughter! ~ Chuck
Awesome choices 56 was such a great year for cars. I figured to have three scenarios today.
We play cards just about every single night. She’s growing up too fast.
@@What.its.like. You are so right, 56 was just "one of those years". I'm glad you two get to spend time together, those are wonderful times and memories.
First of all, I vote for the 56 Chrysler. I chose the Chrysler because at the time Chrysler was known for their superior engineering, and introducing new ideas and features that were industry firsts that would go on to become industry standards. From the late teens to the mid-60s, my family only drove cars from the Chrysler Corporation. My second choice would be the 56 Mercury Monterey and Montclair. The Mercury was a design icon of the 1950s. I do like the 56 Buick Roadmaster. A huge car that was luxurious and comfortable. When I was a little kid in the early 60s, our neighbors that lived across the street had a gray and white 2 door hardtop Buick Roadmaster. (I always thought that was a great name for a car. Our neighbors would drive that Buick to Las Vegas once a month to gamble. They would praise the Buick for its road manners, it's powerful engine that was great for the open road. They loved the comfortable ride and the it's massive car styling. I remember it being the only car that had it's name and year written on the body. I thought that was rare and very cool. In the mid to late 50s, most GM cars had very creative taillights. Designs that would make you wonder how they came up with some of the weird but stylish looks. If you look closely at any of the 1950s Big Three brands, you can see the detailed and elaborate styling. The attention to the tiniest details resulted in brilliant works of art. The two-tone paint, the miles of chrome trim and custom interiors you can see just how Detroit spent the money in the fit and finish. The mechanics of the cars were pretty much all the same through all the Big Three brands. It was the styling, and the interior creature comforts that met what the buyers wanted, and nobody wanted better gas mileage and better efficiency, they just didn't care about those things because they didn't have to. I have always thought it's unfair to criticize American cars for their poor quality and mileage. They didn't build cars like the foreign manufacturers because that's not what the American buys wanted. Looking back, I would say most of us Gearheads are glad we have those beautiful machines to look back on with fond memories. That's even more true now based on the dull and boring cars of today. I feel sorry for the kids of today because they won't have fantastic memories about the cars in their past. I hardly think they will have such passionate feelings for cars that look like used bars of soap.
Thank you so much for sharing all of that information. Awesome choices.
I’m right there with you people nowadays have no idea what quality feels like most every time I get in a packard from the 30s I get kind of watery eyed because to me that’s a car that you have once you make it. Everything feels great.
Really hoping to get the drive a packard this year. I’ve been told that they are the best as far as balance goes. Everything is very balanced.
At one point in time I owned a 67 mustang and my brother owned a 2013 mustang and it was cool because both had the same almost the same dashboard. My brother was way faster but in regards to more fun the drive I think mine was because you definitely had to be you were part of the driving experience , there wasn’t any traction control or anything like that. my brother recently told me that he wants to look for a Mustang. We both don’t have Mustang anymore. I sold mine and got married. He sold his and got. It’s a long story. lol
WOW Wonderful emerald-green beauty, it looks like new.
That car was unbelievable I wish my light didn’t die. The car interior was incredible. Everything about that car looked brand new, windows had a slight tint. The weird thing was this car wasn’t too tone, but I kinda like how all the stainless contrasted the color it was an epic car in person.
Beautiful car
Excellent lead in intro for this episode. This car just screams 1950s elegance and style.
Totally agree =)
What a jewel of a vehicle, nice 👌
It was unbelievable in person
The best for 1956.
The 1956 Buick hands down.
Great review and great car!
Happy you dig this episode =)
That car is spectacular!
WYR; the 56 Buick Roadmaster all the way!
What a stunning restoration, when you showed the hood, I wanted to dive into the paint and have a swim!
I love it!
Thank you Jay!
I saw this car a couple times ago and really dipped. It wanted to review it but couldn’t get in it the last time it was there. It wasn’t there. They must’ve moved it somewhere. I was so happy to see it next to Studebaker. It was no lie the nicest four-door 56 Buick I’ve ever seen And I just thought it was funny that it wasn’t too tone which seems to be pretty rare
Gorgeous car!
My mother had a '56 "Special" !
I remember it having lots of power and a very smooth ride !!
Last year I worked at a Classic Car dealership where we had a century four-door hardtop. We didn’t have that car for more than seven days and it was sold. It was so nice I remember
Driving it to start it you had to make sure it was in park and then you turn the key on push the gas down and it fired right up. The starter was on the gas pedal.
My Mother had a 57 Roadmaster two door, it was a great car. I don't know why people hate on the Dynaflow transmission, it was amazingly smooth.
Love that Oldsmobile!
It's a work of art.
Now that is a work of art
It is a beautiful, nicely proportioned bulk of an auto! The vintage commercial was great! I the WYR'S, it would be the New Yorker, Roadmaster, and Adventurer. 😎
Great choices. I totally agree with you as well. This is beautifully proportion, the century ease seem all that proportionately, correct
I remember seeing this car on the road as a kid. I was born at the end of '55 so my earliest recollections of this car were already 5 or 6 yrs old. By middle school they were fading from the road and I can remember lamenting the fading away of the big "Dagmar" bumpers and extravagant chrome from several of the 50's cars. Oh, the memories! 😢
Jay, this car is beautiful. I love the 56 Buicks and the color of this car. I also enjoy the commercials.
Awesome happy you dig this episode =)
I really enjoy this UA-cam Channel.
I plan to take a trip to walk around Classic Auto Mall, it about 90 minutes from where I live. I had numerous Antique Cars over the years, one being a 1955 Buick Century 4dr Hardtop, very similar to the 1956.
I think from a Styling Standpoint, the 1955 was a better looking car overall then the '56.
Thank you glad you dig this channel =) i’m surprised you haven’t gotten up to Classic autumn all beings. It’s only 90 minutes from you. I wish it was only 90 minutes from me. I’d go up there once a week it’s 5 1/2 hours for me one way so it makes quite a long day. lol
Love those old Buicks that is a beautiful car Buick - Oldsmobile - Buick
Sweet choices =)
Gorgeous car! Man, this takes me back. My dad had a 55 Century coupe, my grandpa had this Roadmaster in black and white with a red interior, and in 57 my uncle got a navy blue Roadmaster Riviera, which was absolutely stunning and my personal favorite. We looked like a Buick dealership when we all got together. Uncle just passed at 101, a car guy until the very end. Thanks for this one, Jay. My forebearers would have talked your ears off about this one!
Thank you so much for sharing those memories with us. Really appreciate it.
Thanks for the memories. Although not the same , when i was a kid, my dad had this in a 55 two door in two tone white and light blue. One thing you did not mention is the changing, green, yellow, red, speedometer "light bar" that showed the vehicle's speed. I remember being fascinated with that as a small kid.
Olds did the green/yellow/red line.
My dad had the same car! Blue and white Century coupe. Loved it!
Thank you so much for sharing your dad’s car with us. We will do a 55 one day. This is the second 56 Buick we have done for the channel the other one was a century four-door hardtop that I got to drive.
The speedometer is called the Redliner. It's a rotating drum behind the facia. It does not change colors---red only. The Twin Turbine Dynaflow was a very reliable unit and very smooth as it did not shift gears with the selector in Drive. A driver could select Low on the quadrant for quick acceleration from a standing start. Pressing the accelerator to the floor in Drive range activates the "switch pitch" feature, changing the angle of the stator blades for rapid acceleration such as in a maneuver to overtake another vehicle.
Thank you so much for sharing all that information and insight greatly appreciate it
This is probably the best 56 Roadmaster in the country. The background is interesting. The restore was a gentleman who showed it at Hershey and won awards everytime he showed it. How it ended up at a dealer is a mystery.
It was a stellar Buick maybe the owner wanted something different 50s cars are hot now.. classic car market is like the stock market it’s always fluctuating
That car is in perfect shape! Jay I am surprised you didn’t comment on those two protruding hollow bullets on the front bumper! Looks like a perfect place for fog lights.
I’m trying to find that fine line between seeing enough and something just don’t need explaining a lot of the newer episodes. I show a bunch of lines of cars and I don’t really say anything. I think it’s a good balance, or at least trying to find a good balance.
Lots of torque!
I wonder what the horsepower is on this car?
@@02chevyguy225 HP stated in the specs.
@@stephenholland5930 I'll have to rewatch. Thanks.
1956 Buick roadmaster, the most Emerald car on the planet! 💚 I think Aunt Mary's was a little newer, but it was like riding in this otherworldly green machine!! Buicks are tops, Let The Good Times Roll! 🎲😊. Thank you Jay for the chance to experience the best of the best, which for the everyday man was the Buick.
You bet love covering these cars so many details to see in design that never get shown =)
My parent's best friends had a 1956 Buick, while we had a 1956 Plymouth Plaza. I remember being fascinated by the four side ports on the fender when we would walk along their driveway, coming and going from their house.
Awesome thank you so much for sharing that memory with us
All the colors of this car were found in the interior of my family's house when I was born, but the house was built in the 50s. Also, I like the grille, I thought it was aftermarket the first time I saw one. What a great value imo; optioned to compete,
Whoever buys this car is going to love it. I didn’t see anything wrong with it. It was perfect and well optioned and in the advertisement piece on classic automalls website, it won senior at AACA =)
Wow, what a wonderful automobile in a stunning colour. 1950s Americana at its finest. Thanks for featuring it, Jay.
You bet this car was absolutely epic in person
She even has AC...everyone in your neighborhood would be envious! Probably wouldn't need to use those robe rails for robes since most of these had an underseat heater for the rear passengers. Real luxury interior! WYR: 1 Chrysler 2 Buick 3 Studebaker.
Thank you so much for sharing that added information. Great choices too =)
I have had several Buicks with the variable pitch torque converter dynaflow transmission, they are very good transmissions, especially in the snow. They are not fast, but extremely smooth. I suggest you drive one. I would love to have one again.
Thank you! The 1956 Roadmaster hardtop was immortalized in the 1973 movie, "Sugarland Express".
=)
It's pretty rare to actually see the build year affixed to the vehicle, nice touch Buick.
Thank you for the video Jay. This was interesting to see a loaded Buick Roadmaster from the 1950's. The other interesting thing is the name of the car: Roadmaster and Riviera as that is two Buick models. I was taking notice of the interior mainly. The really paid attention to details on the interior. They had some interesting styling details on the exterior as well. It was interesting when the Roadmaster came back in 1991 and ran until 1996. You can see how this car influenced the design in the front end styling. They did make some changes between 1955 and 1956. You put some great detail in this video as well. I will take the Oldsmobile 98. Thank you again.
=) you bet glad you dig this episode
My grandfather bought a new Buick every second year after WW2 until the early 60s. All I remember as a kid was how heavy the doors were to open when parked slightly off level.
Those doors were heavy
Hell of a vehicle! WYR…Buick, then Olds.
Great choices totally agree
Hi Jay!: What a BEAUTIFUL Buick! I like the 1955 AND 1956 models! The only weird thing I saw in your video was that you would have a hard time switching between Drive and Reverse! What with reverse being all the way on the end of the dial, there! You are KILLING me on the WYR's! LOVE me some 1956 Chrysler and DeSoto, and, of course I would want a 1956 Studebaker Golden HAWK!!
1956 was a stellar year for cars. I figured we could do three. =)
My grandfather had a 1956, I was 7, we were in a downpour, and he could not get the wipers on, it was a new car, and he had never used them before. All was well, he pulled off the road. It was green, too. I'd take a 1956 Buick.
Butiful looking car
my grandfather once had one.
Hey, I was born in ‘56. And, inexplicably, you didn’t mention it! What a great looking car. 👍
Me too. And yesterday was my birthday. 68!
Happy birthday =) 02chevyguy
Charleshamilton9274 I didn’t know you were born in 56
@@What.its.like. Dude, I am old. 😎
@@02chevyguy - Happy (belated) birthday! The only Chevrolet I ever owned was a ‘78 Nova Concours I received when I graduated college. Dependable. After that, I only bought Oldsmobiles until they went out of business. Now, I have a (my third) Lexus RX.
7:30 That Emerald Green paint is sure nice. Makes me want to watch "The Wizard of Oz" again.
That’s a stunning Roadmaster. The ‘56 is my all-time favorite Buick, with the chrome-slathered 1985 a close second. Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick?
The ‘59-‘61’s did it for me …
My grandfather bought a new 55 Century (actually considered a muscle car in its day) 4dr hardtop. Its color scheme was exactly like the 55 shown at 2:47! I was only 2 at the time, but I do have memories of going lots of places in that car as grandpa kept that car until his death in 62. That's when my grandma took over and drove it up to about 1967. By then, the car was rusted to almost nothing, my grandma had it painted even cheaper than Earl Scheib in a flat white. YUK. And *then* it was supposed to be my first car in 1969. I sure didn't want that boat, but at least it ran, and ran well. Luckily, I think, I came across a 62 Corvair for $40 that changed the course of my life to this day!. That 56 you featured is gorgeous! I wouldn't mind if THAT was my first car! As an aside, that 55 Buick that Jay Leno drives actually *was* his first car! Another very well done video!
Awesome thank you so much for sharing all of that
WYR 1: All of them.
WYR 2: All of them.
I saw a pre-1968 GTO in the background when looking out the rear glass.
There’s a 63 GP in the pipeline I was on the fence about which one to do tomorrow but I think tomorrow’s episode is going to be 66 charger. I’m actually halfway done with the script.
@@What.its.like. Awesome.
Wyr
Buick
Oldsmobile 😍
DeSoto but Studebaker is a tight race 😊....
Outstanding example of Buick 👏👏👏🏆🏆🏆 she's a Winner..
Great Episode 👍
Happy Motoring ✌️🤠
Awesome choices. Glad you dig this episode. Lots of cool detail in this one. Everything goes great 66 charger tonight.
I like all those cars.
56 was a stellar year for American cars
I liked the '56 better. More refined, the flow was better. I finally got a '66 Riv. What a lead sled but soo beautiful and had a stereo FM radio.
How do you like your 66 Riviera that’s a car that I’ve always loved stylewise very sweet car. If you’re on the Facebook group share a picture of it, I’d be interested to see it.
Gorgeous car. At least as nice as that '56 Lincoln you covered in 2022. Mid-fifties perfection.
As far as WYR goes, it's the Buick for the first scenario, both the Olds and the Buick for the second.
I'm curious when car companies started using foot-activated parking brakes? This seems to be one of the earliest examples of one.
Great choices. I would also wonder that after doing this for a little while one starts to ask questions like that. When did they start doing this or when did they start doing that? lol
1956 is my favourite year for Buick until 1960. 🙂
Buick has an aura in all the four corners of the world. A long-lasting fame for top workmanship, refined taste and rich history. All this, thanks to those three giants of motordom's Holy Shrine: Harley Earl, Harlow Curtice and Ned Nickles. It doesn't matter, whether you own a '36, '46, '56 or any other model year of the Buick Roadmaster, you made the best choice in your life (including a loving, faithful wife)!
Buick had some of the sharpest looking cars in the mid to late 50's. I prefer the '57, but they all are sweet! WYR: 1) Mercury! 2) Buick.
Something unique about Buick was that they had their year written right on the car. It was something they did up til 1957, But not sure if they started this trend in '54 or '55.
That transmission makes me think of today's cvt transmissions.
Don't discount the Dynaflow. Although it defines the term slushbox, with a variable pitch stator in it's torque converter, starting off in low gives a push you back in the seat feeling. As the Dynaflows were non-automatic shifting transmissions(giving the effect of a modern CVT), if you wanted maximum launch, you have to put it in low. In my sophomore year of high school, a neighbor lady worked at the school and I would ride with her. She had an either '55 or '56 Buick Century 2Dr. hardtop and also had a 1965 Chevy Malibu SS convertible with a 283 V8 and Powerglide. Both cars were cool to ride in.
I own a 56 Chevy 210 Sports Sedan, aka 4d hardtop. I love the styling. They're even lower than the 2-door hardtops.
You showed the step down parking brake. That was an advancement over Cadillac which still used the pull up hand brake in 56
Love your channel! Always wanted to get up close to these cars! What's the story on the variable pitch dynaflow transmission???
It was generally called the “Dynaslush” back in the day, but many of us called it the Dynashit transmission.
It was a two-speed planetary unit with no provision for automatic shifting, so normally took off in high (D), instead relying on a super-duper 5-element converter (this changed a couple of times over the years) for its gear-reduction/torque-multiplication. It was smooth, and that’s about all. It was a gas-hogging thing, and generally slow unless you pulled it back into low.
Happy you dig the channel Chris Brown =)
Thank you so much Clyde for explaining it way better than I could =) I got to drive a 56 century last year with dynaflow 322 v8 was torquey But you almost need another gear. It was really smooth just slow.
This '56 presentation at the C.A.M. is beautifully done, and with a/c & power windows, but #1 i like the looks of the Chrysler best, #2 is the Buick no brainer nicer look, and #3 i would take the Adventurer hands down even over the sporty looking Golden Hawk. . . :>/
Awesome choices glad you dig this episode =)
Buick is my choice. I love this car
Sweet =)
OK, so I got the '66 Riv. in August a end of year sale. So, it had a lot of extra options on it. I also added stuff. A 8 track player under the dash, a 4 way flasher near the parking brake release and a rear window blower to help clear that back window. Anyhow, the selling price was $6,400.00. Engine was 425 cc, 400 hp. I finally sold it to a friend, I couldn't afford the gas even then. 18 MPG. on the road, 9 MPG. in the city. It was riv. gold a special color just for Buick.
1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk - it has the 352ci (290hp) packard v8 and the 3 speed packard twin ultramatic. So they make it one of the fastest cars of the 50s - 0-60 in 8.7 seconds.
I had a Century. Great driver
I got to drive a century last year it was a sweet car =)
What body style and colors was yours
What a great example! I'll take the Mercury, the Buick and the DeSoto.
Awesome choices
Wow, that's an exceptional restoration! There are non-original aspects though. Certainly the A/C compressor is non-original, and I suspect that the electric wipers, various bits hung below the dash, and other bits of the A/C may also be non-original. Beautiful car nonetheless!
Totally agree =)
The HP was 255, not 225. I had a 1955 Century with the Roadmaster engine, 1956 Roadmaster and 1957 Roadmaster 75. 55=236hp, 56=255hp and the 57 was 300hp.
Thank you so much for thank correction
One small correction. Century was actually a step below the Super.
The Century was the Special body with the RoadMaster drivetrain. The Special used the 264cid v8 while the other series used the 322cid RoadMaster v8.
The original banker's hotrod.
Today, I drive an equivalent of the past Buick Roadmasters, a 2018 Buick TourX Essence wagon.
Roadmaster/Super! Got their 4dr. H/T! Century/ Special got theirs in 55’! Thanks, you answered, before I’ve finished writing ✍️ 😬
=)
Hawk for the win!
Sweet =)
56 Oldsmobile for me.
I prefer the '55's instrument panel and dashboard--the speedometer is more visible, and the heater controls are more substantial and intuitive. Chrysler--Olds--DeSoto (despite the pushbutton transmission selectors).
Someone please rescue a Riviera 4 door hardtop that is sitting next to a house in good shape in Manvel, TX. It is a great car rotting away.
When I was a kid, I mean like 8, learning about cars, all I knew was what I could access on my bicycle. At 10, I got a 10 speed, so range improved. But still, nothing was really older than the 60's and when I finally got began getting books detailing make/model history (Crestline - had to save for each one; took forever) I remember putting 'corrections' next to some of the captions. In my mind the editors were off their rocker. What the heck was a Century Riviera, or a New Yorker Newport. Surely these were mistakes! LOL - still have the Crestline series though.
I'll take one of each, the 1956 Buick Roadmaster 4Dr Hardtop and the 1956 DeSoto Adventurer 2Dr Hardtop and the 1956 Oldsmobile 98 Holiday 4Dr Hardtop.
1956 Buick third round.
Buick 👍👍
WYR:
1- New Yorker
2- Olds 🏆🥇
3- DeSoto
That Merc in group-1 was nice if it didn’t have that raggedy Y-block.
The Chryslers had good powertrains by ‘56. The TorqueFlite and even the 2-speed PowerFlite were both very durable.
I never liked the Dynaflow, and it wasn’t until ‘59 that the Buicks became so good-looking that I would tolerate that transmission. The ‘61 Invicta, along with the ‘65 Riviera, are two of my all-time favorite designs.
Sweeet choices thank you so much fir sharing that insight =)
56 Buick
56 Hudson
56 Golden hawk
That Buick is beautiful. Love the color. My high school friend always said he wanted a 56 Buick. IDK if he ever could one or not. To me the 56 Buick is a better looking car than the 56 Chevy.
Great choices Carl I totally agree. I would rather have this 57 Buick and any 57 Chevy. =) but as far as 57 General Motors goes I think I like the Pontiac the best but don’t hold me to that. I haven’t been in a 57 Cadillac yet or It’s been a long time.
I bet that car looks better than it did brand new. To me the '56 was an improvement over the '55 because Buick got rid of the sad eyes headlight bezels. I always wanted to drive a Dynaflow car. I worked in the advanced engineering department for a Tier I torque converter supplier and was always intrigued by the super complicated design of the Dynaflow torque converter. WYR I like the 1956 Buick Roadmaster in the first two scenarios and the 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk in the third.
Great choices
Dynaflow is super smooth just not very fast and has decent pick up between 40 and 60 I got to drive one last year. I didn’t see a problem with the transmission but I’ve gotten it a lot in the comment section that transmissions kinda eh
I love this Roadmaster, but for a two-tons car, The tires seem really quite undersized, the kinf of which you will find on a 2023 Suzuki. To be driven the very easy way. Do you know if the chassis could cope with modern, radial tires ?
I think so radio tires on these cars make them handle so much better in a lot of ways but one thing needs to be said about the biased tires they get rid of anything finicky in the suspension. I think this car would be a great candidate for radial tires. The other thing is if you put radios on it, they have a fatter, lower appearance than the tall bias tire does.
Push the gas pedal to the floor, this sets the Chock, now turn the key to on and give the gas pedal a light press and the Buick comes to life.
OOOOO three what if's. New Yorker , the Roadmaster then the Hawk.
Sweet choices =)
My parents had a 55 with air conditioning. I must say l much prefer the looks of the 56. My dad had considered a Cadillac, but felt it looked too pretentious.
It would have performed so much better with GM's 4 speed Hydramatic Transmission.
WHEN BETTER AUTOMOBILES ARE BUILT,
BUICK WILL BUILD THEM !!!!!
THIS WAS BUICKS MOTO.
HARLY EARL ,WAS ONE OF
THE BEST AUTOMOTIVE
CAR DESIGNERS, BACK THEN.
Kevin Phoenix ✝️
Totally agree
Gerry Raferty-Baker Street
Awesome guess it’s not that song or band
Gerry Rafferty
@@What.its.like. BUMAGE,,,LOL
WYR: Buick, Oldsmobile, DeSoto (though the Studebaker almost had me!)
Awesome choices
Studebaker Golden Hawk. Awesome automobile.
Great choices =)
I prefer the look of the '55. I would like the mercury montclair, the desoto adventurer and the Oldsmobile 98. When can I pick them up?
=D awesome choices. I’ll give you the address. You show up with a time machine and we’ll go get them together man.
Gorgeous Buick but not in my WYR's......WYR: New Yorker, Hudson, DeSoto. I like the 55 over the 56 Buick simply for the fact that the 55 still has a trace of "basset hound" headlight treatment from the early 50's Buicks.
Great choices none the less 56 was a great year for cars
The car appears to have power seats, which you did not mention. But are they two way or six way power seats? Also, the fact that it has four 'ports' on each side means it is a senior model. Lesser Buicks only had three.
Great insight and information. Thank you so much for catching that on the power seats. This car was loaded. It had a lot of options as well as the aftermarket air-conditioning system. I don’t know if this car had factory air and it went bad so they put a new compressor on it the only reason I say that is because, when getting in the car there was vents like it always had air-conditioning. That was another thing that I forgot to point out that I wish I would have
1956 Buick Second round.
Why is the DynaFlow transmission a downfall?
It’s a super smooth transmission, but don’t expect it to be fast. The engine is very torquey but out of the hole it’s not fast unless you shift it manually. It has decent passing power between the speeds of 40 to 60 mph
A lot of times referred to the slusho matic
Hi Jay. What's the price on the Roadmaster, mate ? It's awesome, neat colour Cheers from New Zealand 🇳🇿
www.classicautomall.com/vehicles/5542/1956-buick-roadmaster-riviera-4-door-hardtop
1956 buick.road master.
Sweet choices
Notice that the headlight is an original T3? WYR 1: Buick WYR 2: Either the Buick or the Olds. WYR 3: Stude. That's a very very nice one. Hint? There really is nothing wrong with the Dynaflow transmission except a weak reverse band actuating strut.
Awesome choices I’ve driven a couple cars with the dynaflow it’s not terrible it’s just not fast
@@What.its.like. A little slow off the line unless you used L. How fast is your Truck, Prius? Hmm? Having owned a 60 Buick Invicta Custom, I can say tis a little slow out of the whole but at a rolling 40-45, left many the friend in the dust.
It wasn’t supposed to say enough at the end. I updated my phone and it seems to want to put things in sentences that I didn’t want in there lol
not everything’s not about speed. I’m totally OK with that. The century that I drove last year was a four-door hardtop and it was a really cool car very torquey
My truck isn’t fast either per se it will go 80 it does all right for what it is the Prius I race somebody in a Mazda speed three the other day. And beat them my favorite thing to do with that car is the past trucks on the highway specially new F150 because they governed at 75 so even if you’re going 80 they can’t catch up and they absolutely hate it.
Is the air conditioning original ?
It’s after market very tastefully done could pass as stock for someone not familiar with how those units are to look
WYR
Buick
Hudson
Buick
Although I would have probably bought a 1956 Pontiac back then. I think the Buicks were just to heavy looking…though I do like the 1958s, mainly because they improved the brakes with the finned aluminum drums.
Awesome choices and insight =)
I'm not much of a fan of those mid 50's Buicks and particularly the top of the line Roadmaster as it it just too big of a car, with a wheel base of 127" and nearly 18 feet long. I like smaller cars, but I do admire the mid to late 40's Buick models. The car right next to that Buick looks interesting. I thought at first that it might be a '40 or '41 Dodge Luxury Liner but when more is revealed of it from the front side it appears to be something else. A 1941 Luxury Liner would be a great car to do a video on someday, with its big wide front grille. 😊
Chrysler, Buick, DeSoto
Sweet choices