Buick's "Mistake" of 1958: An Overly Gaudy and Garish Design Leads to Dismal Sales

[@romad275]

Sorry, but I will always LOVE the 1958 Buick because it save my father's life! In March 1959 he was driving eastbound through Sacramento on Capitol Ave (it was then part of US 50) but as he crossed 30th Street a northbound Crystal Creamery semi ran the red light and drove up on the Buick. Even though he ended up spending several months in the hospital, he survived because the Buick's body did NOT flatten completely. It was just luck he was in the Buick as that was my Mom's car and he was only driving it because his Jeep had a problem.

[@mikoajryniak2644]

I personally like the 1958 Buick Limited for being so ostentatious. Same goes with 1958 Continental Mark III.

[@charlesb7019]

I’m with you - I love them big and flashy!

[@chriscallen6897]

Same here.

[@danielulz1640]

I dated a couple of girls, in high school and college, that were like that!​@@charlesb7019

[@bobpierce115]

I agree also. I think part of what makes these cars so appealing now is that they're the complete opposite of what we've been forced to look at driving around for decades now, and these cars are like forbidden fruit. Kind of the way a politician can resonate with so many people being ostentatious. @@chriscallen6897

[@loumontcalm3500]

The '58 Lincoln looks best in the Capri and Premier series, not the Continental. Better integrated taillights, nice backlight: no breezeway window. In side view, the cleanest design compared to the bland Cadillac and the garish Imperial.

[@9ZERO6]

Looking at it 66 years later, that thing looks amazing. I would rock it!

[@kainsel]

Would look tremendous in 2 door coupe

[@bradzimmerman3171]

The worst was the 57 cheby talk about throwing it together,no wonder they didn’t sell well also they handled horrible

[@onemoremisfit]

Somebody thought enough of that one to do a complete restoration on it. After looking at what passes for styling on some cars today those old bombs once seen as gawdy now posses a certain charm, especially when seen in perfect restored and detailed condition.

[@scootergeorge7089]

🤣 You would probably love the '58 Olds 98. A whole lot of chrome there too!

[@Lasuvidaboy-jp4xe]

My grandparents usually ordered their Buicks and picked them up in Flint Michigan and drove them back to Pasadena, California. They enjoyed a road trip every few years so my grandmother ordered a white 1958 Limited 2-door with red interior and picked it up at the Buick factory. My grandfather would never ever buy a Cadillac yet thought nothing of buying a top-of-the-line Buick as he thought it wasn’t as ‘showy’. The ‘58 Limited was not exactly understated. 😂

[@Johnnycdrums]

I think I like your Gramps mindset.

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Nice 😊

[@PenskePC17]

Is that even something you can still do?

[@johnj.baranski6553]

Buicks are made in China so tough drive home​@PenskePC17

[@Deadbuck73]

@@johnj.baranski6553just take the tunnel

[@kitdinker]

"Heavy, pudgy, and doughy." Hey hey, I resemble that remark.

[@MrPoppyDuck]

Me too! It is called middle age. 😊

[@knowbodiesfull5768]

Don't feel bad. It happens to most of us. Including me.

[@quad5186]

Been there done that, distended bellying the t-shirt.

[@Mike-h1q9j]

Yep...

[@mr.blackhawk142]

@@MrPoppyDuck I'm 70 and still athletic bcuz of my VEGAN diet, starting in 1986.

[@ricksand6477]

Someone who was at the introductory sales meeting for the 1958 Buicks told me that the speaker declared, " And THIS year we have over 57 pounds of chrome on each new Buick!" The room burst into cheers and applause and everyone jumped to their feet in excitement. Hey, it was the 50's. Guess you had to be there.

[@nonenonnenopenonenomorefor5556]

Sad to say 2024 is the last year of chrome IAM a Antique Auto fan I hate to see the black grills and wheels today .

[@elpatudo3670]

More like 570lbs!

[@ricksand6477]

Yes! A little brightwork is a beautiful thing.@@nonenonnenopenonenomorefor5556

[@silverpoof]

My Papa was a custom home builder in East Texas. He bought a black Buick Special for my Grandmother. Somewhere in a box of Kodachrome slides is a pic of me sitting on Grandmother's lap in a Crosley lawn chair. Watching this vid reminds me to find the slide and reform it to a print and frame it.

[@judgegixxer]

Hope you find it!

[@joshuagibson2520]

Thank you Adam. Youre doing a service documenting all that you do. Its going to be important to future generations for years to come. Very much appreciated.

[@djplonghead5403]

I saw one in person- looks AMAZING. The 56 cars are very tall and bulky looking. This 58 Buick has a lot of chrome but still looks smooth and stylish. The interior is fantastic (I still like the 58 Edsel Interior more but...)

[@Johnnycdrums]

Not all.

[@mr.blackhawk142]

My neighbour in East Vancouver had an IMMACULATE 1958 Pontiac station wagon which was the shiny copper colour! He used to drive us kids to lacrosse games in it!

[@billolsen4360]

@@mr.blackhawk142 GM had some fine looking copper finishes in the late 50's. I miss that as well as pale yellow & turquoise.

[@henryhardin3736]

My Aunt purchased new a 1958 Buick Century convertible. It was yellow with a white top and white interior. I was 8 years old. All these many years later it remains my ultimate dream car. What a beauty!!

[@jaygatz4335]

The '58 Limited is gorgeous. Despite being large and heavy, the lines were beautifully worked out. And it didn't have that gaudy side piece that the other Buicks had. You want gaudy? Look at the '58 Lincoln.

[@mr.blackhawk142]

"gaudy" was popular back then! Modern cars are SO boring!

[@tabbott429]

Yeah this is beautiful compared to the Lincoln IMO

[@rextownsend5101]

I don’t know. I much prefer the 58-60 Lincolns to this monstrosity from Flint. The Buick looks more upright like the cars from a few years prior and it really does look as though styling touches were just stuck on. The Lincoln is at least a whole new concept, even if it does look like someone is trying to replicate a UFO.

[@DTD110865]

@@rextownsend5101 The 1958-60 Lincolns as well as the Continental Marks, 3, 4, and 5 do look gaudy, but they also looked far more advanced and boxier than most cars of the time, at least in 1958. This followed the same pattern that Ford was doing with their three main divisions in the US. Mercury was always more advanced than Ford, and Lincoln was always more advanced than Mercury. By 1959, GM took a great leap forward (if you pardon the communist slogan), and made their cars more linear, but still kept many typical 1950's features such as the tailfins, and panoramic windshields. GM had left the 1950's in '59 while the other automakers were still there.

[@jeffsmith846]

Oh yeah, it's a matter of personal taste. I think the Buick is horrendous but love the 58 Lincoln. Luckily they made all of these different cars or we'd have nothing to talk about 60 plus years later.

[@fearsomebeard4290]

Those Buicks are stunningly beautiful.

[@mr.blackhawk142]

I preferred the 1960s Buicks over the 1950s styles. 1963 Riviera for example.

[@JW...-oj5iw]

​@@mr.blackhawk142... '66 & '67 Rivvies do it for me. Same basic body, but changes in engine and trim. Kinda like the Camaro's big cousin.

[@auntbarbara5576]

Purely, boldy & unapologetically American. Love every bit of it 😎

[@jamessharp9790]

Nobody is doing this kind of content at all. Thank you for it

[@Jeffrey_Lew]

You haven't seen @EdsAutoReviews ? Adam even guested on one of Ed's episodes.

[@DayTwo-w8n]

My grandfather had one of these and loved it. As a little boy sitting in the rear seat it was very comfortable. Those were the good ole days and I long to ride in that car. The car was pink.😊

[@brianhayes7618]

58 is my favorite of the 50s Buick beautiful exterior and gorgeous interior

[@votingcitizen]

Another rarity that I don't remember ever seeing an example of, or even a picture of. Well done. Those Limited taillights could qualify for the top 40. Man, that interior, wow. After Harley said "more chrome", he must have come back and said "MORE red!". That looks like a sleeper sofa!

[@MarinCipollina]

If you were born in the late 1950s, you would have seen many of these growing up.

[@LynxStarAuto]

@@MarinCipollinanot the Limited. Buick only produced a tad over 7400 of them.

[@MarinCipollina]

@@LynxStarAuto More rare, but not invisible. Every small US city got at least one.

[@joehammond2586]

The '57 Buick and Olds were gorgeous, when the '58's were introduced I couldn't believe my eyes. These models especially the Limited have become very collectible, Scandinavians love 'em. The interior of the Limited is on a Cadillac level. Some of the things going on at GM today are even more vexing.

[@bretfisher7286]

No kidding. I'd take the most garish 50's offering by any GM division over practically anything GM is building today. What a wretched carmaker they've become.

[@bobpierce115]

Absolutely, Bret. They're really not even a 'carmaker' anymore; just trucks, SUV's crossovers and 4-door sedans. It's NEVER going to get any better. Same thing with music and films; all over with. @@bretfisher7286

[@bobpierce115]

I actually like the '57 Olds styling better than the Buick (both are beautiful, so no offense), but didn't care for the divided rear windows on either car that year.

[@d5352]

You're so right, the '57 Roadmaster in convertible or coupe form are stunners....remind me of chopped/channeled versions of the 55/56 models...perhaps I'm biased....I've got a '57 Caballero.

[@dano7145]

Nearly seven decades after the fact, I won't criticize this bizarro Buick for the heavy use of chrome. [Long live the 50s!] But what I find troubling is the random application of diverse styling lines, be they chrome moldings, curves in the sheet metal, or (strangest of all) 15 forward slashes! Perhaps the design team was trying to "make a statement," but if that was the case, its members were each speaking a different language. And yet, like several other viewers of this fun video, I'd gladly make room in my garage for this iconic headturner. Thanks, Adam, for another dose of great stuff!

[@Jerry-ok8gj]

My uncle drove me to school in a white 59 Limited It felt like floating on air! Some memories last a lifetime. Thanks Adam for another great video!

[@anthonys_expired_film]

Hi Adam! Your videos that focus on a model of a particular year are very interesting! Lots of cool behind the scenes facts really put a great perspective on these great cars. Thanks for all your work to put them together. 👌

[@RBAILEY57]

The 1958 Buicks were in showrooms when i was born in the Fall of 1957. The '58 Limited has long been my dream car.

[@Greatdome99]

A college friend of mine decided to take off all the chrome pieces (hundreds. . .). He said the car looked like a piece of Swiss cheese. The '59 was a breath of fresh air, very clean.

[@haliburton5493]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like the styling of the 58 Buicks. They look solid, wel built and classy to me.

[@dave-ish8098]

To put 1958 it in perspective vs the higher sales of 1957: Pontiac went from 334k to 217k for 58 and the styling wasn't all that different year to year. Quick google shows the industry went from 6.1 million down to 4.3 million about 30% overall drop and we know that in general mid-priced brands have a really tough time in recession years. Mercury had about a 60% drop between the years.

[@loumontcalm3500]

Doomed the Edsel right out of the gate

[@robrobster9148]

How could this be a mistake? It's one of the most beautiful cars of that era. It was a mistake not to buy it....they regret it now

[@erics9754]

The only mistake is Adams's opinion lol.

[@ReligiousZombie]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to art. I think the 58 and 59 Buicks are among the most beautiful cars ever. As for that original design Buick, I don't find it ugly, and you can bet that if it had gone to production it would today be a collector's item just the same.

[@impsrule60]

As always, thank you for a clear-eyed assessment of the '58 Buick: decent cars with wildly over-the-top styling. Early in my journey in the hobby in the '80's, I had the pleasure of owning two 58 Buicks: a red Century 4dr 'Riviera', and a Limited 4dr 'Riviera' (with its air suspension pump still operational). The Limited with its 'hash marks' on the rear quarter panel were almost restrained compared to the ribbed plank of aluminum that filled the entire bullet shaped area on Century and the other models. The bulbous rear bumpers... the porthole in the center of the hood... the tapered chrome 'fins' plopped on top of the rear fenders... As designer Hank Haga detailed in your interview, it's as if someone looked at the array of potential trim ideas being developed for possible use, and stuck all of them onto the car. It's enjoyable reading the comments of the ardent GM followers. Look, I loved both of my '58 Buicks! I'd enjoy having them back, and not simply because of their monetary value: they were nice cars. As artifacts of an era, I admire and value their audaciousness. But by any objective design standard their styling was positively horrendous. There was a reason why - once GM designers got a sneak-peek at the new '57 'Forward Look' cars from Chrysler Corporation - they scrapped plans to base the '59 GM models on the brand new '58's. It was a one year design cycle for a reason. Thanks again for telling it like it is.

[@johnnewell4849]

The 58 Buick was a classic rust bucket preceded by earlier models. In the rust belt, these cars had floating headlights. The fenders rotted out around the headlights so badly that only the structure the headlight pots were screwed to kept them from falling off the cars. The 57 Super and the 57 Roadmaster did not have the split rear window, which was shared by the 57 Olds. The dash was a hold over from 1957. And yes, the speedometer was the best ever in any car. The Dynaflow transmission was the smoothest transmission ever. For a luxury car it was the most appropriate transmission ever.

[@devster52]

A couple of years ago I saw a pristine example of one of these on the road. I was astounded. Pictures do not do it justice. I instantly loved it. I didn't figure out it was a Buick until I looked it up online. I followed it almost to the driveway in awe.

[@donfronterhouse4759]

They really are cool. And I do get the difference between the Limited models and Cadillac. Whenever I sat in a Cadillac it just made me wince, but Dad was a Buick Limited guy,he owned several but not a Caddy until he got a Seville for my mom in the 80s.

[@Mr.CellophaneHart]

1:18 That car looks like a hundred million dollars, what a beaut. XD

[@mr.blackhawk142]

They say "The 6 Dollar Man" drove one o dem! L0L

[@iluvcamaros1912]

That's a '57, but I know in '58 that beige/gold combo was specific to the Fury so I'm guessing that is a Fury as well.

[@bactanite]

One of these Buicks passed me on the freeway in 1983. It was in like new condition and looked amazing. I've never seen so much chrome on a car before or since.

[@d5352]

I recall my neighbors purchased a 58 Roadmaster 75 to replace their 55 which was wrecked in a snow storm. The "Green Mist" 4 door, with the "Air Poise" suspension had an odd habit...when parked, the rear air springs would slowly self inflate raising the rear end to its maximum height....where it would remain until re-started...kind of resembled an alley cat in heat.

[@GadgetyMV]

Grille is spectacular, and I find the rear lights really pleasing.

[@wymple09]

58 is my personal favorite. This was no "mistake". Sales were down on all brands because of a recession.

[@DTD110865]

If they had built it like the prototype, that would've been a mistake.

[@hobamasucs]

GOTTA` LOVE "Chrome and Gaudy" to buy 58 Buick's and Oldsmobile's !

[@Rev.Match.Reviews]

I've grown up close to an immaculately restored black on red 58 Limited that my grandfather maintains for a car collector. I remember seeing it at 11 or 12 years old and having him describe it as the "Chrome Queen!" Ive helped him polish every single one of those grille pieces, which aren't flat. They have a concave face, which makes it even harder. And i love it for those reasons. It's so absurd, i can not imagine a world where people actually could buy and drive cars like these off the showroom floor. It destroys my 24 year old mind imagining a place in time where this was just part of everyday traffic. And that this was just a cheap used car within 10 years of new, just like any 10 year old Mercedes or BMW today. I've heard a lot about growing up during this time period, and thinking about it through todays lens of the world I've grown up in, it just sounds like fantasy. I wish i could've lived in a world that doesn't even sound possible by todays sad standards.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

It could be possible today if your generation would FORCE the politicians to amend the tax code so companies would be penalized rather than rewarded for fleeing the country, and if your generation would UNIONIZE and make decent money instead of slightly over minimum wage

[@richroj]

I love that Buick Limited Adam, I wish I could find one in that condition today 👍

[@JamesJohnson-d8t]

My father had a 58 limited white with burgundy interior. It was very beautiful and luxurious!

[@mistervacation23]

We wrote one last night outside the mini mart. Morris called it "Stuart Drives A Comfortable Car" and then like in country songs, you know, in parentheses it says "There's Usually Someone in the Trunk." And, and um, I came up with a tune just a hummin'.

[@Starcrunch72]

The story of Harley Earl having the design studio doodad it all up, reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Homer designed his dream car.

[@billolsen4360]

Homer's brother had even invited the Pope to the unveiling!

[@roadrunner3563]

Completely mis-described. This looks great. Way better looking than the other chryslers shown.

[@claiborneeastjr4129]

Back in the days of whitewalls, fender skirts, continental kits, and acres and acres of chrome. My parents had a '58 Special.

[@captjohnny]

You bring back such wonderful memories of the 'fire engine red' 1958 Buick my friend bought. When I first saw it (as a teenager) I nearly fell over...what a car!!

[@codymurray7857]

I like the 58- shows a lot optimism and flash for the era. I mean, why not have a model where they throw everything at it? Definitely like the sleeker one to follow and really like how you showcase these. Keep doing these!

[@Lurch4you]

Adam Those proposals ( front & back ) were for 1959. The original plan for 1959 was that garish facelift of the 1958. Then Chuck Jordan & others saw those 1957 Plymouths in the marshaling yard. Also, the 1957 Buick Roadmaster gave buyers a choice of the three piece rear window or a one piece rear window. Buick even kept seperate production numbers for both. And the midyear 1957 Roadmaster 75 only offered the one piece rear window.

[@bobpierce115]

Adam, I'd read a long time ago that the managers of the Buick dealerships were so unhappy with the 58's (and their poor sales) that they collectively were begging GM to PLEASE let them be the first division to get the '59s first. and GM apparently complied. Though it was only a matter of weeks, it made a big difference to them, and were very grateful to GM for doing so. These Buicks were designed in '57 in a crash re-do along with the rest of the '59 lines (originally facelifted '58s) scrapped per Chrysler's sleek/finned '57s. Being almost 100% different looking, the one area thing they did retain from the '58 was the neat and attractive front grill to have at least SOME kind of continuity where they could with the '58. .

[@billolsen4360]

The 59's were just outlandish enough

[@bobpierce115]

Very much so, Bill. I DO love the '59 Buick for that very reason. Still, if I could have my choice between a '59 or '60 as a classic car now, it'd be the '60. Reigned in just enough. @@billolsen4360

[@MarinCipollina]

Thanks for this one, Adam.. Ah, the 1958 Buick Bulgemobiles.. Peak Harley Earl, I suppose.. Even the 1958 Cadillac didn't look this heavy. They're okay, but not my first choice for the era.. I much prefer the cleaner looking 1957 Buicks. Still a striking design, and the car has great presence, even today. Hard to miss one if one passes you by.

[@erics9754]

These cars were a little too manly for some people.

[@carlwelte6094]

I noticed at 14:35 that the transmission selector quadrant is labeled PRNDG. This is similar to the quadrant on a ’61 Chevy that I had in HS…that car had a 348 engine and originally had a Turboglide transmission (PRNDGr) that had long since been mercifully replaced by a 3 speed manual by a previous owner. I was told that the Gr meant “Grade Retarder,” and that the original 1957 Turboglide quadrant was actually PRNDHr (Hill Retarder)…but that this had been changed because some owners thought that Hr meant High Range.

[@edwardallan197]

Excellent full exploration. Thanks. 😊

[@brianlowe7608]

these Buicks were my favourite of all the classics.

[@RVPartsGerald]

The owner of a Buick store I worked at had a 58 Buick Super. It was very interesting finding parts for it. On my test drive I lost the dealer plate.

[@stevebot]

You can’t appreciate th 58 Buick from photos alone. In person, they are imposing and formidable if not attractive. We had one in the salvage yard I worked at and nobody could bring themselves to crush it or the less imposing but more garish Fleetwood Sixty Special next to it. Sometimes in the summer I would bring my lunch to them and just marvel at the sheer amount of chrome and stainless they presented. I would wave at the trio of Marlins and the Sonnet III on the way back to the office.

[@mrluckyuncle]

I hope Adam will devote some episodes to the ‘59 Buicks.

[@danielanderson4428]

I personally think the cars of the mid to late 50’s were some of the most beautiful cars ever made. My first car was, when I was 16, a rusty 1957 Chrysler Saratoga 2-door hardtop. I would love to have a restored one today. Memories!

[@Flies2FLL]

Look up the Lambda Car Club....

[@MrPoppyDuck]

Polishing that chrome will take a *long* time. Replating all that chrome will cost a fortune.

[@rampant59]

58 was THE chrome car. Dad had a Super in baby blue. And what an interior! Rear heat and seats big enough to haul mom and dad plus all seven kids, (at the time) rode like a dream. Never forget going on picnics, trips to Gettysburg, vaca to Florida. What a time.

[@druidhills1]

Out of all the 1958 GM products, the 1958 Chevrolet and the 1958 Buick were the most attractive. The tail light treatment on the '58 Buick Limited is beautiful - my father's was Green Mist .

[@danlove4270]

Love the pics of the clay model proposal. The results indicate it was a turbulent time for the Design Dept.

[@toddburgess6792]

My friend challenged me to find a year in automotive history with worse styling than 1958, for every manufacturer. So I researched it, and he is right. The entire design culture must have been on a collective acid trip for model year 58.

[@eyerollthereforeiam1709]

Agreed. Styling made quite a change around 1960, I wonder if part of this was backlash from the late 50's excess?

[@loumontcalm3500]

Chrysler, Plymouth, DeSoto and the new Impala bucked that trend, were good looking cars.

[@kennethsouthard6042]

I think it bled into 59 as well.

[@careful...Icarus]

Then came 1959 and the absolute height of gorgeous cars. Starting with the greatest auto ever built by a US manufacturer...the 1959 Cadillac. In any of its permutations.

[@jfu5222]

My 1977 Buick Century was the ugliest car I've ever owned. The last year before GM's major redesign, it had stacked rectangular headlights, vinyl roof, and a plaid interior. On the plus side it had the big V-6 and I only paid $50 for it in 1992. It rusted so badly that the driver's door sagged until it couldn't be used.

[@peterbenson3776]

I like that styling. Very Cadillac-esque

[@JohnKelm]

This brought back memories. My grandfather had one exactly like the example shown here. He loved that car… until he didn’t. As it aged, he had issues with the suspension leveling system, air conditioner, and Wonderbar radio. He traded it in late ‘63 for a new ‘64 Rambler classic with a six. It was downsizing in every sense of the word. He had that Rambler into the ‘70’s.

[@seana806]

If Harley Earl had his way for 1959 and 1960, would have been a absolute disaster for GM. People poke fun at Ford’s styling from the 50’s, but it seems as though Ford built their cars with a nostalgic look back on the 50’s along with building a car for the time and moment.

[@richardcline1337]

I learned to drive with a '58 Special and I have always loved that year Buick. Obviously the narrator has never driven one of these cars as they really were great to drive and they handled really well.

[@jameslandi4688]

Really enjoy your compelling research...the period audio clips and clay models provide insight and substance to your videos...thank you for doing the hard work

[@debbiebermudez5890]

Mr. B. Here ! 🍩☕️👀😎👍. 1958 was a recitation , also styling was over the top, they were show cars for the road , as kid they did the job to get one’s mom & dad to buy ! Very informative video.

[@brober]

12 yards long, 2 lanes wide, 65 tons of chromed American pride! Bulgemobile!

[@fob1xxl]

MORE CHROME than possibly ANY car that year ! SUCH a DRASTIC DIFFERENCE IN DESIGN FROM 1958 TO 1959 ! I LOVED THE 59s !

[@maverickranger3810]

My first car was a '58 Buick Special, 2dr, mint green with a black roof, and green interior in 1975.

[@maniacjack3700]

I just LOVE 58 fully chromed Buicks! I can't help myself🙂. Only one car that i love more than 59 Cadillac is 58 Buick❤. Thank you Harley Earl!

[@TomSnyder-gx5ru]

There was also a recession in this country in '58 which influenced sales, I believe all carmakers did worse that year from what I've heard/read! This car has grown on me over the years and I think it would be a dream driving it on a cross country road trip - and take all summer to do it - lol!

[@packard5682]

The other makers did have a bad sales year except for Rambler which outsold all the other manufacturers because they offered small fuel-efficient cars and had also brought back the Rambler American which sold like crazy.

[@WQ59BInv]

@@packard5682 Rambler was 7th in '58.

[@ketoninja]

This video made me interested in the Flight-Pitch and Triple Turbine Transmissions, so I pulled out my 1960 edition MOTOR'S auto repair manual. Thumbing to the chapter on these transmissions, I find that pp.178-197 have maintenance and rebuild procedures, as well as no less than 152 pictures to go with the steps for overhaul. Looks very complex and innovative as hell. Easy to see why there might be very few shops who will even touch them. They were one-of-a-kind.

[@tomdelisle8955]

I recently saw a photo of the rear end of a 1960 Oldsmobile. I always wonder how they manufactured such sheet metal like in this Buick's rear with so many design elements. A video on how would be great.

[@OLDS98]

Thank you Adam. All I can say is oh boy... I thought they said the 1958 Oldsmobiles were bad the styling and the chrome. It seems like Buick took it a step too far. The production car seems restrained compared to the design proposals. Buick got back on track in 1959. I heard and read all of GM had to change for 1959. The other interesting thing is you always see this Buick when they talk about Buick or show Buick in books and reference materials.

[@SoapBoxMediaTV]

The B-58 was the brand new US Air Force's delta-wing supersonic bomber which came out at the dawn of the gas turbine engine (the idea of getting atom bombs over the USSR or tourists to Europe in a couple of hours was a really big deal at the time). It was referenced in relation to the amazing turbine-based transmission these cars had. This trans was something of a marvel in that there was no noticeable "shift of gears" felt by the driver as the car accelerated from stop. The pitch of the turbines gradually changed through the ride, the affect being a steady, subtle increase in speed while maintaining the same RPM. After an hour or so on the highway, drivers would suddenly realize they were doing ninety without having moved their foot. Buick had to add a setting to the speedometer so a buzzer would alert the driver when the car reached a preset speed. The difference between the Buick air ride and that of the Cadillac was that the Buick had rubber bladders where the better Cadillac's were leather. The car also had actual vented radiators under the seats - cozy. Note that the side trim shown in this video is limited to the "Limited" line while all the other models featured a solid wide ribbed chrome/stainless panel in place of the sets of chrome strips along the sides. Starting in 1954, Harley Earl set the basic box design in motion throughout all of GM. These were the last years of any semblance of a disticnt fender on an American car body; the final iteration resulting in the duel headlight '58s. Apparently, the world of design - beyond just cars - was heading in a more streamlined, "modern" direction a little faster than Harley was anticipating; something Chrysler got right; I remember the Plymouths when they came out. I don't remember the Buicks much - something Don Amiche would have had in front of his house.. GM obviously got the message in '59, though. I do remember the '59 Buicks. Towards the end of the 60's, my older brothers got ahold of a '55 and a couple of '56 Buicks at about the time that the counter-culture was taking hold and young folks were loading up their cars for a "magical mystery tour" to some late night cruise to a far flung diner (Not everyone was into Mustangs and Volkswagens). When I came of age, in '72 I followed in their footsteps with what I felt was the apex (swan song?) of these cars; a 1958 Super with 95K for $150. A friend aptly described it as "The Manhattan Skyline on wheels". Through the years I've kicked myself for getting rid of that car. So, not being rich like Leno, I make due with a slightly more practical - and much more advanced - '95 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon - Buick brought back the "Roadmaster" name from '58 as a sort of final tribute of these '50s cars for goofballs like me (turns out it's a bit of a babe magnet for ladies of my generation). I love that it still has the "Buick Rumble". I wish they could have kept that turbine-pitch trans. And, by the way, literally, the only piece of actual chrome on a 1995 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon is the hood ornament (of course, they made it up in DINOC).

[@robg5091]

What was considered gaudy in 1958 is now loved by many. As an owner of a 1958 2-door Century, I get lots of admiration at car shows. There's so few left.

[@scott8919]

That design proposal... dear God. I guess that's the good thing about clay models; it's the one time you can let your designers bring their wild ideas to semi-reality so they can see how horrible things translate to 3D before it actually causes damage.

[@Colin.Smith.Pianist]

I'd love to see the toned down version...

[@DTD110865]

Sometimes the clay models can be better than what we had. This is not one of those times.

[@jewishman2687]

The 58 Buick was overpriced BU it was an immensely comfortable smooth-riding vehicle. Our family owned an "Estate Wagon" which dad bought new direct from the factory. We traveled from New york to Cape Cod several summers in a row. the Buick took all of us our trunks and a 22 foot boat on the back without even working up a sweat..... all the way back then the car had power windows, automatic headlight dimmer and air conditioning. It even had a little button on the floor next to the brake that would change the stations on the radio. Loved that car wish I had it now!

[@scotpens]

3:12 -- Strakes are fin-like projections that run the length of a car along the lower bodysides, like on the 1961 and 1962 Cadillacs. I don't know what Buick stylists called those diagonal chrome doohickeys. I call them hashmarks.

[@davehunt6176]

The Cadillac lower fins were “skegs”.

[@scotpens]

@@davehunt6176 Right, I stand corrected. Some modern cars have diffuser strakes on the rear underbody to improve airflow.

[@Loganhundred]

I like the 58 Chrome mobiles so much, the Buicks, the Pontiacs, the oldsmobiles, they are so over the top they become work of art to me. Of course as a chrysler guy i need to buy a 58 Chrysler or desoto first but id love to own a 58 gm some day

[@donaldstanfield8862]

My fav is still 58 Impala coupe! ❤

[@tdvandy2]

I love the tail lights on the 58 Limited. They would have looked even better, though, had the rest of the car been cleaned up some. I don't want to think about keeping that grille clean when being used on a daily basis.

[@2coolwheels139]

I love the look of the rear of this car. Better, IMO, than the Chrysler vehicles of this era.

[@jerrystaley1563]

Enjoyed your video on the gaudy 1958 Buicks. I recall an ad for them that referred to your mentioned "B-58" tagline along with a picture of a '58 Buick in front of a B-58 Hustler, then the premier USAF supersonic nuclear bomber. We had a lesser 1957 black Buick Special 4-door. I thought that that year's styling was a lot cleaner and I personally loved its supposedly NASCAR-inspired 3-piece rear window. I didn't realize that its design inspired hatred. As a 7th grader, I thought that it looked "cool." JJS

[@sgrant9814]

I remember my dad's 55 century had a speedo like that....as a kid i found it interesting that the faster one went it changed from green to yellow to red

[@CrazyPetez]

It has been said that Harley Earl went way overboard with chrome trim in his last year at GM. The ‘58 Buick certainly proves the point.

[@billolsen4360]

I think everyone in his studio must have been smoking whacky tobacky in 1957.

[@rpsmith2990]

I remember encountering a couple of quotes about these cars. One was a designer who recalled a different remark from Harley Earl, "I told you to put a hundred pounds of chrome on this car. That's only 75!". Another was a closing remark from an article about the Buicks of that time which concluded that Buick made every mistake that Edsel did, but got away with it. The 1959 models were on track to look much the same, with heavy, doughy forms and power dome hoods. Then Harley Earl went on vacation...

[@SoMDHarleyRider]

I love that thing! I'd drive it everywhere!

[@TigerDominic-uh1dv]

I liked the Styling of this Vehicle, This Color In Light Blue 😊 Looks Beautiful

[@steve20118]

I absolutely LOVE this car in a convertible!

[@stevengehrke4364]

I loved 58 Buick, Loved the gawdyness, I own a 59 Buick Electra

[@JeffW77]

Funny--seeing 58 Lincoln Continental and 58 Buick Limited videos within 48 hours. When I saw these cars in my youth (early to mid-60s) I thought both were quite unattractive. I think the 58 Buick Limited was first car I ever saw that had curb feelers. Thank you again for great videos.

[@jimgrazulis3542]

I grew up in Western Pennsylvania and there were alot of '58 Buicks around in the day. I would like to see the real sales figures here in WPA.

[@WydGlydJim]

Heavy, pudgy, doughy, garish, gaudy, I can’t think of 5 more perfect adjectives for this car. That doesn’t mean that they can’t be loved, and that the styling can’t be embraced, but the terms are spot on. I personally love love love the three window treatment of the ‘57s, but they can be described in much the same way. 👍🏻

[@erics9754]

I can beautiful, stately, imposing, classy, gorgeous, amazing, intimidating, manly.

[@darrylskerman6808]

Thank you as always, Adam. I was interested to see the transmission selector indicator reads P R N D G. Not being familiar with these cars and transmissions - what is the "G"?

[@RareClassicCars]

Grade.

[@brianlaurance8570]

And this was the issue with these transmissions. Buick owners had learned to utilize L (Low) for faster acceleration with the earlier Dynaflows. G was intended ONLY for Grade Retard with the Flight Pitch. You would damage the transmission is you accelerated in the G position. I have driven over 40,000 miles with the Flight Pitch Triple Turbine in my '59 Electra. They are a dream to drive!

[@JohnGruber-di3cw]

The 58 Buick styling was good from the front & rear view but the side view was lackluster!! It didn't have the good body lines!!! Styling aside though it was a great car!!! A very nice cockpit & interior & that great 364 Nailhead engine & Dyna Flow trans. Despite the styling miscues it was still a great car!!! Buick were more pricey than most other brands but they certainly gave you your money's worth!!!

[@5610winston]

i always liked the '58 Limited. The fifteen louvers on the rear flank was more restrained than the top-view locomotive, and the louvered taillights look a lot better than the flatirons featured on the ledder models.

[@Mk-qb2ny]

Not gawdy or garish, just awesome. And should have included pics of the lower trims too with even heavier side brightwork

[@erics9754]

I agree and disagree strongly with Adam he seems to like simple boring designs but he is entitled to his opinion.

[@dannyg6592]

1958 was a year of wretched excess for many GM products, including Buick.

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Yeah olds had the same problem By 59 it would just rebound

[@billolsen4360]

The only one I'd consider buying & restoring would be the Chevys from that year.

[@marckyle5895]

Especially Chevrolet with the one year only body. How much did it cost in tooling for just that long? Should have kept the '57 a year longer. Would have made finding some parts for '58s a lot easier.

[@erics9754]

If that's wretched excess I say bring it on i love me some wretched excess!!!

[@flashg67]

My Dad got a “Hand-me down” 1958 Buick Special 4 door sedan when he turned 16 in July 1964. It had a 3 speed on the column. He drove it all through high-school, and it typical teenage driver fashion ran it into the ground. He traded it in around 1966 for a 64 Mercury Comet.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

Such a beautiful car. 58 and 59 are my favorite years for American automobiles as a whole.