Buick ‘Nailhead’ V-8 Trivia Question of the Week: 1. What did David Dunbar Buick invent that we all use every day of our lives? 2. Can you name all the Buick models that were available in model year 2007? 3. In what model year was the Buick ‘Super’ introduced? 4. On April 14, 1956, at the NARTB (now NAB) convention in Chicago, Illinois, the Ampex Corporation demonstrated a product known as "2 inch Quadruplex". What was this product? 5. On November 30, 1956, after the retirement of boxing champ Rocky Marciano, this boxer would become world heavyweight champion. Who was he? 6. What storage device did IBM introduce on October 29, 1956? 7. 1956 was a breakthrough year for Elvis Presley and he was definitely runing on all eight cylinders. Among his many hit songs for the year, three made it to the number one, two and three spots on the Billboard Top Hits chart. Can you name them? How about, in order? 8. The 1956 adventure film Around the World in 80 Days was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won eight. Can you name the actors who played the parts of, Phileas Fogg; ‘Cantinflas’ - Passepartout; Princess Aouda and Mr. Fix?
Answers to this week’s Buick ‘Nailhead’ V-8 Trivia Questions, plus more pictures of the 1956 Buick, can be found on The FIN MAN’s web site at http://www.thefinman.com.

First things first. About that Buick ‘nailhead’ V-8 engine. Prior to 1953, Buick eight cylinder engines were ‘in-line’ designs. (Oh how I used to dread having to pick up those straight eight heads for delivery to and from the machine shop when I was a sixteen year-old delivery boy working for George Saurbraun of Clayton Auto Parts!) The early Buick V-8s were an unusual design, having small valves and stems which were positioned nearly vertical over the cylinders. This design allowed for exceptional torque ratings, often exceeding one foot-pound per cubic inch. The small, upright stems resembled nails leading to the nickname ‘nailhead’. The ‘nailheads’ were produced in several series from 1953 into the mid sixties and in discplacments of 264; 322; 364; 400; 401 and 425 cubic inches.
Check out MY web site for a photo of the 1956 Buick V-8 engine. You will immediately see the distinct look of the heads, valve and side covers on this engine.

Just look at the illustration of that 1956 Buick Super Riviera Coupe shown in this column and you’ll know what Buick was all about during the fifties. Big, Bold, and Beautiful, the Buick for ‘56 was one of the best performing examples the division had ever built. The brawny Buick ‘nailhead’ engines (explanation on the web) were quite capable of handling anything the highways could serve up. The Super was capable of reaching 60 MPH in 11.7 seconds from a standing start. Centurys could achieve the same in just 9.6 due to a negative 250 pound weight advantage and were the fastest Centurys produced to date. The big Buicks offered performance and a smooth ride on top of it all. The smooth factor was enhanced by Buick’s unique Dynaflow transmission (fitted in over nine in ten fifty-six models), an automatic that didn’t shift gears.
Nineteen fifty-five was a tough act to follow when it came to sales, as the year was one of the best in history for many American car manufacturers. Buick held their own for 1956, however, and although total production was down, Buick still managed to hold onto third place in the industry for the calendar year, outpaced only by Ford and Chevrolet.
With styling cues and overall appearance similar to the ’55 models, the new Buicks for ’56 had a somewhat more streamlined look, as if sculpted by the wind. A formerly flat front grill was now swept back a bit and jutted forward in the middle. Front parking lights were pointed and swept back into the fenders. Even the famous Buick ‘Ventiports’ (we always called them ‘port holes’) were now more delicate and elliptical in shape compared to the previous model’s heavy, round examples. And, at the stern, thin, swept back taillight housings replaced the bulky ones from the year before.
The Buick was a no excuses car that upper middle class buyers found very appealing, especially when traversing mountain roads like the one shown in the picture above.
Don’t forget to check out the It’s A Gas, petroleum collectibles show in Columbia, Missouri this Friday, January 17th and Saturday, January 18th at the Boone County Fairground. It’s an easy, under two hour drive from St. Louis. You’ll see things that bring back a flood of memories from the days when gas was less than fifty cents a gallon.
The details: 17th Annual ‘It’s A Gas!" Petroliana Collectibles Show and Swap Meet in Columbia, Missouri on January 16th and 17th, 2009. Dealer setup and early bird buyers on Fri. 16th, open to general public 7AM Saturday the 17th, Boone County Fairgrounds, 3 mi. north of Columbia on Route 63. For information contact: John Troxel (573) 896-8609 or Mike Russell (573) 442-6759 or days (573) 592-1991, and be sure to tell ‘em The FIN MAN told you about it. Check it out. It really IS a GAS!
For the answers to this week’s trivia questions and other petroliana images, visit the FIN MAN’s web site at http://www.thefinman.com. To e-mail him, click on this link: mailto:the_fin_man@msn.com.
‘The FIN MAN’TM is available for your group’s special occasion. In addition to his seminar schedule, he has been a guest speaker at group meetings including car clubs, engineering clubs and other professional associations. He has also acted as host or emcee at a number of special events including trivia parties, holiday parties, social and professional club events, benefits and fund raisers. There are still a few open dates for December, 2008 and we are now accepting bookings for calendar year 2009. During his appearances, he presents an overview of the collector car hobby plus a detailed look at American cars from the fifties and sixties. His program includes a fascinating Power Point presentation with images of collectible automobiles and various associated nostalgia and Americana. Guests also have the opportunity to play "FINS for FUN," the video game he produced in 1987 which inspired his nickname, in which players compete to identify the year, make and model of cars from tightly cropped photos of fins and taillights. Those who score the highest win auto-related prizes donated by supporting Fin Man sponsors. Be sure to sign up for the program which is being presented at the secluded YMCA Trout Lodge in April and May of 2009. For more information, click on this link > http://groups.msn.com/the-fin-man/seminaragenda.msnw.
Bruce Kunz is a member of the Society of Automotive Historians, the St. Louis Chapter of the Buick Club of America and the Monte Carlo Owners Association of America. He welcomes your comments and suggestions. To e-mail him, click here > mailto:the_fin_man@msn.com.