Queen Wilhemina's Buick

DaveCorbin · January 30th, 2009

There's a 1933 Buick for sale on e-bay now that supposedly was Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands's car. Engine number confirms 1933 engine.
Do any of our European guys know anything about this car? It looks like a 90L with everything above the beltlne custom-made and maybe some additional wheelbase.
A posting there mentions "Bronkhorst" which might also be "Bronckhorst" a town in the eastern part of The Netherlands.
Regards, Dave Corbin

1939_buick · June 20th, 2009

Looks like it was sold as this thread http://forums.aaca.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/612807 by the new owner
Edit: The same thread in the new software:1933 Buick Limo Seies 90
and another Looking for 1933 Buick Tailights

Another thread on this car http://forums.aaca.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/571930
Edit: The same thread in the new software: 1933 Buick on Ebay

Johan Boltendal · June 21st, 2009

This might interest you Johan

barra · July 4th, 2009

I saw this Buick at the National Buick Convention in Colorado Springs this past weekend. There were several poster cards of information in the back seat and I had difficulty reading them. The car was immaculate. I was unable to open any of the threads for more information. According to the card, there were only five of these cars. The owner was not in the parking lot and I would like to know more about the car. If anyone has a web site or research source for these cars, please respond.

Barney Eaton · July 6th, 2009

I am sure you can look forward to a complete article in the Bugle by Pete on this car.
I heard part of her story, it is a different can than the one in the article above. The 1933 at Colorado Springs has a closed drivers compartment and the wicker is in a band (about 4-5 inches high) around the car.

The owner said there were 5 custom made on Buick chassic. I did not recognize the coachbuilder name.... they were done as what we would call "family cars" for funerals.
The owner also stated that the car in C.S. came from the Imperial Palace collection and that they had owned it for at least 15 years. It is also most likely the cars were black or a dark color, not the shade of red it is presently painted. The car at C.S. has a black leather drivers seat, glass divider that is fixed. The back compartment has two seat facing one-another and done in black silk.

barra · July 8th, 2009

Thank you Mr. Eaton for the information. I joined the both the Reatta and Buick club the same day we talked and I hope that I'll receive a copy of the Bugle.

DaveCorbin · July 8th, 2009

To all on this thread:
Since I started this thread, let me give you an update. The new owners got my name from the inquiry I sent their seller about the car, so when I introduced myself at Colorado Springs, the name clicked.
They asked me to be their technical advisor for the meet (They are new BCA members) and I agreed to do that. I spent about 4 hours going over the car with them on a technical and extremely detailed basis. I won't disclose what I told them as I consider that confidential. However, they are extremely skeptical about the claim of the Queen's connection. I should also mention that the Mrs. is a very good Internet researcher and is working on documentation along with the leads they got from me.
Here's what we know for sure: The car is a 1933 90 series and was most probably sent from Buick as a cowl job. It does have European trafficators (turn signals) and European (Swiss made Scintilla) tail lights, so as to conform to Belgian laws covering these items. It also has a Kilometer speedometer as might be expected. It is most definitely a custom body and the basic body work is of a very good professional coach building type. The pictures and information do seem to point to a firm named "Bronckhorst".
The restoration work was very well done and the mechanicals are top grade. The car was awarded a gold senior, so the judges were obviously as impressed as I was. I was advised by the owners that they had found the right frame number near where I had told them it should be, as the previous owner and the Imperial Palace folks had used a stamped frame rail part number in error.
ANY INFORMATION HELP FROM OUR EUROPEAN MEMBERS WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED !!!!
Regards, Dave Corbin

DaveCorbin · July 17th, 2009

For all on this thread:
The frame number that the new owners found has allowed me to establish a build date of May 15, 1933. As I mentioned, the Mrs. is a very good internet reseacher. She has found very solid evidence with pictures that this car was NOT the property of the Queen but was probably used in the funerals of many important people. She also found a picture that had a license plate number showing, so she has very hard evidence.
She also established that there were 5 cars built in a group at the body company. The frame number gave me a clear starting point for looking in the Buick monthly production records for 1933. These records show that Buick built 5 cowl job 90 series chassis as a group, 4 in May and 1 in June, 1933, so all the information from different sources ties together EXACTLY.
If you know someone else that claims to own a Queen Wilhelmina car, show them this. I'm sorry to tell them that it most probably is not so. Ask them to send me a frame and engine number for their car.
Regards, Dave Corbin

50jetback · July 17th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveCorbin

For all on this thread:
The frame number that the new owners found has allowed me to establish a build date of May 15, 1933. As I mentioned, the Mrs. is a very good internet reseacher. She has found very solid evidence with pictures that this car was NOT the property of the Queen but was probably used in the funerals of many important people. She also found a picture that had a license plate number showing, so she has very hard evidence.
She also established that there were 5 cars built in a group at the body company. The frame number gave me a clear starting point for looking in the Buick monthly production records for 1933. These records show that Buick built 5 cowl job 90 series chassis as a group, 4 in May and 1 in June, 1933, so all the information from different sources ties together EXACTLY.
If you know someone else that claims to own a Queen Wilhelmina car, show them this. I'm sorry to tell them that it most probably is not so. Ask them to send me a frame and engine number for their car.
Regards, Dave Corbin

Nice work Dave, always nice to be able to come up with a vehicles antecedents.

First Born · July 17th, 2009

Good going, Dave. Also kudos to the owners that they are after the truth rather than letting a misconception linger.

Ben