ARTWORK by “Pinstripe Chris” Dunlop
ARTWORK by “Pinstripe Chris” Dunlopehind every influential fabrication shop is a support system that helped make a dream, the ’56 Buick convertible you see before you, turn into a reality. Now, that dream is as different and unique as each individual business, but in the case of Ross Logsdon of Premier Street Rod, of Lake Havasu, Arizona, he was looking to turn his passion of tinkering in the back of his parents’ parts shop into a full-blown automotive revolution.
If you pay any attention to customized classic vehicles at all, then you’ve most likely run into the Premier name a time or two. While Ross’ folks, Rob and Kerry, laid the foundation for their son’s passion by opening a retail service most notable for offering GM-licensed vintage Chevy truck bodies, it was ultimately two friends of the family who proved to be the real catalyst in Ross’ fast track to the limelight.
While Snow White was the biggest pickup success story at that time, it was the last personal project George saw all the way through, due to his untimely death in July 2018. To celebrate her husband’s passion, India reached out to Ross to inquire about building another one of George’s own vehicles, his ’56 Buick Special convertible, to make her own. She felt that being able to cruise around with her grandkids in a car that George would’ve been excited to see built next was the perfect way of memorializing his most beloved pastime.
India was adamant about having an Art Morrison Enterprises coilover performance chassis as she wanted superior ride quality. Another must-have item was the big, classy 20×9 and 22×10 Budnik Crown wheels that have Turbine ceramic-coated centers and are covered in 245/35ZR20 and 305/30ZR22 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. The custom powdercoated frame features a Sport IFS complete with upper and lower control arms, a rear triangulated four-link setup, Strange Engineering coilover units, and complete Wilwood braking systems to boot.
The car was quickly taking shape due to the winning team dynamic India and Ross had going from the start. Although she was happy to be as involved as possible with the buildup of her husband’s Buick, an unfortunate wave of bad luck brought the project to an abrupt standstill. India had been struggling with a tough battle against cancer and she ultimately lost her fight in May 2020. The build was briefly put on hold while the family got a few affairs in order before George and India’s sons reported back to Ross to pick back up where he left off. The Sepulveda boys planned to see their parents’ last custom car through, and to look at it as a living memorial to them.
Jason Deering of Premier whipped the Buick’s 66-year-old body back into shape and tucked and brought the bumpers closer to the car for a streamlined appearance. Getting the right color, India talked to Randy at Painthouse to get the right shade of red paint. Once the car was ready for color, Deering loaded up his paint gun with a custom play on PPG’s Randy Apple II hue. Once the paint was cured, it was cut and buffed with Wizards Products for the ultimate shine.
The interior was next up for transformation as Ron Mangus Interiors contributed heavily to the restyling of the Buick’s cabin. The Glide Engineering seating was wrapped in color-matching leather from R Best Leather and Mercedes tweed carpeting was laid down. Up front are the one-off Dakota Digital HDX gauges, which use the original Buick shell. Below it, the Vintage Air vents and control panel aid in keeping the car cool in the summer and the billet gear from Lokar dressed up the pedals.
In January 2022, Reminisce was invited to enter the Barrett-Jackson Cup and unveiled at the auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. “It has been our great honor and loving dedication to have completed this special build for a great family and cherished friends who are greatly missed every day,” Ross says of the final leg of completing George and India Sepulveda’s ’56 Buick. “We have buttoned up the car and it is home where it belongs with the Sepulveda boys.”