The Buick Special was an automobile produced by Buick. It was usually Buick’s lowest-priced model, starting out as a full-size car in 1936 and returning in 1961 (after a two-year hiatus) as a mid-size. Halfway into the 1949 model year, the Specials received all-new bodywork, the first fully postwar design for the series. New was also the 40D-series, a better equipped version called the Special DeLuxe.[10] The engine remained the 248 cu in (4.1 L) 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.[11] 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.[12]
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 (5.3 L) V8 engine was shared with the rest of the range, although it was replaced by the bigger, 250 hp (186 kW) 364 V8 for 1957. This year also brought all-new bodywork, as well as a four-door hardtop station wagon called the Buick Caballero.[13] The 1957 wheelbase remained 122 inches.[14] 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 (13.5 L/100 km; 20.9 mpg-imp) at 50 mph (80 km/h), and ground clearance of 6.9 in (175 mm).[15] 1958 brought the most chrome yet and twin headlights, as the car grew longer and wider, albeit on an unchanged chassis.
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.[16] Wikipedia
This beautiful blue ’57 Buick Special was one of the winners of the “six foot” top 100 trophies. The proud owners are Dan and Renessa Coleman of Columbus, Ohio who put a lot of work and love into restoring this auto to it’s beautiful original condition and it was so pristine! Then something caught my eye while looking at the front of the vehicle. I knew what they were from having watched many an auto show but this was the first time I had ever seen them in real time – curb feelers! How cool is that? Congrats on your win, Mr. Coleman.
(Click on images to view larger)
Now how did she get in here? I believe this was when she was asking how he was going to get that big trophy home.
Images by T.Dashfield Photography 
Oooo la la ! What a beauty! Wait there are two beauties in this post! 😉
And they both thank you 😉
I’d be too scarred to actually drive this beauty anywhere…and recently I had to inform someone as to what curb feelers were…
I didn’t ask him if he drove it anywhere and now you can show said person what they are!
Nice writeup. Great photos. Big trophy.
Thanks and thanks! He said he was going to fold down one of the seats but that he also brought a trailer so it got home just fine.
That is some car and an equally impressive trophy. My grandmother had a friend whose car had curb feelers. Cheers.
I still wonder how they work 🙂
You hear them scraping the curb and know you are getting close.
So that’s how they work! Thanks
De nada. 😉
Now that’s a car! I bet it rode beautifully, too. Yes, I know our current day cars are more streamlined and lighter, making them far more fuel efficient but we gave up that smooth ride. ((sigh))
Thanks, Teri, for sharing.
I’m so happy to see you back, John. This is one heck of a car! I would love to ride in one of these show cars one day but in the interim I’m happy to see and learn about them.
Thanks, Teri. … When I was a freshman in high school, a senior befriended me and would drive me to school in his grandparent’s ’48 or 49 Hudson. That car was in mint condition and I still remember how comfortable the seats were and that ride. Oh, baby, that ride! 🙂
Sounds great! Now there were some low profile cars there that looked like driving over a twig would jostle the heck out of you.
Yes, what a car. I think what impressed me most was the trunk with the tire cover. That is detail work that shows how much the Colemans care about their car. I had to repeatably ask owners to lower the hoods on their cars to get the full design impact. They seemed glad to do it.
I had owners offer to “pose” their car for me. I only asked for certain things to be moved it I couldn’t work around the car otherwise. Come to think of it, the trunk detailing is what made DH go wow too!
Sometimes it only takes a smile and an ask. I’ll bet you’re good at that.
I guess you could say I have that skill 😉 but showing interest and asking questions and especially knowing what to ask like “how long did it take you to restore it?” or “how many speeds does this have?” really gets them!