AK Buickman

Brian (and all other Buick people)-- It was exactly one year ago this Friday that we began the festivities of our lifetime, the 2003 Flint meet. I will be celebrating on Friday the 23rd with a four-hole cake made with Dynaflow oil. Then, I plan to celebrate by drinking some Wildcat beer (this is real beer that I bought last year in the Yukon, Canada, transported to Alaska via '55 Buick Roadmaster). burp... AK Buickman......

Your post did not mention what condition you would prefer if this car was found. I know of a Midnight Blue '73 Electra Limited 4-dr with dark blue Limited cloth interior. The car has been sitting in a junkyard for a long time, and would require extensive repair. This car has most every factory option including Limited package, cornering lights, Front Lamp Monitors, automatic A/C., am/fm radio, 60/40 power front seats, tilt, cruise, power door locks, and heated back glass. I cannot recall what color roof the car had, but it was not white, so it is probably black vinyl. Someone screwed on a roof rack to the roof. I haven't seen this car in over a year, but the junkyard rarely gets rid of anything. I'm not sure where you are located, but this '73 Limited is located in Alaska. Brian, could this car be the same car that you remember spotting in Washington state? The only thing between Bellingham and Alaska is Canada. AK Buickman....

I have a postcard of Dale Robertson's Wells Fargo '58 Limited Convertible. It is a really unique Buick. Another unique Buick that was modified in a similar manner was a 1950 Buick for a ranch in Texas, I think it was the King Ranch. I have an article about this car from a 1950 "Popular Science" magazine. The modifications on this '50 were very extensive. Go Buick! AK Buickman, BCA #1955....

This Mercedes Benz radio commercial using Buick Motor Division's 1960's era slogan "Wouldn't you really rather have a...Mercedes" is still being broadcast on local radio, and it is from a local Mercedes dealer here in Anchorage, Alaska, not a national radio ad. A friend of mine here in Anchorage heard this commercial recently, and told me that this ad sounds very awkward because she was used to hearing this slogan years ago using the word "BUICK." If I recall, the first use of "Wouldn't you really rather have a BUICK" in advertising dates back to 1962 (?) AK Buickman, BCA #1955.....

I've been hearing radio commercials advertising Mercedes Benz vehicles. At the end of the commercial, the announcer says, "All things considered, Wouldn't you really rather have a Mercedes? Is this a big compliment to Buick owners from Mercedes Benz? Did the advertising agency forget to research past auto advertising before letting this out to the public? Was Buick Motor Division robbed by MB? Did Buick forget to copyright this GREAT slogan? Does Buick really care? AK Buickman............

The black Wildcat convertible looks beautiful in the e-bay photos but I noticed a few items that need to be corrected on the car if a buyer wanted to justify paying the high asking price. Two photos of the interior of the car show that the interior paint that was used to change the color of the interior from black to red is wearing off. Look at the photos of the driver's seat and the photo of the right front floor area. I noticed that the red vinyl interior paint is worn off of two high-wear areas: the driver's front seat bottom cushion (where the driver sits), and also, the red paint is worn off of the vertical edge of the right front kick panel (where a shoe hits as a passenger gets in or out of the car). Areas of black are noticeable under the red paint. Also, the pleated inserts on the front and rear seats need to be reupholstered to match the way Buick sewed these pleats in 1966. The pleats on this black car are too flat, just like some mid-1960's Pontiacs or Chevrolets. The factory pleats were puffed up more than what appears in the photos. AK Buickman..............

I've been reading a lot of input, advice, and stories on this forum regarding the installation of radial tires on rims originally designed for bias-ply tires. We are spinning our wheels (sorry about the pun) unless some form of engineering or manufacturing bulletins put out by O.E.M. wheel manufacturers during the time that auto manufacturers switched to radial tires is found. I'm sure that some information had to have been on file regarding certain minimum production standards if a steel wheel was being produced for G.M., Ford, or Mopar automobiles. Does anyone have some information from a wheel manufacturer such as this? AK Buickman, BCA #1955..........

Brian, I have the photos of the '59 boat that closely resembles the '59 Buick Delta Wing styling. I'll look for the photos. Gary....

Why is anyone surprised that this '59 Buick sunk? 1) The Delta Wings on the rear of a '59 Buick were not designed by BMD to stabilize the car in water--the wings were designed for maximum stability while the Buick is AIRBORN. 2) '59 Buicks do not have portholes, so why would a '59 Buick be used as a water craft? AK Buickman.........

Roberta, Is it too early to know if the video being produced will feature BUICKS in the Centennial Celebration? I really hope it does since I ran out of time to get all of my own photos and videos of cars while attending the show in Flint, and then the issue of the "Bugle" that covered the Centennial Celebration had virtually no photos of Buicks at the show. Thank you. Gary Klecka, BCA #1955......................

Check out the chrome plated radio push buttons! I'd love to polish all of the chrome on this dashboard! AK Buickman, BCA#1955........

What a neat photo! There are many visible differences on this car as compared to a production '54. I wonder what the 4th heater control knob was for? AK Buickman, BCA #1955....

My experience driving 430 powered Electras was the same- they consistently delivered gas MPG around 20 MPG on the highway. The powerful engines were just loafing at highway speeds due to the low numeric rear axle gearing that Buick equipped these cars with. Without looking at any manuals, the rear axle ratio was either 2.78:1, or 2:56:1 in these Electras. AK Buickman, BCA #1955.......

Norb (or anyone else)-- Do you remember or know of the new Buick model introduction called the Buick "Dynarama" held during fall, 1954? The Dynarama held in Chicago occurred at the end of October, 1954, and lasted a few days. Which BMD personnel were invited? What other years did BMD do this? I would guess that each BMD zone held a Dynarama a few weeks before the new models were introduced to the public. Gary......

Norb said about today's auto industry--"Even the dealers don't make notice of the new cars anymore." I was shocked this past summer when a salesman working in a local Buick dealer DID NOT know that 2003 was the 100th anniversary of Buick Motor Division! This was a salesman who didn't just get this job yesterday. If an automobile company such as Buick survived a Great Depression, two World Wars, stiff competition, and a gas shortage, wouldn't this company be proud to tell the world they still manufacture quality cars?? AK Buickman........

In the 1960's when I was a kid, if someone in the neighborhood purchased a brand new automobile early in the fall, I would ride my bicycle out of my way just to get a glimpse of the new styling features, such as a new grille, bumpers, wheel covers, or taillights. I always thought that these people had a lot of money in order to buy a redesigned automobile! I also monitored the old cars in my neighborhood on my bike, and took black & white 110 film photos of these cars with my best friend. A colossal treat occurred when a brand new model was completely redesigned after being used for 2 years, and I saw this new model on transport trucks before they were displayed in showrooms. Whoa! I was the luckiest kid around! AK Buickman............

Norb- Was the Buick factory retail store you mentioned located behind the Durant Motel in downtown Flint? That must be the Buick dealer that participants of the 1971 BCA Flint meet were allowed to park in overnight on Friday and Saturday of that show. I was able to park my '55 Roadmaster 76R (the same car that I drove to Flint in 2003) right in the showroom window of that Buick dealer in downtown Flint that year. The building appeared as if it had just recently been closed, since there were still some signs in the windows, along with other loose items. I was impressed by the ramp located in the service department, allowing cars to be driven up to the second floor! Gary, BCA #1955.....

Forty-nine years ago, on November 19, 1954, the brand new 1955 Buicks were introduced to the public! Buick Motor Division called the new '55's the "Thrill of the Year." Imagine the excitement in Buick dealers 49 years ago! Gary Klecka, BCA #1955 1955 Roadmaster Riviera, Model #76R

Well, boys and girls-- the beautiful, former 1960's - 1970's Buick nameplate "Sportwagon" has now been bestowed on some soon-to-be-introduced rice burner SUV. This name joins other once proud Buick nameplates such as "Limited" and "GS", that have been recently taken by domestic & foreign auto companies for their own vehicles. The good news-- Some automobile companies still use pleasing sounding auto names such as "Sportwagon" instead of the difficult to remember alphabet soup names, such as Cadillac and others are doing with their new models. AK Buickman, BCA #1955....... Saying "Good bye" to the Buick Sportwagon...

Jim, While I do not have specific production numbers on a '54 Century with standard transmission, I can shed some additional light on this. When the new 1955 Buicks were announced to the public, Buick Motor Division sent press releases out to the news media, asking the media to print the releases on Monday, November 15, 1954, 4 days before the new '55's were to be unveiled in Buick showrooms. I have a copy of all '55 press releases from BMD in my collection. One of the news releases says, "Nine out of ten 1954 Buick models were equipped with Dynaflow." Over 45,000 '54 Century 2-dr hardtops were sold in the 1954 model year, so figure that about 90 % of that number MAY have been equipped with Dynaflow (?). However, from what I have seen, most of the 3-speed manual Buicks have been installed in the Special series during the middle 1950's. I would speculate that very few Supers and Centurys had stick shift. I hope this helps. Gary, BCA #1955.....

I'd be very interested in finding out what kind of horns this Bison has. AK Buickman.....

What will happen to the Michigan State Historical Marker sign on the front lawn of the Administration Building if Wal Mart or Chubby Chicken's Cheap Cheap Carpet purchases the building? If that site has already been designated an historical site by the state, it would appear that the sign couldn't just be placed in another location. AK Buickman, BCA #1955........

While in Flint last summer, I visited the exterior of the Buick Administration Building, on Hamilton Ave. and Industrial Boulevard. The building was abandoned, but there seemed to be at least one security guard (?) present. 1) Does BMD still own the building? 2) What plans are there for the building? With a Michigan State Historical marker on the Administration Building's front lawn describing the significance of Buick Motor Division to the state of Michigan, will the Administration Building be saved from the wrecking ball? The building would be ideal for a Buick Museum and research center, if funds were available to do so. Gary Klecka, BCA #1955....

Roberta- One of these days you'll catch up to me, if you can. During the Flint Show, I did a lot, but missed meeting with a bunch of people like you and Joe. If the show had lasted 2 weeks, I probably couldn't do everything that I wanted to do. I could probably spend a whole week inside the Buick Gallery doing research. I was on the move with my '55 Roadmaster from July 6 - August 9, and that amount of time was not enough time to do all the Buick stuff I really wanted to do. There's always next summer... Gary Klecka, BCA #1955....

Joe-- Regarding us not able to attend BMD's 150th anniversary because of our age-- Never say Never... Just keep that Dynaflow oil and gasoline pumping in your veins! Gary Klecka, BCA #1955......