In the midst of a full frame off restoration. This is my 3rd Buick restoation, the goal has been to do a convertible from every century. I certainly wish I had the room and resources to keep them all.
this is my latest project which came from an estate sale. The prevoius owner had been picking away at the restoration for about 15 or so years. Much of the plating had been beutifully done as well as the dash woodgraining. I started this in late Jan of 2006.

Attached is a picture of the day I brought the car home followed by many more up to it's current state.

stripping down the body

Body off the frame ready and waiting for the rotiseere.

Body mounted to the rotiseere and off to the sand blaster.

All blasted and at the body shop for prep and paint.

A shot of the bottom after blasting. This car is unbeleivable, almost rust free!

Now while the body and paint is under way, I move onto the chassis and running gear. Everything gets stripped, restored or replaced.

Here is the chassis all completed, i think I have lost several pictures as I cannot find the shots of the chassis after being blasted and during installation of all the drive train components. Trust me, everything has been done, at least once!

Brought the body home today. I had to rent one of those storage lockers to store all of the other sheet metal panels and then bring them home as I need them. this keeps accidents from happening.

Got the radiator temporarily mounted so I could test run the engine, all seems to be fine for now!

Very nice. I have a different type of car skate - they're the greatest things since sliced bread. Looking forward to the end of the story.

Now to get the body back onto the frame, really quite simple.

There, all landed and secure, now onto the doors etc.

I have skipped (lost) about three months of photos, but as you can see it is taking shape.

Time to get the dash installed and start installing the new wiring harness. The woodgraining was already complete when I purchased the car, what a beautifull job!

Current picture, interior and top all done, need to sort out a few engine problems and then finish installing the front clip.

Here is a before and after pic of my last project. Boy I wish I could have kept this, what a looker she was!

And the after pic, another total frame off restoration shown with my proud son.

Pic of my first project. Unfortunatley I did not have a digital camera at the beginning. This car is for sale by the current owner, it has been on ebay and is now in Hemmings. Real pretty car.

Glenn:
Terriffic post. Love to see projects before, during, and after restoration. That bottom shot on the rotissorie will be invaluable to others trying to restore a rotted floor. The 38 40C is a particular favorite (along with a 39 41C) of mine. Thanks for taking the time to document and post these pics. Please post more as you finish the details.

I agree -- fantastic restoration of a very impressive Buick. I'll be thrilled to see the final project. Thanks for sharing all the great photos.

Picture showing this past weekends progress. Both fenders mounted and secure, reworked brackets for the dual side mounts, installed stainless molding on headlamps, assembled parking lamps, installed and wired, all works OK.

Glenn
How about doing a story for Antique Automobile? (AACA)... when you're finished.

Lots of progress over the Christmas Holiday

oooooh man....i hate you. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> just kidding nice job!!! every time i see a 37/38 with those Trippe lights (and a LOT of em have em) i want them so bad! they add a lot to the look of the front of the car. but i saw ONE once on ebay and i think it was between $100 and $200!!!! no thanks! someday when i can spend that kinda money on extra headlights <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

although its funny, for my 1987 cougar, a set of new OEM headlights (yup ford's still churning them out to some degree) its $500......