Thriller

MC_Reatta - I'm not going to dispute your assertions, but it doesn't really need the extreme cold rating any more does it? My Reatta would be one of the few that would actually see -40 temperatures ever again and it is not intended to ever move in that sort of winter environment again (if I needed an extra vehicle in the winter, I'd start with the '75 Electra with a bunch of weight in the trunk). I understand that some folks drive their Reattas daily and year-round, but with each passing year, they become more of a collectible car than a used car, so perhaps using cable that isn't rated automotive spec (or mil spec) wouldn't be a huge deal. Shoot, if the cable is the primary failure mode, then the ability to replace the cable with an inexpensive solution may still be a very economical way of doing it, although perhaps not overly elegant nor with high reliability. Just a thought....

I just sent this link to a couple folks in your neck of the woods. Hopefully someone in the area can step up to the plate. I'd like to make a deal like this, but She Who Must Be Obeyed would quite possibly do me harm if I dragged home another project....

Stuart - once the kids are independent, I hope to be able to take the time off and head down to an Australian meet. It looks like a lot of fun, not to mention a chance to experience a new part of the world. We have neighbours that moved to Tasmania last year, so it would be a cool trip, but our children are still a bit too dependent on us. MrEarl - I believe the PWD after tour started as a tradition in Rochester in 2006. Of course, the BDE has been doing their tours a lot longer. I'm putting on a tour up here for the Labour Day weekend...if you flew up, I might be able to arrange a '54 for you to drive....

Bill - I was being a bit facetious...new car shows occur in places like Shanghai, Detroit, London, Germany (I want to say Hamburg, but not sure), etc...in other words cities with population and / or auto manufacturing base. I am nowhere near any of that....

Cool. What is this "new car show" of which you speak? I live in Winnipeg, remember?

Personally, I don't think I'd go after one. We also rented one in Danvers. The rear seat isn't comfortable for a middle passenger, the A pillar bugged me (size, angle, not entirely sure), and it felt a bit claustrophobic as the roof was too low. Of course, between regularly driving a full size pickup, a Rainier, and the '41, perhaps I am just spoiled for taller vehicles. As far as controls, handling, and mechanicals, I had no complaints.

The '41 was asking $32k if I recall. There was a '29 roadster for $25k. I really liked a '39 Century coupe that was something like $12k. First generation Riviera, at least one Reatta, a '64 (?) intermediate convertible - some rust but it was $4k. There were a couple other pre-war cars - a '30 or '31 and a '28 (?)...there was also the two toned '38 that was in a photo here. Sorry for the vague post - I'm working from memory. I have photos of most of these cars, along with contact information / price, although I haven't edited them down for size to post here. I have to step out shortly...I'll try to get them up later this week.

Thanks for the clarification Dave. I knew it was something to that effect, but didn't have details. I found out about it after finding deduction for not having a hole in the valve cover when my car was judged. It was good meeting you too.

A couple of logistical things to think about...most of these calendars that are not put together professionally come out too late. If I am buying a calendar, I want to have it in my hands by December 31, otherwise it would need to be discounted. The photos need to be gathered, the calendar assembled and printed, advertising and distribution dealt with. If it would be a Reatta Division project, there is also the lead time to get something into the Bugle if that route were chosen. Choosing the cars would be dependent ultimately on who is putting it together. In my mind, interesting shots of nice cars of varying configurations (colours) is probably more important than having the same representation for each year. There's a local fellow that always puts on a Hallowe'en display and Christmas display on the front yard. One year, Santa's sleigh was his '65 Electra convertible. That was neat.

XM...GPS in and of itself knows nothing of traffic. Actually, it is just a triangulation system using signals from satellites, so it doesn't even know where roads are...companies like Garmin, Magellan, and TomTom have put digitized maps to the positions in an attempt to get you pointed in the right direction. It wouldn't surprise me if some units had the ability to track construction, then have that information uploaded when they are updated on a computer. Without paying any money, TomTom has map corrections that upload to mine whenever I synchronize it.

That's quite the shade tree 4 Bufords created for himself. John Scheib's car is a real looker. Of course, the Chartreuse Lady is the most famous Boohick around. I was tempted by that '41 Special convertible, but the price drove me away. I'm not going to speculate on whether or not it was worth it, but I don't think it would necessarily be any more fun than my 41SE, which always gets a lot of attention and cost a lot less. Perhaps I'm just getting old, but with two young'uns over five feet now, the appeal of four doors and a large back seat continues to gain appeal...then again, they'll be driving before we know it.

Den41Buick - for BCA judging purposes, the engine serial number isn't checked, so either would be acceptable. Dave's caution makes sense, but I think it is common enough that among the judges it is known to be acceptable for pre-war cars. I'm pretty sure that is in the BCA judging manual as well as being mentioned at the judging school. I think it is your call...if I were judging the car, I would accept either one. My '41 Special has a 1947 engine in it according to the engine number - since it is the same engine, it generally passed muster when it was judged in 2007. An original engine will either have a pipe from the top of the valve cover to the air cleaner or a plug covering the hole as there was something to the effect of a dealer bulletin to remove that PCV style of connection.

You're quite welcome 4 bufords. I did initially want to take a bit more time and point out some of the cars I know the owners to on here, but got lazy instead.

So, you're saying you won't be happy if I show up with a Reatta Stealthbob?

A McLaughlin-Buick is a Canadian built Buick from 1918 (1919?) and 1942. Once production started again after the war, the McLaughlin name was dropped. For the first 10 years, the cars were only known as McLaughlins, but were built with Buick chassis and drivetrain.

I figgered you'd get excited about that Super. I missed the chop top Riviera...sigh. Looks nice.

On the off chance anyone cares, we flew to Halifax to Logan, then spent the better part of a week there. In Halifax, we took in the Citadel, the harbour board walk, the Marine Museum of the Atlantic (with a display on the WW I explosion - Massachusetts was specifically named in providing support after the explosion / fires), and the HMCS Sackville (last Canadian WW II corvette...now a naval memorial). Another day we took to visit the Minas Basin area of the Bay of Fundy...we arrived shortly after high tide, looked, had a picnic, then went to turn the kids loose on the beach. On the way home, we stopped at Grand Pré National Historic Site, which documents Acadian life and the Acadian expulsion starting in 1755. I have some Acadian in my family line, but as near as I can tell, they went to Quebec before the expulsion. Finally, on Thursday we took in Peggy's Cove to get up close and personal with a lighthouse. Of some interest is the amount of shared history between Boston and Nova Scotia / Halifax. Before the American Revolution, parts of Nova Scotia were under British control, with Quebec essentially being New France and a smattering of Acadian communities (numbered about 10,000 around the time of the expulsion). It was a good vacation. The next time we go back, we have to spend more time exploring the region.

Getting there.... This post has some additional photos taken with the kids' cameras. We had three digital cameras with us...it makes for getting more photos and missing less, but it does make photo management a bit more interesting.

More....

More still....

Hmm...this could take me a while....

Now, let's see what else we can come up with....

OK...here's a few...let's start with the tour of Boston on the late bus, shall we? Add in some photos from the forum breakfast.

Awesome Ben.

Bob...you haven't met the man...you may want to hold off on requests like these at least until you hear what the man who towed the Landau in that fancy new Ford with the pro goof-off singing along to Buickful music. Looks orange to me...on my screen...but then what do I know?