Wagon Snippet: Tri-Shield Treasure?

Here it is.  The first of a handful of weeks out of the year that vintage car enthusiasts flock to by the multiples of thousands: Scottsdale (Monterey/Pebble Beach and Hershey are just two of the other big events). A few of us will be making our way west to hit all five auctions: Barrett-Jackson, RM Auctions, Russo & Steele, Gooding & Co. and Silver Auctions (in no particular order). So to honor this upcoming gathering of buyers and sellers, I present a flashback to late January 2009, when this 1954 Buick Century wagon was offered as Lot F176 at Mecum’s auction in Kissimmee, Florida.

Looking back upon my notes, the Century wagon had known ownership history since its purchase in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, when new. Well kept, it clearly had received at least one repaint prior to the wear it exhibited became apparent; we placed its condition as a #3+ upon inspection.

Buick’s rebirth of their factory hot rod in 1954 is well known: The company combined the smaller Special body with the more powerful Roadmaster engine. Kind of sounds like the early makings of a muscle car. This same tactic also applied to the four-door, six-passenger wagon, which shares its 122-inch wheelbase chassis with sedan/coupe counterparts.

Under the hood sat the buyer’s choice of engines mandated by transmission, beginning with the 200hp version of the 322-cu.in. V-8 (309-lbs.ft. of torque) when coupled to the famed Dynaflow automatic, or 195hp (302-lbs.ft. of torque) 322 when the three-speed manual was utilized. Here, it’s the Dynaflow. Incidentally, the Skylark wire wheels, which were an available option on all Buicks in ‘54, may or may not have been added by a previous owner; it’s a common swap today.

Buick (with a little off-site assistance) assembled just 1,563 Century wagons (another 1,650 Special wagons were built), making them relatively rare today, but not impossible to find. At the time this example crossed the block, an attractive $24,000 bid failed to send it into the sold column. Condition #1 values were $27,000, but they have since slipped to $25,000 – the surfboard was not factored into the value.

Question: Does a surf board, wire wheels and an aftermarket air conditioner boost the value of a woodless Fifties wagon? I have my thoughts, but what are yours?