Thriller

Yes John...that would be what led to my confusion about Marck's comment...I thought he was talking about my car, which qualifies, but he was talking about his, which would not. I like all the cars together. That way nobody feels left out by parking in another location, particularly if it is far enough or separate enough that spectators or participants might miss seeing some interesting cars. As a judge myself, the complaint about having "extra" cars in the class making it harder to find, that is what the different colour (note correct spelling ) window cards are for. Judges, particularly team captains, should quickly be able to determine which cars they are to judge with entry numbers and all. It isn't rocket science. Some people just like to complain (been there and done that myself, still working on improving).

Mike, Nah, I'd better not touch it old man....

John, If you think tools are expensive, consider when the "addiction" leads you to purchase land and put up a new shop building...then that empty space needs something else to fill it yet....

Brian - I have photos in an album here - http://forums.aaca.org/members/thriller/albums/1976-buick-century-free-spirit-indy-pace-car-replica/ - from the perspective of Driven class, the only visible change is the wheels and tires. I may still be able to make something happen...in the longer term I do want to have four wheels and tires the same size and would ideally have the correct wheels, but I'm not sure I'm prepared to spend over a grand at this point to get a driven award in three months (yes, that's all it is folks). Marck - 23? Is that the new math they teach? Our Reatta is an '88 model, which is 25 years old, so would qualify for driven class, unless I'm mistaken (which is frequent, apparently...I am married, after all). It is good that we are making progress on this...now need to figure out where I'm pitching my tent there...perused hotel space a bit last night and it is starting to look like slim pickings.

Now Mike, don't get all biased on the newfangled guys...wait a minute, I are one...never mind. Oh right, that's Suzanne's car. BJM, it seems you are missing Brass Era.... Some folks have talked to me about running and I fully intend to at some point in the future...I need some things to settle out here and get the business better established before I am able to devote the time. As stated by another in the thread, thanks for stepping forward and giving us a choice...now to be patient about the arrival of the April Bugle.

Thanks Brian. So, if I understand correctly, I could register it as Driven class and leave it to you guys on the field. A spare tire has always been a sore spot with me...14" up front and 15" rear implies I'd need to carry 2 spares for size considerations (to date have carried the portable sealant / inflation crap). That's another reason to be rid of the Centerlines. I was forwarded an option for new reproduction wheels...which would probably cost me more than the local pace car which has the original wheels. Teresa just grinned when I asked if we were just going with the Century or if we were taking the Reatta as well.... She has to get serious about passing her road test though. Can I perhaps leave you the keys on judging day to keep Jake from adjusting the seat? :cool: There's not much vicarious living to be had there...a previous life saw the internals strengthened so it performs reasonably well for a mid-70s 350.

Happy Tuesday! I almost hate to bring this topic up again, but I'm beginning to work through our registration for South Bend and I've been away from what goes on here and in the Bugle for a while. Has the Driven Class been updated at all to allow for small changes to the car (such as wheels)? If this has not changed, I see two possible solutions. First would be to make some tweaks to the Driven Class to allow for essentially stock cars to participate. The second would be to work with the Modified Division to create a Modified Driven Class (there is no such beast on the registration form on the Bugle wrap). It comes back to me planning to drive the pace car down, but it has Centerline wheels on it (that presents its own challenges, but we don't need to get into that). I am confident it wouldn't place in 400 point and there are suspect points about it that rule out archival, so it is down to Driven Class or Display Only. Sorry...there would also be the Mild Modified...but it isn't really modified enough to do well there. For me, it isn't about bringing home hardware, but it is nice to have mementos that go with the individual cars. Driving nearly 1000 miles to a meet and coming away with a dash card (which fades in the sun and can be easily ruined by moisture or poor packing) is a little weak. At any rate, whether or not this sparks discussion, verification of whether or not my car would qualify for the Driven Class is the issue which is a bit more time-sensitive. Thanks.

Roy - I love the mission statement and the pay it forward concept. If you do come up to MN, you know I'm not that far away.... Shoot, in terms of investors in the effort, there's a moderator around here from Georgia that is retarded, oops, retired, who has been known to have some trailer adventures. You find them and buy them and he travels the country staying out of Rita's hair. Of course, that may just mean he'd come across more '54s that would get dragged back to occupy Buick Gardens. Now, the '52 was running, and it's a Roadmaster, but I paid three times as much for a car that needs a lot more body work a number of years back...if Suzanne didn't like the style so much, I'd have looked to move it to a home that has fewer projects in line ahead of it. I did happen to find a home for the '26 McLaughlin-Buick carcass that I'd hauled home a couple years ago. Next up is to get the '54 parts car into the shop and dismantle it.

Funny...I just came across that '27 earlier today. Strange...cool unit though.

Hmm...polka dot or houndstooth could be interesting on the Invicta when it (finally) sees some restoration activity.

Farmer's Exchange? Hmm....

Thanks for the reminder...as a matter of fact, I just picked up something this afternoon that could work.... Spent a lot on it too....

Lamar knows...being as I own a '54, he pretty much has all my communications bugged

Sigh...afraid I won't make it this year...family first and the odds are good Suzanne will be recovering from surgery at that point. There's a little too much snow here yet to have things moving, which makes it harder to prep a car for the road trip. Hopefully next year works out better.

There wasn't much information contained within the serial number in those days, unlike the 60s and newer. I don't know whether the Buick Heritage Alliance has Dave Corbin's research up and running yet or not, but if they do, they may be able to tell the series of the car and an approximate production date. There is much more information on the body plate, located on the passenger side...brain isn't quite working as to whether it is on the cowl or the inner fender area.

There will be nicer ones there to look at. Daughter has her road test tomorrow, so theoretically if I wanted to spend more money, the Reatta could potentially make the trip....

It's only three years since you have seen it...and you haven't come up to visit her...I figured you don't want to get too much of that action....

Things have changed this week with respect to what I expect to have at the meet, but I intend to be there with the children. Suzanne has suggested we don't plan for her to be there this year. If I've done my math correctly, Teresa, at age 17, should become a senior judge this year. Now, time to renew the passports, get the registration in, and find a place to lay our heads. Of course, if we'd get some temperatures closer to average so this snow would leave us, I could get to work...plans for the year include getting the '62 convertible back on the road, and we are likely driving the pace car down (not enough room in the Reatta), and most likely Mark Shaw will bring the new fleet addition (which would be a nice surprise for folks at the meet, so those that are in the know, don't spill the beans too much). I don't know if I'll be able to get a hold of original style wheels for the Century, so I'll probably put it in display only rather than driven class. That's a bit disappointing, but I'm used to disappointment with respect to my cars.

Ooh ooh...there's at least one in the freezer. Hmm...perhaps tomorrow....

I know Bob...someone who will remain nameless (to protect the guilty) prodded me to respond. Your point about engine colour is hopefully heard by more than me. Thanks for the kind words. It's good to know I'm useful for something....

Now, just hold on a minute...just because you Americans are lazy with the English language and have shortened half the words and have difficulty with things like colour or honour, don't get all persnickety about it. I almost have a clue what everyone is talking about...my edition arrived this week (and is most likely still in plastic somewhere around here). Frankly, I am in wholehearted agreement that Pete does a heck of a job. Between editing and writing a significant portion of the Bugle, he also contributes to the club in judging. I would strive to not get too hot and bothered about the finest of details. That said, these articles do purport to be a restoration and judging guide, so accuracy is important. Not having a '55 Buick (today), it is quite possible that I would be frustrated if judges used information from the article that isn't quite correct to make deductions on a car being judged if they aren't sure. You have to remember that judging is supposed to be about fun. The thing that is wrong with judging in the BCA is that in the judges school, you are told 5-10 minutes per car and "don't kill the car" and the next day the judging teams are spending up to 30 minutes per car, complaining about how long it takes, and killing the car by finding finicky deductions. That's how you tick off folks like The Old Guy...and me, frankly. I do like the idea of the articles being written (or perhaps vetted) by the technical adviser(s) responsible for the year of vehicle. It was also pointed out earlier in this thread that there were differences between assembly plants. When I had the Wildcat judged in Colorado Springs, a deputy told me the underside of the hood was supposed to be black. It was body colour (note correct spelling) originally and was repainted as original. So, if a relatively high-ranking senior judge is going to tell me that all cars were the same, when this is a Canadian car built in Oshawa, and that I was incorrect in painting it as it was originally (first repaint of the car was during the restoration in 2005-6), well, it tells me that 1) judges are human and can make mistakes, and 2) not all "knowledge" out there is perfect. Heck, if it was made by man (or woman to be sure to include Roberta), it isn't perfect. There is only one perfect "manufacturer" and we aren't him. Why does everyone have to keep bringing up engine colour Lamar? Or is it just you? Just because we paint-matched a clean piece before the rebuild doesn't mean the match was perfect, or perhaps heat had affected the colour, but losing a mandatory 5 points on something like that (especially when there are other senior judges around that who stated the colour is within the range of what they would have called correct) is frustrating. But I'm not bitter...or am I? Heck, if you want to get uptight about judging, figure this out for me. If I drive my '76 Pace Car Replica down to South Bend with Centerline wheels on it (as is present), what might the car qualify for? The wheels make it ineligible for the Driven Class. The modified guys don't want it for Modified Driven if the wheels are the only apparent change. I've been trying to figure that one out for years. Perhaps the easiest thing is to make a deal on the restorable one for sale east of here and swap wheels, putting new tires on. That solves the riddle, but is a pretty expensive solution. I'd be interested in driving the Reatta, but I've been told to plan on bringing the children down with me (Suzanne will likely be back on chemotherapy after surgery, so doesn't want to plan to make the trip), so the border could be tough with two in the trunk of the two-seater. For those who claim to be missing me (with every shot they've taken so far anyway), I could see myself back here, but I need to get my business further off the ground...it is far too easy for me to spend a couple hours a day on here, and that doesn't help me to feed the family nor pay their tuition. Now back to your regularly scheduled silence (from me).

That's sort of my old stomping grounds. I grew up in Rosthern. I had an aunt and uncle who had farmed near Handel. They retired to North Battleford and he was custodian at the COCJ girls school. I have a similar hulk of a 1926 model 20...saved it from a crusher a couple years ago. At least one friend wants me to turn it into a speedster or a truck...it will most likely get parted when I can get it inside and together. I was supposed to get the transmission tower for someone on here, but haven't gotten to removing it...it was a pretty busy summer. Sorry for derailing the thread.

Hello Robert, I have some of what Dave Corbin compiled of his research into McLaughlin-Buicks. He wanted to ensure the information would be passed along as assistance, and my youngest son will take it over in a few years. Dave was also interested in the idea of the data being in Canada. From the photo, I'm having difficulty making out the numbers - if you could post or e-mail me the serial number and engine number, I can see what I can make from the data. Model number breakdowns aren't available on Canadian cars - the data wasn't kept. In the USA, there were 36,935 Model 35 built out of a total of 181,657. That represents just over 20%. In 1923, there were 17,255 McLaughlin-Buicks made. If the Model 35 represents the same 20% proportion, one would then infer there were about 3500 of these built. That is an estimate of course. One thing to consider is that much of Canada has harsher winters than much of the USA, so one wouldn't be surprised to see more closed cars up here, but that is speculation. Then again, a big bulk of the Canadian population isn't that far from Buick production in Flint. The most recent price guide I have is from April - here are the numbers: Condition Value #6 $1280 #5 $3840 #4 $6400 #3 $14400 #2 $22400 #1 $32000 Keep in mind that price guides are guidelines and there is a lot of variability depending on condition, location, how badly a buyer wants the particular vehicle, and how badly someone wants to sell. I hope this helps out a bit. My time has changed, so I'm not spending much time of the forums these days, so I don't necessarily know when these types of questions are asked.

Thanks Brian. I'll have to contact Jeff at some point to ask about the history of the car.

Loving it. Thanks for sharing folks. After attending 6 Nationals in a row, I couldn't make it this year due to a conflict. Normally we take at least 100 photos, so this helps a bit. So, can anyone tell me anything about the green '59 LeSabre sold at Winnipeg Motor Products with a Manitoba front plate?