It’s called the “G54” and it is ultra-cool. Not many people have the balls to build a 1954 Buick and put it on display, much less paint it creamy brown. That is almost exactly what builder Troy Trepanier said to prospective client Hal Wing when he called the shop. “I called Troy, who I had never heard of until a friend gave me his number” said Hal, “I told Troy I’d like to build a 1954 Buick. He said he was on a 3-year waiting list. Then I told him I wanted to use a 2007 Mercedes G55 technology in a ‘54 Buick. Troy said, ‘Tell me more.’”

From the left- Jack Trepanier, Hal Wing, and Troy Trepanier. The '54 Buick is an incredible car.

You read that right, the G54 is basically a Mercedes G55 wrapped in ‘54 Buick steel.

The car is an exercise in cool. All of the technology from the G55 was removed, including the multiplexing wiring, and transplanted into the Buick. The gauges and navigation/audio system were all integrated into the ancient Buick shell. To keep it all stealth, Troy found an old Philco console stereo and stripped the cloth from it, recycling it in the speaker grilles for the ’54.

The beautiful Burl wood interior panels are not made of wood. They are made in the same manner as the Mercedes panels water transfer. This project came down to the wire too, the water transfer process was completed just 2 weeks before the SEMA show opened.

I was lucky enough to get to sit down with builder Troy Trepanier, owner Hal Wing, and Troy’s dad Jack at the show to discuss the car. When I arrived at the Eaton booth where the car was located, Troy was discussing how often people just didn’t get it. Troy told me “When you start telling people that you have stripped a G55 Mercedes and are wrapping it with a ’54 Buick, they think you are crazy.”

There were many hurdles to jump along the way; the most difficult was the wiring. “We had 5 months along in the wiring, just getting it all to work” Troy said. They did a bang-up job on that too, as the wiring is completely invisible in the car. The doors are full of wiring, but you don’t see a single strand or connector. All the door wiring is run through the modified hinges—now that is ultra-trick.

Troy is no stranger to Buicks. In the 1990s, he built the “Hot Rod of the Year,” a 1950 Buick Sedanette, and he isn’t finished with Bufords yet. His next creation is a 1956 Buick powered by a twin-turbo Nailhead.

I always like to ask the owners of show cars like this, what their plans are. I fully expected Hal Wing to say it would be touring the show circuit then live in his collection, and that is what he said… kinda. “Well, I told Troy to pick 6 shows” he said, “SEMA, the Autorama in Detroit then 4 others. After that, I’m gonna drive it.” Hal, you were already high on my list, but driving this car makes you one of my heroes, and I tip my hat to you sir.

An Art Morrison chassis was built to handle the Buick, along with a set of Baer 14" brakes, Eaton Detroit TrueTrac differential and custom built wheels. The subtle BASF Chocolate Brown and Cognac Pearl paint ensures the Buick is the epitome of subtle