1958 Buick Roadmaster 75 Riviera: Chrome, glorious chrome!
The 1958 Buicks. Along with the ’58 Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles, they are arguably the most chromed-up cars ever made. For years, I thought the ’58 GM cars were all-new, because they were so massive and squared-up compared to the ’57s. But it was only Chevrolet and Pontiac that got the total redesign. Beneath their square-rigged flanks and fins, there was a much more lithe 1957 Buick or Olds beneath.
But I love ’em. To many at the time, they were gaudy, crazy, and completely over the top. Big, bloated, and a caricature of the American cars made just a few years earlier, as the period book The Insolent Chariots insisted. But I don’t care. I love ’50s cars, I love domestic luxury cars, and if someone would rather have a Renault Dauphine or Simca, more power to them.
There were the usual Buick models in 1958: Special, Century, Super, and Roadmaster. But all-new for the year was a model even above the vaunted Roadmaster 75: The Limited.
The Limited was distinguished from Roadmaster 75s by even more chrome escutcheons on the exterior, with 15 vertical chrome hash marks and a large “Limited” script and emblem on the rear doors being the most prominent differences.
Limited had been the top-of-the-line Buick in earlier years, but it had disappeared from the lineup in the early postwar years. Then it was back in ’58—but for only one year. Starting in 1959, both the Limited and Roadmaster nameplates disappeared. The Electra 225 became the new top-of-the-line Buick.
Limiteds came in three body styles, the $5112 (about $52,920 today) Riviera sedan, $5002 ($51,780) Riviera coupe, and $5125 ($53,050) convertible. By the way, Riviera was Buick’s designation for pillarless sedans and coupes at the time. It became Buick’s first personal luxury coupe later on.
The Limiteds were even rarer than the Roadmaster 75s, which didn’t exactly grow on trees during the recession year of 1958. Only 5571 sedans, 1026 coupes, and a mere 839 convertibles were built.
This Limited Riviera sedan is not seen often these days, even at Buick Club of America events. I was happy to see this one and compare them almost side by side with the only slightly less fancy Roadmaster 75 that was parked nearby.
I just love the front ends on these. The multiple tiny squares had a beveled surface and I’m sure were lots of fun to polish on Sunday afternoons (not). This unmistakable nose was shared amongst all 1958 Buicks, from cheapskate Special two-door sedan to the flossy Limited convertible.
But we were talking about the 1958 Roadmaster 75s, weren’t we? I was smitten by this one. It was seen at the BCA Nationals in Lisle, Illinois, in June 2022. I made the drive up with my friend from Texas, Jayson Coombes. The CLC Grand National was the same day in nearby Lombard, so we had two most excellent shows to attend. We both took way too many pictures!
Until the Limited appeared this year, the Roadmaster 75 was the top-trim Buick. In earlier years there was both a regular Roadmaster and fancier Roadmaster 75, but in 1958 all Roadmasters were 75s. Standard features included a power six-way front seat, power steering, power brakes, power windows, and deluxe wheel covers.
Interiors were expectedly plush, trimmed in either cloth or cloth/leather combinations, except for the $4680 ($48,447) Roadmaster 75 convertible, which received full leather seats.
In addition to the convertible, there were the expected Riviera two-door coupe and Riviera four-door sedan. Four-door hardtops like our featured car were the most popular by far, with 10,505 sold. They had a base price of $4667 ($48,312) and had a curb weight of 4668 pounds. The Riviera coupe went for $4557 ($47,173); 2368 were sold, along with 1181 droptops.
As a Buick, of course these were large and V-8 powered. Roadmaster 75s rode a 127.5-inch wheelbase and had an overall length of 219.1 inches. The 364-cubic-inch V-8 was deemed the “B-12000” engine by Buick marketers, so called because it developed a thrust of 12,000 pounds behind each piston as it is fired, as the showroom brochure helpfully explained. It was good for 300 horsepower.
I loved both the ’58 Buicks at this event, but I really loved the colors on the Roadmaster. I knew that soft, subtle pink was factory correct (those neon pink ’59 Cadillacs you see from time to time are most certainly NOT painted a factory color), but I had to look up the name: Reef Coral. It was so pretty!
I kind of miss bench seats. My current late-model Lincoln has a console, like 98 percent of the vehicles on the market now, but I like stretching out on a bench seat like this. I used to drive an Ivory Parchment 2000 Town Car Cartier as a daily, and it was so comfortable. Fortunately, I still have a garage-queen 2004 Town Car, but this Buick makes it look like a Chevy Chevette, size-wise.
Indeed, cars themselves seem to be on the wane. Which is a shame, because I like cars. Not SUVs, not crossovers, not trucks. As I write this, it is no longer possible to walk into a U.S. Buick dealership and order a new Buick sedan. Who’d have ever expected that to happen? Once upon a time, you could have gotten a really nice one, with more chrome than you could shake a stick at.
Wouldn’t you really rather have a Buick … sedan?
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Carried away with Harley’s “chromium” and over the top styling, no doubt. But I’d still take one of these over any of the bland vehicles available to us today. I’ve owned several Buicks over the years, and loved them all. Today I have the financial resources to buy most anything – and can’t find a new car that even interests me. No Buick CARS – what a sad state of affairs.
-I like Buicks. Had a 64 LeSabre, like the mid-fifties ones, the 68-69 Skylarks are a fave due to family history with them. My mother’s favourite car was a 74 Century in the gold with tan interior, I’ve grown to love them too.
-The 58 is a statement. Not my first choice, but I like 55-57 and 59 cars more than most else 49-64. The grill looks like the customizers of the day using drawer-pull knobs.
-Many products were sold with “coral” as the name for pink. Tahitian Coral Stratocasters for example.
-Thanks for the “Insolent Chariots” book name drop –I’m going to find a copy. Hagerty should look into becoming a reprinter of classic automotive works. If the goal is the keep the tribal knowledge alive…
The Limited is a little more restrained than the Roadmaster 75, though neither of them could be called subtle. I think over-the-top excess is usually just about right.
I had a friend in the 10th Grade whose father bought a 1958 Roadmaster 75. When my friend was able to take it cruising, he would sometimes grant me the privilege of riding with him. We were both small for our age and had to climb up into the seats. Had we collided with something, we would have rattled around inside like two peanuts in an empty can. It was painted black and could not have looked more like a chromed warship worthy of the God Thor. (Apparently it scared off the women, who might well have thought it was an unoccupied ghost car. Or more likely, we were so small that even if we could be seen, the girls took us for third graders cum car thieves.)
I am proud to admit that a large part of my Self has refused to move on from 1958.
I believe there are around 164 of those little beveled “jewels” on the front end. Love these older Buicks!
Even though I arrived when these were hitting the pile, I always loved late 50s and early 60s cars. In the mid 80s I bought the Caballero estate wagon version as I liked wagons before they were an item. Mine a bright yellow and white two tone with lots of pricey add on for the time. I took a bit of heat for driving it back then as long hair heavy metal and wide whites weren’t something that mixed. Decades have passed and so has the hair but my wonderful 58 still makes time move a bit slower for me. Amazing cars. To think we built them like jellybeans and many were tossed to the tin monster a decade down the road.
Enjoyed the blast from the past can you show some Cadillacs
Two most excellent examples of outstanding design. To think the Limited was the more sedate then the Roadmaster with its slashes vs the long arrow down the rear quarter panel….
We had a 58 Century (I was 8 at the time). Same exterior as the pink Roadmaster pictured. It had a gold fabric and white vinyl interior. Really turned heads at the time. People would start conversations about it when you pulled up to the grocery store. Great cruiser on weekend trips to the country.