Buffalowed Bill

Thanks for sharing! I have been going to the yard, and have known Jim for forty years. There are cars in the yard that I took parts from thirty five years ago. Cars are still in the same place, sans a few more parts and a little more surface rust, but overall they have not changed much. No better way to spend an afternoon then walk around the yard. The yard is personal extension of it's owner, and they just don't get any better then Jim! People come and people go, but things never change at Jim's "Vintage Automotive!" I hope that it lasts forever!

All Post War Studebakers through 1960 or 61.

One of my friends, in his mid-30s, bought a Ford truck of perhaps the mid-70s. He told me the high beams didn't work. "Did you hit the switch?" I asked. It turns out he'd never seen a floor switch... he was so amazed he made a point of telling his best friend where the dimmer switch was - he'd never seen a floor switch either. Just the opposite experience for me. 1969 while in my second and last stint in college I occasionally drove cars for an auto auction company. We were to transport a bunch of Hawaii driven, two year old Datsuns from the dock in Longview Wa back to Seattle, where they were to be sold. I guess the distance was about 120 mi. It was after dark when we got down to Longview, so we would need the headlights all the way back to Seattle. The cars were about two years old at the time, and few Japanese cars had made their presence felt, even on the West Coast. What a bunch of junk! Already rusted out, several with a rod knocking. The second car that I got in seemed like it would make the trip, so I headed out. It was obvious from the red light on the dash that the high beams were on, but for the life of me I couldn't find the floor mounted dimmer switch. I must have stomped on the floor where I thought the switch should have been about two dozen times, of course no luck! Drove the whole 120mi. with highs on, being regularly flashed by oncoming drivers. That was my introduction to the early Japanese junk, what the humid Hawaii environment could do to a car, and the new dimmer technology. I learned a lot that evening! I remember thinking that the steering mounted dimmer was a bad idea and would never get off the ground in the US.

Thank you gentlemen, the consensus is as I expected. I am sure that this happens all the time and that's why she wanted me to ask. This is far from the worst that has happened to me in my many years in the hobby, but for her this is something new. Unfortunately when she runs out of patience, Ebay and the car becoming someone's street rod project may seem to be her only option. Matt twelve cars in a month in a buyers market, WOW! You have found the formula that really works for you.

My lady who's a car person has been asking me if I posed this question to the forum about her car deal that had gone bad. I'm still not sure if this is appropriate, but she persists in asking! She has had for sale a 1946 Studebaker Champion business coupe, for some time. It's a decent, mostly rust free original 60K mile car Northwest car, 100% complete and running, maybe ten exist. Not trying to sell it here, just setting the table. She got a call from an excited gentleman from NY. His first car was a 1946 coupe, which he drove through his college years. He was new to the old car world but his research had told him that his dream of finding and owning his boyhood car was remote. Contact made, pictures sent, he was jazzed wanted the car. The check was in the mail, he would arrange for shipping. That was two Fridays ago, the next day she got a call from the gentleman. He had taken pictures to his restorer and it was "going to cost more then he wanted to spend". He stopped payment on the check end of story for him, or is it, or should it be? She asked me to include the $5000 agreed price, why it makes a difference I don't know. We have the check and an enclosed note of acceptance. In my world a deal is a deal, a handshake enough to seal the transaction. Checked with a few trusted old car friends and they agree. As far as I am concerned there are both legal and moral imperatives involved. I talked to an attorney friend who indicated that the buyer could be held responsible for damages or extra incurred costs, but unless there is need for transport and future storage I don't know what they would be. I doubt that she would follow through anyway, so mostly hypothetical. Are my friends and I really out of touch with today's reality? What do others think about the legal and moral obligations regarding this?

Gary, Have you found what you have been looking for? If I remember correctly someone on the Unofficial Studebaker swap page was advertising a 1934 President trans. Would that work?-Bill

For the first restoration buy the best car that you can afford. Try to do the best job that you can to evaluate each mechanical system, structural, cosmetic, and interior feature, so that you know what you will need to do. Most importantly do not tear the whole car apart! Work on one component at a time, In fact the process is referred to as a "component restoration." This is the best way to keep from falling into the trap of creating the dreaded "basket case." More often then not a basket case turns into a parts car.

Thanks CoolJ for saying that I get it. Many outside the old car fraternity, maybe inside too, think me clueless. Not a graphics guy, but if I were I think that I would want the message to be universally understood, "Mr. Period" seems a little vague to me. I like the second one better, but it is really your choice. I like the Magnum concept very much, always wondered why it didn't sell better. If it's a Hemi the name "Red Ram," jumper out at me. Only you can judge the car's character and the statement you want to help it make. Sometimes it takes a good length of time to learn to get to know the car, name can always be changed but not if you have the name written on the car!

Bernie, But what if you had seventeen Studebakers? You couldn't just refer to the Studebaker. Or if you had three 1955 Studebakers, now you have to either describe which one you're talking about or just name them. For instance black and whit 1955 President Speedster, or just "Oreo," which is easier? The car was named by my six yo niece, who is now forty five. Examples: 1931 President 80R "Four Seasons Roadster"-"Red Rooster" name similarity, red, and the cock of the walk in my collection. 1937 President coupe- "Charlotte A the coupe" named after my mother. 1960 Lark wagon-"Humphrey," The sir name of the 97 yo woman from who's garage it came after 38 years of storage. Beautiful original car great storage and the name really fit. Much more to the story! 1937 President (color black) four door-"Elliott" 1996 Ford T-Bird (black with ground effects) "Tubby the T-Bird"

Most of my lady friends and my thirty+ cars have names. It personalizes what some see as cold and inanimate, it adds personality, or uses the car's own personality to fit the name. Sometimes I use the name of the person from whom I got the car. I think of it as a way to honor that individual. Sometimes I use the unique way that the car looks or acts. Other times the car has come with a name, and if it seems to work for the car, the name sticks. It's better yet, if the name can be thought of as having a double meaning. Everyone loves a story, and every car has a story. Using the name as part of the story helps give the story a more personal touch. I doubt that I will ever use graphics on the car, that seems a hotrod thing, and that's not me. I keep my cars a long time, and with so many cars, I find that a name is a shortcut when talking to my lady, or some other friends who know the collection. In fact there are people who I scarcely know who will refer to one of my cars by name. It's a sure way to know that the car is appreciated! Some might see naming a car as a woman's thing, because they seem to like to name things. It may be something that a lady would be more apt to do, but I don't see it as something that a man should be ashamed of. The ladies in my life have always been disposed to naming cars. So if I wanted a name for a special car, I found that I had to act quickly, or risk being stuck with a name that I couldn't stand. If, however, you want your better half to warm up to a car that you have some doubt that she's going to like, I recommend including her in the naming process. Naming and having her help choosing a paint color are the two best ways that I have found to get a lady on board with a car. If you have never named a car, try it you might be surprised at the unanticipated results!

Sadly many car folks will never understand what it's like to own, show and drive something different. At a show and cruise night, I find that there is an arbitrary separation, which almost always takes place. There are the Chevrolet guys and the Ford guys, each of whom busy themselves with their own marques, and pay little attention to anything else. Then there is everyone else. I see it as kind of an alliance, whether by default, or conscious effort, and it exists at almost every event. This is where many of the real car people reside. I find that most of these people, who dare to venture into uncharted territory, are the most interested and often the most interesting to talk with. To me these are the real car people who can teach, and who are interested in learning. Exceptions of course and always dooly noted.

Nice to see you mention Jim Hines. Known Jim for thirty five years, great guy! Jim and his yard are truly locked in a time warp. People come and people go but nothing changes at Jim's yard. Jim is not getting any younger though. I just wonder how many of those great southern Idaho, or Montana yards for that matter, will long survive.

You said in your first post that you are buying. Does that mean that you have already bought the car, if not is any of this palaver helping you with your decision? It seems as though the respondents have been neutral to positive about the car's profile. You are looking at a driver quality car, certainly not a restored concourse winner, or an unmolested original. You could easily double, or triple the price, or more for the last two condition types. I guess that you should know by now whether this is the car for you. Please let us know what you plan to do.

As a Pierce Arrow and a period Studebaker owner, I think that I should speak to the subject. !933-35 PA used the mechanical brakes with mechanical brakes. The unfortunate braking dynamic with the PA was that the slower the car was traveling the less mechanical advantage there was from the assist and thus more peddle pressure was required. In a parade like situation some drivers just used the emergency brake at low speed. In 1936 PA, began using the more commonly used vacuum assisted mechanical braking system. The change was made when PA began using the trans mounted overdrive. It's addition left no room for the their unique Stewart-Warner system on the back of the transmission. This assist system was the same as Studebaker had adopted several years earlier. Studebaker PA used identical mechanical braking systems that Studebaker began using in 1928. PA did use a somewhat greater sweep area, because several hundred pounds of additional weight. You still haven't explained why you are dissatisfied by your brakes performance. These are great brakes and when adjusted properly will lock up all four wheels! I suspect that your problem has the do with the mechanical braking portion and not the assist. You should be able to lock all four wheels even without the vacuum assist. Remember though, the mechanical braking system W/O the power assist will require a great deal more peddle pressure then you may be used to. As a test jack up all four corners of the car and support the car on jack stands. With an assistant to apply the brakes check to see if all four wheels are reacting the same to the foot pleasure. All four brakes must react identically as foot pressure is applied. The kind of lining material that you are using might be a problem. If the newer harder non-asbestos material was used braking may never be as good as you have come to expect.

By no means an expert, but I do own a 1963 and a1965 Riviera. My $.02 worth, it looks like a solid car, and a reasonable price to me. With few exceptions a West Coast car is where you want to be when considering these. As Zimm63 indicated, wherever the car is from the rear window is the place to start. These are often leak prone and allows rainwater leaks into the trunk it can be a major headache! Engine color change may indicate a rebuild, I don't know why anyone would completely paint an engine unless it was out for work. The seats are not original, but only you can decide whether you can be satisfied with them in a driver quality car. Look at the wood on the door panels and the dash pad, they might tell you a great deal on how the car has been stored. It looks to me that they are in good shape, but if they show signs of being dried out and are split it could indicated that the car sat in the sun. If I were you I would buy it, good luck and enjoy the great ride!

You're sure right about the transmission, I had a smaller version of the same thing in a 1963 Cutlass convertible that owned in the late 60's. The car folks jokingly called the trans "jerk-o-matic. In drive trans would slip until the car reached 25-30 MPH then slam into top gear. After a short time they seemed to defy any attempts at normal servicing.

Good advice to try to fine the best car that you can afford. Try to keep an open mind as to make while searching. Try not to fall into the trap of thinking that the car has to be of a particular make or model, and don't overlook the independent car makers of the sixties. AMC and Studebaker made some great cars during this period. Owning one of these can be a totally different experience at a cruise night or car show. They also tend to be a bit less expensive when compared to the "Big Three." Some uninformed car people would have you believe that if you choose an independent you will not be able to find parts. That is simply not the case! There is a dedicated parts network for both AMC and Studebaker comparable to the other more common makes.

In answer to Restorer32's request, Please explain "AACA membership has to understand that the forum is the pulse of a dyeing (sic) segment of the old car hobby". I don't know if substitute troubled for Dyeing would help, maybe not. The segment that I am talking about is dedicated to maintaining and restoring of original cars. I feel that restoring reached it's apex in the early 90's and has been extensively replaced by the restorod, custom and rat rod. There is no other organization that encompasses all makes and years from <25 years. I am 72 yoa when my contemporaries and I are gone there will be frightfully few people who really care about the car the way it was built. Hope this answers your question.-Bill

With regards to Peter Heizmann's comments regarding the inappropriateness of starting this thread saying that starting it was "rather rude," to do so. How else would anyone in a policy making position in the AACA ever get any feedback on what non-members think? There are many more non-members out there then there are AACA members. If the AACA membership would use this type of commentary as a constructive tool, it might be able to make some changes which could translate into some new members. Changes needn't be a counter to any AACA goals. I think that many of us non-members just need to feel that this is a place that we are wanted. Like it or not, AACA membership has to understand that the forum is the pulse of dyeing segment of the old car hobby. It is the defacto mechanism which loosely binds us together. If the AACA ignores this mandate, as a unifying force, I'm afraid that this part of the hobby won't survive long.

I can only speak for myself. As a former AACA member, I found little personal value in being a member. With absolutely no activities north of California, or west of eastern Montana, the fine magazine was all that club membership offered me. I hate to beat a dead horse, but I received only lip service as a substitute for any real national support for helping organize events or stimulate increased NW membership. Ask yourselves if you would continue your membership in this club if the closest event to you was nine hundred miles away, and you had no car friends that were members! There seems to be no real membership committee dedicated to increasing club membership outside of the club membership's geographic comfort areas. Not trying to knock the club, because I always believed that the AACA and other multi-marquee clubs offered the best chance for the survival of the hobby, but nothing for us in the PNW.

I guess passage of time helps with historical perspective, at least until the memory gives out completely! At 72 YOA, I probably have some years on most Riv owners. Just because I don't remember any first gen Rivs with BW's doesn't mean that none were delivered that way. As I recall, the vast majority of cars in the mid 60's were delivered with either WW's or Redline tires. This included Pony cars like Mustang and Camaro and muscle cars like GTO and 442's. When was the last time anyone here has seen WW's on a Camaro! When it came to luxury cars, or personal luxury cars, like the Riv, delivery must have been very close to 100% WW. I happen to like WW's, when they are period correct. I admit to being mildly piqued and mystified by some younger forum members negative attitude toward WW's. Nobody is asking anyone to not use black walls, but I see WW's panned often in other threads on this forum. I remember well the cultural backlash in the early 70's, when the younger generation wanted to distance themselves from their parents by putting their own stamp on their cars. Black walls, and car stance (forward rake) were two of the major methods of making your look "tough." WW's had a forty year run. It ran it's course and has had a thirty five year absence. When we old timers are gone I have little doubt that the memory of WW's will fade away, like the culture of which it was a part. Cut us old timers some slack and don't tread on our memory of the way things were. There will be plenty of time when we are gone to enjoy cars without being offended by having to look at any whitewalls.

www.smsautofabrics.com/ - 12k You won't be disappointed!

Once you find that you can't get what he produces anywhere else, the time that you spend waiting will be time well spent!

At age 72 the panic I feel is that my better half will have to deal with my s... when I am gone!

You don't have to go to the ends of the earth to get one of these. As a matter of fact in my world you can get a whole car with no rust, paint and interior in place and even presentable for less then you could do a cheap paint job!https://seattle.craigslist.org/search/cta?is_paid=all&postedToday=1&search_distance_type=mi&query=volvo+242