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The Buick is a Special model with fender top lamps. It is also an early production car so it may have a short frame or more probably a Buick dealer modified rear frame. I like and have a '39 but the '38's are more desirable. Regards, Gary

Doug is correct, as usual, the Snappers are the pre 1916 touring group with membership in the AACA similar to the Horseless Carriage Club. On pages 80 and 81 of the latest Antique Automobile is an excellent story with photos of the last Lansing to Dearborn Endurance Run (LDR) titled Snapper's Brass and Gas Touring Region. The '07 Darracq in green with red trim was stored at my house for 3 weeks prior to the run, it is a small and tight group of people who appreciate odd mechanical things. I do not know how many different ways to describe the early car hobby like pre '16, brass era, motorized buckboards or Snappers but I have likely used them all trying to keep this writing fresh. I've learned to time my magneto by ear, adjust the fuel mixture by smell and when traveling in a group I keep my eye on the pavement looking for spilled oil drops so I know we are on the tour route. The Snappers were invited to the Pre war tour and show at the Gilmore Museum and these are some of the scenes. Regards, Gary

I do not have a D45 but a good friend does and I have driven and been a passenger it in, it seems quiet and fast, well built, and comfortable, so it would be a good touring car. Anyone with time and experience should be able to figure the car without being an engineer. In 1916 the largest Buick was the D 55, a seven passenger touring car, but the last year of production. Would not speak to value in the market place, I would say all of the '16's and up of most manufacturers are reasonable to purchase and enjoy. The value of the car depends upon the purchaser, IMHO, the 'D45 can de driven to the local cruise nights, to the beach, around town and AACA events, For touring in larger national events such as the Snapper's and HCCA then you need a 1915 and earlier autos, then you will notice the price rises. Hope this gives you some answers you are seeking, good luck. Gary

You know me too well, Doug. It is a break wall at Erieau, On and protects the commercial fishing boats which harbour in Rondeau Bay from the lake. Last fall Bev and Ihad a one day tour with lunch at Erieau, a drive to the point at Rondeau Provincial Park then a drive home through the fall foliage of Sinclair Bush with 6 or 7 cars from the London area. Regards, Gary

Though not of the Snapper's era I also wear an original Duffel or sometimes called a Monty coat, when out in the Buick late or early in the touring season. These wool coats actually began in the 1820's are still being produced and popular as you can see since my wife's coat is relatively new. The one I wear, after researching the company Gloverall, was made in London and seems to be prior to 1962. It was likely made for the navy because the lining is plain wool and not the usual tartan pattern for the general public. The photo was taken in November with Lake Erie in the background. Under my coat you can see the logo of the fighting Irish from the University of Notre Dame which I do not wear to visit Michigan, but that is another subject. Regards, Gary

Kevin; For the AACA Vintage Tour please contact Joe at Joe from Canada on page 1 of this thread, he is the host this summer. Hotel info is available now for reservations, haven't seen registration forms yet and you need to contact the office in Hershey to tell them you are going because it is a national event. Regards, Gary

Things are quiet here in the winter, the wheel painting project is taking longer than I thought it would. In the post above I mentioned I have a trailer and to my mind it is the greatest downside to owning and driving Snapper era Buicks. A person has to have a trailer if you want to travel to tours, and believe me I wish I could think of a viable alternative. When on the road I primarily fuel and lunch at truck stops where I think they have more security and space to park with pull throughs, most accidents happen when backing up. Also I have to choose a motel based on their parking lot rather than the swimming pool. Living in a village in farming country I have room and can keep my trailer at home. During the winter it is empty except for storage of patio furniture and theft is a worry. Trailers are easy to steal, fairly expensive to buy and police do not seem to keen to recover them, who really pays attention to a trailer. On a positive note they are portable garages, when I return from a weekend and we are going again in a few weeks, the Buick stays parked and we can hook back up and go. My trailer was ordered from a dealer with a few options such as 5200 lb axles and extra height, every trailer owner picks his own requirements. Finally with a 6000 lb trailer load I drive a 3/4 ton pick up truck all the year round which means if I go to Walmart on Saturday afternoon I must find parking the back fourty. Trucks use more fuel than a hot hatchback but they are handy for trips to the lumber yard. Although, when the Buick is in fine fettle, the sun is shining, I'm out with my mates and I am describing my car to some interested bystanders then it is the best collector car I am indeed fortunate to operate. I won't post a photo as it is an oversized bread box on wheels and you have seen trailers. Regards, Gary

Kevin; Lovely Cole. I plan to attend the vintage tour and if this is your first it promises to be a good time. Kingston, On has gently rolling terrain, some long grades up and down so your brakes should be in the best working order and the engine running cool and fine. Expect to drive over five hundred miles during the five day meet, you will not need lawn chairs. Generally we leave soon after breakfast and return to the hotel in time for refreshments before the evening meal with interesting places to see during the day. Last tour had fifty cars ranging from 1913 to model A's, many Chryslers, RR, Hupmobile, etc. A tour has so much to do, meet like minded folks, cars break down and are often repaired on the side of the road or overnight, catch a ride in a luxury car or a model T. And Ontario roads are in much better condition than you will find at home in Michigan. Hope you can make it, Gary

Thanks Larry; We do not have much planned for this summer. Likely the Pre War meet at the Gilmore in May, the AACA vintage tour in Ontario in August, the Old Car Fest in September. I expect to have our 1915 McLaughlin touring car finished and ready for test drives too. Please keep us in mind if you hear of something good, "have trailer, will travel." Regards, Gary

The Snappers are a non geographical region of the AACA. This year we have a spring tour in central Wisconsin the first week of June and a summer tour, with the HCCA, in Kingston, Ontario in July. We also participate in the Lansing to Dearborn Endurance Run, a part of the Old Car Festival in Michigan and the Hershey Hangover in, well, Hershey. Our season is generally three week long events and some smaller weekends between May and October because many of the pre '16 cars have neither tops, windshields or doors. Another part of the Edwardian car hobby is costumes. Often seen in the cars on tour as well as at the banquets, and the Old Car Festival seems most everyone is dressed in their best outfits all weekend. Some folks are fortunate to acquire hundred year old clothes but most are recreated by a talented tailor or obtained from a theatrical supply house. In the photos are my friends with their 1913 White touring car in formal wear ready for the opera and Bev and I are in costumes covered by dusters. My Mrs. duster is hundred year old linen and mine is actually an Italian raincoat I found which doubles for looks and is weathertight, remember no windows. My boater style hat is from an eBay find and my wife enjoys an extensive collection of hats. Finding or creating costumes is a pleasant side interest of membership with the Snappers. Regards, Gary

I vote with Terry W, top up permanently. My mrs. had a small non cancerous wound on the top of her head which the surgeon called sun damage, since then I ordered a new trailer tall enough to drive into with the top erected. I agree it is not as pleasant as driving out in nature as God intended, but as they say " safety first." Regards, Gary

1913 wheel update, I am refinishing two wheels at a time. Since there is some wood compression where the rim bolts clamp the rim to the wheel I decided to remove the hardware and fill the space underneath. It will also mean the felloe will be more thoroughly sanded and will have new paint under the parts. The rim clamp parts will be sandblasted and epoxy primed, the final step will be to reattach the hardware with new 3/16ths" X 2" mild steel rivets then painted with a touch up brush. The photo shows new filler sanded flush with the existing wood. I suppose if the car is being readied for trophies I would have sent the wheels to a wheelwright shop for new spokes and felloes but I appreciate the fact this car has it's original parts and do not mind some dings and knocks. The car came by them honestly and it is a for touring automobile. After filling and final sanding the wood will be treated to a epoxy type sanding sealer then primed before the final coat of body colour single stage paint and the metal hubs, rim bands and clamps will be black. There are two thoughts on refinishing the spokes, one is to let the woodgrain show through the paint and the other is to completely fill the grain so the paint is smooth. I have always liked the woodgrain to show but this time I am opting for smooth and shiny. Don't know which would have been correct a hundred years ago. Thanks, Gary

Think spring. Gary

Winter is late this year. Regards, Gary

Sound like a new product called Poly All 2000, two part epoxy, thin as water and sets in 5 minutes. A friend recommended it, I never used it but I did look it up with the internet. I used a product called Enviro Tex Lite similar except thicker, maybe like watery maple syrup and slower to set as in a few hours. Hope this helps, Gary

This photo is taken on the Melecon in old Havana, Cuba, in the background is a fort which was built in the 1700's to protect the city from pirates. My wife and I were on the Malecon last week, below is a photo taken nearby which shows what happens to Cuban cars when they get to old to be driven as taxis. Short of being parked on a golf course driving range I can not imagine what could have happened to it. BTW the '50 was parked illegally, usual for Cuba, cops everywhere. Regards, Gary

Hello Doug; I, too, was 16 years old in 1968. However my dad had no interest in autos, our family car was a VW he bought new, his first new car, followed by a Maverick in 1970. Do you know where the Whippet came from, a fellow club member maybe? BTW, Dad built a new house soon after the Maverick came and it became a truck, once he hauled a 45 gal drum of water in the trunk for the brick layer. Regards, Gary

Weston Mott had been supplying wheels and axles for everyone when Billy Durant proposed they come to Flint, Mi and organize a factory to supply Buick. Weston Mott left their Utica NY factory making parts for bicycles, etc. and moved to Mi in 1906. Business grew rapidly for Weston Mott and they improved the design of their rear axles by using Hyatt bearings and Brown Lipe gear sets. As a side note Hyatt Bearing brought Alfred Sloan to GM but that is another story. Buick and Weston Mott merged in 1916 and CS Mott became a director of GM, as did Sam McLaughlin, yet another story which has been be told. In the accompanying photo you can see a trace of red, that is copper electroplated to the rim band, and is a feature of Weston Mott design. So far I think each wheel will take two days to rough sand all the old paint off. Afraid chemicals will leech out and ruin the new paint and sandblasting could affect the wooden felloes, that leaves sanding. It's not awful. a few hours at a go, listening to the radio in my heated garage, likely easier for me than the workman who created the wheel a 100 years ago. Regards, Gary

Bev and I just returned from our annual fun in the sun trip to Cuba and thought you might like to see some photos of the iconic taxi cabs. These cars are the original resto mods, for show but they are working cars, like the Clydesdale draft horses from Budweiser, a symbol of the company but they also have to pull the beer wagon. We hired the '55 Bel Air for a day trip the old Havana with a excellent driver, whose patience could teach me how to be a more courteous driver, and university educated guide with history and languages. I brought some AACA magazines for distribution, they were popular and taken away in a few moments. Regards, Gary

Good to get a definite answer. Thanks, Gary

Just to be clear. I tried to register a car for it's first junior at Auburn and then travel to a Snapper's tour in Wisconsin beginning the next day. Sort of a " two birds with one stone" idea. A note on the AACA registration form told me my car had to be a senior car to qualify. Can I have my car judged at Auburn or not? Thanks for the clarification, Gary

Dash lamps. I found a complete lamp, base and fixture at a flea market and felt very good at 5.00 until I paid the plater over a $100 for new nickel. Repro is around $35, depends if you want a lamp or show piece? Think spring, Gary

Congratulations, Gary. Whenever I make a repair I ask myself how would Gary do it and refer to your thread. Please everyone post here occasionally to keep it current and available as a valuable resource. Thanks again, Gary V

Restoration Supply in Ca advertises reproduction dash board lamps, perhaps model T suppliers as well. Good luck, Gary

Sanding spokes is a tedious job and I have until spring to finish it. However, there are other things to do. Friday the temps reached into the 50'sF and I switched out my wife's sports car with my 1915 McLaughlin in the shop after a steady rain. I had an hour before supper so I took a top stick to the wire wheel to strip paint and rust. The parts will be eventually sandblasted, which I find to be miserable work, noisy, dirt up my nose and grit in my eyes, so I clean everything first as to minimize the sandblasting. I had the sticks stored on the body and I noticed for the first time the aligning ball and socket aligning pins did not fit on the first or front one. I measured the difference and it was 7 1/2". Looks right, but isn't. I'll either move the ball to fit the remaining sticks or possible add a ball to hit the socket. The other thing is this aligning ball and socket style was used also on Model T Fords, perhaps someone sometime changed the top parts to Ford. My '13 used fork and blades style and original photos do not show the details I need. Small details are interesting to me. The photo illustrates the parts I am trying to describe. Thanks for looking, Gary