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Have any of you obtained a reproduction fuel tank for your 1940 Buick Series 40 Special or Series 60 Century? There are three styles offered, with the fuel filler placement varying a bit on each. My '40 Century is in winter storage, so I can't measure it just now. Please see the attachment for the critical measurement and the variation for each tank style. I need to determine which one to order. I assume the other two styles fit 1) Series 50/70 Super/Roadmaster and 2) Series 80/90 Limited. Thanks!

The famous 1936 McLaughlin Buick 90 series limousine built for King Edward VIII sold yesterday (Dec. 3) at a Bonhams auction for, depending on the news report you read, $185,000 - $205,000. Globally, it is probably the most famous Buick ever. The pre-auction estimates were only $80,000-$100,000 for this one-off, 43,000-mile car! A number of the news reports on Google are identifying the car as a 1934 Buick, but I saw photos and it is definitely the King's '36 McLaughlin Limited, with its formal closed rear quarters and all the special features he had built into the car. None of the stories identified the buyer. Whoever they are, they got a great car and are to be congratulated.

Just ran across this topic and have a couple of additional comments... Here's a photo of then senator LBJ and Lady Bird crossing the Pedernales river in their '34 Ford Phaeton hunting car. The picture was taken in 1959. The Ford apparently survives at the Johnson Ranch and is mentioned in the National Park Service page Dave Moon provided the link to above. According to the text on the NPS page, the Ford was equipped with, "a Lincoln-Zephyr engine" and had other modifications. Photo credit: LBJ Library Photo by Frank Muto. Harry Truman bought a pair of 1941 Chryslers new while he was a Senator...a Royal Club Coupe and Windsor Sedan. Restored examples of both cars can be seen at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, Independence, MO. Truman bought the original pair new on Nov. 9, 1940...there is an image of the original sales contract on the Truman Library website. See a photo of the two cars at: http://www.trumanlibrary.org/cars/carslib.htm

Stuart... Based on your comments and those of others, I've done some additional web research and now believe that the couple in the car are HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and wife...Prince Henry was the Governor General of Australia during 1945-47. The photo may have been taken at a welcoming celebration parade, or perhaps a WWII Victory parade? I've added this information and a few more comments regarding the car to the discussion of this topic over in the "What Is It" form, and also put a link to your '36 photo there. Thank you for posting the photo of the "survivor" '36 80C Phaeton...great photo of a great car. There is considerable probability that it is the same car.

Thanks to various comments and some more web research, we have found a possible explanation for where and (about) when the picture was taken and who the distinguished passengers may be: In 1945, HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, became Governor-General of Australia. He was the future Queen Elizabeth's uncle. His wife, the Duchess of Gloucester, was formerly Lady Alice Christabel Montagu-Douglas-Scott, There is a photo of him and his wife taken in 1945 at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3695705 The woman in the car and the Prince's wife appear to very likely be the same person. So, I believe that the photo may be of the Governor General, accompanied by his wife, either arriving to take up his duties at Melbourne or in a parade for some other reason, ca. 1945. Since the crowd of onlookers is almost all women and children, I had wondered if it could be a wartime, or end-of-the-war photo. Meanwhile, Stuart Syme, Buick Owners Club of Western Australia, has posted a great recent photo of what may be this very car. To view the photo, hop to the Pre-War Buick General forum or go to: http://forums.aaca.org/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/467852#Post467852 Note that, as in the original photo, the existing car does not have an outside rear view mirror. However, I do see one difference...the car in the original photo does not have wheel trim rings, or they were painted wheel color (it is hard to tell from the photo). Then again, how many '36 Roadmaster phaetons could there have been in Melbourne? Trim rings could have easily been added later. Thanks again.

Thanks to all for the observations... West, under digital magnification at 600 dpi, it is evident there is a small, dark colored flag flying above the left front fender...there is a trace of a design in the center of it, and the shape appears to possibly be a crown (see new image). Also, viewing the image in a larger format, it is clear that there is a man beside the woman in the rear seat...his face is obscured by the driver, but part of his light-colored military uniform is evident. Interestingly, there are several segments of movie film on You Tube showing Queen Elizabeth II in a (per the movie poster) 1954 Royal tour at Melbourne. She arrives at her destination in a huge Royal Daimler open car...no sign of the Buick there! I'm also still fairly certain the object sticking up at the center of the front bumper is crown-shaped. BTW, the width of the image of the car in the original photo print is less than two inches across...amazing what a scanner can do!

Wondering if any correspondents from Australia or that region of the world might be able to identify the couple riding in this RHD Buick, and/or know when/where the photo was taken. (I've also posted it to "What is It" forum). Thanks.

Here is a photo from my collection of a royal couple, presumably British, riding in a 1936 McLaughlin Buick Roadmaster phaeton with right-hand drive. A crown emblem is attached to the front bumper. Web research suggests the flags in the foreground are Australian. The photo came from the estate of a man who worked for Chrysler in what is now Indonesia. Does anyone know what the occasion may have been and who is riding in the car? Thanks!

Nice pair of old cowl lights, the kind that mounted on a bracket and were secured with a nut, it appears. These were popular around 1930 on several kinds of cars. Can't find any letters or numbers on them anywhere. But notice the pattern in the glass lense is very distinctive - the middle channels break near the top to form a "Y" in the glass. I've thought they might be Hudson, Buick, Willys-Knight? Thanks for looking!

The starter tries to engage on my '40 Century if I add any significant throttle when it is not fully warmed up. I believe the problem is in the vacuum switch that should cut out the starter once the car is started. The Shop Manual gives a procedure for checking the switch calibration (not a simple process), but that was for a new car. I'm wondering if the vacuum operation of the switch is the problem. I know a lot of the older "tap start" cars have been changed to push-button starter buttons over the years, but it doesn't seem to me like a real Buick Eight if it starts that way! Any suggestions on how to proceed welcomed.

I've looked at dozens of 1937 Buicks over the past 40 years and all but perhaps two had painted tail lamp housings. The 1929-1942 Master Parts Book also lists only one pair of RH/LH part numbers for housings for the the respective 1937 models, suggesting they came in only one condition, and that would have been unplated, in my opinion and based on extensive observation. However, both dealers and owners could have had some plating done when cars were new and/or later. I did once see an old photo of a 1938 Special Convertible that clearly had plated taillamp and headlamp housings. The car couldn't have been more than a couple of years old, but I'm sure the plating was done in the aftermarket. The Model 68 is an unusual high-performance model, it could have been owned by someone who had some custom touches added--a week later or 30 years later. But I think the plated housings would be frowned upon by most purists. Interestingly, the pre-war Master Parts book DOES list wheels with chromed center and primed outer rim as available for the 1937 Series 60 Buick (and other series with different part numbers). I believe the BCA Judging manual also acknowledges the partially chromed wheels.

Nice trio there, 57plymouth. Hope you make it to Tulsa. I was just looking at www.buriedcar.com the other night, has lots of photos of the '57 Belvedere when new and even a newsreel-type movie showing it right before it was buried in Tulsa 50 years ago. Also, be sure to check out the current Collectible Automobile, which has a super story by Chrysler designer Jeff Godshall about the 1957 Chrysler Corporation cars; it discusses the Plymouths in depth. I have a '57 Plymouth story myself: My sister acquired a new red-and-white 1957 Plymouth Custom Suburban wagon when I was eleven...a great car and I rode many a mile in the rear-facing "Spectator" third-seat with friends. But the car soon came to a bad end. In August, 1958, the wagon was totaled when it was picked up by a small tornado while we were traveling down a two-lane highway on a late afternoon in August. This was near Udall, Kansas--which had all but been totally destroyed in 1955 by an "F5" tornado that killed more than 80 residents. The much smaller twister that hit my sister's car carried it through the air for about half a city block before gently depositing it, upside down, in a wheat field. Amazingly, my sister, her toddler daughter, our mother, I and a close friend were all OK. The driver's door had come open while we were airborne and my sister was thrown out...but she hung onto the steering wheel, which bent around about 90 degrees to the left, but didn't break. As the car started to come down, upside down, it tilted to the right and she fell back in. Just as we landed in the soft field, my mother went out the right side front window, preceded by my sleeping niece, who had been sleeping on her lap. Incredibly, the kid slept through the whole thing; I swear! By the time we got everyone out and walked back up to the road, the sun had come out and the storm was moving off to the east. The Plymouth's body and chassis were twisted and the car had severe roof damage, it was beyond repair. They replaced it a few weeks later with a new '59 Pontiac Catalina wagon, same colors--red with white top. My brother-in-law put the '57 Plymouth's full wheel covers on the Pontiac, and subsequently moved them to a '63 Catalina sedan that followed the wagon. There aren't many '57 Plymouths around today, as you know, and now you know what happened to one that didn't survive. Allcars

Looking for '78 Olds 350 4-bbl. manifold with or without carb. Need a good clean manifold and can pick up in SE Michigan/Northern Ohio.. Thanks

Indeed they do! I drove four blocks to my NAPA store, ordered them and had them by 4 p.m. today. Only $3.00 each, too. Thanks for the tip ... I had looked all over the web without success.

This is for my '40 Century: Any ideas where I can get a pair of 6v 32cp, single-contact bulbs for the trunk lid-mounted turn signals? I believe they are type number 1133. I'm in the Detroit area. Thanks.

The car is a 1939 Plymouth convertible coupe. The vent windows are characteristic of the 1939 Plymouth and 1940 Chrysler Corp. convertibles. The engine ventilation louvers indicate '39 Plymouth.

In 1974 I bought a beautiful Temple Gray 1955 Buick Century convertible in Los Angeles (for $500!). It had a large and colorful enamelled Tahiti Motor Club badge on the deck lid, featuring palm trees and the ocean beach. I no longer recall if the club name was spelled out in English or French. Supposedly, the original owner, a motion picture photographer, had shipped the car to Tahiti at some time while working on a film. The car also had a Beverly Buick Co. tag frame on it. Regretably, I sold the '55 about 18 months later to facilitate the purchase of a pre-war phaeton. Not long after that, the '55 was struck in the rear by a large motorcycle traveling at high speed. Both the Tahiti badge and tag frame were destroyed, I was told. Although I've since owned many interesting cars, the '55 Century remains one of my favorites (and my wife has NEVER forgiven me for selling it). We would love to have a Tahiti Motor Club badge or a Beverly Buick Co. tag frame as a remembrance of the Century. Any leads appreciated. Also, would like to know more about the Beverly Buick Co., if anyone remembers that dealership. Oh, and of course if you happen to have a '55 Century Convertible for sale, we'd like to know about that, too. Thanks.

Sold a 1950 car to a friend in Ohio. Now my friend is afraid the police will take his car when he gets it inspected because the (motor) number on the title doesn't match the serial number plate on the left door jamb.Car has been titled with the motor number since new in Kansas, December 1950. Car had been registered by motor number in Kansas, Tennesee, Georgia and Michigan over the years. When I brought it to Michigan it was no big deal, the police officer inspecting the vehicle listened to me explain it was titled to the motor number, he checked the motor number on the block, saw it matched the Georgia title that came with the car and that was that. According to NHTSA website, the national Vehicle ID number system came in 1954 ... before that many states used motor number on titles, others used serial numbers (including Ohio, I assume). A lot of state motor vehicle dept. websites I looked at still note that 1954 and earlier cars may have motor numbers on titles. But my friend was told that if the State Patrol inspects the car and the number doesn't match the serial number, it will be impounded. My question is, has anyone dealt with this issue successfully with the state of Ohio, and if so, how did you do it? Thanks!

Have been asked to find a '57 Buick Super Model 53 4-door hardtop TODAY, August 23, for photo reference for an Agency photo shoot. They need (or possibly can have a photographer come take) a high-resolution digital image of the "Super" script nameplate on the rear door. If you have such a vehicle and can provide a high-resolution image, or live in the southeastern Michigan area and could work with a photographer today to take such a photo, please respond. Again, this has to be the Super script on the side of a model 53 4-door hardtop (the convertible and 2-door hardtop do not have the script needed). Thanks. Email me directly if you can help: tboyce@cecom.com

Matt ... I have replied to your posting via the private message function. Please let me know if you do not receive it through the website. Best, Allcars.

Regarding your '53 Roadmaster wagon ... I once owned this car and it was indeed a tow car for a drag car. A long-time friend of mine put the standard trans in it in the 1960s. Regretably, he passed away a couple of years ago. I also once owned one of the cars it towed, a black (originally Bandolier Blue) 1940 Century Model 66C Coupe, which at one time had a full-race '48 Roadmaster engine in it. My friend lived in Maize, Kansas, near Wichita, when he was building and racing Buicks. He was also a Packard enthusiast and restored numerous beautiful examples of that marque. He sold the wagon sometime in the '70s, I believe, to a man who lived in Montezuma, out in western Kansas. We bought it out there in 1980. The engine had been rebuilt, but was locked up for some reason. Shortly after we got it, a professional move took us to Florida and we sold the wagon in Kansas before leaving. The '40 Century coupe -- body #29 of 96 built -- went to the Bob Blake collection in Arizona in 1974. Bob Blake also recently passed away and I don't know what became of the '40. We have posted a photo of the '53 taken in 1980 to the Photo Gallery. Also, a photo of the 1940 Century coupe, taken in 1974. Just go to the Buick section of the photo gallery and search for 1953 or 1940 to view. 4-Speed, the '53 looks great today. We're glad to know it survived, has an appreciative owner and that it remains in Wichita, our hometown. Allcars Mt. Clemens, Michigan 1940 Century 66C Convertible Coupe

Thomas Sunday brought my '40 Buick from Virginia to Michigan for me last winter. They were prompt, courteous and very competitive on price. They were also very careful with the car. I've used a number of carriers over the years, both large and small operations, and they were as good as any I've worked with.

Centurion ... Around 1984, I ran across a 1961 Buick Invicta Custom 4-door hardtop parked at a tourist attraction somewhere in central Florida. It was Newport Silver top and bottom and had a red leather interior. It carried Invicta Custom badges on the front fenders, as I recall. The car was in excellent condition, with the silver paint still retaining a nice shine. The color and trim combination gave it a rich and rather European appearance. I've looked at thousands of interesting cars in my life, and this one still stands out in my memory. I've often wondered if it survived. My 1961 Buick Features and Facts book seems to indicate the front and rear fold-out armrests were available with Custom trim, but were an additional option. I don't recall if the car in Florida had them or not. It would be nice to see pictures of the Fawn/Cordovan Invicta Custom. Thanks for bringing up this attractive and interesting Buick -- it will be interesting to see if any other "sightings" are reported.

So, the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach coverage started last Thursday night and I wanted to watch right from 8 p.m. on. But, my wife had been off work all week and I needed to pay some attention to her, as well. Solution? Let's play Scrabble! We can enjoy the game together and I can watch the auction while she's thinking about her next play (she takes her time, our games are hard-fought battles). While we're setting up the board, I make a little car joke ... "If I can spell BUICK, I get 50 points, right?" OK, she agrees. But, of course, the deal goes both ways. I draw the lowest tile to start the game and my opening word is, "DUCT." I shift my attention to the TV, expecting to see a car or two sell while she thinks over her word. But, she's already playing it! Quick as can be, she throws down her letters: B (U) I C K. When it's all over, I lose the game by 17 points. Scary, isn't it?

Mercedes-Benz typically offered multiple Cabriolet styles on many series during the 1930s. In one brochure recently offered on eBay, the Cabriolet "A" was described as a convertible coupe with no rear seat and door windows only. Cabriolet "B" was more like what we think of as a modern convertible, with rear-quarter windows and a rear seat. Cabriolet "C" was, I believe, a 2-door 5-passenger convertible with closed rear quarters and a rear seat. Cabriolet "D" was the 4-door convertible style. All of the Mercedes brochures I've seen spell "Cabriolet ? with a "C," even when written in German. I also have seen an ad from a 1933 Berlin newspaper for the 1933 Chevrolet with Glaser Cabriolet body, again spelled with a "C" and not a "K."