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Trust all my Canadian Buick owners had a wonderful Holiday today, I know I did. After going to the garage, checked the fluids on the Special and proceeded to the gas station to top off the tank with some high-test and a little gas stable. Let the Sea Trials begin. Then I went home (my home) and picked up the wife to go for dinner at a place that holds a weekly car show. I'm in my glory with having my wife with me, having the car out for the first time in 12 years and..... watched as it drew a bit of a crowd & lots of questions most of the evening. I must mention, If you look in the back row on the right, my buddy drove his '66 Continental that he sooo generously offered to me various times when the Special was out of commission. Thanks Joe! Being this is a weekly local event and most car guys know each other, kind of expected the obvious question, "When did you get this?" Well, I was taken aback when I heard my wife answer one fellow "that her husband bought it when he was in High School." First time I think she was actually enjoying telling the story as she said the car was quite the hit on the ride home! Look at all those Mopar's and Chev's with their hoods up. Bring your Buick to these shows and see what happens...... As stated, a good day and luckily she (the car) got a 90% grade on this run as I have what I believe one plug or wire that seems to be dropping or weak but she fires right up, idles nice and once moving down the road levels out nicely. After the $135.00 50/50 number was drawn we cruised on home with no difficulties. After dropping my wife off I then headed back to the garage to put the car away and decided, as it was not out of the way, to capture a shot of the car at my old High School which I not only drove her to at that time but brought her back to my 10 year reunion. Sadly, just recently I saw the then Vice Principal had passed away who had to call over the public address system, "Would the owner of a red convertible please come to the Principles Office!" With over 1,200 students then, parking was limited and guess I had parked in his spot! Was a good excuse to skip French class that day. (no offence to those of French heritage Mon amie) A VERY Fulfilling Day!

A sentimental shot today since the car has not been at my old home since 1984.

After changing the old stale gas in the tank, took her out around the neighbourhood and ended up at my old home. Went inside and told Mom (just like a kid - haha) come see what I have!

When I mentioned Home in the last video, I must explain. That is where I grew up and was living when I bought the Special in the summer of '72. I went inside to get mom to come and see I had the car back on the road again. She hasn't seen it for a long time and said she didn't remember it being so long. With tomorrow being our Holiday and a weekly car show at a local restaurant/pub, will be checking the fluids again, picking up my wife and driving the Special to her first car show in a looong time. Just before we do though, will be stopping here again with the top down and recreate this picture from 1984. The car looks about the same(?) but not sure the occupants will!?

QUE THE MUSIC (On The Road Again by Willie Nelson) https://youtu.be/sAdKwO_9kPc

It started to come back to me backing out of the garage in a tight situation with only one side mirror. (Especially with camera in hand) https://youtu.be/gxQaWv74afQ

If one were to be perfectly honest..... The car was on jack stands from 2006 till this month. I did add high-test fuel about a year ago with gas stable and ran the engine on and off for the year till she ran out in April. (the gas gauge doesn't work) I will have to put some fresh fuel in that can and see if I get that blue colour you speak of.

Sheeesh! That was not an easy process. 20 minute upload and then has to download before able to open. Help. There must be an easier way? (what am I doing wrong?) I have more to show but.....

So...... My dash cam (new to me) required a memory card which I then decided to use my digital camera. Please excuse the shaky work. this is new to me..... MVI_1313.MOV OK, try this. https://youtu.be/mJbLLSc8hXg

Well, missed the window between weather fronts so decided it was a good time to drain out the little bit of gas in the tank by the drain hole located on the passenger side of the gas tank. Gave it a liberal soaking of PB Blaster and with a bit of effort, it came loose. That is the best stuff! Grabbed the tin foil pan I used to catch the old grease when I cleaned the front backing plates and frame to catch the gas, figured why not? Wasn't planning on using that gas again anyway. The fuel in the can was what actually came out and while not dirty with particles or rust, had that smell of vanish to it so after it was completely drained, used a fresh 2 1/2 gallon can I had to put back in, let drain in the pan and repeated until that can was empty. The process was also a good way to clean out that dirty pan! Examined the drain plug and decided to wheel the threads and clean the inside end of the bit of rust (or accumulated old fuel) then replaced it in the tank careful to not over tighten it and strip the threads. Then had to go with my 5 gallon and my 2 1/2 gallon tanks to get fresh fuel to put back in. On the way back the sun starts to pop out and looks like it was going to finally clear up.

It is Sunday and looks like a small break between rain fronts (typical long weekend weather ). Have my Go Pro (new to me) and going to see if I can capture something worth posting.

Thanks for the offer Jim. I'm in no hurry as things are operating OK for now but believe in a backup plan for down the road. Maybe when you get back, by then I will be confident enough to drive over for another visit and let the Special marker her territory like all Buick's do.

Hard to tell but does this carb have aluminium ID tag?

Trying to get used to driving / parking my Special again too. With it having been up on jack stands for years, now that it is mobile again, the dang thing seems to sit so low. I drove it in, got out and after rolling my tool cart behind her went up to the side door and hit the garage door button to close up. Seems I didn't judge the clearance well as the door came down on the cart but stopped like it should before doing any damage. You are not alone.

Thriller, Tonight's Lotto Max draw is worth over 30 million. No ticket, no chance. Do you have yours? I'd split that with you any day. Doug

Went over to the Special figuring on another "neighbourhood drive" but it started to shower lightly. Decided to continue cleaning the rear bumper. The long weekend starts tomorrow and need to be looking good!

Original chrome compared to new chrome.

After work today just had to go back to the garage. Thinking I might go for a quick ride, it started to rain lightly so gabbed the metal polish and continued to work on the rear bumper. If you notice, the left side of the top plate is not quite as shiny as the right side. That is because I didn't get that far before posting pics. (I was just too pumped - still am) I'm using this stuff recommended to me at my local auto supply store Parts Source. It is pretty amazing stuff to me as it even brought up a shine to those rusted out lower bumper rails. I brought down one of the driver side bumper ends I had chromed to compare. I don't know, might just change out those lower rails and wait on the rest till my numbers come in tonight and do the whole car up!?

Thanks 95 Cardinal! I'm not kidding myself (or anyone else for that matter) pictures do hide some sins but standing back, gives one a flavour of what they were when new. I consider my car a 20 footer (?), looks better 20 ft or more away and a driver considering it was repainted before I bought it back in 1972. I have only done the basic necessary mechanical things needed all these 45 years of owning her. Other than the left rear tail light tower (s/b right side), all the chrome and stainless is original to the car when I bought it. There is evidence it was touched (hit) on the drivers side door as you can see the change of colour on the door at certain angles and the stainless was scraped in the rear quarter. I have collected nice used stainless to replace those at some point and I do have a complete fully re-chromed rear bumper waiting to be put on including those rusted out lower bumper rails but I'm afraid once I do that, the new chrome won't have the same patina as what the original does and while looks great, would take away from the over all original look. (Guess it depends on exactly what one wants for the car.) Then the obvious paint nicks and pitted other chrome will stand out even more and so on and so forth till.... where does one stop? Does any car deserve more? You bet! I just want to get back to enjoying the rides again and will find it interesting to stand back at a few shows and listen to the comments since she hasn't been seen on the road for quite a while. After all, my Cougar isn't even in the same class as the Special.

Much easier to paint (spray) when the tires are off! (ask me how I know)

After changing the fuel filter and trying to see if it was running OK, decided to pull her out, put the top up (after sitting down for a long time) then..... did the obligatory around the neighbourhood drive till more confident things are good for the long trip.

With the top up.

Ended the day at the Special garage as I had to cut the lawn there. Could not resist starting her up, backing her out and thought, I'd better raise the top since it is so warm today and letting it sit in the sun will allow the material to stretch before trying to clamp it down. That did not take too long at 88 degrees. Then I just had to grab the chrome polish and go at the rear bumper and tail light towers.

Guessing you didn't need to put the heater on high at least?

Bought several fuel filters to replace the partially plugged one on the car. At 4 bucks each not a permanent fix yet but need to move her around some and after hitting the starter a bit off she went! Have a full days work today and packing the cooler with water as it is supposed to hit the mid 80's. Can't be in the garage but with our Holiday weekend coming (Canadian long weekend) plan on taking some time then. T'would be nice to be cruising with the wife as today is our 37th Anniversary and will celebrate it then as she had taken an extra day off work for a looong weekend so will see. One small step at a time. (That's how I got here. ) By the way, not the first time on a car dolly.....