SOLD - 1934 BUICK SEDAN - with SIDEMOUNTS and TRUNK

[Marty Roth]

I believe the time may have come for me to allow our restored 1934 Buick to find a new home.

 

Please feel free to share, print, or forward my comments and photos with anyone who you believe may be interested in our 1934 Buick, and would be a proper caretaker.

 

The 1934 Buick was purchased new by a Central Valley California preacher who kept the car in immaculate condition. He had the Buick painted and upholstered in 1970 for his son who decided against the gift. The Buick was sold to Lyle Pierson of Colorado Springs, CO in 1970. Mr. Pierson maintained the 1934 among his many other Buicks, and drove it on the Sunday "Garden of the Gods" 1990 Glidden Tour which is when I met him and first saw this car. I had previously rejected more than a dozen 1934-1935 Buicks because of their wood rot, poorly-hanging doors, rust, mechanical condition, or other very expensive repair items. This car was in immaculate condition, and had always been maintained as a dependable, and beautiful driver. To the best of my knowledge, this car has always been garaged since new.

 

After several more years of searching for the "RIGHT" car like Mr. Pierson's, and not ever finding a really good one, Lyle phoned me in July of 1995, advising that, as a function of his advancing age, he was reducing his collection. I bought it over the phone, and trailered the 1934 Buick home to the New Orleans area. My family enjoyed it as an extremely presentable "Tour-Driver" for eleven years from August 1995 through August 2006. At that time, having just completed two successive weeks of touring throughout Iowa and Illinois, we temporarily left the Buick with a friend in Pennsylvania who owns a restoration business, and who had completed work on another car for me. I asked him to address a couple of minor maintenance items while storing the Buick for me, which he did. He subsequently mentioned to me just what a great car my 1934 Buick was: that there was no evidence that the car had ever been abused, that there apparently had absolutely never been any wood rot, that there had never been the first flake of rust, nor had there ever been any rust repair, and that there had never been any need for body repair, other than a repair to a front fender many years earlier (perhaps when the car was nearly-new). The doors close solid and easily - like a "Bank Vault".

 

Following the suggestion of the restoration specialist, we decided that the car deserved a full "proper" restoration. The engine and complete driveline have been restored with internal upgrades (such as balancing, aluminum pistons, insert bearings, hardened valve seats, improved oiling, etc.) and operate flawlessly, as do the steering, suspension, and brakes. This particular model was delivered from Buick with a vacuum-assisted power brake booster which is also fully operational. Doors, fenders, front clip, and all removable items were unbolted, giving full access to the bare shell.

 

The body was given a full restoration, and was repainted in the original shade of blue, with a slightly darker shade of blue highlighting the beading/edge areas, reassembled, and received proper pin-stripe in cream to match the color of the beautiful steel-spoke wheels, including the covered side-mount spare tires mounted in the front fenders. The Buick factory-option metal trunk is mounted on the trunk rack, and is a very rare option, as is the factory radio which was also restored and is fully operational, internally modified to offer AM/FM, and with hidden external leads for CD and iPod). Chromed items were redone as required, including goddess, head and tail lights, trumpet horns, grilles, bumpers, guards and end caps, etc.

 

The interior was fully and properly restored and reupholstered including new springs and padding to flawless appearance and comfort. All new safety glass is installed, as well as all new rubber parts and gaskets. Restoration took place between August, 2006 and May 2011.

 

Driving this 1934 Buick Model 57 is like driving a modern car. Steering is light and easy - brakes are firm and positive. It is a pleasure to drive ( even nicer than our 1941 Cadillac convertible ). So many cars of this era are a chore to drive any real distance, and I was previously advised to look for a '34/'35 Buick since the "new" independent front suspension made driving a pleasure, especially when compared even to the prior year Buicks and full classics of the era. I whole-heartedly agree with this assessment.

 

The Buick was first shown at the AACA Eastern spring Meet at Stowe, VT in May of 2011 where it received its highest possible recognition at that time - First Place Junior.

The Buick was next shown at the AACA Fall Meet at Bristol, TN, September of 2011, and again received its then highest possible award - AACA Senior.

Per AACA rules, it was eligible during a subsequent year to be shown at an Annual Grand Nation Meet (AGNM), held only once each year, and was shown at the Dual Meet in Shelbyville, TN where it was awarded First Preservation, Grand National First Place, and Repeat Preservation Awards.

The Buick was next shown June 29, 2013 at the AACA Annual Grand Nation Meet  (AGNM) at Moline, Illinois where she was recognized as Senior Grand National (requires prior First Place Grand National in a prior year).

 

In short, this wonderful Buick has won every possible award for which she has been presented, but differing from so many show-cars, she is also a fantastic "Driver" as well, intentionally-so !

 

It was never our intent to sell this car, and restoration costs ($85-90,000) far exceed the insured value of $60,000, agreed to by J.C. Taylor three years ago (and probably should have been increased by now). We know that the cost to restore a car of this type (even if you could find one as straight and solid) would far exceed our insured $60,000 value, and believe this would be a fair price to ask for an exemplary offering, such as our Buick.

 

Of course I'm open to a reasonable offer.

 

As is the case with other collectors, we have more toys than we should, have moved to smaller retirement quarters, and have lost storage space. As a result, we are reducing our collection, offering this 1934 Buick (and potentially our 1970 Cadillac convertible). As a result, we are open to reasonable offers upon assurance that the Buick would be going to a good home where she would be respected and properly maintained, driven and possibly even shown.

 

EXTRA NOTE: The Buick was also upgraded by the addition of a Borg-Warner 30% overdrive by Lloyd Young of Canal-Winchester, Ohio. As a result, the 4.88:1 final-drive ratio can become a comfortable highway-cruising ratio of 3.42:1 upon demand, or can be used as original for hill climbing and descent. Utilizing the overdrive on both 2nd and 3rd gears with Lloyd Young in the car, I've even driven the big Buick as a 5-speed, although this would not be a normal mode of operation.

 

*** Several hard-to-find spare parts will be separately available, including two (2) disassembled engines with heads, crankshafts, and all internal components; complete steering column and steering wheel; one (possibly two) complete rear-ends with torque tube; other miscellaneous parts

 

Thank you for your help in finding this great car a new home.

 

Garaged in the greater New Orleans, Louisiana area, this Buick is capable of driving cross-country comfortably at highway speeds. You may click on my name (above-left) to send me an email or to PM me through the FORUM. You may also phone me at Five Zero Four Four Five Two One Nine Five Five - Central time.

Edited August 19, 2015 by Marty Roth (see edit history)

[Marty Roth]

We expect to show our '34 Buick at the AACA 80th Anniversary Meet in Louisville, Kentucky next month. If you are interested, that may be a closer location for you to actually see this car.

[chuckfmtexas]

Marty the 34 is a beautiful car and my wife and I can relate on how the restoration got done and the end result.  I just wish we had spent what you did instead of the higher amount it took us to bring back the 1932 67S.  It was a complete car but did not have the TLC yours did and sat lonely, damp, and neglected for 40+? years in a leaking warehouse in Connecticut.  We too have gone the AACA awards route and enjoyed meeting all the great people and seeing the wonderful cars.

 

If we did not have the 32 I would probably be longing for your 34;

 

All the best,

Chuck Nixon

 

 

Edited June 18, 2015 by chuckfmtexas (see edit history)

[Marty Roth]

Chuck, thank you for your kind comments. Yours is also an exceptional Buick - and I agree - it is the people who make the hobby !

[Guest my3buicks]

_{This 34 is just stunning - I was going to go to Louisville, would have loved to see it in person.}

[Marty Roth]

We expect to be at Louisville for the 80th AACA Anniversary, and will be showing the 1934 Buick for Repeat Preservation.

 

She was awarded Senior Grand National when last shown.

[Marty Roth]

Look for me and this Buick at the Louisville AACA Meet this FridayAfternoon & Saturday in Class 20-C  !!!

Edited July 14, 2015 by Marty Roth (see edit history)

[Marty Roth]

At Louisville the '34 was awarded another "Repeat Preservation" - lots of interest and many complements, but still available to the right home.

[my31buick]

If I had the $ I would give it a loving home. she is a beauty.

[Marty Roth]

I can be somewhat flexible on the price - to the "right" home 

[my31buick]

Dear Jesus, I know that I can survive without this car. But I would really like the cash to buy it. And O how the elderly men at church will smile from ear to ear taking a ride in this chariot.... ( :

[Marty Roth]

SOLD...

 

The 1934 Buick is SOLD, and has found a new home.

 

Thanks to all for your considerate and informed comments,

 

Marty

[Marty Roth]

The 1934 Buick is in Durango, Colorado this weekend, and is leaving with her new caretaker, a long-time Buick guy and AACA member in Nevada

 

In the photo, from the right are:

 

me,

 

Lyle Pearson of Colorado Springs, from whom I received the Buick in 1995,

 

and Vic Belosic, the Buick's newest caretaker, whose hand on the fender signifies his appreciation of her.

 

How often do you see three "generations" of appreciation for one of our cars?

 

Lyle got the Buick in the 1970s, passed her to me in 1995, and here we are passing her to Vic in 2015.

 

I had no idea that Lyle would be here on the VMCCA Western National Tour in Ignacio / Durango, Colorado, and Lyle didn't know that "his" Buick would be here.

 

[my31buick]

That is amazing. She is definitely a stunning beauty. Take good care of her Vic as I would love to own her some day. Thanks for sharing her story with us Marty.

Edited August 18, 2015 by my31buick (see edit history)

[Marty Roth]

Hopefully I'll get a chance to record the transition and to get a note into the "BUGLE".

 

Thanks again for all of the supportive comments. You all are an amazing group and I'm proud to be a part of BCA and the Pre-War Group.

[Mark Shaw]

Congratulations Marty!  Apparently, you found another good care taker....