The great thing about the Barrett-Jackson 2026 Columbus Auction is that it draws a variety of vehicles, giving The ClassicCars.com Journal an opportunity to find a good story beyond the cars that cross the block. This 1957 Buick Special Riviera is the perfect vehicle to discuss a unique topic, even though this story is about another model.

Buick was given a nice facelift for 1957, evolving the front and rear styling that had been going since 1955. “Low-silhouette styling” was touted because the hood, rear deck, and greenhouse were lower, with the latter almost 1.5 inches lower than before. In fact, the greenhouse had been redesigned, now featuring a reverse-slant C-pillar that gave it a more contemporary, sportier flavor — necessary considering the all-new redesigns at the Chrysler Corporation and Ford Motor Company. Hardtops continued to be called Riviera, a formula that would be used through 1958, then reused as an independent personal luxury model for 1963.

Of special note was the wrap-around backlite that was unique for 1957. Distinctive ribbed bars divided the backlite into three pieces, with bands running from the roof to the trunk lid. This was a feature that was shared with Oldsmobile, but only Buick offered a model that featured a conventional one-piece backlite. The Series 70 Roadmaster was the top model of the Buick line, and Buick offered two variations: one with the ribbed bars and three-piece rear window, and another with a one-piece window (with bands on the trunk but not the roof). The latter Roadmasters featured an “A” after the body number, so, in other words, the Roadmaster Riviera four-door with the one-piece window was Model 73A, and the similar Roadmaster Riviera two-door was Model 76A.

In addition, Buick introduced the Series 75 Roadmaster for 1957, which was a specially equipped model with a standard leather and fabric interior plus standard power accessories — a loaded Roadmaster model, essentially. It was available as a Riviera two-door and four-door, and both featured the one-piece rear window. This is the model that became the Limited in 1958.

For 1958, Buick reverted to the one-piece backlite for all models.