Luxury Vehicle Care

Information

This 1955 Buick Riviera was first owned by the wife of the Mayor of Elko, Nevada (per family lore). The second owner was a family friend - wife of the President of First National Bank of Nevada in Reno. The current owner bought it in 1966 for $125 as a daily driver to Wooster High School & around Reno and, very enjoyably, cruising Reno's downtown Casino Row (especially after yet another State High School championship).
The Buick continued as 'The Wheels' for the first couple years in college in the Bay Area - regularly tripping over the Sierras to Reno for family visits, skiing with college buddies, or exciting evenings in San Francisco.
'Da Buick' was retired back to Reno in 1970. Mom (a career teacher) drove it for a couple more years then put it up on blocks in the garage. Meanwhile the owner graduated, began a career in Silicon Valley, married & raised a family.
In 1986 the Buick was trailered back to the Peninsula for restoration. The mechanical work was done first by a local shop the owner had worked with during previous college summers (including installing hardened cylinders, and an electric fuel pump).
This was followed by body work - replacing the rear quarter panels, the few pieces of plastic, re-carpeting, re-covering seats, etc - even the radio & clock work just fine (the windshield washer / pump jar is 'present').
The previously all-white and 'rust' body was refinished in an elegant red & white. With the trim rechromed & polished, and the addition of re-chromed original wire wheels (optional in 1955) - it's a sweet car.
Following restoration, the car made its return to the road cruising I-80 through the Central Valley and over the Sierras to Reno’s Hot August Nights in 1990 (family following in the air-conditioned Taurus) - drawing a lot of 'thumbs-up' along the way, and particular admiration from the announcer, "There goes one fine-looking '55 Buick".
Since then it has been shown at the Buick Club of America's National meets in Sacramento in 1991 and Portland 2014, Stanford Concours1994 (3rd in class), various local shows, and some homecoming parades.
There is various period literature, and spare parts available.
For more of the story (including The Buick Club of America's "Buick Bugle" cover story, dated August 1990) see:
Https://alsalbums.smugmug.com/Cars/Buick/i-4TQThk2/A
(And there's more photo galleries of various auto collections & events at this site as well)