Thriller

One of the local restaurants and an automotive writer worked up getting Dennis Gage of My Classic Car up here on Sunday. There was a brunch (although it started at noon...doesn't that make it lunch?), which I attended. Dennis spent some time wandering around the room spending a couple minutes at each table and when he came to me he noted the Buick Wildcat shirt I was wearing. That was the conversation starter as one of the rare family vacations he had as a youngster was when he was 12 - his father borrowed a '65 Wildcat and they drove across country to the Yellowstone / Yosemite part of the world. It brought a smile to both our faces. At any rate, it left me with the impression of a genuine man who has been a car guy all his life. As the weather was a bit rainy, I had driven my freshly waxed '75 Electra to the restaurant and now it needs to be washed. Before we wound up around 2:00, the skies were clearing and the roads were drying. As the cruise night started around 5:00, I was watching the weather radar, and looking at the roads to determine whether I'd take the Electra again or the '54 Century. Things looked good, so I decided to take the 54-69. It turns out that was one of the wisest decisions I've made. This cruise usually draws a couple hundred cars every Sunday night from May to late September / early October. Poor Dennis was being pulled every which way for photos with cars and autographs. As he went by the one time, he said, "love the wagon, awesome car". Later, he was nearby again and when he could break free, he made a beeline for the Buick. I asked him if he wanted to sit in the captain's chair for a photo and he obliged. I got the one shot with him up close. Another couple of fellows with expensive cameras were taking shots of the car at the time, got my e-mail address, and I got those photos today - one of them is the one of the whole car with Dennis in it. I chatted a bit with Dennis before he was forced to move on. Now, every Sunday night, there is a Cruiser of the Week chosen, who gets a plaque. On this night, Dennis was allowed to choose the car he liked the best. I was straining to hear the speaking, but a hopped up engine running nearby was drowning it out and I was sort of engaged in a conversation that I couldn't break away from. A friend came by later asking how my hearing was...my response was "what?" He told me that my car had been chosen. I made my way toward the DJ area, where Willy (Winnipeg Free Press Autos dude) snagged me and formally introduced me to Dennis. Willy told me to pick up my plaque at the DJ and I asked them to come over to the car so we could get a photo. I'm not big on autographs, but I got Dennis to sign the plaque (which a friend noted to me is an "Australian GS" - mirror image with the hood tach on the right side). I'm still pretty excited. There will likely be something in Friday's paper...once I find it I can link it in here. A lot of people came by and were interested in the car. You just don't see a lot of these around. It was an enjoyable evening to say the least and may have just made my summer.

I think the one on the right is from the '70s...that's the same emblem as on my '75 Electra.

Very nice Rob. I've been working on my the paint on my '75 this week, so really appreciate the lines. The deck lids look very similar, if not identical, at least in style, if not dimension.

The paint looks great...I love the reflections.

Buick Green is another name for it. It is definitely not a blue nor turquoise. Mike is correct about the years. I did see that either POR-15 or Krylon listed a Buick Green among their paints, but I don't know how "correct" it is and have not yet taken the plunge to buy a spray can to test.

I trained in electrical engineering, so I understand things generally, and it makes sense that everything would be micro. I was just curious about the use of the "M" on the capacitors...that threw me off a bit...milli and micro both start with m, but today we use the mu to represent micro (such as in the photo of the modern capacitor) and m for milli. It's all good information.

Just a note of caution from what I have heard, not from experience. You may need to be prepared to do the entire installation yourself, including the anchors. As with everything these days, the lawyers got involved and due to liability issues, some shops won't touch them. That being said, one would expect hot rod shops to be a bit more inclined to do so as they are more typically starting from scratch. It seems to me there was another company - Snake Oyl or something like that - that sold seat belts. Good luck.

Good post. I'm interested in the markings between milliFarads and microFarads. I know today we use m and mu (or u to simplify printing). If they used M for micro in the '50s, did they use lower case m for milli? Or is the nature of the beast such that they were all micro? Thanks.

Congrats on leaving the oil filter the correct colour. Now, as for correctness of colour, we need to stop belly-aching about every slight difference. First of all, the colour as captured by a camera (with flash?) and displayed on a computer may not be exactly as you would see it with your eyes in natural light. Secondly, anyone who thinks there was no variation in colour at the assembly plants needs to have their heads examined. Variations in temperature and humidity affect paint. Different lots affect paint. Paint 60 years ago is not the same as paint of today. Another point is that fresh paint will continue to cure and change a bit over time. It will change a bit as the engine is used and heat will have some impact on the colour. Unfortunately, from a BCA 400 point judging perspective, it seems many have decided that the Hirsch paint is the only acceptable correct shade. For my '66 Wildcat, they cleaned up a part and used the original paint to colour match. I have a photo of it completed on an engine stand before it went into the car. That photo (in artificial light with flash) looks very much to me like what the colour should be. However, now, in the car, it is a darker colour (especially compared to everyone else who has used Hirsch paint). I don't deny that it is a darker shade, but the end result was a mandatory deduction in Colorado, which cost the car a silver award. Rant mode off.

Looks good Grant.

I believe it should have had a fabric covering. My '41 does and it is only 3 years newer. From that perspective, it is best to paint the repaired metal to protect it, then cover it. Vendors like SMS, LeBaron Bonney, or Hampton Coach would likely be able to outfit you with correct style fabric, although you would need to confirm what that is with a '38 owner. I do know that there are differences depending on whether the car has sidemounts or a spare in the trunk (then there is a shelf above the spare). Good luck.

Happy Annual Getting Old Day!

Thanks for sharing Chuck. I'd love to get a good look at that '66 Wildcat, among others.

Very nice...congrats.

Whimper. I wonder if my lottery numbers will come through this weekend. If I remember correctly, they've had it for a while.

No problem Rich...it pretty much hasn't changed, except for the name. I was actually most disappointed a couple years back when they dropped the pre-1930 cars though. I can see that they wouldn't have many examples, but for those of us with earlier cars, it makes it harder to track what the value is doing.

The magazine isn't called "Old Cars Price Guide" any more (unless they changed it back). It is now "Old Cars Report Price Guide"...I guess that isn't much different, but for those of us who buy them off the shelf occasionally, it was a bit of a surprise.

There's also Collector Car & Truck Market Ultimately, I always look at a few since some always seem to be consistently higher (or lower) than others. Another thing to keep in mind is that some sites simply don't list older cars. I think the one I linked above is strictly post-war.

Well, I'm not sure what is going to happen...part of the issue is that Joseph keeps changing his mind on which one is his favourite. Of course, if there was a '59 in the stable he'd be all over it. I suppose we'll need to discuss it someday...of course Suzanne may have some say in it too. At least now there are 6 drivers and 3 children, so it divides evenly.

I hope that someone at least takes a look. We got our '75 this spring and are really enjoying it. These are great cars.

Cool. Sorry for the scare. I had never realized that...learn something every day. I just thought it had possibly been another customized piece on the car.

Congrats Jerry, that's a neat looking car. As for the tail light treatment, the tail light looks generally correct for '56, but normally, I believe the chrome was deeper (probably 2 inches give or take) whereas yours appears to be quite thin. I wouldn't have thought the large series car would have been that much different than the small series. I'm not sure I'm making sense - look at the photo of my Special and you should see what I mean.

I should see it in about 2 weeks or so...

Good job Sid. Um, Larry, did you find another one? Sigh. How am I ever to get one if you keep getting them all? :cool:

ok