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Thread: matching numbers on a 55 Buick Special

  1. #1
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    matching numbers on a 55 Buick Special

    When I bought my 55 Special 46R I was told it was matching numbers engine and Transmission. How can I find out if the information I received was correct

  2. #2
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    The information you received was incorrect. The first year for numbers matching in Buick was 1957 (car and engine serial number). For 1956 and earlier Buick's the car serial number and the engine serial number will not match. The transmission wasn't stamped with the car serial number until the mid-1960's and the rear end wasn't stamped with the car serial numbers until the mid-1970's.


    The definition of numbers matching is that the car serial number (AKA frame serial number) is also the serial number of the major components, which usually means the engine and at later dates the transmission and rear end. This is used to prove that these were the original components that came with the car from the factory. Buick used different car and engine serial number schemes for 1956 and earlier, thus the car and engine serial numbers don't match for these years. However, since the car serial number is also the frame serial number, this number will be stamped on the frame. When a car was titled, either the car serial number or the engine serial number could be used as the legal identification number (called the VIN today) depending on the state.


    The engine serial number can be used to tell the year of the engine and what car series it was used in, here is where to find that:
    http://www.teambuick.com/forums/view...t_engine_where
    http://www.teambuick.com/forums/view...t_engine_53-58


    Automatic transmissions (Dynaflow) will have a code that identifies the year and car series as well, see this:
    http://forums.aaca.org/topic/193693-...tters-1953-59/


    Here is some info on finding the serial number on the chassis:
    http://forums.aaca.org/topic/198813-...omment-1231543
    http://forums.aaca.org/topic/235103-...-century-help/



    Here is more information on the car serial number:
    https://www.teambuick.com/reference/years/55/55_vin.php


    and 1955 info here:
    https://www.teambuick.com/reference/years/55.php
    Last edited by Buford26; 04-08-2017 at 11:30 PM.
    Sean Smith
    BCA# 42746
    MBCC# 2122
    SAH# 4186
    Buickman Award 2015

    1957 Special 4-door Riviera (hardtop) model 43

  3. #3
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    The closest you will come to numbers matching for 1956 and earlier Buicks is for Canadian built Buicks. Canadian built Buicks used different number schemes for the car and engine serial numbers (different from the U.S. too), but at least the engine serial number was stamped on the data plate and the engine so you can easily prove if it is the original engine.

    Attached are some pictures of a 1955 Canadian built Buick data plate and engine number stamp. As you can see, the car and engine serial numbers don't match, but the data plate does prove that it is the original engine in the car.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Sean Smith
    BCA# 42746
    MBCC# 2122
    SAH# 4186
    Buickman Award 2015

    1957 Special 4-door Riviera (hardtop) model 43

  4. #4
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    Numbers Matching

    Thanks for the Information Buford 26

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