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#488476 - 02/19/08 02:02 PM 1953 Buick Super 8 Convertible
BillMadden Offline
Member

Registered: 07/25/06
Posts: 30
Loc: Alpine, California
In 1956 I purchased a 1953 Buick Super convertible. This car was Osage Cream with red leather interior, black top, and Selectronic radio with the foot switch on the floor. This was the car that brought me to the San Diego area in December of 1956.
In May, 2006, while dreaming of a 1953 Skylark, and browsing eBay, I discovered a 1953 Buick Super convertible for sale. This was a one family owned car that had been driven by the father, passed down to his son, and ultimately kept in a car museum near Johnstown, PA. There was a major event that affected the condition of this car. Due to more than usual snowfall, the roof of the museum had collapsed onto about 60 cars including the Buick. The owner had become disenchanted with trying to get it restored and decided to sell it. Since the ad for the car featured only one picture of it before the accident, and they referred to it as a possible 'parts car', no one bid on it. After considerable investigation I decided to purchase it. When it arrived in Alpine I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be a very complete and restorable car.

Although I had restored a couple vintage Corvettes, I really had no idea what I was getting in to. The car had never been fully restored. It had received new paint at one time but otherwise simply maintained. And with the snow having melted in and on the car from the cave in, there was considerable surface rust everywhere. "Surface rust but NO rust through".

The project has sort of 'evolved'. As I disassembled and restored each part I began to envision a higher and higher quality of end result. And as more money is invested, more is demanded. Anyway, now I am in the reassembly phase and really having even more fun than I had during the early stages.

Here are some pictures of my unfinished (2008) 1953 Buick Super 8, Osage Cream with red leather, convertible.....


Attachments
1953 Buick Super convertible.jpg(241 downloads)
Description: Pictured about 1993, before roof fell on it...

53 out of the truck.jpg(237 downloads)
Description: Coming off the transporter in Alpine, CA

Buick 8-29-2007 008.jpg(232 downloads)
Description: Ready for paint....

1953 Buick 56C 004.jpg(228 downloads)
Description: Pretty 'yellow' dress....

Buick engine 015.jpg(236 downloads)
Description: Engine/tranny/accessories....




Edited by BillMadden (02/19/08 02:17 PM)

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#488498 - 02/19/08 03:19 PM Re: 1953 Buick Super 8 Convertible [Re: BillMadden]
my3buicks Offline
Member

Registered: 11/12/99
Posts: 2496
Loc: Mars Pa USA
Bill, It's looking great!!! As I have told you before, I useed to see this car at the Clearfield, PA AACA Chapters car show each year, circa 1981 and up until it's sad demise. I loved this car. One year my 53 Super (not mine yet then) and it sat side by side at that show. I am so happy to see it being brought back to life.
_________________________
Keith Bleakney
Club affiliations: Lambda Car Club International , AACA, BCA #11475
1967(3517) Special Deluxe Hardtop AACA/BCA Sr
1972(46667)Centurion Convertible
2004 Rendezvous CXL
We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty, and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors. But they all have to live in the same box.

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#489120 - 02/21/08 10:20 PM Re: 1953 Buick Super 8 Convertible [Re: my3buicks]
Liliana Offline
New Member

Registered: 02/21/08
Posts: 1
Hey Dad, the Buick is looking awesome. You rock!


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#489129 - 02/21/08 10:58 PM Re: 1953 Buick Super 8 Convertible [Re: BillMadden]
JohnD1956 Offline
Member

Registered: 03/29/03
Posts: 2449
Loc: New York
You are so lucky to have this convertible. It is really coming out beautiful. I loved the pictures without the rear fender though. How nice is that to be able to put it together like that.

Good luck, and please update the pics as you go along. That is so much fun to watch.

JD
_________________________
John C. De Fiore BCA # 3757

56 Super 56R
69 GS 400 Convertible
69 Electra Limited 2 dr.( well, no longer limited although still unique)
95 Riviera Supercharged (sold)
06 Lacrosse CXL

Doing my part to stimulate the economy!

Member of the UPSTATE NY CHAPTER
check it out at
http://unybca.skyphix.com/

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#494451 - 03/14/08 07:48 AM Re: 1953 Buick Super 8 Convertible [Re: BillMadden]
53Nailhead Offline
Member

Registered: 12/10/04
Posts: 231
Loc: Stittsville, Ontario CDA
Very, Very Nice, Bill. As always a pleasure talking with you. After seeing your work I'm thinking I'm going to have to start some serious work to get mine 'up to par'
Les
_________________________
53 Super 56R running
53 Super 56R not running

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#494456 - 03/14/08 07:56 AM Re: 1953 Buick Super 8 Convertible [Re: 53Nailhead]
alex ligotti Offline
Member

Registered: 03/13/08
Posts: 18
spectacular for me !!! the buick of this year is magic!!!

53NAILHEAD DO YOU HAVE 53???BUICK???


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#506705 - 05/01/08 09:10 PM Re: 1953 Buick Super 8 Convertible [Re: BillMadden]
BillMadden Offline
Member

Registered: 07/25/06
Posts: 30
Loc: Alpine, California
Adding a photo of dash


Attachments
1953 Buick 061.jpg(236 downloads)
Description: Update

Restored dash.jpg(228 downloads)



Edited by BillMadden (05/14/08 05:31 AM)
Edit Reason: Add photo

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#515467 - 06/08/08 11:26 AM Re: 1953 Buick Super 8 Convertible [Re: BillMadden]
BillMadden Offline
Member

Registered: 07/25/06
Posts: 30
Loc: Alpine, California
A little more progress.......


Attachments
Buick detail 005.jpg(230 downloads)
Buick detail 006.jpg(219 downloads)
Description: Installing new wiring...reinstalling hydraulic plumbing

Buick detail 009.jpg(228 downloads)
Buick detail 026.jpg(220 downloads)
Description: Firewall insulator installed.




Edited by BillMadden (06/13/08 08:24 PM)
Edit Reason: Added pix of firewall insulator

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#515474 - 06/08/08 12:24 PM Re: 1953 Buick Super 8 Convertible [Re: BillMadden]
MrEarl Online
Long Time Member

Registered: 07/14/03
Posts: 3680
Loc: NE Georgia
I am always in awe of your progress and how neatly you do the work. Hope to see meet you and see the car in person someday.
_________________________
Lamar in Athens, Georgia
BCA- 39474, 1959 BDBCA-0021, AACA-228846



1954 BUICK "The Beautiful Buy"

1954 Roadmaster 76R, 2 DR HT - DoraB, (Irene,gone down under)
1954 Roadmaster 72R 4 DR - Buttercup, Dakota, Blue Belle, Virginia, Marietta, "High Society" (thank you Paul Meyer)
1954 Century 66R 2 DR HT- "54Muscle" w/3 speed stick(thank you Jim Schilf & Norm Kortus), Mary Jane Verkauft bis ein, wer 54 Buicks in Deutschland liebt, dankt Freund
1954 Special 41D 4 DR Deluxe Sedan 3 speed- Sugar Magnolia

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#515542 - 06/08/08 06:42 PM Re: 1953 Buick Super 8 Convertible [Re: MrEarl]
BillMadden Offline
Member

Registered: 07/25/06
Posts: 30
Loc: Alpine, California
Lamar, you sweet-talker you. You really know how to give a guy a boost. Thanks alot!
Bill

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#516780 - 06/13/08 09:47 PM Re: 1953 Buick Super 8 Convertible [Re: BillMadden]
serb Offline
Member

Registered: 02/11/05
Posts: 778
Loc: Lockport, NY (Buffalo/Niagara...
Bill,

Everytime you post the pictures of your progress I want one just like it!

Keep up the great work.

Stevo
_________________________
1983 Riviera Convertible:
1946 Super 4 Door Sedan

ROA:
BCA:
Niagara Frontier Chapter BCA,
Upstate NY Chapter BCA,
Buicktown Chapter BCA,
BDE BCA,
PWD BCA,
AACA:
Lake Erie Region AACA

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#518480 - 06/22/08 11:52 AM Re: 1953 Buick Super 8 Convertible [Re: BillMadden]
BillMadden Offline
Member

Registered: 07/25/06
Posts: 30
Loc: Alpine, California
Dash back in car. Can hardly wait to hook up all those wires!!


Attachments
Dash installed 006.jpg(191 downloads)
Description: Dash installed.

Dash installed 003.jpg(184 downloads)
Description: Dash installed...

Dash installed 008.jpg(186 downloads)
Description: Nice steering wheel..



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