Currently listed on AutoHunter is this restored 1953 Buick Special Tourback Sedan. As Buick’s cheapest model and bodystyle, the Model 48D Special Tourback Sedan gave eight-cylinder performance at a price point that was agreeable to many. Powering this two-door sedan is Buick’s Fireball straight-eight backed by a three-speed manual transmission. Other features include tinted windows, driver-side chrome mirror, Cragar mags, Moog springs, and more. Painted turquoise over a multi-colored cloth interior, this 1950s cruiser is offered by the seller with books, full-size spare, and a clear title.
The turquoise exterior is complemented by generous flourishes of chrome, from the classic Buick spear and gunsight hood ornament to the Ventiports. Other features include chrome driver-side mirror, chrome gas door guard, and tinted windows. A set of 15-inch Cragar mags are wrapped in 235/70 Cooper Cobra radials.
The cabin features bench seats front and rear, both wrapped in multi-colored cloth. The steering is manual, as is the column-mounted transmission shifter. There is a factory-style Sonomatic AM radio, though it’s currently not operational.
Instrumentation consists of a 110-mph speedometer with gauges for the oil pressure, coolant temperature, amperage, and fuel. The odometer currently shows 63,257 miles, though the title reads mileage-exempt.
The 263.3ci Fireball straight-eight was originally rated at 125 horsepower with a two-barrel carburetor. This Buick was originally built with the standard three-speed manual versus the much more common Dynaflow automatic. Other under-hood features include an oil bath air cleaner and electric fuel pump.
The undercarriage features an independent front suspension and solid rear axle with the differential housing 3.90 gears. Other features include Moog lowering springs, polyurethane front sway bar end link bushings, and manual drum brakes. A dual exhaust system helps the straight-eight breathe.
Our AutoHunter Spotlight ain’t a ’57 Chevy — it’s something better! Buicks were known as cars with great passing power, and the combination of the straight-eight in Buick’s lightest vehicle can surprise some in the Stoplight Grand Prix. This Arizona-based 1953 Buick Special Tourback Sedan appears to be an easy way to get into a classic that you can drive often, so don’t be caught napping as the auction will end on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 11:15 a.m. (MST).
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