Grant Z

Thanks Matt, some time ago Neil Morse kindly provided me with a photo of his glove box lid with a small ruler laid on it so I could measure the circles. They are 3/8" in diameter. I'm keen to see what yours measure.

Thanks but I'd rather try doing the real thing one day on my dash.

Many thanks for your comments Mr Riviera 🙂

Hi I just stumbled across this old conversation we had re my car. I've now made contact with the owner of the other brother's (David Provan) car. The current owner is Geoff Pollard and he lives near Harcourt, Victoria. I went to his home and saw the car about 3 months ago. A lovely man, and very nice car. I intend to drive my car to his home (640km) next year and photograph them both together. Here is photo of David Provan's car (now owned by Geoff Pollard who is next to the car).

Would anyone have a front license plate mounting plate (see attached photo)? After seeing the attached photo of another forum member’s car (Valk) I now know this is missing from my car. I live in Australia but after payment is made, it can be posted to a shipping yard in Richmond CA. It will then be automatically forwarded to people I know here. Regards Grant Zippel

Oh Wow! Lovely Roadmaster? Beautiful roofline on the Fisher/Buick body (mine being the Fisher/Chevrolet). Thanks my friend.

If you wish to contact Adam regarding reproducing some skirts, you can email him at 55coupe@adam.com.au. He's already been contacted by someone else in California. He's very willing to do this as has made a pattern. The guy in California is sending over a set of rear fenders to make it easier to get the shape correct.

Many thanks for your kind words Matt. Yes I agree with all you have said in every way. You have a very keen eye for detail and obviously know these cars very well. I've referred to your website many times and have found it extremely helpful thank you. Re the lower trim piece, we decided not to replicate the small curved piece which fits on the rubber gravel shield as expense was getting away and I felt I had to stop somewhere. Being a big of a custom guy (and my friend also) we felt a couple of subtle tasteful modifications done well would work just fine and we're happy with the outcome. Yes I've drooled over the picture of that gorgeous dark silver Roadmaster convertible many times. Stunning car. That and a few others online have been handy references for what a correct car should be. My car is of course the most inexpensive 1941 Buick made (Series A Special Business Coupe) and the Roadmaster Convertible Coupe is something I can only dream about. However, I am extremely happy with my car and never thought I could own something so rare & beautiful here in Australia. I've now driven her over 3,000 miles in just 10 months and jump at every opportunity to get her out. My friend Adam has already been contacted re the possibility of making more sets of skirts for someone in the USA. Your suggestion of reproducing the lower trim piece (but with the vertical forward end, and short curved gravel shield extension) makes good sense. Sincere thanks for taking the time to comment Matt.

Hi all, as I live in Australia and have little hope of inspecting a set of 2nd hand 1941 Buick fender skirts before purchasing, I commissioned my good friend Adam Bakurski (from Rollin Relics, a 1-man restoration shop here in suburban Adelaide, South Australia) to fabricate a set for me. I wanted to share these with you as I'm pretty pleased. My goals for these fender skirts were; to have steel fender skirts styled to look perfect (even if they didn't perfectly replicate the original factory design). They must incorporate the original 21-inch fender skirt ornaments which would be removed from my rear fenders. Replicate the stainless trim (in aluminum) which decorates the lowest edge of the skirt and is an extension of the stainless sill-panel molding. Adam & I created a pattern which followed the shape of the rear fender - which we believe is important. Adam then formed a set of skirts which we decided were too 'flat' (see unfinished photo) and were unable to take up the 'curve' in the 21-inch ornament. We decided that the skirt needed to be more 'bubbled' and then to weld in a special custom insert piece that the ornament sat on. This would take up the remainder of the curve in the ornament that the skirt was unable to do so. This piece must look as though it was pressed into the skirt from the rear as if the factory could have produced this (see photo). Adam then fabricated the mechanism to hold the skirts firmly to the vehicle with no chance of them coming off. He tried various ideas, but finally replicated the mechanism that most (if not all) skirts are produced with. He also welded tabs on the bottom-front & bottom-rear edges to enable a screw to secure each end of the skirt to the bottom of the rear fender (in front of and behind the wheel arch). A threaded stud was also welded inside the rear part of the skirt to support the overhang not supported by the locking mechanism around the wheel-arch. This stud utilised one of the existing holes which secured the ornament on the rear fender before it was removed. The aluminum lower trim along the bottom of the skirt was made from aluminum bar-stock and machined to replicate the profile of the sill-panel molding. Black rubber has been used along all surfaces where the skirts touch the body and where the ornament mounted on the skirt. This stops any chance of scratching the paint. Adam is not totally happy with the skirts and there are some issues I'd like addressed which can only be done so by making another set. For now, I wish to drive the car and enjoy its new look. Visually the skirts make the car appear much lower. I'm also in the process of lowering the rear suspension 2 inches but I don't wish to ruin the ride quality so am addressing this with caution. 2nd hand skirts in the USA seem to fetch between US$1500-$2500. At the current horrid exchange rate this translates to AU$2230-3700 (Australian). Yes, that is obscene! My skirts sure cost about that but I know they are right and an original set would need restoration in most cases anyway. Adam has not made fender skirts before and is confident that future sets can be made much quicker. I hope you like these skirts as much as I do. Cheers, Grant Zippel

Would an adhesive have been used on the sheet of cold rolled steel or was it simply pressed with the main steel sheet and folded over with tooling dies?

Cheers

Yes you can trust Pete Smith from East Coast Mustangs.

Well this makes excellent sense to me and very close to an idea I shared with Neil Morse some time ago. Being a Fitter & Turner (specializing in Toolmaking) by trade, I suspected that there was just 1 panel (without a separate thin layer) which would have been engine turned before being pressed into shape (glove box & instrument panel). I also wondered if there was another thin layer (as there is indeed), this could have been a zinc plating (or something similar) applied to the panel before stamping. Oh well, I was on the right track. The decal idea just didn't sit with me (not that I am any type of authority). Sincere thanks all you guys.

No entry forms are available yet, but accommodation can be booked at Whiters Holiday Village where the Buick Club of Oz have temporarily booked the place out (special deal when you mention you're part of the event). Book this ASAP if you wish to go. http://www.whiters.com.au/. Event is Oct 11-17, 2020.

I agree with your thoughts on the process of engine-turning flat sheet, then placing each sheet into a press to stamp out the glove box & instrument panels. I'm a toolmaker by trade so understand this process quite clearly. On another note, are you going to the Buick Nationals (Australia) in October 2020? I am!

I'm in the process of purchasing Buick accessories for my 1941 Buick through a guy called Alvaro Gonzalez in Antioch, California through Instagram. His Instagram name is Buick1932. Otherwise you can email him at elmatoncabron@aol.com or Phone (925) 382 7088.

Wow that is spectacular. Thanks for sharing. I know a guy here in Australia who has a 1918 Buick roadster, and is restoring a much earlier one also (1910? I think). I hope to visit him in a couple of weeks so may get some pics for you.

Is that photo above of your glove-box lid showing engine-turning that is original (no restored)? If so, could you measure accurately the diameter of each 'circle' swirl of the engine turning please? Alternatively if you hold a ruler on the lid and take a close-up high-resolution photo for me, I'd greatly appreciate it. I'd like to restore mine and I live in Australia so don't have the opportunity to see other 1941 Buicks.

Drove my 1941 Buick Series A Special Coupe 322 miles (518km) to a car event in the country here in South Australia. The car ran like a dream. Nothing like getting out on the open road. Since getting the car on the road, I've covered 2,700 miles (4345km) in 7 months. Many more miles to come!

Was great to finally see the car on the Anzac Day cruise Rob. Fabulous!

Sorry Morgan Wright, but I'm an Australian and Lawrence Helfand and I were obviously speaking with each other within the context of the Australian culture (which Lawrence clearly understands).

Do you still have this tacho? If so, does it work?

Many thanks Matt for your very informative comments. Yes there is much confusion no doubt when someone like yourself isn't sure and the passing of time makes it very difficult to verify. I assume you would agree that my fender spears appear to be the long versions? If I decide to go with skirts, I may get a very talented friend to style up and hand-make me some. That way they will fit and can be made to match the fender spear shape also. I doubt this would be more expensive than buying some in the USA and shipping them here to Australia (remember the Aussie dollar is only worth 72.2 US cents). Shipping is cheap though as I have friends who import so can come in a shipping container. Thanks again Matt! Cheers Grant

Thanks Ben Bruce for your information. It helps to make things clearer. Many thanks Matt re the explanation on Fisher Bodies. That makes more sense to me now. Yes Rooster, my Buick is RHD but was converted in 1989 by the gentleman who imported it that same year (Dale Collins). He was a Marine Engineer (now retired) who sourced an Australian 1946 Buick (they use a 1941 RHD dash), and he used the RHD steering also. I've got to know him and he's very helpful & knowledgeable. He currently drives 2 stunning cars (1941 Packard 120 coupe & 1946 Ford Convertible). He sold the car within 6 months (in 1989) to Jack Provan who stopped him in the street one day insisting he buy the car. Jack's brother David also owned a 1941 Buick Super Sport Coupe (Model 56S), so yes 1939_Buick you are correct when you say .. I believe Jack's brother David's car is 2-tone (grey & silver) and is around the Bendigo (Victoria) area now. Anyway, Jack Provan died in 2007 and left the car to his (then) 16yo grandson Jack Drewitt. He is now 27 and put the car up for sale on Carsales.com and I purchased it in early August this year.

That's very interesting to watch and fabulous also just seeing those brand new bodies. Thanks very much Gary