Brooks in Dallas

Thanks! This is very helpful. Can someone list the details of the "GS" option package?

Where is the "Boattail only dedicated website with no affiliations"? I saw a link at the Riviera Owners' club site but it's all in French!

I currently own 15 cars (including a '56 Roadmaster 2-door hardtop) and I am starting to look for a boattail Riviera. I believe the years available are '71-'72-'73. Overall, I prefer a good body and poor mechanicals, but what options were available? What trim packages am I looking for? Does one of the 3 years stand out above the others? I do all my own work with my bare hands (well, and the tools ) and am just curious what particular year/etc I should try to look for. Thanks! --Brooks in Dallas PS: In the same vicinity, I have a '73 Delta 88 Royale Convertible, 455, dualed from the factory (per the S/N).

TG -- you have really fine taste in cars! I have a '56 2-door Riviera (75 I think), unrestored. In fact, I've never even heard it run (yet). I think I really wish I had a '57 instead of the '56 but either one is fine. I wanted this car since I was 9 so I might as well stick with it. Story there.

Does anybody have production data for my car? I had wanted a '56 since I was 9 years old and now I have a '56 2-door Roadmaster hardtop Riviera. Claret red. I've never heard it run. Bought it from a friend who after getting more parts than he needed for this project, then got enamoured with a Toronado so I finally got to buy the Buick. He had driven it to his garage, but I have never bothered trying to start it. The car is complete, but needs restoration. Anyway -- I'm looking for production figures, as these seem to be as rare as hen's teeth! --Brooks in Dallas (I posted this same info at Budd's 1956buick.com site)

Thanks for that info...... I've now been to visit the car. Wow. It is the P10, 4-door, I would be the 4th owner. 1st owner drove it "back and forth to town", whatever that means (this is outside of Ft Worth). Second owner drove it for a few years, then garaged it. 3rd owner bought it from 2nd owner, who he knew at work, to restore, but then passed away unexpectedly. The widow is selling the car. Wants it gone by year-end. From the info posted above, it is the P10, built in Evansville, IN. S/N is 20088737. Interestingly, tho there is a plate on the passenger side door pillar announcing that s/n, the car is titled by the engine # (which I found and verified that it matches the title). (good thing nobody changed the engine). It has the optional heater and radio. A radio in 1940 must have been a rarity. They also rounded up one of those "A/C" units that hangs from the door and you put water in it. There is no rust, other than surface rust. She had told me that there was "one spot of rust-thru" -- that is a hole about the diameter of a nail at the back of the RF fender, and that's IT. Even I would call it really minor. Floors are solid, and on this 64-year-old car, the whole interior is still COMPLETELY SERVICEABLE. No tears or rips in the seats. I sat on the seats. THis car must have been always garage kept (it's currently in a shed). Both windshield glasses are cracked. It could use all new window seals. I noticed another window has [i don't know what to call this] that thing that happens to laminated glass where you can see air bubbles starting to come in from the sides. (I think that was the driver's side rear door glass). But all that oughta be easy to replace. The guy had begun disassembling the engine, but the only thing he did was take out the radiator, the fan, and the water pump. Everything else is still together. The engine turns freely. They also rounded up 1940 mint condition (I'm sure they've been re-done) Texas plates. So now I have to decide if this thing is worth $1,000 or not (that's what she's asking). Any ideas? --Brooks in Dallas

There are a lot of places that rebuild harmonic balancers. I've had a couple done over the years, and they've been perfect. Don't think I ever used Damper Doc, but I'm sure they are a fine company. Google around for "Harmonic balancer rebuild" and see what turns up.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We had the annual Marmon Muster here last week. </div></div> Where was "here"?

Wow, this was an awesome story! If I had seen it ahead of time, I would have begged to ride along and driven to Houston to meet you. In October, I drove from Dallas to San Francisco to get Imperial parts for the '63 Crown Convertible that I bought 4 years ago completely in boxes. As long as it was this close, I'm going ahead and do a body-off (the only thing left was (a) remove the windshield; ( remove the dashboard; © remove the front clip; (d) remove the body bolts. As long as it was that far, I just thought hell, keep goin'. (:-D) Mine won't be a trailer queen, either. I believe in driving the things and not being afraid to get them dirty / scratched / whatever. I hope to take it on the Great Race in 2008, if I can get it finished up by then. You unquestionably did the right thing in getting the car you wanted. --Brooks in Dallas

I also posted this in the Plymouth section, but I'm in a hurry as you will see.... Can somebody talk to me about the 1940 Plymouth? I already have 15 cars, but no Plymouths. A friend of a friend's husband passed away (they live out in the country) suddenly. He had bought a 1940 Plymouth to restore, because that's the year he was born. She needs to sell; wants $1,000 (probably would take $800); he died 2 years ago; had no lookers so she thinks she'll donate it to charity and take a tax write-off. Do I want it? I haven't seen it yet (going Sunday 12/26/04) but here's all I know from the "friend of a friend" (both are ladies, but not car workers (:-D)): 4-door (is it a P9 or P10 or 7-passenger? How do I know if it's Roadking or Deluxe or 7-passenger? I saw ad pics @ one site but it was ambiguous) Engine is free but has not been run Minor surface rust except on one fender where there is a rust-thru Suicide back doors What do I look for? What am I lookin' for? Is this one of those "if it ain't already restored, skip it or let the rodders have it" kinda cars? Just don't know Plymouths (yet). (:-D) I do all my own work. FYI, current stable: 1956 2-door Buick Roadmaster Riviera; '61 4-door Imperial; '63 Crown Imperial Convertible (in the middle of frame-off, and by "middle", I mean "middle" (:-D)); '64 Lincoln Continental convertible; '69 Dodge Polara 500 Convertible <--- is this the only one in existence??); '73 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale convertible; '75 Dodge pickup; '75 Sedan DeVille; '75 Model 75 limo (no divider); '76 Fleetwood Brougham; '78 Eldorado Biarritz; '84 Fiero; '85 Fiero (they both followed me home, independently); '86 Jeep CJ7; '04 Excursion Limited Ultimate And yes, there is always that "do I have room for it?" question. (;-D) --Brooks in Dallas You can e-mail me at vm "dot" dude at verizon "dot" net or vm "underscore" dude at yahoo "dot" com

Can somebody talk to me about the 1940 Plymouth? I already have 15 cars, but no Plymouths. A friend of a friend's husband passed away (they live out in the country) suddenly. He had bought a 1940 Plymouth to restore, because that's the year he was born. She needs to sell; wants $1,000 (probably would take $800); he died 2 years ago; had no lookers so she thinks she'll donate it to charity and take a tax write-off. Do I want it? I haven't seen it yet (going Sunday 12/26/04) but here's all I know from the "friend of a friend" (both are ladies, but not car workers (:-D)): 4-door (is it a P9 or P10 or 7-passenger? How do I know if it's Roadking or Deluxe or 7-passenger? I saw ad pics @ one site but it was ambiguous) Engine is free but has not been run Minor surface rust except on one fender where there is a rust-thru Suicide back doors What do I look for? What am I lookin' for? Is this one of those "if it ain't already restored, skip it or let the rodders have it" kinda cars? Just don't know Plymouths (yet). (:-D) I do all my own work. FYI, current stable: 1956 2-door Buick Roadmaster Riviera; '61 4-door Imperial; '63 Crown Imperial Convertible (in the middle of frame-off, and by "middle", I mean "middle" (:-D)); '64 Lincoln Continental convertible; '69 Dodge Polara 500 Convertible <--- is this the only one in existence??); '73 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale convertible; '75 Dodge pickup; '75 Sedan DeVille; '75 Model 75 limo (no divider); '76 Fleetwood Brougham; '78 Eldorado Biarritz; '84 Fiero; '85 Fiero (they both followed me home, independently); '86 Jeep CJ7; '04 Excursion Limited Ultimate And yes, there is always that "do I have room for it?" question. (;-D) --Brooks in Dallas You can e-mail me at vm "dot" dude at verizon "dot" net or vm "underscore" dude at yahoo "dot" com

I have a book that decodes them, but it's not in my hot little hand right now. Up at my shop ("Garajmahal"). If somebody doesn't answer first, I'll bring it back tonite and we can have a go at it. --Brooks in Dallas