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*SOLD* Very nice condition! At least one is very likely NOS, possibly both are. Some shelf wear and there may be other very minor imperfections, but hard to imagine you'd find better. They have not been polished. The inner shell on one is very nice, the other has surface rust, as you can see in the photos. Their 70 inches overall lenght makes them Series 40 Special, I'm told. Left and right are apparently the same, but I don't know that for absolute certain. Please look at the photos carefully...I'm posting enough close-ups that you should be able to get a good idea of what I have. Right now, we are planning on being at the BCA Nats in Brookfield, WI on Friday morning, July 7 only...we can meet you at the indoor swap area. Can deliver them there. Price is $400 for pair, will not separate. If we and you cannot get together at Brookfield, shipping from Michigan will be at your additional expense. Call or text me at 586-212-6057 or contact me by Private Message through the Forums. Thanks for looking!

This is a pretty nice one! Spark plug cover for the small Buick (248cid) eight. I think it fits 1937-1940, but if anyone knows better, feel free to chime in. It appears to have original black paint, which could mean it is off a 1940 engine. $150 plus shipping. Best to contact me by private message to be sure I know you are interested.

Here are a couple of photos of the front and back of an original 1940 Century 15" inch wheel in Royal Maroon Metallic. This wheel and an original US Royal double whitewall were in the right hand fenderwell of a '40 66C we formerly owned. The short air hose was original equipment, so that the tire pressure could be checked/adjusted without removing the sidemount cover. The wider center stripe is evident here. Also, the center of the wheel, under the hubcap was not fully painted the body color. The backside of the rim was a semi-gloss black. Allcars

SOLD! From old salvage yard years ago. Rough but looks like it is restorable. Think it is a passenger side (RH) unit. Pitted chrome, dings and at least one large dent. Hinged piece is broken-off tie bar that went between headlamps. Please study photos before buying. For the larger series 1932 Buicks, Series 60, 80 or 90. Bucket only, as shown in photos. Don't believe it will fit a Series 50 1932 Buick, which had smaller and less sculpted buckets. Not many of these out there in any condition these days. Anybody want it for $30 plus shipping?

Thanks, guys. Malo48, the added history on the patent holder is interesting. However, the fold-down guard was made under license, according its markings. It may have been made by another manufacturer who paid for the rights to use the design. MC Hinson, I agree it is not a '37-'38 Buick authorized accessory, per the illustration in the Accessories Fact Book, which shows horizontal detailing not on this piece. It may be an aftermarket piece, but it might also be specific to a car that has that narrow black vertical center stripe also on its bumpers guards...will keep searching. Going through the 1938 Accessories .pdf, I did learn that a Buick heater I have out in the garage somewhere is apparently a 1938 DeLuxe edition.

Have a fold-down rear guard that came with a bunch of '38 Buick chrome pieces that came my way years ago. Can any of your Pre-War parts gurus do a positive ID on it? Is it a Buick accessory, and what year(s) would the application be? Apologies for the reflections that make it hard to see the details, but hopefully the shape and mechanism will tell the story. The face has a single thin vertical black painted stripe going up the center, with a break at one point. I found the patent online...it was issued in June of 1937. It may be NOS. The "$3.90" written in china marker on the inner surface is probably the original price, I'm guessing. Thanks!

Did you find a number for your '40? Some states using engine numbers, which was very typical before the VIN system became the norm, would update the title to match a replacement engine. I've personally done this in the state of Kansas, in the 1970s, for a 1940 Limited. Had to present the existing title along with a bill of sale for the replacement engine installed in the car. Probably can't do that anymore, but at one time titles could be made to match this way.

I might be able to visit the Chickasha pre-war meet for part of a day this year. Looks like it is set for Friday-Saturday March 17-18. If I have to choose which day to go, any recommendations. I'll be looking for misc stuff for my '40, but like to look at cars for sale, too.

Just going over this thread today...also wondering if the "Only Buicks" '53 Skylark was completed. Hope we hear from Glenn again soon. In the meantime, wanted to reply to Ewing's 2010 comment, to assure him that at least one 1953 Skylark left the factory in Mandarin Red with a Blue and White interior...in 1978, we pulled it out of the original owners garage, where it had sat with 30,000 miles on the odometer since 1960. Although the factory Mandarin Red lacquer looked maroon in the shade, it had a copper orange blush to it that became visible in the sunlight...and that actually went pretty good with the somewhat silvery blue leather, we thought. The Skylark had been obtained new from the area Buick Zone folks by the selling dealer in Newton Kansas...how or by whom it was ordered in that color scheme was unknown to him. We owned the Skylark for two years, and then sold it to a fellow who remembered it as a child...his parents lived across the street from the original owner. Last we knew, he still has it.

On January 2, 1942—75 years ago—ownership of our 1940 Buick Roadmaster Convertible was transferred from the Cimatool Co. of Dayton Ohio, to a woman we’ll refer to here as Mrs. McK. While in corporate ownership, the car had been driven by prominent Dayton industrialist Louis B. Polk, whose Cimatool/Sheffield Gage operations provided machine tools and manufacturing gages to the auto industry. Mrs. McK was the recently remarried widow of a man who had been VP of Global Sales for Frigidaire, the Dayton-based GM Division that made refrigeration appliances. Mrs. McK’s eldest son, who in 1942 was 12 and a friend of Polk’s son, recalls that when his mother acquired it, the Buick was a medium blue metallic color, with matching interior, including the dash. (The present instrument panel color, which can be seen in the accompanying overhead view, is a near match to the original paint.) The car’s data plate shows it was built with “SPEC” (special-order) paint and interior, such as a top Buick executive could specify. Another of Mrs. McK’s sons would later infer that she told him the car was originally built for use by Harlow Curtice, in 1940 general manager of Buick and later president of GM. Several of Curtice's known later special GM cars were indeed painted to his order in a shade of blue similar to the original color on this car, traces of which remain on the firewall and in various nooks and crannies of the body. The Buick also has a 1942 Compound Carburetor set-up on its 1940 engine. Mrs. McK’s two surviving sons told me in 2012 that they believe it was on the car when she got it, as she had no interest in under-hood matters. They confirmed it also had a step-on parking brake of the type first seen on production 1942 Buicks, and a Chevrolet-type vacuum shift-assist set-up. (These two items were removed and subsequently lost by the San Francisco owner when he acquired the car in 1995, but their prior presence is documented.) As a retired auto designer who was familiar with a several of Curtice's Buicks told me, “He (Curtice) would always have these Buicks with special interiors, and something was always special on them.” Further, a 1954 TIME magazine article on Curtice states that, “When GM engineers experimented with such devices as the foot parking brake and Dynaflow transmission, Curtice...tried them and quickly ordered them on production models.” (That a prototype 1942 step-on parking brake would be available for testing by the boss in the summer of 1940 fits well within the engineering window for the 1942 models, and Buick engineers are also known to have fitted a vacuum shift-assist to some 1940 Buicks for testing.) By the end of 1942, Mrs. McK had taken the Buick to Connecticut, where her second husband had a large home. During 1943, the Roadmaster was repainted a dark blue and the interior trim dyed black, per Mr. McK’s wishes. The family says there were always other cars available to Mrs. McK, including a 1937 Buick coupe that she used for years. The ’40 Roadmaster became a summer car for the family’s Cape Cod get-aways—when I talked to them several years ago, both surviving sons recalled taking it out for drives during summer vacations from school. The Roadmaster was kept at Cape Cod until 1971, when Mrs. McK passed it to her youngest son, who lived in southern California. He immediately had it restored and kept it until terminal illness forced him to part with it in 1995. It then went to San Francisco, where it was enthusiastically enjoyed by a collector, until he died in 2008. In 2012, we acquired the car from his partner. Was this Buick used by Harlow Curtice when new? We can’t say for sure, but we believe there is a high probability that it was. And so did Mrs. McK’s late son who restored the car. Since we’ve owned the car, we’ve learned that Louis B. Polk’s companies provided equipment for the new Buick axle and sheet metal plants that became operational in Flint in late 1940. So, it seems entirely possible that Curtice may have given Polk an opportunity to acquire the Roadmaster when he was done with it. Or, perhaps Polk came across it at the Buick Retail Store in Flint, where factory exec and show cars were sometimes sold (the 1952 Roadmaster-based prototype Skylark being but one). Certainly, with its bespoke paint and interior, this was somebody’s very special Roadmaster from the very first. And, thanks most of all to the conservation and restoration it received during the McK family's more than 50 years of ownership, it still exists 75 years after that day in 1942 that Mrs. McK made it hers. Images: • 1942 Ohio title transferring ownership from Cimatool (Louis B. Polk) to Mrs. McK • The '40 as it appeared in the background of a 1943 McK family snap shot taken on Cape Cod • On Cape Cod in 1970—the next year Mrs. McK passed it to her youngest son, who took it to California, where it underwent a restoration completed in 1973 • The Roadmaster today; still looking good even with though it was restored 45 years ago. Mrs. McK's eldest son says the car was originally close to the current vibrant blue dash color inside and out • The data plate showing the car had special-order paint and trim.

There was a 1963 Comet S-22 Convertible in exceptionally nice condition in the Hershey Car Corral several years ago, a red car with black top. Photos of it can be seen at: http://www.conceptcarz.com/valuation/7042/Mercury-Comet.aspx A friend who works on car selection for a nationally prominent show would like to talk to the present owner...anyone know the car or who did/does own it? Thanks!

There was a 1963 Comet S-22 Convertible in exceptionally nice condition in the Hershey Car Corral several years ago, a red car with black top. Photos of it can be seen at: http://www.conceptcarz.com/valuation/7042/Mercury-Comet.aspx A friend who works on car selection for a nationally prominent show would like to talk to the present owner...anyone know the car or who did/does own it? Thanks!

Assume you know that there was a 1952 Skylark show car built by Buick...would be a neat car to reproduce or at least approximate.

Fascinating car. It appears to possibly have closed rear roof quarters (no third window behind the rear door window). But the Model 67 regular sedan did have windows there. Maybe its just the camera angle/shadows. More pics would be great to see. Also chromed grille shell is special and it has neat European headlamps.

Brings to mind a question I've wondered about...are the regular steel Buick rims from the late '30s and '40s date coded? (I've seen date codes on the '53-'55 wire wheels, on the inner portion of the rim.) Thx

NOTE: We are planning to attend the Buick Club of America 50th anniversary meet in Allentown, PA during late July and would prefer to deliver this unit to buyer there. If it has to be shipped, buyer to pay all associated costs. GM-Delco OEM (remanufactured) Magnasteer power rack-and-pinion steering gear, Part No. 26048672. Fits various Buick and other GM cars (see below). Still in GM box. Can't guarantee that it works, but know it has not been on a car since being re-manufactured and has been stored in a dry garage for years. Was re-manufactured by GM around 2001. Have no use for it and need room, so bargain priced at $75.00. Before buying, confirm with your own research that this is the correct part for your car's year and model (contact a dealership parts department, etc.). Cannot guarantee that it will fit your car, even if listed here, as application listings from the web vary. For reference, several (but not all) online listings for part number 26048672 shows this power steering rack fits cars with GM Magnasteer as listed below: Buick LeSabre - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 Buick Park Avenue - 1996 only Oldsmobile 88 - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 Oldsmobile LSS - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 Pontiac Bonneville - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 If interested, contact me through Forum Private Message and I will get back to you.

That will make somebody a real fine 409!

I have a '41 Cadillac fender-mount vacuum antenna packed away somewhere. Have wondered if it is the exact same, generally the same, or completely different from the '41 Buick Convertible unit...any one know? Not for sale at this time, as I'm not sure where it is.

Thanks, Craig!

Several unusual features make this sporty cloverleaf-type roadster a stand-out. Who can tell us the make? Note that the radiator shell is plated or polished to a shine. The hood side panel louvers are in an unusual place. The bottom of the windshield is shaped to fit the cowl, another fairly unusual touch for the period. This image is printed on an "AZO" postcard of the type produced until about 1918. Guessing the car is probably of 1916 to 1920 vintage.

One of my favorite 1930s cars...thanks, Alsancle for starting this thread. Here are some views of an unrestored Convertible that appeared at the 2015 Eyes On Design show here in Michigan...

The catalog illustrations seem to confirm the tinted pic shows a production Model 49 with wire wheels and an after-market accessory top. Thanks!

Thanks for all the helpful and interesting discussion. I think the top is an accessory unit, such as dibarlaw spotted at Hershey. The folding "cape top" over the rear seat, such as seen on the Touring in the color-tinted photo, was characteristic of the horse-drawn open "Victoria" carriage before the appearance of the automobile. The Victoria carriages were prestige designs, used by prominent people who wanted to be seen but protected somewhat from inclement weather. The Victoria style tops seem to have come back into style as an accessory or custom feature for Touring Cars briefly, between about 1915 and 1918, as I've seen several photos of such installations on other makes, including Cadillacs and Marmons (but, like Terry W., I've never seen another Buick with such a top). Typically these Victoria-top cars had a tonneau windshield also installed and several I've seen were probably chauffer-driven. There is a non-Buick Touring Car equipped with the "cape top" visible in that great auto show photo ROD W posted...it is diagonally behind the Buicks, almost in the corner of the building. The cars directly behind the Buicks are Stutz models, but it appears the car with the Victoria top is a smaller make...can't make out the exhibitor name on the lamp post. I believe the top on the color-tinted Buick I originally posted is trimmed in leather, which wasn't uncommon for this type of top, I believe.

Wonderful picture! Seems to demonstrate that the car in my image is essentially a production E-55, except for the accessory Victoria top and tonneau rail or windshield. I agree with Larry, it does look like that is one of the two 1910 Buick "Bugs" down the row. Also notice the very early Buick touring car, ca. 1904-05, which is facing away from the camera behind and to the left in the display. It is impressive to see that Buick was already emphasizing their experience and performance heritage with these older cars. Do you know where the photo was taken?

Terry, it was an online auction find, came to me from a seller here in Michigan. The 1917 New York plate and American flags are the only indication of where it was taken. The radiator emblem and hubcaps are marked only Buick...McLaughlin may have had their own versions? There is a signature and date in white at lower right, but it is so faint I cannot make it out for sure...it may read, "White, '17." No other markings front or back. The 14 x 16-inch original photo was tinted back in the day (the emblem is blue and white) and mounted on paper board. It had been framed at one time.