Jump to content

Raise your hand if you drove at least one old Buick this weekend


JohnD1956

Recommended Posts

So with the big seven-o fast approaching, I took a drive in the Wagon today to a little town known to be the Granite Capital of the World, Elberton,  Georgia to get my drivers license renewed. After gaining permission to drive for another year I took the opportunity to drive around the little town awhile. One building I looked for was the old Bradley Buick dealership as was brought up by @garynofishing in the thread Ralph Crisp  . After driving around the downtown area awhile and not finding it or any old building that looked like it might have at one time been it, I headed to the outskirts.  I passed a NAPA parts store and thought, if anybody in town would know where an old car dealership was,  it would be a parts store. I struck gold. Not only did the owner know and tell me where it was but his brother actually has a '56 Century that was bought new from there. He knew Mr Bradley well and told how "tight and "curious" he was and of the loft full of old Buick stuff that he so curiously held onto until his death 7-8 years ago and of which was referred to by garynofishings. He told of how sad it was that by the time of his death most of the stuff was water damaged beyond saving. We talked a good 30 minutes and I left and headed to the downtown corner where he said the now vacant build was. Upon arriving I could not for sure tell which was the building in question. An older gentleman did tell me that one that I was looking at was once a Studebaker and wagon dealership.  

 

The Studebaker building built in 1941 with the granite so many of the towns buildings are built from.

 

IMG_3988.thumb.JPG.cdc3b789656d1a356089d8b2594c3f8a.JPG

 

 

IMG_3992.thumb.JPG.c5a385b33ed55ea62c931e8f59cca078.JPG

 

Thus is the building that from the NAPA guys description was the Bradley Buick dealership. If so I think it may have had some window and front facade changes.  Maybe @garynofishing can help confirm this since he was there years ago.

 

IMG_4004.thumb.JPG.ecfa93bbc98af5f1293d4b35755131fd.JPG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, MrEarl said:

IMG_4004.thumb.JPG.ecfa93bbc98af5f1293d4b35755131fd.JPG

 

If I was a betting person, I would say that this brown building was the dealership.  Showroom on the right corner and drive in for the service through the garage door.  The building across the street (not the beige building) could have been a dealership a long time ago, but with the sliding garage door I doubt it would have been used as car dealership since WWII.  Just IMO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Larry Schramm (see edit history)
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/13/2020 at 11:12 AM, Matt Harwood said:

Hoo boy is this a nice car! Stunning restoration, numbers-matching, and it drives superbly! I'm not a muscle car guy, but Buick's blend of comfort, luxury, and mammoth torque makes for a very entertaining machine.

 

GS1.thumb.jpg.1a2dd8d277b140ec118e3328917e7e3c.jpg

 

 

I often wondered how Buick got by with putting in 455's while the Chevelle was limited to the 396/402 till 1970?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 minutes ago, Brooklyn Beer said:

I often wondered how Buick got by with putting in 455's while the Chevelle was limited to the 396/402 till 1970?

 

Prior to 1970, GM management had a rule that no intermediates could have more than 400 cubic inches. That meant none of the "muscle cars" of the era had anything bigger than 400 cubes. Oldsmobile kind of got around it by farming out the Hurst/Olds and its 455 to a subcontractor, even though GM was still installing the engines, but that's a different story. The Buick GS used a 400 cubic inch V8 until 1970. In addition, the 442 was a 400, the GTO was a 389 and then a 400, the Chevelle was a 396, etc. But in 1970, management lifted the rule and then it was off to the races. That's when the giant engines went into the cars and the horsepower and torque numbers went through the roof. So 1970 was the first year for a 455 in a Buick GS. 


Of course, after 1970, horsepower started to go down again, which is generally why 1970 is regarded as the pinnacle of the muscle car era--the only year when they had the biggest engines possible and no restrictions on performance. 


Hope this helps!

  • Like 4
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/16/2020 at 8:48 PM, Jstbcausd93 said:

So wasn't the weekend but a few pics we got of the Centurion yesterday in and around Letchworth State Park.

 

So, I can't believe that I've never been there...  Beautiful pictures!  I think it's time for a road trip with Goldie...  ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out for two rides today. In the morning I drove the Roadmaster about 25 miles and after lunch took out the Special for a ride around the reservoir. Yes the dog was on the second ride as always. Saw more than 30 antiques on  my rides today leaf peeping. That brought a smile to my face 😃 

Hope you are all out there enjoying your cars too!

D4BC281D-86E0-4029-8A85-3E387D733D69.jpeg

662308E5-02CE-4B59-8EF5-4B0FC866FC53.jpeg

353DB5AF-F4BC-4D1B-B0AC-23CD5F0EB2FF.jpeg

8BBEA3B3-D280-4239-AAEF-4DC6854EE5E9.jpeg

5098A38E-D36E-4A9C-B640-6539B56398B0.jpeg

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Spent my birthday Saturday at a BOPC Car Show with the love and joy of my life. About 200 miles round trip. Other than a leaky power steering pump she performed great.

 

15BD7965-F66D-42B2-ACF7-A12FE0D0E9ED.thumb.jpeg.f91e189b4966e346d50855a33911efd8.jpeg
 

 

oh and Rita was there two

 

FC0938DF-0661-4752-B6CF-33A5422C0808.thumb.jpeg.d149ce728524733e1871db226b350536.jpeg

 

Spent a day and a half cleaning the Wagon from top to bottom and was so sore I had trouble getting out of the chair at the BOPC show. I wasn't expecting to win anything and so wasn't a bit disappointed when I didn't. After all, this was, believe it or not, my first time entering a car into a show and was only done after being prodded and encouraged to do so by Bruce Kile. In the end however I took home a trophy I'll always cherish above any that I might ever truly win. At the end of the awards, Char Kile walked up and and presented me with the award she had won for their Skylark saying, we've got shelves full of these and want to give this to you as a reward for your first entered car show. It almost brought tears to my eyes.I cast social distancing aside for the moment and got this shot with this sweet lady. If some of you don't know Bruce and Char, even at 82 years old,  I consider them to be the greatest champions of the BCA ever. 
 

CB1C3115-50D2-44ED-A198-F4148309E709.thumb.jpeg.812cbaaf509c2986d07de4c41e24fabb.jpeg

 

I was also presented another gift from a complete stranger,  Wynn Guthrie as gratitude for posting the articles in the Bugle “MrEarls What's Happening on the Forums”. I continue to be surprised when recognized at events by strangers as MrEarl and told how much they use to enjoy those articles. 
7C1B3C45-24E6-4813-93C9-AE601023D6BB.thumb.jpeg.c9410639213813c57931a444a97d5f7e.jpeg

 

some of my favs of the day 

 

0E866353-5DA8-4493-B76C-96115A5ABDD9.thumb.jpeg.598578559dbaa4986a4795ea7c2eeb63.jpeg

 

F5E79642-FDF2-4423-803C-79E1F3D7CB76.thumb.jpeg.806a5b3adc95ac8bd5f1871095680a3b.jpeg
 

E09C6C9F-C373-4E26-9D24-E73298D71D2A.jpeg.44a7a4e896bd88698a1eefb7aa088166.jpeg

 

665C734C-9E4D-4A21-81E3-4F937A1BFDF4.jpeg.3a5acb33b160f74d584890b0d9279d80.jpeg

 

033BC88B-B98C-4036-BE97-7E34C7F6521E.jpeg.42e78d22f4f713b50ea02f7c47d5c02a.jpeg

 

8DA08C7A-273A-443F-9CE8-8A45886CBF64.jpeg.62fbaebbf05dfadc5ac281e04ee34077.jpeg

 

5FFBEB6F-4BB9-4685-A9A0-355C04EA8D70.jpeg.7e9e57986a66de4ed16c9d028d7dd804.jpeg

 

 

Edited by MrEarl (see edit history)
  • Like 15
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Happy Birthday Lamar!  Glad you had a Buickful day!  
 

I make several runs a week with the 47’.  Usually make the same route which takes an 1:15 a 1:30.  Made another run Saturday with my brother in his 1940 LaSalle out to the BBQ joint. Hard to believe we work together and probably spend less time together as brothers than I see my sister who lives in Missouri.

 

Has gotten much better since he bought his LaSalle this year.

 

 

25A164D2-AE73-47CC-A33B-793451263765.jpeg

BEE6306D-D0E7-477D-81B9-59353FF99609.jpeg

  • Like 5
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I got my unrestored '49 Super out last week and drove it to the cemetery for the burial of a long-time member of the local Bonham, Texas antique car club. I was the only car club member there, so glad I went. It was a beautiful autumn day. 56,000 miles on the Super, original paint & chrome still intact. Runs great.

IMG_9394.JPG

  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pete, what a wonderful car! I took my original '49 Super 51 out to my storage location yesterday, about a half-hour away, and swapped it out with David Corbin's '39 Roadmaster 81. Both are great cars! So different, though, in their personalities. Here's a photo of the '39 Roadmaster near Franklin High School in Portland that I shot yesterday. It is similar to the photo of my '49 Super that appeared in the October 2020 Buick Bugle.  Bob

IMG_20201017_172806430_HDR.jpg

Edited by BuickBob49 (see edit history)
  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been using the Skylark as my weekend daily driver for more than a month now and I enjoy it more each time I drive it. It got a good workout this weekend with more than five hours of total driving time. One of my sons and I went upstate NY to check out a '64 Ford pickup that unfortunately didn't pass muster. I've been looking for a vintage pickup for more than five years and haven't been able to find anything reasonably close to NNJ to suit me. But that's a whole other story.

 

Yesterday my wife and I took a drive to have lunch in a small town in Orange County before continuing north up to Ulster County to visit another of our sons who lives up that way. Unfortunately no pics because the congestion around the parks and lookouts was unlike anything I had ever seen before during Leaf Peeper season. There was nowhere to stop for photos yesterday except perhaps at a gas station or convenience store. Not looking forward to road salt season when I will force the Skylark back into hibernation.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had my '60 Electra out and put it up on the Kwik Lift when I got home for some underneath work. I posted this picture on the Facebook 1960 Buick site.

008.thumb.JPG.9c7bb4300f2178dc74f51af22589bc82.JPG

 

I have a broken muffler hanger to repair and an annual oil change to do. There is also a torque ball seal sitting on the workbench that needs to be installed. I will look that job over but there will surely be more good days for driving so it is only a temporary elevation.

Edited by 60FlatTop (see edit history)
  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lovely weather, calm, sun and 60F, we took the opportunity to drive our 1939 Century sedan for a 20 mile route.  Stopped at the orchards for a bushel of apples, umm good eating.

 

I am planning to renew our woodgrain parts this winter, some glass is delaminating and will be replaced and a vent window winder is stripped.  I think I am disciplined enough to hold the line and not become a total restoration.

 

Regards, Gary

 

 

DSC_4405 (2).JPG

  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Glad you are getting her our Gary!

She sure looks good.

I hope to copy some of your pictures to my I Pad and show Fred how it is doing.

I've mentioned before I'm sure at one time he owned that car but have not been in contact for quite awhile.

Happy motoring.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Took Red Dawn on a nice 62 mile drive to todays BOPC car show in Auburndale Florida. Show was well attended (approx 165 Cars) I was honored to receive one of the awards. However the fun just really got going on the drive home from the show. Somehow my trailing arm on the modified open driveline broke its weld. Lets just say my pucker factor really went into overdrive. I am uninjured, the car is in the garage, now I need to look into getting the torque tube eliminator kit. Anyone know somebody that has used the kit on a 56 Special? I will post some other Buick pics from todays show, file size limits and all.

56 special Aburndale.jpg

56 Roadmaster Auburndale.jpg

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Aqua Zephyr in downtown Creedmoor, NC for a civil rights documentary film shoot. 

This was a 192 mile round trip for the ol' girl. 

@NC-car-guyhad his 1957 Special there also. 

_MAS0009.thumb.JPG.50fd0bd4f7705b42641608f811a12633.JPG

 

_MAS9942.thumb.JPG.058689bebfe9ef9732a417e34f3bf476.JPG

 

_MAS0089.thumb.JPG.35766cca6f4e1f88c5e6e91b1ac23073.JPG

Edited by NC1968Riviera (see edit history)
  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mike: It was supposed to be in the 70s... but the weatherman was off. The high crept up into the lower 60s and mostly overcast. Wife Joan was bundled up as the back seat passenger.DSCF8369.thumb.JPG.12e7968c6a2a0e972129da9c690c8a9f.JPG

Assortment of the cars on tour.

DSCF8367.thumb.JPG.188b09fccd82fb7b15820a953817909d.JPG

It seemed warmer in the morning and got cooler as the day progressed.

DSCF8368.thumb.JPG.522b62930117a2220cc809dfd9878a15.JPG

Following a 1927 Chrysler.

DSCF8372.thumb.JPG.383f88c73de9bb1224a8aa67024c8f94.JPG

DSCF8379.thumb.JPG.95df6c5d0697c3d928e6c11f8eab2359.JPG

 Stretching our legs at the Gambrill park overlook. Wife Joan and Buick Buddy Dave

on the right.

Edited by dibarlaw
Added content (see edit history)
  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bit of a late post as this run was back in September. Run to historic town of York about 80 miles from here. First organised run since Covid so had a great turnout. About 900 vehicles of all types including 5 Buick's from our club.

Eldest daughter's first drive in the Park Avenue. Grand-daughter enjoyed it too. Please disregard the state of the steering wheel!

Phone Oct 2020 008.jpg

Phone Oct 2020 014.jpg

Phone Oct 2020 016.jpg

Phone Oct 2020 017.jpg

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Den41Buick still a great picture!   We had a dusting being just west of Albany, NY but the main road to my neighbor

neighborhood was salted by the State DOT, which sorta means the driving season here is stopped. And it was freezing ladt nite and is cold tonite but I did move the car to the back yard for some distance from unfriendly trick or treaters. 

 

20201031_154954.jpg

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/26/2020 at 11:24 AM, dibarlaw said:

Mike: It was supposed to be in the 70s... but the weatherman was off. The high crept up into the lower 60s and mostly overcast. Wife Joan was bundled up as the back seat passenger.DSCF8369.thumb.JPG.12e7968c6a2a0e972129da9c690c8a9f.JPG

Assortment of the cars on tour.

DSCF8367.thumb.JPG.188b09fccd82fb7b15820a953817909d.JPG

It seemed warmer in the morning and got cooler as the day progressed.

DSCF8368.thumb.JPG.522b62930117a2220cc809dfd9878a15.JPG

Following a 1927 Chrysler.

DSCF8372.thumb.JPG.383f88c73de9bb1224a8aa67024c8f94.JPG

DSCF8379.thumb.JPG.95df6c5d0697c3d928e6c11f8eab2359.JPG

 Stretching our legs at the Gambrill park overlook. Wife Joan and Buick Buddy Dave

on the right.

What is the light green car ?

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi all,

 

The weather here of late has been rather rainy with little opportunity to get out for a drive in the '36. I managed to get a weeks leave for the first time since last December so spent the time fiddling about with the Buick, completing projects I had been planning for some time. Today was a short reprieve from the rain and a good chance for a 40 mile drive with a stop for a fish and chip lunch by the sea. Hope you are all doing well out there, Cheers Paul 

20201106_142930.jpg

  • Like 5
  • Thanks 1
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...