ben1212

Thank you everyone for all your input. I love these forums, I can see where this can get very addicting. Of course you replace the wood with metal tubing. Gosh, with the doors off of that car there is very little lateral bracing. As a structural engineer I know a thing or two about reinforcing things. I've already starting disassembling the car. More photos to follow. I will keep ya'll updated because I will be selling off almost everything except the body, grill, frame rails, and dash. I'll let everyone know. Like I said I still have some time to think it through. I'm almost certain I will make a rod out of her.

you know bubba, I lot of people ask questions and only listen to the answers they want to hear. It's been my intention all along to get a car to rod it just so happens there was a Buick for the right price. Once I got it a few buddys started getting me thinking about the resto route, so I had to throw it out there and see what kind of responses I got. I thought it may be possible to get my money out of a resto, so I'm here asking. Likely not it sounds like. I'm young, I'm making it a hot rod without a care for how much it is worth when completed. The only reason for me to do a resto would be if I could make some money on it because I don't want a restored Buick, I want a hot rod. So I am sorry to anyone who takes offense to ruining a perfectly good orignal "survivor". I'm still mulling it over. I'm not in a huge hurry. There is disassembly and cleaning, removing old paint, etc. etc. before I pass a point of no return for doing a restoration. You have been so much help Bubba, Thanks again! I'm sure we will be talking more in the future. Ben

Thanks for the input. Trust me, if I do the hot rod it won't be a Chevy Small block. If there is one think I like it's being unique. I hear ya on the investment side of it. I do have a 55 olds 324 rocket V8 I thought about using, I could probably find a buick engine though. I'm enjoying the car so far. I also hear ya about extra parts. I've bought parts for my olds that I don't even need. I have a perfect 55 Buick grill hanging on the wall. Thanks Matt!

Hi everyone. Thanks for the warm welcome to the forum. I can't seem to get much work done today though. I recently bought a 1930 Buick Series 40 Business Coupe, Model 30-46. You can see photos at 30-46 Buick Photos Thanks to bubba for helping me identify it. I would like some input on what to do with it. Some friends have told me to do a frame off restoration and make it as original as possible. Other tell me to make a hot rod or rat rod. I have the means and ability to do either. But mainly, as a businessman, it is an economic decision. If I put 20 grand into a restoration for example will it be worth that much when I am done? I'm definitely leaning more toward the hot rod side because the car needs a lot of work and parts for a 1930 Buick are more than likely very difficult to come by. I could probably find cars in better shape (albeit newer cars) to do a resto on. Although I do admire those of you out there that are true enthusiaists or Buick purest who would want to see it in it's original form. But again, the condition of the car is also a driving factor behind the economic factor. The wood body on the roof needs to be completely rebuilt, there body work to be done on the fenders and other metal work, and the engine block has a 8 inch long weld on the driver side. Not to mention that I do not know if this thing will even run, then there is the transmission. I'm looking for some input from people who have done similar resto or hot rod projects. What are the pro's and con's of each?

Thanks Bubba!! You've been the most helpful so far (not to discount everyone else input) but you've convinced me of what year and model I actually have. Thank you. I went out and measured the wheelbase a little more carefully and it is actually 118" and the tires do as 5.50/19. See my new post shortly on my possible ideas for the resto. Ben

Thanks again everyone, the posts are rolling in now. I am getting a lot of conflicting information though. I have found a lot of photos online of old Buicks but not one quite like this, I'll find a photo of a 1928 or 29 that has the same grill and wheels and will look about the same wheelbase but have a rumble seat and the spare tire on the rear bumper. My car has the spare tire wells on both sides on the front fenders. Would the ID tag for the Model number be anywhere else? It wouldn't be covered by the motor would it? because the motor is pretty close to the firewall and I can't see back there much right now, plus there is a lot of caked on dirt.

So the Fisher numbers "2865" do not correlate to a 1928? Does anyone know what the Fisher numbers mean? Or how to decode the VIN/serial numbers, or is there no method to the VIN like there is on later 1950 cars? I measured the wheels and wheelbase, they are 20" and 116" respectively. There is no sign of any other ID plate on the firewall. I am going to get it up on jack stands tonight to inspect the underside, So I should have more photos tomorrow. Is everyone alright with my website? I know the photos are a little large, I'm working on getting them smaller so they load faster. They do show pretty good detail. Anyway, keep the info coming, I appreciate it greatly. THANKS!!!

I recently purchased this car. The seller told me he bought it as a 1928. There was no title. The Fisher tag say "Job No 30007" and "Body No 2865". There is a VIN number (presumably) on the frame wall near the passenger front tire, it reads "2352433". I have not been able to find much info at all about this car. I have the doors, all the metal for the roof, the windshield, the visor. It has been in a garage for the past 30 years, that is the only history I have on the car. There are no seats and no rear bumper, besides that it seems fairly complete for it's age and condition. The metal is in good shape (some of it better than my 55 Olds) The most rusty part is the hood which I was told was on the dirt floor of the garage for a long time. It's kinda beat up on the front passenger side and the rear end, probably due to lack of bumper. The engine was last started in 94. It's condition is not know although there is a substantial weld in the block which will more than likely render it unuseable. Does anyone have any info regarding the year, make, model, production stats, etc for this car? Also, can anyone identify if any of the parts on the car are original or not? Photos may be seen at fceatx