Rick Dore's 1953 Buick

1953 Buick Super Riviera Hardtop restyled by customizer Rick Dore of RD Kustoms. The 1953 Buick, also known as "Breathless", was Rick Dore's second project. Bill Reasoner did more than 25 modifications to the body. He nosed and filled the hood, faired the upper grill shell, frenched the headlights, filled the portholes, and incorporated Packard bullets onto the bumper. Door handles and emblems were also shaved. In the rear, arched quarter panels blended into the massaged rear wheel openings. A 1956 Plymouth rear bumper replaced the stock bumper. The deck lid was also swapped for a deck lid from a 1951 Buick. The taillights were hand-built. The car was fit with a black removable padded top, flowing seamlessly into the rear deck. Dick Dean chopped the window frame and installed the top. Once the bodywork was completed the car was finished in a custom-blended House of Kolor black purple and lavender candy exterior paint by Bill Reasoner. He first painted it black base with a few topcoats of candy purple.

Inside the car featured Chevrolet Monte Carlo swivel-type front bucket seats, a custom rear seat, hand made panels, and a full length center console. The upholstery was done in white pearl leather with purple highlights by Eddie Salcido.

Breatless featured a Chevrolet Nova front-end assembly by Route 66 Rod & Custom in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A 350 cubic inch GM crate engine producing 350 horsepower was installed as well. The engine compartment was fully chromed. The car rolled on a set of chrome smoothies with Coker wide whitewall radials.

Once completed "Breathless" took First in Class at the 1995 Oakland Roadster Show. It was also named "World's Most Beautiful Custom" at its next appearance at the Sacramento Autorama.

Rick Dore's 1953 Buick is going under the hammer by RM Auctions at the Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook auction Saturday, August 1, 2009. The car was estimated to sell between $75.000 - $125.000 USD.

Sources

www.rmauctions.com