The Buick Special, which debuted in the 1930s, played a significant position in the lineup as the company’s entry-level model, even though it is not as iconic as the GSX, Riviera, or Century. Additionally, it was the brand that debuted the contemporary Buick V6, which went on to become a mainstay of the GM engine lineup for many years, in the 1960s.
1936 saw the birth of the Special, a full-size car. During World War II, the GM B platform, which was also used by Cadillac, allowed for the offer of multiple body types. In 1946, the brand was reintroduced with an updated design.
Redesigned in 1949, it remained in production until 1958, sharing styling cues with the more expensive Roadmaster and Century. And yes, it also got the flamboyant, chrome-heavy design of the one-year-only Limited in 1958. The Special disappeared after that model year only to return in 1961 as a midsize.
After eight more years on the market, it was discontinued for good, being replaced by the Skylark. However, the badge returned as an entry-level subseries of the Century from 1975 to 1979 and then from 1991 to 1996.
By 2022, the Buick Special is no longer as popular as its more ostentatious brothers. It’s unfortunate because the versions from the 1950s are equally as gorgeous as the Roadmaster and Century, but they are still more reasonably priced in the market for vintage cars.
Indeed, although appearing to be an original two-door coupe from the exterior, this stunning two-tone 1955 Special is actually a modernized classic with a massive engine beneath the hood. Furthermore, I’m not referring to the 350-cubic-inch swaps you see on a daily basis. Nope, this Buick had a huge big-block mill that held 502 cubic inches of displacement.
Based on the way it looks, the V8 in question is a ZZ502. A popular big-block from the Chevrolet Performance catalog, this V8 cranks out a neck-snapping 508 horsepower and 580 pound-feet of twist, which is more than enough to put a golden-era muscle car to shame. Assuming the 502 V8 didn’t get additional upgrades, because these mills are capable of more than 600 horses.
Of course, the stock two-speed Dynaflow automatic was also replaced with a more modern gearbox capable of handling the extra oomph. Not surprisingly, the ZZ502 sends all that power to the rear wheels through a Turbo 400 automatic. And as you’d expect from a powerful restomod, this Special now uses power disc brakes at all corners, wider wheels, and a high-performance rear end by Currie Enterprises. It sounds downright awesome and rides as smoothly as a modern vehicle. And both are nice things to have in a 1950s classic.