Im new to this site and am glad to have found it because i will need alot of info over the years rebuilding my baby..she is still in a ladys field but i will be picking her up in 4 weeks.. first question im looking at a windhield with a part number dw356 but am confused..they say it fits a 1954-56 buick century and special and also an oldsmobile..but will it fit my 1956 holiday 4door? also ive seen people call my car a 4 door sedan and a 4 door hardtop which is the proper name? and help would be great thanks..shane

 

With no pillar between the front and rear windows, it's definitely a hardtop.

But "sedan" is sometimes used to mean a 4-door of any kind, so you have a 4-door hardtop sedan. "Sedan" can also apply to 2-door cars if the rear seat area is a certain volume or larger or if the roofline is constant all the way to the rear window. In other words, the word can have nothing to do with the number of doors but rather with the capacity and shape of the car.

Aren't you glad you asked?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedan_%28automobile%29

 

you know i once had a 2 door hardtop 55 chev and the only other word i refered to it was a sports coupe...im finding looking for stuff on 56 oldsmobiles is like deciphering the daVinci code...but its well worth it ..now on to figure out if the part number dw356 windshield fits my 1956 olds 88 holiday 4dr hardtop...that might be a sedan in someone elses terms..hehe..lets hope i get the right one...thanks

 

Awww, ya got me!! I was about to wish you and your wife congrats on a new ......nevermind now....

Welcome to C.O. You're going to fit in just right around here. Looks like a nice project. Resto mod or stock in your plans?

re: windshield. who is the glass supplier? Most of the time within a model year GM would have the same windshield for all it's cars and rely on body styling to set it apart distinctively. Not sure if 54-56 is the same or not. Here's another supplier that might be able to answer your question http://www.autocityclassic.com/index...=521&Itemid=41

http://www.autocityclassic.com/index...mart&Itemid=41

http://www.autocityclassic.com/index...mart&Itemid=41

Hope you find what you're looking for. If you absolutely can't find one? Visit P.S. Auto Glass on the web. They can custom make any glass for any car.

 

Been in the dealer wholesale parts business since 1965, started with Cadillac.
Best way to describe a hardtop is "nothing between the vent window and rear pillar post", and a sedan has "frames around the door windows"!
Most body shops didn't know what they had back then.

 

thanks for the welcome..shes a girl..but she aint gonna be pink and white...im going to try to keep her stock as possibile but the paint job is gonna be custom..the guy im buying the glass from is in idaho and it was on ebay just listed as buick /olds 54-56 windshield..knowing alittle ive heard that century and specials will fit on 1956 olds but im not sure if there is more to it for a 4 door hardtop..dont want to get it and go..uhhh damn..i think im gonna have to do more research...wish me luck...

 

thanks rickman48...im going with 4dr hardtop...lets hope the guy selling the windshield understands it and i get the windshield and it fits...alot of windshield shops scratch thier heads when you ask for a 56 olds windshield...hopefully we get enough of them back on the road we can change that..

 

Smart move. Kind of like measure 2X and cut once. Researching your car will also put you in touch with the era...

I've always liked the older cars but haven't got into them, yet. FWIW I also wouldn't just take the word of an ebay sale unless he agreed to refund the money and shipping if it doesn't fit.

I looked on Wild About Cars and unfortunately there's nothing for the 56 Olds lineup

 

that what im figuring on these oldsmobiles..they are like a mystery finding info..but they are soo cool..i look back at my 55chevy i used to have and i think they are way to over used...they are cool but i want to have one thats not super mainstream..

 

Welcome to the site and congrats on your future car! Glad someone saved her from the elements. Need to have more of these on the road!

 

thanks...shes gonna be happy with all the love shes gonna get..her field days and seeing snow is coming to a end...we live in a dry desert area..should work wonders on her complextion..