INTRODUCING
YOUR 1955 BUICK

1955 Buick Steering Wheel

Important tips on the operation of your new Buick. A check list of its instruments and controls and how they work.

 

 

Your keys...

The second key is a spare. You need only one key to operate all locks, including the trunk. (To lock the trunk, merely shut the self-locking trunk lid firmly.)

Now notice the ignition switch. You see that it has three positions - "On," "Off" and Lock" - instead of the usual two. "On," of course, is for driving. To leave car with ignition locked - turn to "Lock" and remove key. To leave car with ignition unlocked - turn to "Off" and remove key. "Off" position, then, lets you turn your car over to parking lot attendants or servicemen without the inconvenience of leaving your keys. There's no chance of having glove box or trunk opened in your absence. And no need to pull your car key off your key ring.

Locking the doors is simplicity itself. Depress the door-locking buttons on all doors except the one you leave by. Then step out, depress the final button and close door with the outside door latch depressed. (But be careful not to lock yourself out. Always take your keys with you before locking doors.)

Starting the Engine...

To start the engine, turn ignition switch to "On" position, and depress the accelerator pedal. (No starter button is needed and all Buicks have automatic chokes.)

If your Buick has Dynaflow, remember this: Starter will engage only when the Dynaflow selector is set in "P" or "N" position. This is a safety feature

Note: If you need to re-start your engine in traffic: With Dynaflow, move the selector to "N" and step on accelerator; with Synchro-Mesh, shift to Neutral and stop on accelerator.

StepOn Parking Brake...

To release parking brake, pull out knob marked "Brake" at extreme left below dash. To engage parking brake, step on the small floor foot pedal at extreme left marked "Park."

Driving with the new Variable Pitch Dynaflow...

If you've never tried it before, you're goint to find Dynaflow driving the finest, smoothest automatic driving you've ever known. And Dynaflow fans have a brand-new thrill in store for them - the breath-taking breakaway provided byBuick's exclusive Variable Pitch Dynaflow. 

"D" is for Drive... the position of your Dynaflow selector in all normal forward driving.

When selector is in "P", Park position, the transmission is locked. Since "P" acts as  a parking brake, never change to "P" when car is in motion. "L," Low, is for unusually tough going - extremely steep hills or heavy pulls. In deep snow or mud, "L" can be used to advantage. However, to feed power to the rear wheels gently so that spinning may be prevented - use "D." On steep downgrades use "L" at speeds below 40 mph for extra engine braking.

"R," Reverse, backs up your Buick and can also be used along with "L" for "rocking" car out of deep snow or mud.

You'll notice that the Dynaflow selector lever has a "gated" movement to help you avoid slipping into the wrong selector setting by mistake. "L," Low, and "D," Drive, positions are in the same plane. But you must lift up on the selector for "R," Reverse, "N," Neutral, or "P," Park.

A switch of the pitch and away you go!*.

Press the accelerator pedal all the way down - and stand by for thrills! Automatically, the propeller-like blades inside your Dynaflow's "stator" change their pitch, or angle of attack.

You suddenly find that terrific emergency acceleration is yours to command. You now have extra-fast acceleration to get you out of traffic tight spots - or to make passing quicker and safer.

And for maximum acceleration from a standing start - (probably more than you will ever want) - just push the treadle down all the way, and away you go!

*A complete explanation of how the new Variable Pitch Dynaflow works is to be found in your Buick Owner's Manual.

Outside and inside lights...

One knob does it. For your added convenience - all headlights, instrument panel lights, parking lights, tail lights, and map lights are controlled by one master switch - located left of steering column.

To turn on front and rear parking lights, pull switch out 1 step. To turn tail and headlights pull switch out to 2nd step. (Floor button for "High" or "Low" beam is in conventional place at left near parking brake.)

Switch must be in either 1st or 2nd step for instrument panel lighting. Right-hand quarter turns of the switch operate (1) map light only, (2) map and dial lights, (3) dial lights only, (4) dim dial lights.

To turn off all lights, push switch back to dash.

Direction signals operate by a lever on left side of steering column - up for right turn, down for left turn. Flashing green light on dash panel tells you the signals are working and on which side.

Parking brake safety light (if installed) glows red to warn you when ignition is on and brake is engaged - switches off when brake is released. On ROADMASTER and SUPER models, light is located on dash above parking "Brake" knob... on SPECIAL and CENTURY models, at the center of direction signal indicator.

Back-up lights (if installed) operate automatically when selector is moved to "R," Reverse, position.

Windshield wipers and washers...

Left of the steering column on the dash, you'll see the windshield wiper switch. In heavy weather turn switch full right for high wiper speed. As storm slackens, you can reduce wiper speed by backing off a little from full right position.

Optional window washers are controlled by a button located in center of wiper switch. The length of time you press the button determines how long the two washer jets will squirt water on windshield. Squirting does not begin until you stop pressing button - washers shut off automatically.

Heating and ventilation...

Buick's High-Air Intake ventilation brings you cleaner, fresher air - freer from the dirt and heat of the road. And with Buick's famous Weather Warden heating system you get individualized driving comfort all through the year. Three airplane-type control knobs and two toggle switches right of steering column control ventilation, heating and defrosting.

To operate your Buick's heating and ventilation system, just remember this: Move the right and left control knows up for heat, down for outside air.

To bring in fresher outside air, move right and left knobs down - the further down the more air circulated.

To turn on heat, move left know up, from "off" position to "winter range." This left know is your thermostat. The higher the knob is raised, the warmer the air.

To circulate heat, turn toggle switch over left knob to either "high" or "low." (This operates underseat heater fan.)

For still more heat, move right knob up to "Auxiliary Heater" position. Then force circulation by flipping fan switch above.

Center knob controls defrosting. Fan switch over right knob controls defroster circulation as well.*

*NOTE: Both Defroster and Auxiliary Heater get forced air through the same blower. Each valve may be opened fully when other is closed, or both may be partially open at the same time. Both can no operate simultaneously in full open position.

Radios and Antennas...

If your Buick has the Sonomatic radio, turn in either manually or by push-button. The left-hand control knob is for "on," "off" and "volume." The right-hand knob is for manual tuning.

With Buick's Selectronic radio, all tuning is done for you electronically wherever you drive. To change programs, just tap the tuning bar below the dial - or step on the floor button located to the left above the brake pedal. You need not look at the dial or take your hand off the wheel.

(Your Buick Owner's Manual has full information about both Selectronic and Sonomatic radios.)

Buick's power antenna makes it possible for you to improve radio reception by raising antenna, without leaving the car. Its control switch is located under dash left. Pull switch for "up" - push forward for "down." Manual antenna is telescoped from outside car.

Hood latch and dip sticks...

To open hood, press latch release located between grille and header bar ... slightly to the left of center.

Oil level dip sticks for both crankcase and Dynaflow are to be found on the right side of the engine block.

At service time - put your Buick in Buick hands...

To keep your new Buick young longer - see your Buick dealer regularly. His Buick-trained mechanics and factory-tested equipment and service procedures keep Buicks at their best. And for consistently finer motoring - treat your Buick to famous Buick Lubricare every 1,000-2,000 miles.

Good Luck and Good Driving ...

Copyright (c) 2003 - 2005 - Andy Forget - All Rights Reserved.