1924 Buick Model 55 Sports Touring Automobile

For sale is a restored 1924 Buick Model 55 Sports Touring. Of the 17 models that Buick produced in 1924, this was one of two models that were considered “sports” models. The other was the Model 54 which was a roadster. This was the third year of the production of this model that lasted for a total of eight years (1922 to 1929). Buick produced 4,111 of the Model 55 in 1924, each selling for $1,725, and I believe this to be the finest example remaining in the world today. My goal has been to restore this car as original as I possibly could. I bought the mostly complete solid car in January, 1973, and kept it in my closed garage until October 2004 when I moved it into its own building/room and began restoration. I did the last part of my restoration with the refurbishing of the speedometer in 2015. The car won its first award in Charlotte, NC in April 2009, the AACA 1st Jr. In May 2009 it was awarded the NC Region Red Bird Award. In June 2009, it was awarded the AACA Sr. in Gettysburg, PA. The following year, in May 2010, I took the car to the AACA Grand National show in Wilmington, NC where it won the Grand National 1st Jr. In June 2012, I entered the car in the AACA Grand National show in Shelbyville, Tennessee and it won the Grand National Sr. Also in June 2012, I entered the car in the Buick Club of America’s national show in Charlotte, NC where it won the BCA Gold Senior. Since then, I have continued to make improvements while showing it in our local AACA-Alamance Region car club show as well as driving in local parades. The car is stored in a heated and cooled building.

The restoration was “frame-off” whereby my restoration team tried to clean, repair, or replace everything that was needed. The frame was cleaned, painted with POR paint, and over sprayed with acrylic enamel. The engine was removed and gone through completely which including boring the cylinders, replacing the pistons and valves, grinding the lobes on the cam shaft to the correct shape and providing a new cam shaft gear, rebuilding the oil pump, water pump, replacing the radiator, timing gear and the throw-out bearing. All wiring was replaced as well as the tires, upholstery, leather seats, and convertible top. The entire car including frame, body, engine and wheels was repainted or refinished. All nickel parts were re-plated.

For sale with this car is all of the accessories I accumulated that either came or was used with this car. They include spare rim, rim break-down tool, jack, tire pump, hubcap wrench, tool set with carry pouch, period pressure grease gun, engine crank, set of convertible top holders when top is down, support rods for side curtains and carry pouch, 6-piece set of side curtains with carry pouch, boot to cover folded convertible top, spotlight, engine crank, foot warmer (convertibles not equipped with heaters), matching front and rear bumpers, rare after-market front bumper emblem, spare tire cover, restored period trunk, 1924 Buick Auto Manual for Six Cylinders, 1924 Buick Salesman Book, 1924 Buick Six Cylinder Book of Parts with pictures of a lot of parts and naming of models that used them, and some period advertisements .

I am a member of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) National and Alamance Region, and the Buick Club of America (BCA). I have never driven the car more than 10 miles at a time and that was from my house to a parade and back. My goal from the start was for the car to be original and for it to operate that way. The car has a tail light, but it does not operate as a stop light, nor never did. There were no signal lights in 1924 on Buicks. The 6 cylinder engine is rated at 70 horsepower and the car is equipped with mechanical brakes on all four wheels. The car has a sliding gear transmission with a “reverse H” pattern for its 3 forwards and 1 reverse and has a key lock for security when not in use. The electrical system is powered by a six (6) volt battery and a starter/generator. I consider this car too rare and valuable to be a driver in today’s times and technology. This is a beautiful example of the automobile technology existing during the Roaring Twenties!