Words & photos: Gary Rosier
Sammy Vaughn and his wife Diane of Daytona Beach, Fla. own this beautiful 1957 Buick Special. Purchased some years ago, it was a car that Sammy recalls vividly as a youth – and as a gas pump jockey, I might add!
Some of you reading this may recall those days; he was pumping gas as his part time job during high school, and saw a 1957 Buick pull into the pumps. Now, 1957 Chevys, it seems, were all the rage, but this particular car struck a cord with Sammy. While it looks like a large car, it was not a full size car for its time (it was listed as a mid size). Its sweeping lines and particularly those cool opera-like rear windows – gobs of chrome, too – really made an impact on him!
His friend Paul had been on the lookout for some time for this particular car. It was found nearby, actually – stock, clean and rust free – in Lake Wales, Fla. and was quickly snapped up!
It was not to remain stock for very long. Sammy chose Paul Newman of Classic Muscle Motor Company, locally, because they were instrumental in turning out a gorgeous car from a previous build he had done. Stick with what works, says Sammy! They were timely, meticulous and well suited for what was up his sleeve.
The first order of business was ordering up a brand new chassis from the Roadster Shop. A complete air ride suspension was next: Ride Tech HQ Shockwaves air pod system, front and back, with custom air bags and cool rod shocks and sway bars front and rear. A Ford custom built 9″ housing with strange 31 spline axles and Strange tru trac posi 3.50 rear center gear was installed after all the powder coating of the highly modified, custom chassis was finished. They wanted something that could handle all the horsepower that was going to be on tap!
And it was some horsepower indeed! A GM Performance Crate LS376 was chosen (rated at 525hp) with a 5 speed 4L70E with overdrive, to handle the power and keep it trouble free – shifted by a Lokar shifter.
Smoothing the firewall, custom making those inner fender well panels as well as installing a Vintage A/C system was starting to round out its inner workings. A new custom aluminum radiator helps in the cooling department.
It rolls on a set of B-Forge Chrome wheels, 22in rears and 20 in fronts mounted with 285/45ZR22’s and 245/45ZR20’s respectively. Wilwood 6 Piston brakes and Red calipers assure you it’s going to stop on a dime and give you change! It’s got that classic Buick “Sweap-spear” body side molding and “Ventiports,” as Buick liked to refer to them. The paint has to be perfect, as it’s painted 4 coats of Dupont Chromobase Black with 6 coats of clear. The red painted into that side spear also leads you to pick up the Custom Red German Leather interior. Note that the 1957 dash is now a ’57 Oldsmobile from inside pillar to pillar. They were able to remove the front grill emblem and bar too – it’s relocated in the trunk very nicely!
Custom LED headlights, instruments and taillights brighten it all up. Everything is accessed through keyless entry, and it includes other modern comforts like power door locks, windows and alarm system. Tunes are handled by a Pioneer Custom radio, CD, navigation plus a back-up camera. The sounds are played through Hertz speakers and amplifier consisting of two Hertz 10″ shallow sub-woofers, two front Hertz 6.6 ” speakers and two rear Hertz 5.25″ speakers and 1.5″ tweeters.
Starting in ’54, the Buick Special had an all new body: Its chassis was wider and lower, but still maintained the 122 inch wheelbase. While GM never could have envisioned the Buick you see here today, Sammy certainly did! He had the vision for this car for many years, and don’t think for one minute that this car isn’t pushed hard! It’s driven, enjoyed, very comfy and reliable to drive, stared at everywhere he goes… Indeed, it is a “Special” ’57 Buick!
