trimacar

I received a postcard today, too. Don't get it. There are numerous negative comments in the link provided. The postcard, complete with AACA logo, is signed by "Joe Gagliano, President, AACA". One would thus think it's an AACA publication, but that's not the truth. I feel that this is a very poor use of the name and logo of the AACA, in the interest of income for the club, as a cut of the sales. Basically, the club sold the mailing list to this company to make commissions on sales. I call this a very poor decision, with no input from the membership.

Admiration of workmanship, and the basic charter of a club with a specific purpose, are two totally different things, IMHO.

Antique Automobile Club of America. Not street or resto or any other kind of rod or custom, but Antique. That's what I'm in the hobby for, and that's what will keep me in the club. Been a member of Classic Car Club of America since 1976, and seeing a lot of criticism of that club (some deserved) lately, I've questioned my membership. However, for a long, long time, the Club was true to original charter. That's slowly changing, as worries about membership change perspectives, and so the not-so-Classic cars start being added to the list. It's the wrong thing to do. Personal opinion only, the 25 year rule will damage the AACA, as it's not true to the original intent. It's being done for the wrong reason, for membership, and with the thought that's the only way to keep the club strong. All it will do is water down the brew until it's unfit to drink for many. A collector with a Packard isn't going to always show up at an event full of Pintos...... Everyone has their interests, driven by different reasons, but just adding "more" does not a successful club make.

I teased Greg about his turn signals being intermittent. Of course, they're supposed to be, that's their function, and he said he wondered who would catch that joke......

It's not just the TV shows. All the old car magazines are headed that way too. They start out with articles about minor changes to improve "driveability", such as adding disk brakes. Next thing you know, featured cars are restomods, or, in some cases, full blown hot rods. I have nothing against hot rods, and admire the craftsmanship and workmanship. In fact, I subscribe to just one hot rod magazine, a wonderful publication devoted to them, "Rodder's Journal", beautiful photography, great stories, and tales of original rods and finding them. But they are purists too, and DON'T have articles about ORIGINAL ANTIQUE cars. I feel that the two areas of the old car hobby should stay separate. It happens on a local level, too, the local AACA chapter is in a discussion about allowing hot rods to the yearly AACA show. Not appropriate, in my opinion, but just a matter of time before it happens. I'll bet that the rules get more lenient at the National level also, in time, and rods are allowed which are "period correct", not just "period". Me, I'll just sit back and enjoy my original cars, and the only modification on them will be the age of the owner......

One good April Fools was on the PreWarCar website, they were discussing the publication of a book revealing all the Bugatti fakes, an extensive study of each serial numbered car and whether it was real or fake. They apparently had many panic emails about the publication of this book....funny.... As far as the tax goes, even if it was a joke, as someone mentioned, now the seed's been planted.

Yes, they do show up all the time. Not so long ago, I walked into a huge barn full of old cars, and there were 5 unrestored Tbirds, all needing full restorations. The problem is, that you can be given a project, and still spend more than what you can buy a nice restored on for.......with the exception of the dual carb or supercharged models.... I agree, on the highway people just want you out of their way, whether it's a new or old car. When things slow down and you park, you'll get plenty of interest.....

OK, so I know I built up the 1956, so can be accused of prejudice, but do want to point out that due to some changing priorities, my Tbird would be available at $32,000. Red, restored, both tops, automatic and all power, air conditioning added, dress up kit, small spare in trunk, original jack, car is very, very nice and the little things done to make it very nice to drive distances. Have pictures, email me at David.Coco@hphood.com. Car in Winchester Virginia.

The 1955 is nice, the 1956 is a little nicer. For the 56 year, they realized a few things. One, a baby 'bird gets hot inside, and there's little ventilation, so they added the vents on the side of the cowl. Second, they realized there was virtually no trunk space with a trunk spare, so they went to the continental kit, which, while a pain in the arse to take apart if you have a flat, at least gives trunk space (I have a small modern inflatable in my trunk too). Then, a slightly larger engine, a 312 instead of a 292, not a huge deal though. Then, in 57, the styling changed quite a bit, and the car more mirrored the other 57 models from Ford. A lot of people like the styling of the 57 over the two other years. Personally, I like the 56 best, and I've owned on or more examples from each model over the years. They are fairly common, as are Mustangs, so they're somewhat of a "commodity" in that you can shop for color and options you want, and probably find it. I think the general public still likes them a lot, anytime mine's on the road or stopped it's getting glances and/or comments.....they are fun.....

John, thanks for update, and so glad you got to meet Lea. He's been an actor for years, mostly plays in Chicago, some TV, a few low budget movies, this is his "break" into the big time! Heading home today, is there any shooting still going on Thursday? I could bring my Pierce!! Well, may have my question answered, talked to brother about his son, and he said that he thought the shooting was over tomorrow, and the group (they were staying in Washington DC) was heading back to Los Angelos.......oh well.....

John, John, John....oh my....I'm heartbroken.....wish I could have brought a car for the shoot....I have a nephew, Lea Coco, in the movie, as one of the FBI agents..Agent Sisk I believe.....oh man...and here I am stuck in California....glad you got to do it though, bet the Buick will look great in the movie! Ah, man........

I'm looking to upgrade from my 96 Suburban, 2500 4wd 454, with 160K miles. Love my truck but need to buy lower miles. Would like to find a Suburban from 96 on up, 2500 big engine 4 wheel drive, with 85K miles or less. Anyone out there looking to sell such? Northeast or Southeast I can come get it, west of Mississippi would probably look at transport if I can find the right truck. thanks David Coco Winchester Va. David.Coco@hphood.com 540-5331008

Agreed, he had a unique view of the automotive world and his writings were always of interest...sorry to hear of his passing....

Can't tell scale from the pictures, but it looks like a tar-top battery with the top and cells removed. If it's more or less the size of a car battery, then that's what I'd say.....

Hi- my first impression is neat car. My second impression is that it can't be a 1912, it's left hand drive, and I don't think Buick was left hand drive at that point. I'm sure someone can pin down exact year they went to left hand. Neat find and a neat car, would be fun to drive...

OK thanks for explanation Matt....I know the same "inexact" science works on the split window Corvette we have.. I'm not hung up on it, but our car was late 1962, and the codes for all pieces (master cylinder, overflow tank, etc.) have to be the previous two months or so, for inventory and shipping, so I understand.....I wasn't aware that the same issue (or challenge!) existed with Model A. best dc

I have always thought that "matching numbers" was a fairly recent thing, particularly with Corvettes and GM products. This is the first that I've heard of an engine number on a Model A "matching" a cowl number. Would someone please explain. In my humble opinion, this whole matching numbers rigmarole is getting silly, and referencing cars that were never intended to be "numbers matching".

True on the "sterilized" tacks. I sort of apprenticed under a master trimmer, and learned to spit tacks from him. You don't really spit them, you position the next one at the front of your mouth and grab it with magnetized end of hammer. Once you learn you don't even think about it any more.... The problem is when you have extra tacks still in your mouth. He went to the bathroom once, flushed, and then realized he had some tacks left so spit them into the bowl. A tour was going through the restoration shop, a guy walks in to the trim shop a few minutes later. "Wow," he says, "I have new respect for you guys after seeing what's in the bathroom, you guys are TOUGH...." He of course thought it had come form the other end of the trimmer.......

Mark, you're correct on the gasket material. I'm getting ready to put mine back together, and I was told use a piece of notebook paper for a gasket, as that's thin enough. Glad it went to a good home, they're wonderful cars............

Yes, I remember, and feel it is the same car also. I too wonder if the car sold. While it's been modified, it still seems like not a bad buy for a desirable touring car. Finding the original parts is the problem, as I'm sure we discussed. The Model 16 and 17 share major mechanical components, there are differences of course and many fittings and brackets are clearly marked with parts numbers, including the 16 and 17 identification. All told, I've accounted for about 45-50 Model 16-17 Buicks surviving, and it's about half and half on each model surviving. Great tour cars. There are known "weakness" areas. Water pump is mounted on side of engine and if seal leaks water gets into crankcase. Driveshaft can be a problem. Lugs on cylinder jugs are thin, and can break, there were new jugs recently made that solved this problem. Crankcase itself is an aluminum alloy, prone to cracks, there were also new crankcases made not long ago to replace (a friend once told me that there are only two kinds of crankcases on a 16/17, those that are cracked, and those that are getting ready to crack). Great cars.

The later Pierce sedans seem to sell in the 30 to 40K range when they're nice, not sure a limo is that much more valuable. They'll bring a shade more if really perfect, or if a V12. Figure 10K or more to do the interior. There are parts available, not always very inexpensive. Depends on what's missing. If you want a car to drive, you won't find a better engineered car from the time period. Straigt eight with plenty of power, automatic overdrive, a joy to drive......

My 1910 has machine screw and large nut holding, I'd buy a set of these thought, look interesting....

That's a very tough specific trade situation. There's an early Franklin project for sale now in these very forums. My advice would be to put a deposit on that project, then advertise the Great Eagle for the same asking price of the Franklin, that's probably the only way to make such a trade.....good luck....

At this point the family is not planning to have a funeral nor a memorial service.

Question asked about the future of the White Post shop. Billy's son and grandson both work there, his son has been in charge of restorations for a few years while Billy was handling the cylinder sleeving business. They plan to keep the business in the family and in operation.