allcars

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.

Just finished digitally restoring this photo, which was badly torn and cracked when I got it. I'm betting those of you who know these early Buick tourings well may be able to tell me more about this circa 1917-18 example. In addition to the wire wheels and obvious non-standard "Victoria" half-top (a type that was briefly in vogue around that time), it seems to have some custom body work, specifically around the upper body. It has something on the front seat back cowl that I first thought was a flip-up windshield, but might that be a "parade bar"? It bears a 1917 New York license plate and proudly carrying a pair of American flags—which may indicate the photo was taken after the US entered World War I.

Searching online for old Buicks for sale today, came across this '31...looks very nice in the picture, and it's a rare one: http://niwotauction.com/dynapage/IP6968.htm Set to cross the block on Friday, Jan. 1.

Saw this '41 Special for sale ad posted on the bulletin board at a place in Clawson, MI the other night. It's a mid-year A-body Sedan, a sort of scaled-down 118" wheelbase version of the Super/Roadmaster C-body Sedans. Don't know anything about the owner, or the car, or how negotiable the price is, but here it is...

I remember seeing an online posting for a '40 Series 62 Coupe such as your friend's for sale several years ago—the story was that the original owner had the single jump seat custom installed for his dog, who rode in the rear area. Think the car was in western Canada or the Northwestern U.S.. Could be a different car, of course.

I have received my copy of “The Smile that Lasted a Lifetime,” and truly enjoyed reading it. Here's a mini-review: This novelized memoir tells the story of a car-obsessed kid whose early fascination with the family 1939 Buick puts him on the road to becoming a very active participant in the collector car world. Any veteran car hobbyist will relate to the authentic experiences, characters and challenges recounted in the book—and for those who have more recently become involved in the hobby, it provides great insights into the evolution of car collecting. The numerous cars that play a part are described with pinpoint accuracy. Making it all the more compelling, the story is told in the context of an American family's multi-generational life experiences, during the period from just before World War II to the near present. Written in third-person narrative form, this is an entertaining and easy book to read. I understand a very few copies may still available from Earl's co-author...see messages above for email address to use for inquiries as to remaining availability.

Dynaflash8, If you still have a copy of the book, I'll buy it. Sending PM. Thx

Here's one of my favorite Hershey photos. It's from the year of the big mud, 1976. Care to guess what was going on? My wife says the officer was telling our crabby friend Bob L. to "back right in, over there by the portajohns." I say he was directing us to our space, when he spotted someone looking at another toy truck he had his eye on...he's thinking, "Oh, no, put it down...don't buy it!" Whatever, have to appreciate the comined efforts of all those who make Hershey happen. Won't be there this year, but have been many times since 1974 and looking forward to next year.

Just saw a white '55 Super Convertible for sale yesterday along the road here in Michigan. Looked at a quick glance to be in fairly good presumably driving condition, but needed body redone...might make a great "mate" to this car. Couldn't stop to look closer, so didn't get the contact info, price, etc. Might be able to find out more if anyone is interested.

The Greenfield Village Old Car Festival was a super show show this year, and all the wonderful cars and trucks driving around made it all the more so. Here's a shot I snapped there while walking around with my family and then converted to black & white...an authentic 1920s traffic jam!

Just curious if anyone else noticed that the partially disassembled '31 Model A Cabriolet purchased by Mike Wolfe during the August 5 episode of American Pickers appeared to be a slant windshield 68C. I thought about this discussion when I saw it! He got it in New Mexico, from the daughter of a deceased Model A collector. It was a bundle buy, if I remember correctly...the Pickers also got a '28 or '29 Roadster in the deal. No idea what becomes of the cars they buy. The episode—titled "Space Oddities"—is probably watchable online somewhere.

I was skeptical of this unique Roadmaster's connection to GM Styling and Harlow Curtice, too. But, I became more convinced that the car could be legitimate when a friend, who briefly owned it several years ago, showed me its hydraulic power vent windows. Only one other car I've ever seen or heard of had hydraulic power vent windows, and that is the 1949 Cadillac Coupe de Ville prototype built by GM for their 1949 Waldorf Astoria "Transportation Unlimited" show. (http://blog.consumerguide.com/photo-feature-1949-cadillac-coupe-de-ville-show-car/) It is hard to believe that a private owner, or even a coachbuilder, would go to the engineering lengths required to install such a special feature into the Buick, especially before the car would have had any value in the collector world. In the context of its times, the car's connection to GM and Harlow Curtice seems plausible in other ways. First off, consider that padded formal tops were quite in vogue on limousines around 1950. Derham installed such tops for dealers and individual owners on numerous cars around that time. Chrysler offered a Derham top by factory special-order for their 1951 Chrysler town sedan/limousines; several step-down Hudson limos with Derham tops were built around that time, one, a 1951 model, being used by Hudson's president. Not long ago, a 1950 Lincoln sedan with custom closed quarters and a Derham top was offered on the AACA message board. It is documented that GM built a one-off 1949 Cadillac limousine with padded top on a stretched Series 62 chassis (not a Series 75). It's certainly at least conceivable that Curtice, who was fiercely loyal to Buick and according to one old timer, "always had something special about his cars," could have had a padded-top Buick limo built for his use. Next, recall that, during 1950-51, GM was building the LeSabre concept car for its design chief, Harley Earl, and the Buick XP-300 for Buick (later GM) chief engineer Charles Chayne. It's worth noting that Chayne was a big proponent of hydraulic systems at the time. His 1951 XP-300 was in many ways an exercise in the utilization of such systems. It seems reasonable to think he might have wanted to make even the vent windows hydraulically controlled in Curtice's limo. Here's one last thought, and it's admittedly pure speculation, about how the limo came to be a used car in Chicago. Curtice was known to hand his custom Buicks off to favored friends and suppliers. For example, the 1940 Buick Townmaster town car by Brunn was for a time reportedly used by Arthur Kudner, whose Chicago-based ad agency created the dynamic advertising that helped Curtice revive Buick in the late 1930s. Kudner died in 1944, but his Chicago agency retained the Buick account through 1958. Is it possible that the car was perhaps first used by Curtice, and then perhaps updated and channeled to the Kudner Agency in Chicago...where it was known to have first been spotted by a Buick collector many decades ago?

Very nice story on Doraville, Lamar—thanks for sharing it with us in the Bugle. The red '66 Impala SS Sport Coupe parked in the garage next to our '40 Roadmaster was built at Doraville the first week of April, 1966. It's great to know so much more now about its "place of birth."

It would be great to see the Townmaster at Allentown! Regarding the 1940 and/or 1941 Brunn Roadmaster convertibles...it was reported in the New York Times on May 26, 1940 that a Buick "Brunn body custom sports roadster on a standard Series 70 chassis [was] on order for Hood Bassett, son of the late Harry F. Basset." This would have been the car based on a 1940 Model 76C. There was also at least one 1941 Brunn Roadmaster with similar styling. Another report from the period indicates that Hood Bassett and several others were involved in a car wreck in Cuba "between Christmas and New Years, 1940-41." Mr. Basset apparently lived in the Miami area, so he might have been driving his '40 Buick when the Cuban accident occured. That bit of speculation leads to a totally unsupportable, but still intriguing possibility, that the '41 Brunn 76C carried the 1940 body, or was built as a replacement for the earlier car. Here's an old PR photo of the 1941 Brunn Roadmaster. I wrote the 1979 Special-Interest article that is referenced in the recent summary of Brunn Buick customs, and the story that this car burned up on a North Dakota highway around 1958 was related directly to me in the 1970s by a pre-war Buick collector/enthusiast from Fargo. He told me he'd owned the car while still a teenager and that it was burned beyond repair. Attached is an old PR image of the 1941 Brunn Roadmaster "custom sports roadster"...

Here's a drawing from the 1940 shop manual that I've annotated to identify the parts. The only thing that "ties down" the cover is the turnbuckle on the inner partial sidewall of the cover. There should be a hole in the cover that the upper hook goes into, and the lower hook goes through a slot at the upper inner edge of the fender well. As the tire is suspended by the braces when installed in the well, the cover slips over it and is then adjusted for tightness using the turnbuckle...you loosen the turnbuckle enough to unhook it when the cover needs to be removed. The '40 Special/Century is very similar but seems to have an additional positioning piece unrelated to the cover. Best,

Just had lunch today with a guy who told me he has an excellent '58 Buick grille he bought in California years ago that he's ready to sell. Haven't seen it. He's not on the forums, but if there's interest, will see if he can provide more details. He knows his car stuff, so it may be a nice one.

Snowy days are indeed good for thinking about Buick's remembered...thanks for starting this thread, Paul. Lots of fun, friends and adventures in every one of these lists, I'm sure. The count here is 42, starting with a 63,000-mile one-owner 1950 Super Convertible, bought for $25 in 1967. The '40 Roadmaster Convertible is the only one we still have. Most were in good "used car" condition, only a few restored, and a few were parts cars. Some we had for months, others for years. A few I've kept track of, most not...I hope that they are all still out there, somewhere. Attached is a scan of my 1965 Buick Collectors Club of America membership card (predecessor of the BCA, which was founded in 1966). I was 16 when I joined the BCCA. 1930 Series 30 Marquette Roadster ("junior" Buick) 1931 Series 90 8-96 5-Pass Coupe 1933 Series 90 Meteor Ambulance—converted to pick-up 1934 Series 60 68C Conv. Phaeton—body only 1937 Century 66S Sport Coupe 1939 Special 41 Sedan 1939 Century 66C Conv. Coupe 1940 Special 46C Conv. Coupe 1940 Century 66C Conv. Coupe 1940 Century 66S Sport Coupe 1940 Roadmaster 71C Conv. Sedan 1940 Roadmaster 76C Conv. Coupe 1940 Buick Limited 90 8-Pass Sedan 1940 Limited 90 8-Pass Sedan—ex-USAAF 1941 Roadmaster 76C Conv. Coupe 1947 Roadmaster 76S 2-Dr. Sedanette 1947 Roadmaster 76C Convertible 1948 Roadmaster 76S 2-Dr. Sedanette 1949 Super 51 Sedan 1949 Roadmaster 76R Riviera Hardtop Coupe 1950 Super 56C Convertible 1950 Roadmaster 76C Convertible 1952 Roadmaster 72R Riviera Sedan 1953 Roadmaster 76R Riviera Hardtop 1953 Roadmaster 79 Estate Wagon 1953 Skylark 76X Convertible—blue (orig. white) 1953 Skylark 76X Convertible—green 1953 Skylark 76X Convertible—Mandarin Red 1955 Special 46C Convertible 1955 Century 66R Riviera Hardtop Coupe 1955 Century 66C Convertible 1956 Century 66C Convertible 1957 Special 46C Convertible 1957 Roadmaster 76C Convertible 1961 Electra 225 Convertible 1964 Riviera Sport Coupe 1964 Skylark Sedan 1970 LeSabre Sedan 1970 GSX Sport Coupe—4-speed 1970 GSX Sport Coupe—Stage 1 4-speed 1971 Centurion Sport Sedan 1988 Estate Wagon

FYI, I think I still have a pair of '39 Series 40 moldings for running boards (the streamboards are different). However, they are buried in the garage, with two stored cars blocking them, and it will be mid-January at earliest before I can try to get to them. The moldings are in very nice condition (one may be NOS) and I can provide more photos after getting them out. I have made no attempt to polish them. It is very difficult to put a value on these, so I will probably put them on Ebay. I will advise if and when that happens. Meanwhile, here are photos for your reference.

Here you go...

Our 1940 Roadmaster 76C.

Matt, the asking price is $150. Thanks.

Probably made in the early 1980s, this antique car wall sculpture is signed by artist Paul D. Wellington. We've had it for more than 25 years, but no longer have a place to hang it. My wife liked to load the "roof rack" with miniature wrapped presents for the Christmas Holidays. The car is a well-detailed and generally accurate representation of a 1906-1910 era limousine. From headlamp to tail light, it measures about 34 inches. Height is 19 inches. It is about 3.5 inches deep. The weight is nearly 14 lbs. I'm planning to be on the grounds at Hershey on Thursday and Friday and at the car show on Saturday morning. Could possibly meet up with buyer to deliver at Hershey. May ship if need be, with buyer paying shipping and packaging costs (my zip code is 48043). Asking $150 for this professionally done decorative antique car wall hanging.

And it all started for me with this "cream puff" Verde Green 1940 Super 56S that my dad bought in Wichita, Kansas during 1951. I was four; that's me standing beside the Buick. My mother always said they bought it because I wrapped my arms around the front bumper at the car lot and hollered until they agreed to take it home. I did love that car. My dad had owned two other 1940 Buicks before this one; a new Century Sedan and—after he returned from WWII—a used Super Sedan that was the car that I came home from the hospital in after my birth in 1947. So, I imagine he had more to do with making the decision to buy the Super coupe than I did. I still think the 1940-41 GM C-body cars are some the most beautifully styled of all GM cars.