A Custom Buick pushing 600hp

In the decade following World War II, the automobile industry advanced in both technology and style. Having acquired skills and knowledge while producing aircraft during the war, hot rodders and OEM manufacturers looked toward developing aerodynamics and custom styling in the vehicles of the time.

Enter Bill Mitchell, one of the most iconic automotive designers of the time. He began his career under the wing of Harley Earl in the art and color section of General Motors, later becoming the head of design after Earl’s retirement. He took cues from the advancing aero and space race and incorporated aerodynamics into the bold designs from the ’40s and ’50s. Many of the art deco-inspired features were retained, with the cars becoming much sleeker and tighter, helping to transition into the muscle car phase of the ’60s. One car designed at that time was the 1957 Buick Special.

Taking its stylish lines and sleek looks to the next level with a blend of modern customization are the guys at Designs by Daryl’s in Visalia, California. With mobile and custom glass installation serving as the bread and butter at Chad’s Auto Glass; their love for custom classic cars has developed into several custom builds each year. Many classic big-body cars from Cadillacs to Lincolns have found there way to other countries, like Australia and New Zealand. When one of their customers in Australia had a special request for a hot rod Buick, they were happy to comply. The 1957 Buick Special was pulled out of a field in California as a near shell, and the crew brought in a few heavy-hitting local shops to lend their expertise to the build.

First, the crew at The Choppin’ Block in Fresno, California, narrowed the frame and created a custom front and rear suspension to drop the car over 24-inch Raceline wheels thanks to Slam Specialties airbags and AccuAir eLevel air management. The massive billets are made to a stop with 17-inch SSBC brakes. Yes, you read that correctly, the disc brakes are 2 inches larger than the wheels originally on the Buick nearly 60 years ago.

The interior is purely street rod-inspired with a 1956 Bel Air dash molded in place at Choppin’ Block, complete with Dakota Digital VHX gauges and a custom, flowing center console. Krist Kustoms was brought in to create the custom panels and headliner and to cover the Glide Engineering seats in contrasting red. The iconic exterior styling was kept intact with smoothed and rechromed bumpers. The body became uninterrupted by shaving the emblems and door handles at Lewis Milinich Bodyshop in nearby Hanford. Then they covered the classic car in timeless black. Chad Canerday and Justin “Pony” Carrillo of Chad’s Auto Glass installed all new glass with a light tint.

Back in 1957, the Buick carried a 364 V-8 Nailhead pushing 250 hp, no slouch for the era but when the build was underway, the consensus was to install a massive 454 big-block engine since more parts were readily available, thanks to the Scat crank, Holley carb, Sanderson headers, Keith Black heads and pistons. The engine, machined at Millers and assembled at Lewis Milinich Bodyshop, pushes out more than 600 hp and plenty of torque!

The ’57 Special crosses the lines between classic car, raw muscle and custom creation. The end result is a crisp, clean modernized custom that tugs at your need for speed.

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SPECS

1957 Buick Special

Owner: Adam Cleary, Sydney, Australia
Builders: Designs by Daryl’s, Chad’s Auto Glass, The Choppin’ Block, Lewis Milinich Bodyshop, Krist Kustoms, Looney Tunez
Frame: Narrowed and powder coated
Suspension: Narrowed Ford 9-inch rearend, custom air suspension, Slam Specialties airbags, AccuAir, Viair, compressors, Airlift, rack-and-pinion
Brakes: SSBC 17-inch and ABS power booster
Wheels: 24-inch Raceline Sniper 5
Tires: Pirelli PZero 275/30/24
Engine: 454 V-8, Scat crankshaft, Keith Black heads and pistons, Billet Specialties drive, Holley 750 carburetor, Sanderson headers, 3-inch exhaust, Be Cool electric fans, Ron Francis wiring
Transmission: Turbo 400
Body & Paint: Shaved handles and emblems, smoothed bumpers, rechromed, black paint, Steele Rubber Products seals
Interior: 1956 Bel Air dash, Dakota Digital VHX gauges, Glide Engineering seats, one-off headliner, custom console, Lokar shifter, LED lighting, AVS switches, Raceline steering wheel, Boom mat
Audio System: Pioneer 6.5-inch component speakers, Kinetik battery

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