One Year Only: 1958 Buick Limited Coupe
Sometimes a manufacturer will decide to push the boat out to produce a “halo” model, and so it was with Buick in 1958. The company chose to release their new Limited in three body styles, and the high purchase price guaranteed that the build quantity would remain low. It served as both a halo model and one to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of General Motors. Our feature car is a ’58 Limited 2-Door Hardtop that presents superbly. It has no apparent needs and would suit a buyer seeking a turnkey classic packed with luxury. While its location is unclear, the owner has listed the Buick for sale here on eBay. They have set a BIN of $50,000, so let’s take a look and see if it reflects good value for money.
It is fascinating to reflect upon Buick and the motivation behind the 1958 Limited series. The company’s total vehicle production for 1958 was 241,892, but the Limited accounted for a mere 7,436 cars. Buick split production between the 4-Door Hardtop (5,571), the Convertible (839), and the 2-Door Hardtop with 1,026 cars. The company viewed the Limited as its range-topping offering for that model year, meaning that they were far from cheap. The 2-Door pushed the sticker price just beyond $5,000, making them more expensive than Cadillac’s iconic Series 62. Combined with an economic downturn, it accounts for such low build totals. Our feature Limited wears its original color combination of Reef Coral and Arctic White, and it is hard to criticize its presentation. The paint shines beautifully, with no evidence of significant flaws or issues. The panels are as straight as an arrow, while the underside shots reveal spotless floors and no evidence of rust. What makes the exterior “pop” is chrome trim as far as the eye can see. The undoubted highlight is the “Fashion-Aire Dynastar grille,” featuring 160 squares polished to a mirror shine. The chrome appears excellent, and with spotless glass, there’s little to criticize about the vehicle’s presentation.
As befits a range-topping classic, the Limited’s interior came fully loaded. Apart from a choice of trim color, the only other decision potential buyers faced was whether they wanted air conditioning. The original owner ticked that box, meaning that the buyer receives A/C, power windows, a six-way power front seat, an AM radio, and a power antenna. The seller indicates that everything works as it should, apart from the radio. They don’t mention whether it shows signs of powering up, but plenty of experts are capable of breathing new life into the unit. The interior presentation mimics the exterior, meaning that it seems to need nothing. The upholstered surfaces look excellent for a vehicle of this age, with no significant wear or physical damage. There are further acres of chrome, and it is flawless. One great strength of manufacturers during this era is that they placed a great deal of emphasis on making the vehicle occupants feel special. The trim types selected made even a trip to the corner store have a sense of occasion.
If a potential buyer paid a premium price for their new car, they could rightfully expect decent performance. With the Hardtop tipping the scales at more than 4,800lbs, its powerplant needed to be something special. Buick delivered by equipping the Limited with their 364ci “Nailhead” V8 producing 300hp. That power feeds to the rear wheels via a Dynaflow automatic transmission. Power steering and brakes were standard equipment in keeping with the luxury leanings. While that V8 may have been hauling some weight, it could still propel the Limited through the ¼ mile in 17.5 seconds. That number may not seem impressive today, but it stacked up well in 1958, beating the performance offered by the Cadillac Series 62. That was no mean feat considering that Cadillac was the acknowledged market leader. The seller indicates that the Buick runs and drives perfectly, with the transmission shifting smoothly. They supply this YouTube video as supporting evidence. It shows a detailed walk around and allows us to hear that Nailhead start and run. It sounds as sweet as a nut, with no smoke or odd noises.
When buyers ordered a new Buick Limited in 1958, they could select from three body styles. Their only remaining choices were the paint combination and whether to equip the car with air conditioning. Due to its high sticker price and tightening economic circumstances, Buick discontinued the Limited after a single model year. Our feature car is fully loaded, but it needs to be at the BIN price. It sits right at the top end of what you might expect to pay, but with the company producing a mere 1,026 examples in 2-Door Hardtop form, it isn’t a classic you will see every day. Fifty-four people are watching the listing, suggesting a few people like what they see. It is not a cheap classic, but I won’t be surprised if it finds a new home pretty soon.
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Comments
Whenever I see one of these,I remember an old ad for one –
“Real men don’t eat keicth,they drive ’58 Buicks”.
I am guessing quiche..anyone?
That was my guess, as well…but who knows? A mind is a terrible thing to waste.
You’re right – couldn’t remember how to spell it.
Sheesh!
I’m thinking that “old ad” was in your mind because “keicth” (quiche) wasn’t a thing in the US of A until around the early to mid-‘70’s…just saying.
“…and the high purchase price guaranteed that the build quality would remain low.” Huh?
Quantity
The year of chrome and more chrome. I think the Buick side of GM thought they could top the Caddy that year, quite a car. Don’t care for the color but it is what was popular in the day
I notice those quarter panels are huge. I guess Cadillac in 59 wanted to beat them.😄 Otherwise a beautiful classic ride .. good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
`58 was Harley Earl’s “swan song”, as her retired in `59. He was always a fan of chrome and spared no expense laying it on all GM models in `58. The Buick Limiteds are considered to have more chrome than the `58 Fleetwood 60-Specials; I tend to agree. This car is featured on Youtube, and offers a walk-around showing more details. You aren’t going to find a more unusual or cleaner `58 Limited than this, in all likelihood. Easily worth its price.
But the Roadmaster, with its full-xylophone quarters, certainly had MORE chrome.
Besides, styling studios worked two-to four years in advance, so Earle had a voice in GM stuff up to ‘60 at least.
GM had beef caught off guard by the finned MoPars, so the ‘58s were a one-year deal by ‘57 at the latest.
H/T Jim Wangers
the eBay listing says it’s in the UK, shipping it back to the US could be pricey
So do the plates.
I always wondered why they didn’t run the exhaust through the rear bumper. It looks like they were planning something but didn’t do it.
It’s a good thing they didn’t! They did that on 57s. Try to find a nice 57 bumper end!!! Dumbest idea ever, but perhaps no one gave it a thought at the time.
Anybody notice in the video that it looks like he starts the car without turning the key?
I did notice that. I thought I was seeing things and had to play it back again. I don’t know what’s up with that, sure does purrrr nicely though.
I have a 58 Buick limited and you turn the key to the start position and depress the accelerator to start the engine mine also has a foot pedal under the carpet you can change the radio stations without touching the radio
Barry Tippitt,
I had a 1956 Imperial when I lived in Europe in the mid 1970s. Cars like the Imperial were just never seen in Europe, especially with the high fuel costs. It had the foot control for the wonderbar radio. A German family nearby had young kids who were fascinated with the Imperial. I had them all convinced that if they said [IN ENGLISH of course]; “Radio – change station”. Each time I would hear one of the kids say that phrase, I would slyly depress the pedal and the radio dial needle would move to the next station!
They also had a fascination with the electric windows and front seat, and would ask for rides on the seat!
Mom has a 58 Special that I’ve worked on. I love em’, but they aren’t much fun to wash . . . The starter switch is attached to the gas pedal. With the key on, that first squirt of gas you give it also powers the starter. ~S
This vintage Buick started by pressing the gas pedal down.
If I recall correctly, this car starts from a switch on the carb, by flooring the gas pedal. A lot of car for sure, but I think many were turned off by the styling.
You turned on the key and stepped on the gas to start it , that was the Buick way !
Packard also used that same arrangement for a number of years.
You’ve never driven an old Buick. From the 40s until 1960, every Buick started by pushing down the accelerator.
Didn’t that system begin with Buick’s 1932 models?
A perfect ride to peddle some Mary Kay.
Just sayin’
Pretty in pink
Another option, although rare, on 1958 G.M. cars was Air Suspension, I had a 1958 Bonneville with Air Suspension. I think it was an option on all 1958 G.M. cars.
I have a ’58 Buick Limited 4 Door. For those noticing that the car starts without turning the key this is simply a different starting system. To start the car the key is turned to the on position and then the gas pedal is depressed to the floor. This action engages a switch on the carbuerator that is connected to the starter solenoid allowing the starter to engage. And POOF! the car starts.
This belongs here even if he is talking about a Roadmaster instead of a Limited.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfofZbIUjKA&ab_channel=MichaelNesmith%27sVideoranch
I have a long story about my ’58 Limiteds but, I won’t get onto it here. Suffice it to say that at one time I owned 5 ’58 Limited 4 doors. Two ran, 3 were parts cars. This was in the early ’80’s and I had high ambitions. All are gone now. My daily driver got 18MPG when tuned properly. Loved that car. The epitome of “Land Yacht”.
BuickNut, I think you and my Father became owners at about the same time. He was retired and was looking for something interesting that he could drive and maybe make a buck on, too. A local gas station owner had a ’56 Special hardtop and one of these in what I think they called rose but looked purple to me. Dad bought them both for what I thought to be stupid money. The Special was his daily and the Limited his “Sunday” car. That he tripled his money I was never able to forget.
Not crazy about the pink, but its the original color for the car and I wouldn’t change it for that same reason. I get the grey interior, but the blue dash and steering column strikes me as odd
It is probably more of a charcoal which photographs as blue. I cannot imagine otherwise on a car this pristine.
I do love these, but 50 large plus shipping from the UK is beyond me..
One word, awesome. I am a muscle car guy but, this car is simply the best of the best from this era. I would (almost) trade my ’69 GS400 4-speed car for this.
Back in the nineties I worked in the Merchandise Mart and they had one I believe on the first floor show cased with another car but what I remember it stated about the ‘58’ Special was that it the most chrome of any vehicle made
You are quite correct. This is why the car is nicknamed “The King of Chrome”
Nice ride , the color not so much , my first real car was a 58 Biuck special 2 door ,loved that car ,until the tranny went south , you started it by turing on the key and stepping on the gas peddle , and magic !
I’ve loved the ’58 Buick Limiteds since they came out new when I was 6 y/o. And I still love them 64 years later. But I will say this is one case when I like the 4-door hardtop version of them better than the 2-door. It seems to look more stately and elegant. Especially in black.
Beautiful car except for the color , you turned the key to on and then stepped on the gas to start it , I had a 58 special in my senior year of high school what a boat , sorry I sold it . Now I have a model on my desk of a 58 limited in dark blue that I bought at an estate sale , guess that will have to do for now !
I’ve always viewed these high-end Buicks as doctors’ cars. Expensive, yes, which they could afford but not as flamboyant or pretentious as a Cadillac so as not to flagrantly display their wealth, especially at a time when they made house calls.
By chance this car has the original transmission Flight Pitch Dynaflow replaced with the more common and reliable Twin Turbine Dynaflow, i can say that because on the video you can see the transmission PNDLR (the Flight Pitch has PRNDG). The Flight Pitch last only 2 years (1958 and 59) so you can’t find any parts except the manual and the oil pan gasket …. This transmission was standard on ’58 Roadmatser and Limited (i had some years abo a ’58 Roadmaster…)
The Limiteds are seven inches longer than the Roadmasters, all in the quarter panels. My grandma had a casino cream Century convertible. What a ride!
Sorry, I just don’t care for the excessive ’58 Buicks (or Olds) when compared to the ’57s and ’59s. (IMO)
My favorite 50s Buick is the 1955. I drove a Super 2 door Riviera Hardtop and then the same style in a Century for a total of 365,000 miles over 20 years. This was when there were still a few mechanics around that had been trained in Dynaflows. Actually I only had to have a Dynaflow overhauled once and I bet you could still get one done. I still miss those really willing cars, especially the Century or maybe I just miss being in my thirties and forties. These are cars that, with radials on them, you could trust well beyond the limits of adhesion.
Lauren [and other BF readers],
Radials are often great ride improvements, however there are a few warnings I need to bring up here.
1. Many US auto manufacturers were switching over to tubeless tires in the mid 1950s. The primary change was in the seal area of the wheel rim. The tube and tire combo back then was an integral part of the design specifications of the rim too. Rim manufacturers didn’t realize at first just how much more rim flexing happened under very hard cornering, without the tube inside.
So what often happens today, is when radial tires are put on US cars of the 50s, even when the rims are designed for tubeless tires, these rims are flexing to the point where full wheel covers [not hub caps] rotate around the wheel [or worse, fly off the rim on hard cornering].
My shop saw first hand what can happen in this situation — the wheel cover rotates, and the rubber tire valve stem gets pushed off to the side, ending up UNDER the wheel cover. Or even worse, the tire valve stem is sliced in half by the sharp edge of the wheel cover. We found by using all metal truck valve stems, the wheel cover would rotate until hitting the valve stem, and stop rotating.
2. ANY wheel and/or car originally equipped with tubes, MUST continue using tubes inside the tubeless radial tires. First, because the typical “tube type” wheel used rivets to attach the outer wheel rim to the center hub of the wheel. These riveted wheels leak air and rely on the tube for a complete air pressure seal. Second, the outer sealing edge of a tube type rim is not designed to handle a tubeless tire, and under hard cornering the tire can actually roll off the edge of the rim, causing an instant blowout.
Ooh, what a hideous beast! After the gorgeous tri-fives, they come up with this. Must have gotten designers from YUGO.
I had a 58′ Buick Super with a factory continental kit if I remember right…I do remember that it only had 8,000 original miles…..yes 8K! The Super was built with the longer quarter panels….Man that car was sweet!! It was white in color….so yeah, I love 58′ Buicks…the original advertising compared it to the B-52 Bomber!! I would love to own this Limited, or a 58′ Roadmaster 75……enjoy what you like…we all have our favorites…
I have seen in person, in a foreign country half-way around the world, a 1958 Buick Limited 4-door hardtop station wagon. It was a one-off piece built by Buick and Fisher body for the original owner [it’s still in the family]. The Fisher Body Co ID plate is unlike any other I’ve ever seen. In the place where Fisher stamped the body style number, that area is blank! in the body number location, the number stamped there is a single digit; 1. The car is Black with a black/silver interior, and the car has only a few thousand kilometers since new. It’s a totally original, basically unused car, right down to the original tires. The original owner [and all the family members] are immensely wealthy, and the buyer had the pull with GM to say I want a Limited wagon, and he got it.
If you want one, this is the only way to buy one. The cost of the rechroming on one of these would probably exceed what this will sell for.