Thriller

Late start this morning owing to the late stop last night. It was going to be nip and tuck to make it to the hotel booked on Elyria, OH before dark. When the lead car missed the detour sign, it sealed that deal. We waited an hour for them to catch up after an exchange of texts...which they didn't receive until connecting to a wifi. Sigh. Of course it doesn't help that some folks never got to the cell provider to get international text package...which means this trip is getting more expensive. When I phoned I discovered they were 50 miles beyond us. Then they couldn't find the city I'd suggested to shoot for on the map. When they phoned us we had closed the gap to 20 miles. Of course they wanted to stop...again...you wouldn't think they were approaching sundown in a car without functioning headlights. We caught them and got a room in Elkhart, IN. So, we are about ten hours (one has to assume construction delays will kick in) from Allentown and want to be there before five. Happily the continental breakfast starts at five. Showers tonight and setting an alarm or two MAY actually get us on the road by six and to Allentown in time for the game...ideally without us being ready to kill each other. Depending when the game is done relative to sundown, we may be looking for help to get us and some of our stuff to the Best Western Lehigh Valley and leaving the Century there somewhere. Wednesday will be looking for a mechanic or GM dealer to take a look at things. I'm hoping it's just the dimmer switch AND that one is readily available. Otherwise it's going to be a long couple weeks.

Well, the plan to drive three cars 1600 miles each to Allentown was thwarted after an hour. The Wildcat wouldn't start after a stop so got a ride home on a flat deck to the mechanic...which poses some luggage challenges. Four hours to get said flat deck after leaving the house two hours later than I'd wanted led to us getting to our hotel after midnight. Attempting to to switch brights off on the pace car resulted in a lack of headlights...we limped to the hotel. Hopefully no more night time driving will be required but I hope to get dimmer switch and headlight switch looked at. The Reatta has a bit of a bounce to the one headlight too...that got tiresome in my rear view mirror but we have kits and will address that in PA. Two years in a row that a car I started driving didn't get to the show...do I stop driving, limit myself to trailering, or just attend Buick-free...I guess a modern Buick would do. Sigh...grumble. Do be thought through after getting back home.

They printed fine for me...that reminds me, we should pack a magnifying glass.

I took friends out for coffee in the Wildcat this morning and topped up her tank. Then took the pace car out to top it off. The Reatta gets fuel tomorrow. Did some work on pulling things together for the drive. Getting excited and nervous all at the same time.

I'm looking forward to seeing your car Matt. There's an original unrestored Model 90 here in Winnipeg. I owe you a lunch or brew or something for the pace car too.

We went to the local cruise night / show & shine with the Wildcat, pace car, and Reatta. The Manitoba Classic & Antique Auto Club was one of the featured clubs, so we were able to park together. For a time, we were the only Buicks there, but eventually '65 and '67 Riviera showed up, a '72 GS, a '54 LeSabre convertible (I've seen the car before, but couldn't find it after seeing it drive into the lot) were there as well as a Skylark convertible that was outside the show area.

If we attend in one car though, we may be a bit late if the boys decide to take in the Hagerty Test Garage...should know in the next couple days. That program is listed as 1-4 Friday.

It looks like we will be five. At least I get a designated driver or two out of it since the eldest child is 20.

Not the weekend, but I brought the Wildcat in from the country today to give her the once over before we start the long drive east in 2.5 weeks. Before beginning the drive I put the chrome wheels with radials on.

It takes longer to get mail to Canada and we have a potential strike / lockout situation at Canada Post. I hope the confirmation letters all arrive safely and on time.

I drove the Reatta yesterday. It was hot, so I didn't want to wash it at home - took it to the car wash and finished drying in the garage. Suzanne got it dirty today.

A CAA/AAA membership can be pretty handy to go along with that phone. Young, flexible sons can be good to have around too.

Good luck on the repairs Larry...otherwise how will I get to the ice cream shoppe?

This morning I took the '76 pace car to the mechanic to replace wheel nuts - the ones they'd gotten when we put on the red wheels were two piece with caps that would get loose and pop off. There are now solid nuts on there. We also sat Joseph down to go over some stuff since he will be working there for the summer. The household will get back some of the money we've spent there over the last 11 years.

Agreed.

To quote others, DON'T like.

I don't "need" it Brian, but I wouldn't be upset about having a spare...I haven't looked to give an idea on price as yet.

Harder to measure, but many components will fail due to excess current. A short in the circuit could be at fault.

I rearranged the shop today so that the Wildcat is now accessible and the Electra is not so much. Luke also helped with the Electra - first time he's successfully driven one of the old cars (had trouble with the footwork of the clutch with the '41 previously). He will get a lot more practice on the trip to Allentown. Lights all all checked out on the Wildcat. Time to switch wheels, change oil, charge R134a, and do some shakedown.

Do those results include Canada? If not, the number of surviving Reattas would be higher. Depending on the data, I wonder if it also accounts for cars that dealers have that wouldn't currently be registered - I know of one convertible a used car dealer has here for instance.

Congrats and thanks to all for running. Its interesting to to me that I have met / know most of the field. I guess that's what attending national and some local meets, along with spending time here on the forum will do. Not to derail the thread but the longer I'm in this club, the more it is about the people and the adventures along the way - the Buick brand is simple the starting point for bringing us together.

Learning stuff here...cool...retaining is a whole other matter of course.

Thanks Brad. I should have recognized the date code...it's been too long since I've looked at one of these I guess.

Hello everyone. I recently looked at a 1972 Electra for sale locally. I've decided that, while this would be a fabulous road car, we aren't going to purchase it. I have a few photos on my phone, but they aren't on the computer. At any rate, it's a nice car and I told the owner I'd do what I can to research the car and help him find a new steward for it. The reality is that he spends winters in Arizona and much of the summer at the lake cottage, so it isn't being driven very much. So anyway, here's what I've been able to find based on the body data plate: ST72 48239 - 1972 Electra 225 Four door hardtop - there were 19,433 built. The Electra 225 Custom had a more plush interior and standard folding armrest in the front bench - this was more popular FL1 - from what I've found, this seems to be related to the suspension indicating what parts should be attached - I suspect this was standard to the Electra line based on its weight 103583 BD - body number TR 484 - trim code - Covert (Sandalwood) Cloth with Bench Front Seat P 11 11 - paint code for Arctic White upper and lower (I forget the order, but for this car, it doesn't matter since they are the same) 11D - I haven't confirmed A52 - Seat, Front Bench The body data plate was used for reference on the assembly line so that the workers used the right parts / colours / paint. The VIN should be something like 4U39T2H****** 4 = Buick U = Electra 225 39 = 4 door hardtop T = 455 cid engine (U was an optional engine for this car) 2 = 1972 H = assembly plant which could be H (Flint, MI), C (Southgate, CA), G (Framingham, Mass), X (Fairfax, KS), Y (Wilmington, Delaware), or Z (Fremont, CA) Final 6 digits - sequential production number at the assembly plant Please correct any errors or fill in / confirm - in particular, I'd like to verify the FL1 being suspension package and what appears to be 11D. What I believe to be 11D I only found as an RPO code for a Saturn so far, which I know can't be correct. If anyone wants more information on the car, please let me know. It did originate in the USA and came north in the mid-80s. It's had a repaint (I wouldn't have said it was white, but more like an off-white to tan/pale yellow). Then again, my memory could be off and the last time I saw it was in an underground parking garage with artificial lights.

The ICM is faulty and the crank sensor signal is erratic so both are being replaced. Happily, parts are available locally so we should have it on the road by the end of the week.