Photos of Wood graining in a 1939

Hi All

Well progress on the restoration of my 1939 Series 40 sedan is progressing. I have a heap of photos in the albums on my profile for those who are interested. I was wondering if any one had some photos of the wood graining on both the dash and the doors of a 1939 Century and a Special. Although my car is a series 40 special it was sold new in New Zealand. The series 40 cars in New Zealand were sold trimmed as a Century model was in the USA. Thus my car has the center rear arm rest in the back seat and the stainless steel trim around the windows on the outside.

Now according to the book "Standard Catalogue of Buick 1903-2000" Ed Ron Kowalke., the series 40 was interior was in "walnut finish garnish moldings, but the series 60 Century interior was finished with "Mahogany garnish moldings

So if some one out there can provide me with photos of how the dash and door trims looked in both "walnut" and "mahogany" finish it would be appreciated. Either post them here or send me a pm and we can exchange email addresses

Here are some photos to enjoy more in the gallery

Cheers and Thanks

Andrew

Hi Andrew

Our '39 Special (NZ assembled) was repainted in the late 1980s and the job included the interior. I was very pleased with the window surrounds but the dash result is less pleasing. It was done by a chap, long deceased, who had considerable experience in wood graining.

My memory is that the underside of the dash was like new without any wear, so check that out if it has not been cleaned up already. The base coat was a maroon like the steering shaft; it was in walnut style.

The '39 brochure is not very helpful. Hopefully contributors will provide us with some good authentic photos.

In NZ I expect the garnish mouldings to be as USA 40 series. Grant can supply the small 100mm x 50mm transfer for the garnish moulding. He made some transfers from 1 of my images. I have some window garnish mouldings you can use as a sample (as did the McGrath's). Some are original

The image you have of Wayne (MI) car are the best as it a low mileage un restored

What NZ series 40 have is external reveal window moulding, fitted only to series 60 is USA. Do you have all these?

Here's a USA 1939 Roadmaster dashboard. The USA Century dashboard is the same.

Pete Phillips, BCA #7338

Leonard, Texas

Those '39 Roadmaster images look different to what I have seen / images. Almost looks a repro

I also have some spare glove box doors: these are a slightly different pattern to the main dash, as explained in the Bugle 1939 article.

Andrew: 1 sent you a copy of that Bugle information.

If the weather is OK, may be able to take some images of the dash from 1 of my cars (the others are painted in 1 colour)

Hi Guys

Thanks for the input

-Terry I have found one small piece of original wood grain in the car and it is behind the drivers rear view mirror! were wooden backed mirrors really used in the past. It seems a strange place to put wood trim and it looks nothing like the wood grain I have seen on other cars (Buicks)

- Pete thanks for those photos of the Roadmaster they look similar to other cars that I have seen for sale but I am unsure what is original and unrestored and what is some one else idea of original. Is this dash that you have the photo of an original finish?

-1939_buick. Some photos of your car would be useful. I do have the photo that you sent me last year of the dash of the very low mileage series 40 that you took in the USA in 2003/04. It looks different again to other ones that I have seen.

I attach the photos of the remaining wood grain that we found in my car and then you may see why I am confused (more than usual that is)

Cheers once again and thanks:)

Andrew

-. I do have the photo that you sent me last year of the dash of the very low mileage series 40 that you took in the USA in 2003/04. It looks different again to other ones that I have seen.

At the BCA meet in 2003 there was also an original low mileage series 60 (Jim, MI). No photos [battery run out] but my (fading) memory is that it was as Waynes series 40

I have found one small piece of original wood grain in the car and it is behind the drivers rear view mirror!

The mirror backing is just like ours.

Pete's photos seem to be of a redo and not original.

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread, nut I've been away for a while. Wayne's car was what we used to do ours, and we have it on very good authority that his car IS original.

The wood grain on the mirror is completely different to the dash. Andrew, we used Wayne's car as the basis of our wood graining, ans I think you'd struggle to find one more accurate in NZ, if not anywhere. Your restorers have taken quite a few pics, so you should be sweet as.

Cheers

Grant

Grant's looks good to my memory cells.

Grant,

The interior of your car looks great.

Thanks! The repro interior plastic's a bit light in color to me, but apart from that, we're pretty happy. Must get some pics of the modified Guide B-31 lights we've rigged up as extra rear indicators. Not everyone knows to look in the center of the trunk to see which way you're turning.

Cheers

Grant