My brother is giving us a long neglected project. A 1951 Buick Rivera. All parts are present, he is including a fresh SBC 350. No cancer at all. All the glass is good, dash was disassembled and all interior parts, gauges, & other important stuff is in the garage. Tomorrow I will post the model numbers and stuff. My hope is to get some helpful info from all you motor heads out there. Thanks, Mike
I am a 65 year old Retired USAF. My wife and I have had many Hot Rods over the last 47 years. About 20 years ago my Brother bought the 51 Buick Rivera Sedan from our neighbor here in Moreno Valley, CA. We took it all apart and there it sat till now. The car was purchased for $500 from Al and Jeanny Tyler of Sunnymead, CA. They were the original owners who drove it from Kentucky in about 1960.
4519 is the Fisher body style number, the Buick model number is 52. If you post the rest of the info from the body tag I can decode it for you. Buick model number 52 = Super 4-door sedan (Riviera) Fisher body style number 4519 4 = Buick 5 = Series 50/Super 19 = 4-door sedan (Riviera), 6-passenger
BD is probably the plant code for where the body was built, but there wasn't a BD so it should be one of the following: G = Flint, MI BC = South Gate, CA BL = Linden, NJ BK = Kansas City, KS BW = Wilmington, DE BA = Atlanta, GA BF = Framingham, MA 687 should be the body number 50 would be the trim code = Grey Bedford Cord with Plain Grey Cloth 05 would be the paint code = Barton Grey
Thanks a lot. The paint code will be very helpful, our interior is toast cause the windows have been open for 20 years.
From one Buick guy to another Welcome. Keep the pic's coming as you go. Good luck with your project!!
Looks like the plant code is BC so the body was built at South Gate, CA. Your frame serial number (usually the VIN) should start with a 2 for South Gate. Looks like Fisher Body didn't stamp the Buick model number, which was common since they really only cared about their body style number because they built cars for all GM divisions. Here are a couple of tags with the model number stamped on them. The "51-" preceding the model number and the body style number indicates the model year, also missing from your tag.
Thanks for the info. Can any please post a pic of the dash of a 51 Buick Special 4-door Riviera I am getting everything ready, but I don't know placement of gauges. From the left, smaller hole for gauge, next, big speedo, got that one ok, next a smaller hole for gauge, then the big chrome, then a smaller hole for a gauge.
We are getting a SBC and trans, from a 85 Chevy Van. The gut selling it said I can get EVERTHING except he wants all 4 wheels on the ground so he can push it around in his lot. We are getting radiator, full A/C setup, and everything else we can. He wants to store lawn mowers in the van (?) so we get the rest...$600. and he will allow me to make payments. What a guy. He said the van ran, but he broke a rear axle and parked it 10 years ago.
Welcome Mike. It looks like you have bitten off plenty, but if you just keep chewin' on it, you'll get there. Enjoy your car and your time here on the HAMB Cheers. Oh yeah, sounds like you got a good deal on your motor, trans, etc
I have spent the last couple weeks removing rust, priming and applying primer to everything. My son Bill, our friend Jeff, and my Grandkids have been working non-stop on our Buick. We have the drivers side just about finished. Located an 85 Chevy van for a parts car. We are planning on using the engine, trans, A/C, heater, and anything else we can pull off of it. The current owner only wants a rolling body so he can store stuff in it. I'm attatching some pics of our progress.
HELP! How do the rear lights install? I have the tail light bucket, nice chrome tail light chrome rings, new lenses, they all go together nice. Problem: How do you mount them into the fender? 2 bolts stick thru the light bucket, but there is NOTHING TO BOLT THEM TO!
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