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HIGHLIGHTS

In good mostly original condition
Recently overhauled engine and mechanics
Dashboard in very good condition
A luxurious, solid and efficient American flagship

THE APPEAL

The illustrious Roadmaster name appeared for the first time on a Buick in 1936 and was adopted on several occasions until the nineties to identify some of the most prestigious, powerful and well equipped vehicles from the historic brand.

The 1956 Roadmaster was Buick's top of the range, a sophisticated and lavishly equipped car conceived to compete on equal terms with the most luxurious Detroit offerings of the time and, with a more than three meters long wheelbase and a total length of almost five and half meters, offered lots of space and great comfort to its passengers.

From an aesthetic point of view, the Roadmaster, imposing, sumptuosly finished and emebellished with a great abundance of chrome-plated surfaces according to the fashion of the time, proudly displayed all the then most popular ornaments on top of the peculiar Buick trimmings, with a large chrome grille, a full-width bumper with large "Dagmar" overriders, the famous Buick portholes on the front fenders, four for this top of the range model, and a hint of fins at the rear.

Mechanically, the Roadmaster was equipped with the powerful 5.3-liter "Nailhead" V8 engine with 255 hp, a sophisticated Dynaflow automatic transmission, power steering and power brakes.

This fascinating Roadmaster was imported to Italy from the United States in 2022 and underwent a complete mechanical overhaul.

The engine has been completely rebuilt and all mechanical components have been refurbished and replaced where necessary.

It presents a bodywork in good condition painted in its original and bold Cambridge Blue and very good, brilliant chrome-plating.

Inside, the attractive dashboard is intact and efficient and the original upholstery is largely sound, although patently damaged in a few areas.

The Roadmaster, a four-door of great significance, of great historical importance and much loved by car enthusiasts everywhere, never leaves anyone indifferent.

This glorious flagship, solid and in good general condition, will delight any enthusiast, will always be at the center of attention at gatherings and will be admired by all those who are lucky enough to see it ride by.

THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK

Sold new in Pennsylvania
Imported to Italy in 2022
Original use and maintenance manual

Originally sold in Pennsylvania, this Buick spent most of its life in the quiet city of Georgetown and was then brought to New York.In 2022 it was imported in Italy. The car is accompanied by the original use and maintenance manual and by nice and interesting period road maps.

THE INTERIOR

In good general condition
Seats and door panels upholstered in nylon and Cordaveen
Intact and resplendent dashboard
Efficient controls
Original radio
Headliner in very good condition
Noticeable damages on the front seat

The interior of this Roadmaster further emphasizes the great prestige of this model and its place at the top of the Buick range.

The dashboard is very impressive with a complex machine-turned finish and a large abundance of shiny chrome-plated surfaces in the centre section, spotless and refined body-colour panels in the lower part and a large intact padded shelf on top.

Behind the handsome three-spoke steering wheel with chrome-plated horn ring the striking horizontal 120 mph speedometer and the additional gauges are clear and in good working order.

The large speaker grille and the controls for the original Motorola radio stand out in the center of the dashboard.

The window frames, the window controls, the door handles and all the other chrome-plated details are in very good condition, as are the carpets and the headliner, crossed by beautiful chrome-plated strips.

The two large and comfortable benches offering up to six seats and the elaborate door cards are finished in Cordaveen and body-colour nylon.

The front seat and the left front door door card show rips and fading and will need to be restored or reupholstered.

In 1956 the Roadmaster offered a high-level standard equipment, with comfortable and durable foam-padded seats, electric clock, perimetric heating system and anti-glare rearview mirror.

Sitting on the comfortable bench and admiring the curves of the bodywork, the characteristic jet-shaped hood ornament and the viewfinders above the headlights through the panoramic windshield, it's impossible to resist the charm of this majestic car.

With very respectable performance despite its considerable mass, thanks to the high torque of the powerful V8, comfortable suspension and good road holding, the Roadmaste was designed to eat up the miles on the endless American highways without tiring the driver and passengers, as well as to be flaunted, shiny and ostentatious, taking a stroll around the city.

THE EXTERIOR

In very good general condition
Flawless bodywork
Mostly original Cambridge Blue paint
Spotless brightwork
Clean underbody with no signs of wear
Whitewall tires

The generously sized and well preserved bodywork of this Roadmaster, in the attractive original Cambridge Blue, features a wealth of eye-catching details and is an almost complete catalog of all the most popular decorations which graced the unforgettable American cars of the mid-fifties.

The imposing front is characterized by the large wrap-around windscreen, the large grille and the huge bumper with Dagmar overriders, the jet emblem on the bonnet and the viewfinders on top of the fenders.

On the sides, the four portholes (three on the less luxurious models) make this car immediately recognizable as a top-of-the-range Buick and are accentuated by a precious full-lenght chrome strip that arches around the rear wheel opening.

The tail features small rounded fins with unique slanted taillights, shiny simulated trunk straps and dual chrome exhaust tips nestled into the massive full-width rear bumper.

The generous presence of chrome-plating, which helped to distinguish the Roadmaster from lesser Buicks, identifying it as the largest, most luxurious and fastest version, often constitutes an obstacle in the restoration of these prestigious vehicles and is instead an important positive asset on this car, on which all the chrome-plated surfaces are sound and gleaming.

The bodywork is solid and the paintwork shows no obvious damage, but could benefit from a professional polish.

The underbody is intact and clean, with no traces of rust or oil leaks.

THE MECHANICS

5.3 litres Nailhead V8 engine with 255 hp
Dynaflow two-speed automatic transmission
Overhauled engine and mechanics
Maintained with care

Opening the hefty bonnet, the large engine compartment appears clean and tidy.

The mighty Nailhead V8 engine, also known as Fireball, renowned for its power and toughness which have made it a favorite of American hot rodders for years, was carefully restored in 2022 and, coupled with the classic Dynaflow gearbox, guarantees a relaxed drive and more than adequate performance to cope with today's traffic.

All the mechanics of the car were completely overhauled in 2022 and the seller guarantees that all components are dependable and in good working order.

SUMMARY

Built for eight generations starting from the thirties, the Buick Roadmaster is one of the most notable and fascinating full-size cars made in the USA, capable of offering a unique mix of performance, comfort, fine finishes, cutting-edge technology and high construction quality that put it direct competition with the top models from the most prestigious brands.

This 1956 Buick with flashy and grandiose aesthetics perfectly reflects the stylistic trends of its time and offers an extremely comfortable and lavishly detailed interior and all the qualities of a true flagship.

The intact chrome-plating in very good condition is a crucial positive asset, as the restoration of these components is often a long and complex undertaking and, together with the efficient and recently overhauled mechanics and the good general conditions of the passenger compartment, make it an example worthy of great attention, destined to achieve great success at gatherings and exhibitions and to give great satisfaction to its next owner.

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BEFORE YOU BUY

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:

✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.

✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.

✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.

✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.

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