My new 54

1954 Roadmaster 72R - 2 cracked windows,no carpet,1 piece of trim missing,1 trim piece bent,needs seat covered,front door panels rotted,no trunk lock,no kick panels. Body is straight,runs decent,original hub caps and owners guide. Paid $750

right now I'm in the process of getting the shiny stuff polished up. This spring I plan on spraying some satin black,and running some white striping instead of the side mouldings. Would like to return to wide whites, but that may be further down the line. Until I get really really serious and return everything to original,I want to make this a great running,good looking driver.

Forgive me if I am telling you something you already know, but since you recently joined...

Go easy on that Dynaflow. It will never perform like a modern trans, so just accept that. And whatever you do, DO NOT powershift between high and low ranges. Take your foot off the gas and let her fall into gear, and even that should not be done too often, i.e. not at every stop light.

Oh, and adjusting your brakes every thousand miles will make a world of difference.

Cool car, looks like it has a lot of potential. Have fun!!

i think someday im gonna have to either own a buick with a dynaflow or find someone who'll let me take it for a spin. it sounds like it isn't something any idiot can use, and it also sounds like its a very unique experience.

i cant imagine what people must have thought when it first came out.

'course, what id REALLY like to own/see is a '38 with the self-shifter. that thing is something else....

oh yeah...WHOOPS hey nice '54, have fun!

Zonda,

One of the forum members has a self shifter Buick. David Corbin. Nice guy, great car. Great looking original, too. I've seen it a couple of times but never ridden in it.

If we ever meet you can drive either of my cars with Dynaflows. It is a much maligned tranny.

Mike

Sounds like a good buy for that price. Shouldn't need too much work to get it driveable.

Good Luck !

Ken.

1929 Tourer

1971 Centurion

I'm so jealous. Blue cordaveen custom interior. most of mine are GREEN

I do love the blue color on the metal parts on the interior and I wish the fabric on the seats and doors wan't so faded. If I can find material that is close enough to the original blue,I'll probably go with that instead of grey for the seats,doors,and carpet. Although I'm thinking that grey custom fit saddle blanket seat covers with light grey door panels and carpet would look cool with the satin black and the eventual dark silver metallic paint.(it would also go with the grey-blue headliner) There's just so many options that choosing one is confusing. Make it personal or original,guess that's the real decision. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I now have all of the shiny metal off except for the lower front windshield trim and the lower trim and handles on the doors. The rear seat is now sitting on the trunk waiting to find a place to "relax" for awhile, it's amazing how the rear seat is attached in these cars,so simple. I'm finding that some of the trim screws are not located in the same spots from side to side, mainly on the upper window trim on the front doors. The passenger side was all o.k. on but the drivers side there was one screw behind the vent window assembly and I saw no way to reach it easily,so out came the drill, I put a hole just big enough to get the screw out and it went well. I believe when I reassemble that the "out of place" screw will be put in matching the passenger side. Removing a door window sure takes awhile when you don't have surefire directions, but it did finally come out after a lot of head scratching and cussing. After removing the inner rear vent window trim I've found the color that the headliner is suposed to be, however the funky gray-blue color that it's faded to looks good with the rest of the blue interior,so I think it will stay for now. Well enough of my ranting, it's time for bed.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Zonda,

One of the forum members has a self shifter Buick. David Corbin. Nice guy, great car. Great looking original, too. I've seen it a couple of times but never ridden in it.

If we ever meet you can drive either of my cars with Dynaflows. It is a much maligned tranny.

Mike </div></div>

WOW well thank you so much for the offer! that is very kind of you. i would never expect anyone to let me drive their car (just as i wouldnt want most of my friends friving MY buick. however honestly some are motor-heads like myself and i trust them enough that they would be careful and i could teach them what to look for and theyd learn quick)

likewise feel free to take mine for a spin! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

man, i CANT WAIT until the national meet gets in the northeast again. i want to meet everyone here SOOO badly. if anything, maybe the regional meet in vernon, ct next year.

Well, it's been five months and alot of tinkering, but it's starting to take shape. At least it's painted and drivable. As you can see it didn't end up satin black nor will it have grey interior,instead it ended up as close as I could mix it to the original gull grey(without the funky green tinge)and the interior went to black carpet and panels with black or blue diamond velour seat covers.(Oh well) I still haven't been able to locate the passenger rear door spear trim(I have the original but it's mangled) or the little piece that goes between the passeger front and rear doors, so for now it's going to get a white vinyl stripe that matches the sweep spear to cover up the holes. The interior is not finished either, it still lacks the carpet and seat covers. Also I haven't gotten the trunk lock.

Lookin good!

I can help you with the stainless sweep spear parts, the trunk lock, with key even, and the rubber piece for the spark plug wires.

Sounds great Lamar! I would be greatful if you could send me some prices(or a price)to either my e-mail or in a message on here. If you happen to have a trunk lock without a key, that would be great too,as I will re-do the lock to fit my current key anyway. Today I need to tear into the ingnition switch to get that working with a key instead of turning by itself. I was hoping that the cylinder would come out without taking out the whole assembly but as my luck would have it, it will not be the case. (I even tried the "drill a hole here" trick in the repair manual.)

This car has been a blast to work on even though I've had a few "whoops",such as.......dopped the tank to inspect a non-working sender,wire on sender reostsat was broken so I made a new piece and it now works at half tank and below. Good enough till I can get a repro. unit. Anyways, thought I had the tank flushed good enough but I was wrong. Ended up dropping it again, but with it being so easy I didn't mind.

Just for those of you wondering..... I did not cut any extra holes anywhere in the car, the door speakers were put in so they would use the front access panel in the doors. If this gets sold someday I want someone to be able to return everything to stock without any problems.