Jump to content

1952 Roadmaster Estate Wagon project.


MikesWoodieWorld

Recommended Posts

We had a 1952 Super, CORNET COPPER, and BEACH WHITE. Is that the color of the wagon?

Everywhere we went folks would ask about it.

Dale in Indy

My color booklet indicates the color on the Estate Wagon is a Roadmaster only color. There are two similar colors in my booklet, Roadmaster Aztec Gold (which I think it is), and Roadmaster Golden Sand (the darker one).

I have added a picture of my booklet with the two leaves out.

Sorry I didn't respond sooner, I was away picking up an antique trailer for a friend, a 1939 Westcraft. It was quite a job, since the whole roof is steel, and the supporting wood framing was mostly rotted, or gone!! If any of you have seen the book, "Trailer Trash" it is the one on the front cover!!

Mike

post-79354-143138819953_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Back to the original wagon that started this thread.

I took the main body section to get blasted and primed, along with the rear fenders and front inner fenders.

The pictures show the result.

Thank goodness all that green is gone!! (I hate green!!).

All went well except two things:

First: Some floor areas were very thin, and now are peppered with tiny and not so tiny holes!! I thought I had cut out all the bad areas, but there is more!! Oh well, now is the time to find out!!

There are major holes already, from removal of rusted out sections, but now they will be even bigger.

Second: On the return trip a spring broke on my car trailer! Now I have to deal with that. I removed the culprit today, and will pick a new one Monday.

The fenders were not dry enough to bring here, so I will pick them up on Monday also.

I sent the seats out a week or two ago for new upholstery, so I feel things are moving along well.

It will be warming up here soon, so I am anxious to start making wood pieces for both wagons, this 52 and the 53.

post-79354-143138858654_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138858685_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138858692_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138858699_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138858705_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Rob McDonald

MIKE, glad to have back working in "our" shop (there's that dream thing going on again). I bet there's a real story behind that shotgun blast to the passenger side floor board.

How are you having the seats covered? I guess the finished price of the car demands leather but were there other upholstery options when these lovelies were new? For their T&Cs, Chrysler offered that weird "saran" weave, which is made of the same plastic lacing that Boy Scouts of a certain age braided endlessly into zipper pulls.

By the way, that is the nicest paint swatch sampler I've ever seen!

Edited by Rob McDonald (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just found some pictures of the aforementioned Westcraft trailer project, if anyone is interested!!

The first picture shows the book cover which gave this particular trailer its fame, or infamy!!

The rest show it as we were rescuing it, about 15 years of neglect later.

Andy is the proud owner, and plans to restore it, I am the old guy with a beard.

The pictures were taken after we unloaded it, and I am seen as a very tired enthusiast!!

Cheers, Mike

post-79354-143138858771_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138858773_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138858776_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138858778_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138858782_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138858785_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138858787_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Rob McDonald

MIKE aka Santa, didn't your parents raise any kids with ambition? I've never before seen plywood delaminate quite that dramatically. Considerate of you to wrap that netting around the back, to prevent debris obscuring the vision of drivers following you down the highway.

What vintage is this, um, treasure? Was it a high-end product originally, in the manner of Pierce-Arrow Travelodges? Hope you don't mind if I block it out my fantasies about "our" shop.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

MIKE, glad to have back working in "our" shop (there's that dream thing going on again). I bet there's a real story behind that shotgun blast to the passenger side floor board.

How are you having the seats covered? I guess the finished price of the car demands leather but were there other upholstery options when these lovelies were new? For their T&Cs, Chrysler offered that weird "saran" weave, which is made of the same plastic lacing that Boy Scouts of a certain age braided endlessly into zipper pulls.

By the way, that is the nicest paint swatch sampler I've ever seen!

Rob,

Hey, my friend, if it is "our shop" come on over and give me a hand...I have to move some of these relics!!

LOL!!

Seriously...

All my experience shows the wagon seats were done in vinyl, and not very nice stuff back then.

I was tempted to go leather, until the cost was realized!!

Today there are vinyls that really are so very much better than what was offered in the early 50's, so I am going vinyl, and so far I am pleased with the results.

I was going to shoot some pics of my 51 cream Super seats (done in vinyl), but they are so dusty (!!) I am too embarrassed to do so (red face dept.)!!

As a disclaimer, I live in a dusty desert, and it is impossible to keep things spotless, or even close!!

And, the spiders...

When next I clean up I will post some, but you may not see the great look merely in pictures.

By the way, no shotgun blasts to the floor, just rust, shotgunned by the blaster!!

I was a boy scout, and braided that stuff!!

I have one of the paint booklets like the one shown for 1950-1952, they are great.

Cheers, Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Rob,

First of all, I never wear red...

Santa always does!!

I don't!!

Ever!!

And my beard is even longer now, as is my hair!! NO RED!!

OK, I have a red shirt on today, Sunday...nobody has seen me!! LOL

The netting, well it kept most...some of it..oh, really, who knows??

I didn't see any wrecks behind me, and trust me I was watching the mirror more than the road ahead!!

What a relief as we approached Andy's home.

It almost collapsed as we unloaded it!!

I have given up on old trailers, that one was a 1939, and am sticking to Woodies, problems as they are, also in transporting them.

I once inquired about a 1941 Packard Woodie in AZ, and the guy described it this way:

"If you were to load this on an open trailer, by the time you enter CA, there would be no wood left!!"

It was not very far from the CA border!!

And I was way further past the CA border at its final destination, so I passed, and have regretted it ever since!!

Cheers, Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Rob McDonald

Thanks for the invitation. I actually expect to be in your neighbourhood on Wednesday. Of course, we flatlanders have a broad view of the extent of a neighbourhood. 350 miles sort of counts.

If things go as planned, I'll be flying into Las Vegas to pick up a replacement for the lovely old BMW station wagon that my middle son totalled last weekend. He's going to be shovelling sidewalks until he looks like you, paying off that adventure.

My new target is a black-on-black 2006 BMW 530xi Touring (another wagon - I love 'em) with 60,000 one-owner miles. All wheel drive, load-levelling rear suspension, and more bells and whistles than I'll ever decipher. It's got a sunroof so big it has its own zip code. Wifey's only corollary was that it must have heated seats. Check.

I'm having a really hard time keeping a straight face, while impressing upon our young drifter-wannabe what a naughty thing he did.

Not ours but identical. Or used to be.

post-59990-143138858815_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Well, winter has finally passed, so now it is hot. Great woodcarving times, and I have been brushing dust off parts, machines, and myself!!

I have started to carve the first part for the 53 wagon. I started with the piece that fits between the rear quarter window and rear fender.

The 53 wood is like the previous 3 years, except for this part, and the rear corner post, so I had to take my own 53 apart to get patterns.

Buick restyled the rear fenders in 53, so the wood that adjoins it has to fit the new shape.

I have posted some pics of it as it was finished being carved.

I was reluctant to take pics earlier, since the process was "brushing the dust off me!!"

I had to remove the rear wood from my 53 for patterns, so I figured I would make 2 sets as I go, one for the white one, and one for mine.

It gives me a choice of parts to join together as far as making the grain match, or flow together, so it is best to do multiple sets at one sitting.

Now, I am in full swing again, so I will post some more pics as they are being carved, even will try to get some shots with chips flying.

Notice the floor, and the ledges on the carving machine...this is after cleaning up twice, and filling one garbage can!!

The last shot is my workbench...now I remember, don't leave it cluttered, it is much harder to clean off!!

Just a part of the dusting off sequence!!

This one is the first of two, so I will try to get some pictures of the second one, then I will start the other side, same part.

I am also making one of these for my 52, using my old pattern, so it will show up also.

When done, I will picture the 52 & 53 parts side by side, the difference is obvious.

Keep in mind, if you enlarge these pics, you will see many lines on the outer curved surface. It takes quite a bit of sanding to smooth them out, but they respond well. these haven't been sanded at all.

To enlarge them, right click on the pic, then open in a new window. They usually show up much larger, but can be enlarged even more by left clicking on the little circle with a + in it.

Then you can move it around to see different areas.

Well, off to do some sanding now!!

post-79354-143138971044_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138971052_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138971059_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138971065_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138971071_thumb.jpg

post-79354-143138971078_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Rob McDonald

MIKE, so glad that you're back and busy in the shop. I can't seem to visualize how these posts will fit the cars but they are things of beauty, just sitting there. That diagonal slash of heartwood colour, on the far piece in the second photo, is going to be just stunning. Is there sort of a "carrier" piece that's screwed to the actually posts in your carving rig?

Sorry I didn't drop by in mid-March. Interstate 15 out of Las Vegas took me the wrong way, straight home.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very astute, Rob, yes this is the only piece that can be mounted this way, since there is an area in the inside that is actually straight!!

Most pieces have nothing of the sort, all curves, inside and out.

These are mounted on a 2X4 jig, but being softwood they wear out rather quickly. a new one is easily fashioned. I will add some pics after removal from the machine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Matt, I was reluctant to take my 53 apart, couldn't decide if I should restore the old wood, or replace it. Either way, it needed to come apart. My decision was made for me. On the outside, the wood looked borderline on being restored, but on removal, no way.

The inside showed much rot, but still good for patterns.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
Guest Rob McDonald

MIKE, you have an artist's eye for picking lumber. The grain on that rear pillar post is absolutely gorgeous, made more so by the complex cut of the shape. I notice too how you managed to get a virtual book-match on the lower rear body rail. This will all "pop" when you slap on the varnish. Please keep the pornography coming.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hey Rob,

Thanks for noticing the grains, not so easy to see in bare wood, since later the varnish will make it vivid.

It is my pleasure, to the fruits of my wood selection labor, to achieve it, and your comment is truly appreciated.

You have a good eye.

Sometimes my choice of wood doesn't match the surrounding wood, so I just make another one...the part in question will match with another one, later.

So far it has worked!!!

I have not progressed for a couple of weeks, because of an injury...

I had a problem with my left middle finger being acquainted with my jointer...the jointer won!!

They always do!!

So, now I have a chunk of flesh removed from the side of my one of my fingers!!

Oh, it won't slow me down too much, since it is healing well, but it caused a pause.

I have been around metal and wood cutting equipment all my adult life, and this is the worst injury I have encountered.

Hey, I got excited, and that is not good!!!

I usually don't get excited, since restoring Woodies takes so very much patience, but I had a senior moment...never to be repeated!!

At least, hopefully!!

OK, back to work, while the sun shines!!

No pictures to show this go around, unless you want to see my finger...no pun intended...it is my middle finger!!

I could post some pics, but the missing part is in my wood chip container, so it would be boring!!

I haven't even thought about finding it!!! LOL

Cheers, Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No pics necessary Mike.

I did similar to my left middle finger with the the edge of a belt sander. Chunks don't grow back, so now my one fingered salute is "modified". Like Old Tank says "if you play with tools, you're gonna bleed." especially if you do it every day like we do.

Looks great .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Rob McDonald

MIKE, sorry for your digital loss.

I've always said that the jointer/planer is the most eagerly dangerous power tool in my shop. You almost have to put your hands at risk to use it smoothly. As a result, I've never been completely happy with this beast. There's always an end of the board that's too thick or too thin because I'm afraid to keep the pressure on both ends. I've learned to just ensure that the piece is long enough that I can cut off the messy bits. A clever woodworker might rig a couple of finger boards to hold a constant feed; maybe next time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Rob, I have used this machine extensively, with no problems...until now!!

My regular use consists of skimming down an oversize piece, which sometimes is tapered, and bringing it to a dimension.

When it is tapered, I simply put the thin end over the blade, and it is no problem to make it parallel.

However, these pieces are usually 18" -30" long, so the angle is small.

I was trying to do the same procedure on a piece about 8" long, and when I put it down, the angle was greater, the blade caught it, and promptly shot it away, with my poor finger giving downward pressure at the leading edge.

So, I learned a lesson, the hard way!!

But, it could have been a lot worse.

And it is healing nicely, but a little ugly!!

The ugly will help me respect the machine!!

I have been taking it easy since, so I am way behind, but will be ready to start up again, this week.

It may be a while before I get to post pictures, since I have to catch up, but I will try!!

Thanks for all your support, everybody, Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No pics necessary Mike.

I did similar to my left middle finger with the the edge of a belt sander. Chunks don't grow back, so now my one fingered salute is "modified". Like Old Tank says "if you play with tools, you're gonna bleed." especially if you do it every day like we do.

Looks great .

Hey Mike, we still have a good finger on the other hand, when necessary!!! LOL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What a treat to find this thread - great pictures and info. A great resource to show that the last generation Buick woodies were not wood-clad steel 'wallpaper' wagons like many think.

Mike, It's probably a good thing I didn't know about you earlier, as I would have had many trips with other family grumping about having to making a stop while driving through Cuyama. Do you know how many guys are envious of your setup there? Do you make it down to San Diego for the Wavecrest Show in September? If so, I would like to cross paths there. I've been hoping to get my 53 Buick there one of these years, but have to come up with a Dyna that Flows first - and also brakes that stop, but that's pretty close now.

post-30737-143139123176_thumb.jpg

FYI, I'm also storing a car that I hope to acquire - I believe it's the car that provided the nice original wood you got last year. A bittersweet story of a restoration shop going bust (as I understand it).

post-30737-143139123202_thumb.jpg

In any case, we all certainly appreciate all the info you are sharing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Bruce,

Nice speaking with you the other day, a fellow Californian.

I traveled to Wavecrest in 1988, and have a coffee mug to prove it.

Which I use fervently each and every morning!!

I haven't been back since.

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and made many connections, but I was quite overwhelmed.

I had noticed even back then, that there was an influx of people into woodies for the money.

Money, to me, is a necessary evil!!

It goes against Woodies, at least to me.

When I got "infected" with Woodies, it was like the first girl I fell in hopeless love with in high school...unobtainable!!

Girl, because I was...am a clutz with them!!

Woodies..because, how could I ever restore one??

Now, in my older years, money is indeed needed to restore a Woodie, as it is for any antique car.

But, back in the late 1970's, folks that were restoring Woodies weren't doing it for a profit, they were doing it because they wanted one to enjoy.

Heck, you could easily spend $20,000- $30,000 doing one, even if doing your own work back then, and when done it would sell for about half that, maybe!!

So the people I met and interacted with were old school, they were doing one for themselves to enjoy, in any stage, not to make money off when sold.

We spent many times sharing tips...it was a good time.

And the guys I have kept in touch with over the years, would not part with their gems, for anything!!

They were a labor of love, and that carries on for me, and really helps me to keep motivated.

OK...

Off the bandwagon!! LOL

My finger has healed well, but it is so friggin' hot here, it is hard to get back into the flow!!

I am sure many of you are feeling it too.

But it is supposed to start cooling down soon (they keep pushing it back!!), so when it does, back to work, and hopefully more pictures of piles of chips of wood on the floor under my carving machines!

(Oh, jeez, then I'll have to drop down and clean them up, and then get up again!! LOL)

Cheers, Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I am expecting a 1951 Buick Super to come back from being cherried out and painted, this Sunday, so I spent yesterday shuffling all my Woodies around to make room!!

It is a good time to sweep the floors as each one is moved.

To make room, I plopped the 52 Roadmaster Wagon body on it's waiting frame, after blasting all the dust off both.

That was a delight...it is finally looking like a wagon...no wood yet!!

I had planned to roll it under a car lift, but it is lighter, and sits higher than normal.

My buddy, Frank was helping me, and he said, no way will it go under, it is too high!!

Well, it did, and with about 1/8" to spare!!

I joked, if a fly was on the roof, it would have been squished!!

So, now there is room for the 51, and the pair of Pontiac Woodies!!!

I will take some pictures tomorrow, I am still recovering from all the moving!!

Hey, these old Buicks are no lightweights!! LOL

But, I am!! (No laughing matter here!!) Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest 4 bufords

mike,glad your finger is healed.you have an amazing shop out there,keep us updated please. there are a few woodys here in ct,4 bufords from ct

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest H2osprt

Hi Mike. Yes, I would say you do restore Buick Woodies! Wow. I am obviously a beginner here. The car looks much like the white (cream) car in your post. Grey and red interior and pretty much complete. But the wood is ...again much like yours and beyond the pillar behind the rear door ... most of the wood is missing. I have no idea how many pieces are supposed to be there though the metal braces and windows are all present. I am in Indiana so I wont be over to visit real soon. Ha. I would love to know if you provide pieces etc or a complete kit..or???? The only rust is on passenger's floor board front. I appreciate your quick response.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry to have not posted any pictures, yet. The 51 I am awaiting was put back a week, to this Saturday, so not much to photograph yet.

I had some shop drama the other night, though:

Since it was very hot, I had left my rear roll-up door wide open (16' high). Since my back yard is secure and a pair of boxer dogs on hourly patrols, not an uncommon occurrence.

I was upstairs in my loft, just dozing off when this loud crashing sound jolted me up!

The TV had a movie on, so at first I thought that was the sound, but, no...another loud noise with barking!!

I jumped up and stepped out onto my mezzanine, and looking down, there was my male boxer, Leo standing about 12' from my woodworking room doorway, and there was a hideous creature in the woodworking room doorway!!

I couldn't figure out what it was for a moment.

It had a large head (bigger that my dog's), dark brown with piercing eyes with whitish rings around them, stood about 18" tall, but fully filled the doorway!!

It was staring at me!!

I slowly descended the stairs, and as I did, it ran from the front of the shop to the rear, and jumped on top of a Woodie.

Then I realized what it was...a California Speckled Owl!! It had flown, not run & jumped.

This bird had to have had a 6' wingspan, almost completely covering the roof of a 53 Buick Woodie!

And, still staring at me with a menacing look, all puffed up!!

Then I noticed that one of my hanging florescent light fixtures was swinging about, and a bulb was missing...

Sure enough, there was glass all over the floor below, and me with bare feet!!

That must have been the first crashing sound that woke me.

He was now in an easy position to fly out the back door, but seemed to want to hold his ground.

I suddenly thought to take his picture, so ran to get my camera, but when I returned, he was gone.

About 45 minutes of sweeping up glass, followed by the shop-vac next morning.

The shattered bulb had landed in the spot I had made for the 51, so I am grateful it didn't show up last weekend.

The wagons on either side had some glass on and in them, so all in all, it took a few hours to fully clean up.

Needless to say, the rear door has remained closed at night since!! Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Mike. Yes, I would say you do restore Buick Woodies! Wow. I am obviously a beginner here. The car looks much like the white (cream) car in your post. Grey and red interior and pretty much complete. But the wood is ...again much like yours and beyond the pillar behind the rear door ... most of the wood is missing. I have no idea how many pieces are supposed to be there though the metal braces and windows are all present. I am in Indiana so I wont be over to visit real soon. Ha. I would love to know if you provide pieces etc or a complete kit..or???? The only rust is on passenger's floor board front. I appreciate your quick response.

I don't make kits, since I find that after 60 or so years of bouncing on gravel roads, then sitting to rot outside somewhere makes each one pretty much off from when it was new. I find that it is about as much work to fit some pieces as it is to make them. I would be happy to help you in any way I can, though.

Email me at: mikesoldecars@yahoo.com

Let's see some pics!! Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest H2osprt

Mike, Life comes at you fast. SO they say. There are so many unanswered questions ... where do I find the time? Where to start? It seems like you take the body off first.... and then work on the chassis. Then remove the remaining wood..... and then paint teh car.... and replace the wood while the interior is being put together. Sequence? How bout this question... what do the car numbers mean? The plate near the front window suggests my car is number 1850. Do you know where the numbers start??? Is htis an early 53 or a late 53? Well... hopefully teh owl has found a new home and is doing what ever it is that owls do. Maybe "woody the owl?"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't make kits, since I find that after 60 or so years of bouncing on gravel roads, then sitting to rot outside somewhere makes each one pretty much off from when it was new. I find that it is about as much work to fit some pieces as it is to make them. I would be happy to help you in any way I can, though.

Email me at: mikesoldecars@yahoo.com

Let's see some pics!! Mike

Same thing we're finding with the '46-'48 Buick Woodies. We have 3 complete sets of wood ready to sell but assembling it and making the doors and tailgates work as they should is almost more difficult than actually making the wood. We intended to sell kits but now realize that the only way to do it is to sell it assembled on a chassis ready for varnish. Forget selling individual pieces unless the customer also has you do the repairs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mike, Life comes at you fast. SO they say. There are so many unanswered questions ... where do I find the time? Where to start? It seems like you take the body off first.... and then work on the chassis. Then remove the remaining wood..... and then paint teh car.... and replace the wood while the interior is being put together. Sequence? How bout this question... what do the car numbers mean? The plate near the front window suggests my car is number 1850. Do you know where the numbers start??? Is htis an early 53 or a late 53? Well... hopefully teh owl has found a new home and is doing what ever it is that owls do. Maybe "woody the owl?"

There were 2,500 woodies built for 1953 - 1,830 Supers + 670 Roadmasters. Based on the 53 wagons I've looked at over the last 35 years, I believe the bodies were built with consecutive numbering without regard as to whether they were to become a Super or a Roadmaster. I've seen Supers with body numbers higher than 1830 and Roadmasters higher than 670. So your 53 with body number 1850 was built roughly 3/4 through the total production. But I don't know any actual dates of when that production started and ended.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Same thing we're finding with the '46-'48 Buick Woodies. We have 3 complete sets of wood ready to sell but assembling it and making the doors and tailgates work as they should is almost more difficult than actually making the wood. We intended to sell kits but now realize that the only way to do it is to sell it assembled on a chassis ready for varnish. Forget selling individual pieces unless the customer also has you do the repairs.

My experience exactly!!

I had made a set of wood for one of my wagons, and a customer came in wanting all new wood, so I thought I could just use my set and get it done nice and quickly.

No way!!

I could not make it fit at all!!

Yet it fit my wagon very well.

I would think that the 46-48 Buicks are even harder in that respect, since the doors are so very wide, and heavy.

A few years ago, I spoke with a guy who had restored a few of that era, and he said that he had several original Woodies come by to see if he could fix their sagging doors...they had to be lifted up to close them. Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...