Original American Wear ▪️The largest selection of custom automotive shirts
Original American Wear ▪️The largest selection of custom automotive shirts
Original American Wear ▪️The largest selection of custom automotive shirts
Original American Wear ▪️The largest selection of custom automotive shirts
Original American Wear ▪️The largest selection of custom automotive shirts
Original American Wear ▪️The largest selection of custom automotive shirts

BUICK SPECIAL LOW RIDER

The Legacy of "Zamarron's Pride": A Three-Generation Lowrider

Since 1965 this 1956 Buick Special has been the heartbeat of the Zamarron family. Originally purchased used by grandfather Eugenio Zamarron from Daniels Buick-Oldsmobile in Chelsea, Michigan, it rolled off the lot sporting a classic factory Aqua-Blue paint job. While the mechanical components were solid, decades of Michigan weather eventually took their toll, leaving the body scarred with minor dings and the underbody battling rust.

Enter the third generation: Manolo Zamarron. Deeply rooted in Chicano culture and a passionate devotee of the Lowrider tradition, Manolo vowed to honor his family's history while infusing modern power and undeniable style. He stripped the tired blue paint away, coating the curves in a deep, gleaming Ruby Red. Beneath the classic lines, he dropped a modern Corvette LS1 heart, blending generational heritage with custom street soul.

Technical Specifications: 1956 Buick Special (Custom Build)

Chassis & Suspension

  • Chassis: Art Morrison Enterprises mandrel-bent 2x4-inch 0.120-wall rectangular tube chassis.

  • Suspension: Morrison Air Ride Independent Front Suspension (IFS) and Air Ride four-bar in the rear. QA1 Ultra Ride 12-way adjustable shocks at each corner, along with a Morrison front antiroll bar. Custom-built air tanks along the inside of the main rails.

  • Brakes: Wilwood brakes all round, actuated by a Master Power Brakes cylinder and booster; pedal assembly from Kugel Components.

  • Fuel System: Custom 22-gallon U-shaped fuel tank designed to accommodate a temporary spare wheel.

  • Wheels & Tires: Zenith 16x8-inch wire wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich Silvertown radial whitewalls (215/70/16 front, 235/70/16 rear).

  • Exhaust & Lines: Custom headers feeding into MagnaFlow mufflers; all hard lines in stainless steel by Matt Blaz (GMP).

Drivetrain

  • Engine: Crate Chevrolet LS1 V8 engine featuring a fully outfitted OBD2 system. Corvette fuel-rail covers featuring custom '56 Buick Special logos.

  • Transmission: 4L65E automatic transmission backed to the motor, operated via an ididit column shifter.

  • Rear Axle: Limited-slip 3.25-geared 9-inch Ford axle with 28-spline Strange shafts.

Interior & Electronics

  • Upholstery: The seats were newly re-covered in soft beige leather (replacing original stock materials). Manolo values original interior aesthetics and purposefully avoided aftermarket small steering wheels or modern bucket seats.

  • Steering Wheel: Stock steering wheel detailed and reused, fitted with a custom hub to mate with the ididit column.

  • Dashboard & Controls: Modified steel dash featuring a custom-fabricated sliding speaker grille hiding a hidden touchscreen connected to a car computer (interfaced with the LS1 OBD2 system for real-time diagnostics like RPM and mass airflow). Original radio controls integrated to play, pause, and fast-forward MP3 files with an LCD screen integrated into the station indicator.

  • Climate Control: Vintage Air system operated via the original heater controls, combined with custom A/C vents.

  • Instrumentation: Custom gauges styled to look stock, comprising a 170-mph speedometer and an LS1-compatible quad cluster, paired with a Dakota Digital gearshift indicator.
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