Charles D. Barnette

Three differences readily come to mind: The Landau has a divisional electric window between front and back sections of the car, the Landau has a center armrest in the rear seat which when opened reveals a bar with cocktail shaker and three goblets, and the spare tire is in a compartment behind the swing-down rear bumper! It is Harley Earl work at its finest! Charles D. Barnette

Dear Buick Club Members, I have enjoyed the response to our museum's announcement of the 1954 Buick Landau coming for a two day display in September to Texarkana. It is refreshing to see such interest in this great Motorama masterpiece-Harley Earl would be indeed pleased. As you can imagine our museum is looking forward to the event with great excitement! I will be happy to post pictures of the event on this website, but let me gently remind you that there is no substitute for seeing in "person" the actual car itself. You will be allowed to make as many photos of the car on display as you desire. We are even making arrangements to have a "Motorama Girl" posed to peer out the back of the car from the inside as the female model did in the famous GM factory photo. We particularly would welcome the staff of the Bugle. I will be posting a flyer on this site soon about the event. In closing I would also gently remind you that this opportunity to see this car may only come once in a lifetime! Charles D. Barnette for The Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum Of Texarkana- P.S. A 1955 Buick and a 1959 Buick helped raise me from childhood to manhood.

Attention All Buick Lovers! The beautiful one of a kind 1954 Buick Landau Motorama Show Car will be on public display at the Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum on Saturday, October 11, 2008, 8am to 6pm, and Sunday, October 12, 2008, 8am to 4 pm. The Museum is located at 217 Laurel Street in downtown Texarkana, Arkansas. The display coincides with the 2008 annual Quadrangle Festival of Texarkana. The current owner of this automotive masterpiece is Mr. John M. O'Quinn of Houston, Texas. Charles D. Barnette, Activity Director for The Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum of Texarkana, Arkansas

Attention all Buick lovers! The beautiful one of a kind 1954 Buick Landau Motorama Show Car will be on public display at the Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum on Saturday, September 6, 2008, 8am to 6pm, and Sunday, September 7, 2008, 8am to 4pm. The Museum is located at 217 Laurel Street in downtown Texarkana, Arkansas. The rear top folds down limousine-style, via electric-hydraulic power. There are leather tie-down straps on the trunk area. Although it was scheduled for scrapping as was usual for the Dream Cars of Motorama, a GM executive saved it from the boneyard. The car is now owned by attorney John M. O'Quinn of Houston, Texas. Come see this masterpiece while it is on display! Charles D. Barnette, Activity Director for Tex-Ark Antique Auto Museum of Texarkana, Arkansas

I read about it in a newly discovered New York Times Article from 1950. Unfortunately what I posted is all the info I have. I am hoping this Show Car ended up in private hands and therefore may still be in existance. Charles D. Barnette

In 1950, Oldsmobile produced a 98 2 door Holiday hardtop Show Car called The Palm Beach with alligator hide interior. The car had a tan top and a green body. It was basically stock with a special interior. Does anyone have any knowledge of this car such as the history, ownership, and current whereabouts? Thanks, Charles D. Barnette

In 1950, Buick produced a Riviera (2 door hardtop) Show Car painted salmon (at least gave off a salmon hue) with broadtail and dainty pink interior. The car was basically stock with a special interior. Does anyone have any knowledge of this car such as an exotic name assigned by Buik to the car for show and such as the history and current whereabouts? Thanks, Charles D. Barnette

Sorry, I am new to the site and have not mastered it yet. If you will email me at cdeck5502@msn.com, I will have my secretary Carla email you my personal pictures of Mr. Perot's Dodge. Then please put them on this site for the rest of the members who care to see it. By the way I spoke to Mr. Perot over the telephone just now, and he is happy for the Dodge Brothers Club to know about his car. The car is a Standard Six 4 door sedan 1929 Dodge. His father had a nickname for the original 29 Dodge owned by the Perots which was "Gertrude". Thanks. Charles D. Barnette

Dear '29 dodge basket case' thanks for your suggestion. I have posted a picture of Ross Perot's 1929 Dodge at Gallery@dodgebrothersclub.org. The story behind this car is that Ross Perot grew up in Texarkana spending the first 19 years of his life here. During that time Ross' father and mother owned a 1929 Dodge. About a year ago Ross was determined to find a similar car to restore to remind him of the early days. He found one in Red Wing, Minnesota, and bought it, and had it restored in Dallas, Texas. He wanted it shown first in Texarkana after which he intends to take it on a driving tour down memory lane in Texarkana. Charles D. Barnette

To all Dodge lovers-please be advised that at our car museum in Texarkana, Arkansas, known as the Tex- Ark Antique Auto Museum located at 217 Laurel Street, is currently on display the 1929 Dodge of Ross Perot, the former US Presidential candidate for 92 and 96. The museum is opened all day from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays and half a day from 1pm to 5pm <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> on Sundays. Phone 870-772-2886 for further information. The Perot car has been fully restored and will be on display through the end of the year. Charles D. Barnette

I hate to sound stupid, but what is the difference between the two? Thanks for responding.

A friend of mine just purchased a 1954 Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe 2 door hardtop in all original condition complete with original Hemi motor. How many of these were built and what is the value of same? I am a Cadillac and Lincoln man and have no idea. Thanks.

How many versions of the 1953 Buick Wildcat I show car were built? I am assisting a friend in writing a Motorama book. We know there was a white version with fender skirts and a black version with fender skirts. We know the white version with skirts is in the Bortz collection. We also know there was a white version without fender skirts. Was it a third car or was it made out of the black skirted version? Also we have heard rumors that there was a black version without skirts. So were there two, three, or four cars built? Charles D. Barnette